3/22/19 at 12:02 am: I just referred to the ball in my notes as the sea of hormones so... progress?
at 12:25 pm: I'm watching a show and this girl was like, "Dude, the fuck's wrong?" and he was like, "Everything is fine" in the most robotic ass voice. Like, bitch, is that not suspicious?

Virgil looked down at the list of chores he'd been handed. "'Scrub the countertops,' 'bleach the toilets,' 'clean the pool?'" He looked up at Jayden, Hayden, and Jackson. "We don't have a pool."

His uncle just smiled. "Then have fun with that one." He ushered his twin sons out the door before glaring over his shoulder. "I'll be at the bar until this stupid dance is over. By midnight, all of this better be done." He left.

Virgil sighed. He fell backward until he hit a wall, sliding down it to the floor. His head fell back. All of the chores on the list, with a few insane exceptions, had been done a million times over; he knew he could likely waste the night away and it would go unnoticed.

Not that he wouldn't be punished anyway.

A knock sounded at the door. The sound was gentle and soft and it gave Virgil pause.

Slowly, he rose. His footsteps were perfectly silent on the floor. He peeked through the window next to the door warily. A groan escaped his lips and he threw the door open.

"Hi, Virge," Thomas greeted playfully. He held up a garment bag, already dressed in his own suit. He held a mask in his hand. "We're going to the ball."

Virgil rolled his eyes and stepped away. "No, I can't." He didn't want to go—not anymore. He handed over the list. "They gave me all of these chores to do before they get back at the end of the dance."

Thomas looked it over. "You don't even have a pool!"

A smile slipped onto Virgil's lips. "That's what I said, but now I have to figure out how to clean something we don't even have."

He peeked inside the house. "This place is spotless. You could go without cleaning a thing and no one would ever notice."

Virgil's eyes softened. Am I seriously debating this? The crowds... the people... the masks... Oh, how he hated masks.

"I'll be by your side the entire time... with Logan and Patton, Talyn, Joan, Terrance, and Val."

He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Fuck it. Give me the suit."

---

Virgil's hand slipped from Thomas's and the anxiety kicked in in a second; fear bubbled in his chest as his breath quickened. Around him, teens danced, masked and anonymous. I shouldn't have come; I shouldn't have come; I shouldn't have come, his thoughts told him. He shoved through the crowd, needing space to breathe.

He managed to slip out of the gymnasium and into the dark, empty hallways of his school. Teachers were stationed outside of the nearest bathroom but paid no mind when Virgil walked passed.

All of the lights were off but, rather than being creepy as one would expect, it was comforting. A light at the end of the hallway drew his attention and he neared a glass door leading to a courtyard. Honestly, he hadn't even known it was there.

Through the door, a thick bed of grass was bordered by overgrown hedges. One large tree stood to the side, its branches stretching out over the square space. A gazebo sat in the center of the courtyard, flowers surrounding it that threatened to overgrow the paths.

Virgil stared for a second, feeling strangely calm, before stepping forward on the path. He sat down on the gazebo bench and tucked his knees against his chest, soaking in the moonlight that bathed over him.

He could get used to this.

---

Roman was tired of his friends—'friends' used loosely. Two of them had left almost instantly to go have sex somewhere and a few others were looking for hookups. Roman had excused himself quickly.

Where the hell am I now? he wondered as he searched the halls. Even after two weeks, the school was like a maze, twisting and turning with hallways that seemed to lead nowhere and everywhere at the same time. He'd intended to go for a walk to cool down, then turn around, but now...

He reached an intersection. To the left, white, natural light filled the hallway; to the right... his friends? He had no idea.

He turned left. How could he not? Mystery intrigued him. He pushed open the door with a curious smile.

Oh, how that courtyard before him was beautiful.

He saw a person sitting under the gazebo. "Looks like someone stole my idea."

The masked man looked up. "You can join me, if you absolutely must."

His snark earned a smile from Roman. "I might just take you up on that offer."

---

The stranger sat down next to Virgil--God, why had he offered? "So, why are you out here?" he asked.

Well, at least we're not sitting in awkward silence. "Hiding."

The other chuckled. "Me too."

Even with the mask, Virgil could tell that the other teen was handsome, meaning he was likely popular. "What do you have to hide from?"

"And you?"

What was he hiding from? No one in there meant any threat to him. He looked once more at the man in the mask next to him, beautiful hazel brown eyes staring back at him. He could tell this stranger anything and, as long as they kept their masks on, it wouldn't do him any harm. "Crowds make me nervous," he admitted, dropping his head.

"There's no shame in that." Those hazel eyes sparkled.

Virgil chuckled. "Alright, then what are you here for? Why aren't you out there enjoying yourself?"

His voice turned dark. "What's there to enjoy?"

"Friends?"

He scoffed.

"A girlfriend?"

That made the masked man laugh. "No, no girlfriend."

"Then why are you here?" It was a blunt question but Virgil didn't really care.

"I, um... I don't know. I thought I would enjoy this but what 'friends' I have aren't making tonight very... magical. If you hate crowds so much, why'd you come?"

"Peer pressure? My friends insisted I come tonight." He shook his head. "I should be at home doing work. They'll be furious..." He stood up.

The stranger grabbed his hand. "Who?" Genuine concern was expressed behind his black mask. "Are you alright?"

What was he supposed to say?

"Please don't go."

How can I resist that face? he wondered. Slowly, he sat back down, putting his head in his hands. "I live with my uncle and two cousins. They, um... They're not pleasant and they forbade me from coming tonight. If I'm not home before them..." He took a deep breath, his voice soft, quiet, and deathly calm. "I'm dead."

"I'm so terribly sorry."

He put on his best smile, a mask under his mask. "Don't be. You didn't do anything."

Those hazel eyes stared into his soul. "What's your name?"

Virge chuckled nervously. "What's yours?"

The stranger reached towards his own mask. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

He took a shuttered breath. "I..." His voice came out no more than a sigh as he said, "Not yet... please..."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed." He was so kind and sweet.

Virgil's heart fluttered. "Why are you so nice? I don't know you."

The man leaned a bit closer, but it wasn't unwelcomed. "If we're mean to strangers, we'll never have the chance to be kind to our friends."

Something deep within Virgil silently begged him to come even closer.

The stranger's hand rested on Virgil's arm and before Virgil knew it, he was being pulled in. Though the action was sudden and rough, the kiss was gentle. The man's hand traveled up to Virgil's face.

He panicked, pulling away. "You would hate me."

"Please tell me who you are."

Virgil's heart was beating out of his chest. "You first."

"Can I get away with saying Prince Charming?"

"Sorry, Princey, but that's-" His phone began to vibrate and he pulled it out.

Thomas: It's almost midnight. We HAVE to go

Virge glanced back up. "I-I, um... I gotta go." He stood.

The man grabbed his hand. "Wait. Please, tell me your name."

"I can't. I'm so sorry." Virgil slipped his phone into his back pocket and fled.