Heartbreak hotel

Chapter 27

Midnight had always wondered why it had to be Gabriel. Why did it have to be Gabe out of everyone in this house? When he first realised his feelings all those years back, he told himself he would get over them and that whatever those feelings were would have to go. He wasn’t allowed to have them, especially not towards Gabriel, and he believed the man didn’t hold him in close regard either. But sometimes, when Midnight thought no one was looking, he would glance at the man only to see him already looking.

And he had contemplated it, the idea. As silly as it was, he had contemplated them together, where he didn’t have to feel like this, and if he wanted to, he could hold Gabe’s hand and kiss his forehead or the small beauty mark on the base of his throat without anyone thinking twice.

But then, not even a week later, Gabe brought Silver home, and everything he thought he had known had shattered. And now, almost a year and a half later, they were still together, and he was still pining for Gabriel. But this time, he knew he would have to get over him because there was no space for him in their relationship, and he would not homewreck. He was many things, but not a homewrecker.

Midnight left Luca’s place, and as he walked over to the Tomas’s place, his phone rang to see Rain’s number appear on his screen. He knew he would get s**t for it, especially them considering they hadn’t spoken in almost a month, but he didn’t want to have to deal with Rain telling him it was okay and things would get better. News flash: Rain. Three years later, he was still in love with Gabriel, and quite frankly, it didn’t show signs of stopping anytime soon.

Inside, he made his way over to the sunroom at the back of the house because that is where Silas, Soren and Ravi had been spending most of their time recently, and he needed to ask them if they’d seen Royal recently, but to his dismay. It wasn’t them three, it was Thea, Wendy and Melody.

“And, that’s what Lyric said, but I don’t trust the s**t that comes out of Roland’s mouth, because I am quite fond of Max.”

“Which one’s Max?”

“The one who had to celebrate his birthday alone.”

“Oh.”

“Right.”

“So, what’s going on?” Midnight asked, frowning at the names of people he’d never heard of.

“Wendy made a bunch of new friends, and she’s lore dropping all their lore.”

“I thought we were bad.”

“We are. They don’t have the underworld involved.”

Wendy cleared her throat a little. “Well,” she said, her voice rising a few pitches. When the two women turned to glare at each other, she sighed. “They needed help. I couldn’t say no.”

Midnight gathered they weren’t here, so he sighed and nodded. “Sure, okay, have fun, but have you seen Soren’s lot?”

“He got home from work a bit ago. Dad just finished screaming at Seth, so I would avoid my dad’s bedroom.”

Midnight frowned, “I always do,” he muttered.

He walked back through the lounge room, through the sliding doors and up the stairs to the second floor. He quickly walked past Ash and Seabadtian’s bedroom, blocking his ears in case he heard something that would traumatise him for life again. He knocked on Soren’s bedroom door before letting himself in.

He didn’t know what he was expecting, but this wasn’t it. Soren had the ambient lighting, as he called it, turned on, giving the room a bluish light, with Silas on the bed staring at the TV and Soren and Ravi on the couch, their eyes also trained on the TV.

“A slumber party,” Midnight deadpanned. “And you didn’t think to invite me.”

“Shhhh, “ Soren hissed, waving his hand in Midnight’s general direction. “Shut up and sit down.”

Midnight thought these three would be the most entertaining duo he could attend, but no. The entire twenty minutes he was in their room, they kept their eyes on the TV, watching; he couldn’t even tell. He had come to be entertained. He would have stayed in his bedroom if he wanted to wallow in his thoughts.

He had no clue where Royal was, and Isaiah was with Jamie. He was sure that Royal’s disappearance and Jamie’s appearance weren't a coincidence, especially now that Isaiah spent all his free time with his best friend and Midnight and Royal had never been particularly close. They had remained civil because they were both friends with Isaiah, and Midnight grew up with Isaiah, and he saw him first.

But then the train of thought wandered over to Gabriel, and that same stinging pain reappeared, and he cleared his throat, standing up. He would find something to do while high if there was nothing he could do over. So he went to Tomas’ front garden and sat on the grass.

The sun was slowly setting as he began to roll a joint. It was a little tricky without a flat surface, but he made to, and once it was all rolled and ready to be smoked, he lit up, inhaling and exhaling sharply, leaning on his palms as he stared at the sun setting on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow on the homes behind him.

When Midnight was halfway through his joints, his mind couldn’t help but wander over to Gabriel, who was most likely on another date with Silver. He hadn’t seen him since he had accidentally bumped into him in the sunroom the other day. And that was how he liked it. The less he saw him, the better.

Midnight finished his joint and realised he needed another one. He was glad he had rolled two before he smoked up because now he was a little too shaky to roll another one, so once again, he sparked up. As he exhaled, his phone rang. He pulled it out to see Rain’s name flash on the screen again. He had been avoiding them for so long, so he sighed as he answered.

“Hi, Rain,” he said, a small smile on his face as he lay down, watching the clouds pass slowly as he took another puff.

“Midnight, I have been calling for a month.”

“I know, sorry. I've been busy.”

“With what?”

“Trying to get over him,’ he deadpanned. “News flash: still pretty much in love with him.”

Rain was quiet for a moment. “Have, have you thought about what I said?”

“Yes, and I don’t want to. Not right now, Rain. I like it here. I’m happy.”

“You don't sound happy.”

“I should be sounding high. ‘Cause that's what I am.”

What brought Midnight out of his daze was the sound of Luca’s front door opening and closing, and when he saw Royal stepping out, he sat up, groaning a little, but he frowned as he waved the man over. “Gotta go, Rain. My answer’s no, if it changes, I’ll let you know.”

Royal sat on the grass beside him and took the joint, smoking some himself. “Where were you?” Midnight muttered, staring at him.

“In the closet.”

“Why?”

“Panic attack,” Royal replied, shrugging, “then I fell asleep.”

The two didn’t say much else as they smoked the joint, and when the two were higher than the sky, Royal pulled one of his own out. “When we’re coming down, I have another one.”

Midnight lay down, nodding. The two didn’t say anything, silently enjoying one another's company as they stared up at the clouds and the sky with all its vibrant colours. “Do you think aliens exist?” Royal asked after a while.

“What?”

“Aliens? The universe is too big for us to be alone in it, don’t you think?”

“Maybe. But then again, it might be the smallest galaxy.”

A car pulled over, and the two looked over. Luca walked over, and there was a scowl on his face. Rick grinned as he sat on the ground and held his hand out. Royal was going to hand him the joint until Luca finally caught up with him and dragged him up by the ear. “No. Get up, you heathen. You too,” he said, glaring at Royal and Midnight, who both appeared to mimic deer caught in headlights. “Sober up.”

They nodded, but everyone there knew the second the weed wore off, they would be getting high again.

~*~