Theo

I’d made a pact with Felix, to work with him.

I just didn’t expect to arrive at such a situation, with Sammy in the mix of it all. My best friend surely had changed since High School, and it’d only been a few months since that.

Felix was rather strange as well, along with that Lucas fellow, who, was quite distant and pretty intimidating even for me. I found both those guys kind of unusual, though it was probably because they were ultra rich and pretty, whereas I was . . . well, Sammy and I had never been exposed to that.

Sammy was laying on his bed, hand beneath his chin as he stared into nothing. He did that a lot, space out, especially in times when I needed him to spill the tea, the beans, about what he was really feeling.

Felix was suspecting that maybe there was something going on between the two. He’d told me it was the sole reason he came to the party. Apparently, he couldn’t wait to see how his little cousin was doing in the presence of someone who was the complete opposite of him. The sadist.

I could relate to that. It was fun seeing Sammy out of his element. Whenever something upset him, he usually got really heated and angry, and then afterwards he’d resolve it, abandon it or completely expel it with his rage. Lucas was the first one to survive partly unscathed. He was still here, still fighting with Sammy and ultimately making him . . . like this. I had to give him a thumbs up.

“Hey, uh,” I began. Sammy didn’t look my way. I was sitting on his bed, alongside him, still taking in the quality of the room, the way it exuded money. It wasn’t exactly something I’d like. “So Lucas . . .”

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore.” He said softly. I could tell he was being stubborn, but this was the first time he’d ever ignored a problem. Usually, he’d be in the face of it, fighting it.

I laid beside him, “He’s pretty darn intimidating.”

“No he’s not.” Sammy said, sounding like he really meant it. Well, nothing could scare Sammy so easily.

I grimaced. I disagreed there. “Yeah, sure.” I coughed, expelling the uncertainty in my voice. “Anyway—you told me the entire story but . . .”

“What?” He pestered quietly, still not looking my way. Maybe he was tired. I’d be tired too.

“Just . . . do you like him?” I asked.

Sammy remained as distant as ever, “I don’t hate him anymore.”

“Anymore?” I repeated him. “You hated him before?”

“He made me hate him.” He admitted. “He did it on purpose, and it worked.”

“Weird guy.” I observed, holding my chin in thought. I glanced at Sammy out of the corner of my eye, watching as he kicked his legs in the air behind him, playing with his sweater-paws. Something was distracting him. Did something happen at the party?

As if reading my mind, Sammy turned to me, looking unsure, “I feel weird.”

“Sick?” I said.

He shook his head.

“Confused?” I said instead.

Sammy stilled.

Eureka. It must’ve been what Felix had guessed. Though I never knew Sammy to become soft towards anyone. They must have spent quite a lot of time together. He wasn’t really an amiable person if you irritated him.

Lucas was gutsy. But he was also very tall and had muscles so—I didn’t expect him to be scared of someone as small as Sammy.

“Don’t tell me you like like him.” I teased for a moment, regarding the growing redness on his ears.

“N-no way!” He stuttered, getting up quickly to wave his hands in front of me. “I don’t—I really don’t.”

“Then . . . ?” I said. “What’s wrong?”

“I just—” He grabbed at his sweater collar, playing with the strings. He averted his eyes away from mine, eyelashes falling against his flushed cheeks. “I’m worried about him sometimes.”

“Oh.” I replied, not knowing what he was really getting at.

Sammy must’ve seen that. “He’s told me things . . . about his family.”

I didn’t say anything. I simply let him continue.

“I’m supposed to help him, but—” Sammy stopped himself to collect his thoughts. “I don’t think I’ve gotten far. And it’s already been such a long time . . .”

Sighing, I leaned forward to take his hands. Sammy was definitely being bothered by this. It wasn’t like him to abandon a challenge. And Lucas was most definitely one.

I’d promised Felix to see if I’d find anything. Though I did it mostly for myself. I wanted to hear what Sammy had been through while I was away. Honestly, I was glad he was experiencing this, at least before he left his hometown for college.

“So what if you can’t help him?” I told him. “If he stays hating you until the end, there’s nothing anyone can do.”

“I know.” He said. He sounded defeated, it scared me, because it was as if he didn’t want the boy to hate him. Sammy usually didn’t care about those kinds of things. If he did, then that most likely meant he felt something.

“His grandma will give him what he deserves.” I said in Spanish. “She won’t take bullshit.”

Sammy smiled and replied back in the same language. “Careful, Lucas learned a little bit of Spanish from me.”

I shut my mouth and laughed.

It still looked like Sammy was hiding something, but I didn’t want to push him any further. Sammy had grown so much over the months I was gone, I could tell it would all be resolved with time. And he had weeks to do just that. Surely they’d come to some sort of truce.

Hopefully Felix had more information on his subject. Sammy said he didn’t like Lucas in that way but—I had to take a step back to really see if I believed him. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Who knew?

I sure as hell didn’t. Though maybe, maybe Sammy did.

Maybe.

Felix

“Do you like Sammy?” I asked directly.

Lucas began to choke on air.

I crossed my arms, eyeing my younger cousin with a small smirk on my face. I loved giving him that look, it made him furious most of the time.

He glared at me, nearly sneering. “Shut up, Felix.”

“Dear cousin, I’m only curious.” I replied sincerely, sitting on his bed. “Why can’t you tell me? I’d love to know if Sammy is available for me to—”

“To what?” He became defensive. He only ever did that for himself, and never for anybody else, not even his own father.

I raised a brow at him, keeping my confident smile dazzling. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”

“No.” He said, a little too loudly for me to actually believe it. “Why would I be? He’s just a servant’s son.”

“A very cute servant’s son.” I pointed out, pushing at his buttons more. “I could just eat him up—”

Lucas flung a pillow to my face, stopping me mid-sentence.

Yes, he was trying to avoid the topic. I prevented myself from cursing at him in French. Mother surely would've. 

I seriously had no intent in taking Sammy. Sure I’d found him delectable when I first met him but—I fell in love way too easily with people. It was a problem. When I realized how much he actually listened to Lucas, how much he actually got to my little cousin—well, I was pleasantly surprised. I also had the decency to let my growing attachment towards him fade away, because I knew how much I’d love to see my little cousin fall for such an interesting young man.

Flirting at him was my one way of getting at Lucas. It was a good thing Sammy didn’t notice. He was too busy looking at my cousin anyway. 

I was quite wicked, honestly.

Most of our family was.

Lucas laid back against his bed, covering his eyes from the sunlight streaming in through the windows. He was a stark contrast against everything, wearing only black every time I saw him. It was a damn shame. He looked much too good in a suit and tie.

“Don’t worry, dear cousin.” I assured him, patting his thigh. “I won’t take your precious Sammy away from you.”

“He’s not mine.” He snapped.

I shrugged. “You’re rather mad. Does this mean you’ve developed a small liking to him?”

“Far from it.” He answered, turning on his side so that I could not read his expression.

There was something he was hiding. I could tell. Lucas was usually one to destroy anything he deemed annoying. Nothing could cross Lucas without getting cut. He was just as terrible as I was.

This was a different cousin I’d known. This was Lucas when his mother was still alive. Young, willing, and a little soft, even if he didn’t notice it himself. If Lucas had behaved as he usually did, then he already would’ve thrown me out of his room.

After his mother died, he became distant, emotionless. No longer was he the optimistic boy I used to see at family gatherings. When I was younger, I noticed how grey he had become. His image, his personality, began to match the color of his eyes. He transformed into something untouchable.

I patted his thigh once more. He was still my cousin. I cared very much for him because he was family, because he was blood. We’d have to depend on each other, even if that meant disliking one another sometimes.

Sammy must’ve been a magician. The way he had managed Lucas for so long, it was remarkable. The small boy was fiery, and he held his ground like a champ. That was what Lucas needed. His grandmother was smart to bring him along.

“Are you sure you don’t have . . . any admiration for him—?” I tried asking again.

Lucas threw another pillow at my face, ruining my hair and instantly shutting me up.

Well, he was never one to admit anything like that. Cousin Lucas, as much as he was cute, was also stubborn.

I sighed. Maybe Theo had dug up any interesting news.

For now, those two would have to figure it out themselves.

For now, I’d have a bit of fun.

It was getting later in the day, and thus I decided a last stroll through the garden would be fitting, considering I’d spent a fair amount of time in the old mansion. I hadn’t done that since grade school, when Lucas and I were both bright-eyed, wearing too-tight uniforms and knee highs.

I walked past the first fountain, a grand thing that sprayed water a mile high into the air. The scent of it all was lovely, with roses blooming in every direction, producing a smell I could only describe as unique.

This place was home to many of the members of my family, and to those who wandered in on occasion. You could say it was a magical location that drew different sorts from all over the world, like stars festering in a small galaxy.

I closed my eyes, taking in the atmosphere.

The city would be much more different than this.

At my right, a figure came into view. Theo, who I’d promised to meet immediately after our interrogations, was walking towards me with a skip in his step. I wondered if he always was like that. Bubbly.

He was so willing to be a part of my plan to reveal what those two were hiding. It was a breath of fresh air from the stuffy circle I had back home. Maybe I’d hold onto this boy as a friend.

I slipped my hands into my pockets, waiting for him.

Theo smiled brightly at me. The sun behind him shone, though I couldn’t decide who was more brilliant.

Silently, I scolded myself. Falling in love was not on my agenda.

The smaller boy stood before me, leaning on his heels and holding his hands behind his back. It was endearing. “Did you find anything?”

“No.” I replied, throwing him one of my classic smiles. He seemed unaffected by it. Such a shame.

“Really?” He pondered, jutting his lower lip out. The curls around his face bounced as he swayed back and forth. He was a restless boy. “Sammy was quiet too.”

“Interesting.” I said. I began to walk once more, and was pleased when Theo followed at my side, peering into my face as if ready for another challenge, another scheme.

He tugged at my sleeve. The small action quite literally made me smile genuinely for the first time in a long time. “Felix.” He called me by my name. The edges of my lips pulled up on their own, higher. “What should we do now? Spy on them?”

I laughed airily, amused by his enthusiasm. He was fun. “No. No, I don’t think we’ll bother them for a while now.”

“Why?” He asked, lower lip out again.

I stared at him, studying his face, keeping it imprinted in my mind. It was an interesting face. “Because—” I thought for a moment, and decided that maybe a tiny, little indulgence would be fine, though maybe a bit out-of-the-blue. “Because I have something else in mind.”

“What?” He questioned.

“I have a spare room in the city.” I offered, eyes glistening. “If you’d like—”

“Sounds cool.” He didn’t let me finish. He was grinning, hands in fists near his rosy cheeks, jumping excitedly. “When do we go? Now?”

"But you've only just arrived." I pointed out. "What about Sammy?" 

"He'll be fine." He said simply. 

I was taken aback. That was much quicker than I anticipated.

This boy was exciting indeed.

Gently, I patted his curly head, keeping my hand there, “The sooner the better, then.” I told him.

He gave me another smile, wider.

“I’ve also been meaning to ask, about another mission.” I said, as nonchalantly as I could. “Though it doesn’t involve Sammy and Lucas.”

He gazed at me, expression full of intent, “Yes?”

“I’m unable to fall in love. Like, really fall in love, Theo. It’s impossible for me.” I admitted. It was true, I fell in love, but did I really? No.

His eyes widened, “Oh . . .”

“Yeah.”

“Well . . . I’ll help you!” He said, peering into my face once more. “I’m really good at—stuff, like—um . . .”

“Okay, okay.” I responded, calming him down. “I appreciate the help. And in return, your room and board will be paid in full." I tapped his nose lightly. "That is—if, and only if you manage to accomplish the task.”

He beamed. Not a trace of doubtfulness was on his small face.

I wondered where this would lead. Well, I knew now just how adventurous he was, so maybe we’d have a little fun on the matter. I did need help. I wasn’t lying about that. If Lucas could fix his problem by actually being friends with someone nice, then why couldn’t I try as well? My current friends were shit anyway.

“Can you really not fall in love?” He asked me, round eyes prominent as he waited for me to respond. "That's sort of extreme."

I nodded, “Oh yes. It's terrible.”

He watched me. Was he able to read my mind?

Thankfully, he didn’t say anything after that. 

This wasn’t going to be good for my heart. I didn’t expect to come back to the mansion to find two very interesting individuals. But then again, the place was always full of surprises. That’s why I loved visiting.

I looked down at my new partner in crime.

Maybe I wouldn’t be alone in the city after all.

“Theo.” I said, keeping my gaze on him. “Do you like adventures?”

“Hell yes!” He responded, giddily.

I kept my hands in my pockets, so as not to reach out to him anymore. He appeared as if he’d arrived on a bus from hell, with his weathered clothes and dirty face. I didn’t mind, surprisingly.

“Then I guess we’ll have a lot of fun.” I came to that conclusion.

Theo nodded, still smiley.

We would have a lot of fun. It was inevitable. Though the only thing I was worried about was myself.

This time, I’d do the right thing. This time, falling in love quickly & blindly was not an option.

Sadly, that was exactly what I did.