oh, romeo

“Hey, I’m just glad I could help,” she chuckled. “Even if it was in a smaller way than most. I’m Brooke by the way.”

“Help is help no matter what. I really do appreciate it,” he smiled at her, offering his hand for her to shake, “I’m Romeo. It’s awesome to meet you, Brooke.”

A small smile came to her face as Romeo spoke. He was always so sweet to her, and also so understanding too. It was crazy to think that she didn’t always have him in her life. She was thankful that she had him now though. No matter what she knew she could always count on him to be there for her. As time went on the two of them just got closer and closer and they soon began to spend even more time together. It didn’t bother her one bit. She loved having him around. It worried her a little that she may be falling for him, but she knew even if she were, things would never be awkward between them. He was too sweet to allow that to happen. When he held out his pinky to her, a small laugh escaped her lips “pinky promise” she repeated before wrapping her pinky around his. She wasn’t sure when they started the whole pinky promise thing, but she loved it. It was something she only ever did with him, and it never failed to bring a smile to her face.

His response to her sudden change of mood made her feel even better. She didn’t mean to get upset the way she did, it just happened sometimes because of what she had been through. Akeena should have known better than to think that he would seriously feel like he had to hang out with her. Romeo wasn’t her friend because he felt bad for her. He truly cared for her and definitely showed it more ways than one. Once he was done talking she slowly nodded her head and gave him a small smile, “I’ve got it. Thank you, Romeo” she said, stopping so she could hug him. She buried her face into his chest a little as she hugged him, “I don’t know what I would with you” she said with a small laugh as she let go of him. “I know I would definitely freeze, that’s for sure” she said, a much happier laugh escaping her lips now.

Romeo found himself smiling as he tightened his arms around her in return, being sure to keep one slung around her even as she pulled back. More than just coming to the realization that she was one of his best friends, he’d been thinking more and more lately about what his feelings for her actually were. Which, well... He felt like he was falling for her. It didn’t scare him—whether or not the feelings were reciprocated, he trusted that their friendship would remain the same—but he was a bit apprehensive about doing anything about it, especially before he was truly one hundred percent sure. 

Akeena was just such a bright and amazing person, and with everything she’d been through and was going through, he didn’t want to get in the way of any time she needed to focus on herself. If her health or her happiness suffered because of him, he probably wouldn’t ever forgive himself. With another small smile, tinged with perhaps a bit more fondness than he cared to admit, he met her gaze, “Yeah, you’d probably have turned into a human popsicle by now.”

“No, not really. Lust at first sight is one thing, but I don’t think you can really love someone before getting to know them.”

“Honestly, I… I don’t know. Akeena is absolutely one of my best friends, and I can’t deny that I have feelings for her, but… She just has so much going on, and it isn’t that I wouldn’t be willing to stick by her through anything and everything, because I want to do that no matter what happens with us, but I just… I worry about her, you know? And I don’t want her to be distracted by me when it comes to her health and everything else she has to worry about, because that stuff will always and should always come first. Definitely before me, anyway… I just want whatever will keep her safe and happy.”

“Uh… I’d say yes and no. I’ve read Capricorns are supposed to be pretty level-headed and disciplined, which I think fits me, but they’re also supposed to be practical, which my parents would definitely disagree with. I am fairly stubborn, though.”

“I guess I’d miss you for other things too, but that definitely what I would miss the most. Besides, Bellamy would go completely insane if he didn’t have you keeping my jealous ass in check” she said with a small laugh. “I’m sure I make your job easy. You’re welcome for that by the way” she said as she let out yet another laugh. “Things have been a lot better since I’ve moved back though. I feel like Bellamy and I are actually going to be okay this time” she said with  small fond smile. Doing things long distance after graduation definitely had put a stress on their relationship, but now she was back so things seemed great for now at least. “So, you don’t have to worry as much about keeping me in line. At least for right now” she said playfully before nudging him lightly, “totally unrelated, but I’d kill for a smoothie right now so let’s gooooo”

“I’ve noticed! You guys both seem a lot happier. Long distance relationships are usually hard, and I’m really proud of you guys for getting through the rough shit as well as you did,” he offered her a genuine smile, bumping their shoulders playfully, “But don’t think I won’t still be keeping an eye on you, kid.” At her sudden suggestion, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, alright, come on.”

Gus held out a hand eagerly. “Augustus Amado. Well. Just call me Gus. Everyone else does. Even my students. I can’t be bothered with that ‘mister’ crap.” He grinned sheepishly. “Well! You can always sign up for spring semester, if you want to try something different. Might not help in film too much but it’s a cool thing to learn.” Gus played with his own hair nervously. “This was actually my first year of teaching it, so it’ll no doubt be better the next time around, as I get used to it.”

Romeo took the hand Gus offered him and shook it with a grin, “Alright. It’s nice to meet you, Gus. I’ll definitely think about signing up, though. I think I’ll have some more room in my schedule next semester, I only have a few more required credits left ‘til I graduate.” 

Akeena wasted no time snuggling up to his side as they walked. She let out a small laugh at his comment, “honestly I can see why. I’m already so much warmer than I was” she said, “I’ll just start calling you whenever I’m cold I guess” she said as she smiled up at him. “Actually, that’s literally all the time so I guess Gabe and Bellamy are just going to have to deal with me making you my roommate” she said playfully with a small laugh. 

“Pants would never protest, or at least if he did I would act like he didn’t” she said with a small laugh before smiling up at him. “But you should talk to Bellamy and let me know. I would really like it if we could all spend Christmas together” she said happily. “and you know, if they’re both busy you’re more than welcome to come spend it with just me. I mean if that isn’t weird of course” she said, her tone growing a bit shy. “We could make sugar cookies together, and put Pants in ridiculous Christmas costumes that I totally didn’t order for him the other day” she said with a small laugh. She then was quiet for a moment before saying, “I just don’t want to be alone again this year so I thought it would be nice” she said softly, her expression falling a little. The last thing she wanted to do was make him feel sorry for her. It hadn’t been anyone’s fault last year, her health just hadn’t been good enough for her to go anywhere is all.  “But I also don’t want you to feel obligated, okay?” she told him softly, the small smile returning to her face as she looked up at him. She immediately felt bad for being sad. Of course she knew Romeo didn’t care, but she always felt bad when her mood flipped so suddenly like that. So, to hide the sad expression that was still slightly on her face, she snuggled even more into his side, making sure to not make it difficult for them to walk, “you really are like a personal heater wow” she commented after a moment with a small laugh as she leaned her head against him slightly.

“Oh, man, I wouldn’t want to be there for that conversation,” Romeo let out a bright laugh, shaking his head before adding, “Actually, I’d hope they’d try to fight for me, but they might just be sick of me at this point, so who knows? Maybe they’ll thank you.”

As Akeena spouted off ideas about their potential Christmas, he couldn’t help but smile warmly, imagination roaming along with her words. As they spent more time together and became closer, it was as difficult to imagine not spending the holiday with her as it was to imagine not spending it with his roommates, which was almost a surprise to him. Akeena really was one of his closest friends, he realized, and the thought spread warmth through him as he looked back down at her endearing, shy smile, “We’ll figure it out, but whether they’re busy or not, it’s a date.” After a moment, he offered her a playful grin and his pinky, “Pinky promise.”

At the sudden turn in her mood, though, he squeezed her shoulders gently and tried reassuring her, “Kee, I’m not the kind of person who does things just ‘cause I feel obligated. I hang out with you because I want to, because I like being around you, and that isn’t gonna change. Got it?” He knew she had been through a lot, and even if she hadn’t, he cared a lot about her and would never mind talking her out of her head. He’d done the same for Gabe more times than he could count. 

Gabriel knew that Romeo was bi and had known for a long time, but even know hearing him mention being attracted to a guy seemed weird to him. Maybe it was because he always put it into his head that he didn’t like guys when really this whole time Romeo had been bi. He did his best to shake it off though and let out a little laugh, “Oh no, I totally feel you there” he said, but then instantly felt awkward. Romeo was his best friend, and even though he had been in love with him for so long, things had never been awkward. He had never once found it hard to be around him, but lately it just felt like there was a weird tension between them. Maybe it was because he didn’t tell him to his face that he was gay, but there was no way he could have.

“We could go grab bubble tea and maybe walk around Central Park if it isn’t too cold outside?” he suggested with a smile. He wanted so badly to just ask him right now if he were upset with him. He also wanted so badly to just tell him how he felt about him and how he had for all these years. No matter how close they were though, he just couldn’t do it. Did it even matter anymore though since he liked Henry? Him and Henry weren’t together, but there were definitely feelings there. So if he ended up with him wouldn’t he have to just get over Romeo? Would he be able to just get over Romeo though? All these questions ran through his head as he sat there and he was for sure that his best friend was going to know something was up. 

“But yeah, bubble tea and a walk sound nice” he said again, breaking himself away from his thoughts as he looked over at Romeo. “I’ll go grab my coat” he said with a small smile before standing up from the couch so he could go retrieve his coat. He soon returned and pulled the jacket on before turning to Romeo once again, “you ready to go?” he asked. 

“Yeah, that sounds good to me,” he replied, though he suspected Gabriel didn’t hear him as his friend seemed to have fallen deep into thought. It happened every so often, as he tended to be wrapped up in his head most of the time, so Romeo waited it out until Gabe reconnected with reality with the same suggestion as minutes before. He didn’t say anything more, however, just got up to collect his things while Gabriel did the same. 

“Ready when you are,” he offered his best friend a small smile and headed for the door. Maybe Gabriel wouldn’t want to talk about everything that had happened, but he hoped that getting some one-on-one time outside of the apartment would help to ease the near palpable tension between them, or at least the anxiety he could almost feel rolling off of Gabe in waves. Though he felt hurt about the whole coming out thing, he hated feeling like something was off, hated even more that it felt like Gabriel was upset, and he wanted to resolve that more than anything.

“It really is. People think it’s boring, but it can be really interesting. Teaching is good and bad. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to myself and then there’s times where I get papers just full of conspiracies and not actual facts. It’s interesting, to say the least,” she nodded with a smile. “We can always measure. Never know. That would be really creepy though if I measured your hair.”

“I’m sure it can be boring sometimes, too, but yeah, I mean, thinking back on high school, I definitely remember a lot of interesting kids and moments,” he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or grimace at the memories, honestly. Teachers were definitely brave souls. “Yeah, that would be sort of weird,” he agreed with a laugh.

“You do have a point there. Pool water is your hair’s worst enemy, it’s full of ugly chemicals that dry it out so much. Then there’s also the fact that you do seem to have great hair so..” Amber said with a small grimace. “I wouldn’t want to ruin it either, but I also know how hard it is not to cut it. Especially if it grows slowly.”

“Yeah, the swim cap helps, but I hate that damn thing so I honestly don’t wear it as often as I should...” he trailed off, shrugging one shoulder, “Hey, thank you. I’m glad you get it. I’ve just been growing it out forever, you know? So I think the change would be nice.”

Bethany scoffed as she watched him “whatever you do don’t cut it off, and that’s an order”. She said with a slight laugh.

Romeo raised his eyebrows, a smile playing on his lips, “An order, huh? Why’s that?”

“I bet you’d look better than you probably think,” she said, offering him a smile. The main thing is, I’m sure it would be very very different.” She chuckled a little bit. 

“You’re right about that,” he laughed, nodding in agreement, “Very different. But different is good sometimes, I think. And thanks for the vote of confidence either way.”

Scarlett opened her mouth to say something, but her young daughter beat her to it, as she stepped between them. “Don’t cut your hair! Are you crazy? It’s pretty.” Her daughter Libby interjected. “Don’t cut it.” The almost six year old said rather aggressively. “I’m–I’m so sorry. I lost control of her long ago, but you should do what feels nice.”

"You think it’s pretty, huh?” Romeo let out a soft laugh as he crouched down to the little girl’s level, “Thank you. I think yours is way prettier, though.” He glanced up at the child’s mother as she spoke, reassuring her with a smile, “Don’t worry about it. She’s definitely got some personality.”

With a hand on his chin, Bellamy tilted his head to the side, trying to picture his friend with shorter hair. “How short are we talking about?” He asked, before shaking his head. “It’s just too hard to imagine.”

“Short short, Bell. Like, your length short,” Romeo ran his hand through his hair one last time and then grinned, “I know. I can’t imagine it, either, but maybe it’s time.”