Que sera, sera - whatever will be will be

[shadows_have_offended]

The news took a while to settle and, honestly, Neil still isn't entirely sure what to do with the knowledge. He's a college student now--or, rather, will be in September. He doesn't sign up for classes for months yet, but he's already looked over the catalog at least three times, trying to think what he'd like to do, now that he knows what he wants to do. It's all a huge relief, in a way. Maybe he can do Shakespeare in the Park again this summer. Maybe things will start to shape up more brightly.

In any case, he's celebrating. He sent out texts to all his friends, promising music and drinks and food--and a dog--to be shared by all. He tidied up a little, even, not that his apartment is ever very out of order in the first place. He doesn't really know how to decorate for a party like this, so he doesn't bother. Just makes sure there's lots of food and that the drinks are neatly arranged and that Beau's crate is set up in the bedroom, covered but open, so he can disappear if he'd like to.

He's not sure who all will come, but that doesn't really matter. He's just excited that he got in. It's the next step in his life, and it's his own step. That deserves to be celebrated no matter what.

Comments

[maloscuridad]

"Not sure I'm looking for anything," he admits. Nova goes for the cheese and little salami slices more than he does the vegetables. Probably not exactly healthy but what's the worst it can do, kill him faster? "Just trying to be realistic about who I am." Rosie seems sweet; he'd hate to disappoint her when she realizes how far he's been from a good person. How far he still is.

[forthsofar]

"Fair enough," Rosie says, stabbing a toothpick into another piece of cheese with a bit more vehemence than it maybe deserved. It hadn't done anything except be there on the platter at the wrong moment, after all. "I'd rather have someone be honest with me than not."

Perhaps now is the time to do what it sometimes feels as though Nova expects from her; to walk away without a backward glance and forget ever having met him, let alone stayed on his couch after one mad, absurd night. It would be easier and far less infuriating than trying to force a connection that it seemed only one of them wanted--and Rosie wasn't even sure why she wanted it half the time. Perhaps because she'd had so few friends before Darrow, or because Nova was different in a way that seemed wholly his own and made her curious to know more about him. And yes, perhaps just a little because he was handsome.

Whether it's out of interest, or stubbornness, or something else entirely, she doesn't turn and leave, just allows it to drive what she says next. "Is it so bad to hope that who you are might include being my friend? At some point, if not now."

[maloscuridad]

That actually catches Nova off-guard in a couple of ways, none of them unpleasant. He'd sort of figured that they crossed that threshold somewhere between the demonic cookies and her crashing on his sofa but there's something charming about the way she wants to make sure. Slowly, a grin unfurls and he nods. "Far as I see it, I think we cool," he promises.

His expression turns a little more thoughtful though not quite somber for a moment. Again, there's the fear of disappointing someone, of failing to live up both to what he wants to be and the impression someone's gotten of him. "I got shit I'm working through, but that's my own problem. Not yours."