(no subject)

[shadows_have_offended]

Between the end of the school year in June and the start of his summer school, Neil has a few weeks to just do nothing and pretend like maybe, maybe things are okay. He considers a job on top of his school obligations, but then disregards it; the stipend Darrow gives him covers the essentials and gives him a little bit extra, and he doesn't live extravagantly. He considers that Shakespeare in the Park just won't happen this year because of the time commitment involved in summer school, and his heart aches a little bit.

But today? Today is the Fourth of July, and his summer school doesn't start until next week. There's some sort of nonsense happening all over Darrow, Neil's sure, but Neil can't bring himself to do any of that. He's camped out on the roof of his building, feeling the muggy heat of Darrow press in around him and thinking about having been here for over a year now.

He texts Gabriel. A picture of himself lounging on his blanket on the roof, smiling slightly, and then a little American flag--because Neil Perry has discovered emojis on his phone, and they're spectacular.

It's not much of a summer that he gets. But he'll make the most of what he can while he has it.