“Are you sure?” He nodded, smiling slightly. “Positive.” He hadn’t officially asked his parents if Gio could stay, but he knew that his mom would be fine with it as soon as she heard the situation. Her sister had been kind enough to take her and the twins in back in Brazil, so she was always quick to extend the favour to others. “It’s really fine and you don’t have anywhere else to go. You can save money and then rent an apartment or something.”
“I did technically promise.” Luciano chuckled. “You did.” It seemed like that day was so far away now, but it really was just a week ago. He hadn’t believed that they would be here, dancing close like this, at the prom, but here they were. It was like all the puzzle pieces had fallen in place to give them this one, perfect moment. Gio had a beautiful smile on his face and it encouraged one of Lui’s own to widen.
It felt like this dance was the beginning of good things to come. Of course, Lui couldn’t be sure, but he felt like things were just going to get better from here. Holding Gio in his arms on the dance floor, he wasn’t capable of even thinking about something going wrong. It didn’t matter what everyone around them thought, it was like it was just the two of them, and it was perfect. Nestling close to him, Lui bent his head to Gio’s ear. “Thank you,” he whispered, smiling gently. It was a broad thank you, one for all of the events of the evening, not just the watch, but everything.
“Positive. It’s really fine and you don’t have anywhere else to go. You can save money and then rent an apartment or something."
Gio smiled lightly ”Thanks” he softly said, genuinely thankful for it.
It wasn’t like he was completely broke and had nothing even if worst case scenario his father threw all his things out of the window and he is now air, which is quite unlikely even though he wouldn’t really describe his father as a kind and understanding person, but he is still at least partially human. He still had the car and the storage unit, they were both under his name, even if his father wanted to there was nothing he could do since he was an adult. Also he didn’t even know about the existence of the storage.
And it wasn’t like he wasn’t making money, he was doing shows and all, and once he had enough to rent an apartment he could rent the storage, which was also financially smart.
So as messed up as it all seemed, it wasn’t completely hopeless.
Gio always loved books, films, even music. He always liked imagining the characters in the books and how they were, or how they felt. Listening to the lyrics of songs, and imagining what his life looked like if it was different.
Was this how couples in stories and love songs feel like? The butterflies, the happiness, the affection, the warmth… was this what it really felt like?
Because it feels better than anything ever felt before.
”Thank you”
Gio raised his brow lightly in confusion ”for what?” he asked, he didn’t see what he could possibly thank him for other than giving him the watch, but he already thanked him for it before.
"Thanks.” He gave him a genuine smile, tilting his head in a nod. “Gio, of course. Anything you need.” He imagined that it would take a bit for Gio to adjust to Lui’s home life, from being an only child to having four other kids living there. And there was the matter of Aline’s cat, of course, but still—a home was better than no home at all. It wasn’t going to be a permanent thing or anything, he knew Gio was the type of person who was going to work hard to get himself back onto his own two feet, and he had no doubt that he was going to be able to do it. Whenever Gio needed it, he was willing to provide assistance in any way, shape or form.
”For what?” Luciano smiled, glancing at him. “Everything,” he said softly, gazing into his warm brown eyes with love. “For being the best boyfriend I could ever ask for.” It meant a lot to him that Gio was willing to bare himself like he did tonight, and he wanted him to know that. It was admirable, his bravery, and Lui loved him for it beyond words. “You’re just amazing, G.”
“Don’t worry about it, my dad’s assistant brought me here”
“I promise I’ll drive you home.” He promised to her, a smile coming onto his face as saw her reaction to the corsage. “I’m glad you like it.” He responded. “I didn’t know what colour your dress would be, so I got one that would go with anything.” He explained to her, realizing once he said it that she probably didn’t need to know that.
“You look beautiful tonight Valerie, you really do.” He told her, smiling. He listened as a song came on and held out his hand to her with a small flourish. “May I have this dance?” He asked her in a terrible British accent, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from laughing.
Hey handsome She said to him but the words seemed to just go in one ear and out the other. He ran his hand his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow.” He said under his breath but smiled as he looked at her. She wore a pale white dress that had skinny straps over her shoulders. It hugged her curves just enough but wasn’t skin tight and flowed to the ground. “You really had to show me up like this?” He joked to her and did a twirl with his finger. “I’m gonna need you to take a spin.” He said with a little laugh also escaping his lip. “Damn, I am one lucky guy.” He said while shaking his head as he still looked at her but making eye contact and winked to her before he opened the door for her.
His dad let him drive the Porsche tonight and Mikel wasn’t really sure why since he didn’t have a great track record of trust with his parents but he wasn’t going to fight the idea when he was given the keys. “Traded the old Jeep in for something a little classier tonight, hope you don’t mind.” He told her with a smile added to his lighted hearted comment. Soon he then walked over to the drivers side door and leaned down to get into the car to drive them to the dance. Getting in was easier than getting out for him, the car wasn’t really made for people of his stature. @Littlefeets
“Gio, of course. Anything you need.” ”I’ll work it out, I’m working it out,” he said, correcting himself ”I won’t bother you for long” he said with a light nod ”thank you though, it really means a lot” he added with a soft smile. Thinking about it, he really started reevaluating the people in his life, because other than Lui he could only think about like two people tops that might consider doing that for him, most of the people in his life probably wouldn’t. So he appreciated it even more.
”Everything, For being the best boyfriend I could ever ask for. You’re just amazing, G."
A smile started growing on Gio’s face and he looked down to hide it “I’m not amazing, I’m just me” he said ”I try my best to be one, but I’m not nearly as amazing as I want to be” he added with a light shrug ”or as you are” He added with the lightest of smiled ”You really are amazing, I feel like I don’t say that enough, but you are the most amazing person in my life and I don’t know what I did to deserve that privilege” he said, genuinely meaning what he said.
“I promise I’ll drive you home.” “I appreciate that” she softly smiled at him ”are you coming to the party at Mikel’s after though?” She asked with a raised brow, she would never miss a party, but Dominic never seemed to her as the party type.
“I’m glad you like it. I didn’t know what colour your dress would be, so I got one that would go with anything.” “I love it, it’s beautiful” she said admiring the corsage on her wrist ”It’s also very thoughtful of you, I didn’t expect you to get me anything” she added looking back at him with a light smile on her lips.
“You look beautiful tonight Valerie, you really do. May I have this dance?”
She smiled at the compliment and chuckled at the terrible accent, but overall it was just cute and she definitely liked it **” ”Gladly, good sir-“ she added with an emphasized british accent and a smirk. being British by origin did give Valerie an accent, but living in America all these years did mellow it down quite a bit, it was still there but it wasn’t too bold and intense, still noticeable though. But she could do it well if she wanted to.
Malachi nodded slightly as the guy introduced himself as Andy and asked why he moved. “You’ve got a point there, Andy.” There really was never a good point to come to a new school mid-year, especially when it was senior year. “There were some issues at my old school that my parents didn’t want me associated with, and they thought Cerulean had a better, more impressive reputation. So here I am to finish senior year.” He shrugged slightly. Cerulean high certainly had an impressive reputation, nobody could deny that. “What they say goes, and everyone has to live with it.”
”You’ve got a point there, Andy.” ”I do make pretty good points” he said ”-sometimes…” he added after a moment lightly raising a this isn’t right brow at himself ”There were some issues at my old school that my parents didn’t want me associated with, and they thought Cerulean had a better, more impressive reputation. So here I am to finish senior year.” ”Well they’re not wrong, it is a good school” he said, even though he wasn’t a fan but it wasn’t necessarily personal he just wasn’t a fan of school in general, there were some good things about cerulean though, not only bad. ”Fancy stuff” he said with a light change of pose ”Blue royalty and sh!t” ”What they say goes, and everyone has to live with it.” ”Is that how it works though?” he raised his brow, didn’t really relate to it, he didn’t usually listen to what his mother said, not out of spite, she just never understood him really, they were too different or something like that.
“I will say, my intention wasn’t to show you up.” Jezebel laughed slightly before doing a small twirl at Mikel’s request, then looked back at him with a smile. “I just hoped you’d like it.” She got into the car when he opened the door for her. “I don’t mind, even if I like the Jeep.” It was prom night, so there was reason to go for something nicer than just the Jeep. Jezebel watched Mikel walk around the car to get in himself, though it clearly wasn’t the easiest for him with his height, which brought a small smirk to Jezebel’s face. She smiled at him then paused to kiss him once he was in the car. “And I’m a lucky girl.” She said in reference to his earlier comment. At that moment, Jezebel really couldn’t ask for more. She had a guy who cared about her, that she cared about, and they were going to have a good time at prom.
Selena was so excited for prom, she had been waiting for this moment all day. So, of course, she woke up early to have enough time to get ready for the big day. She brought out two options on what she was going to wear the night before. She contemplated on which one to wear before she decided to take the lime green dress. She loved this dress more than ever and has never felt so beautiful.
She kept the makeup light and natural because she knew she was going to be partying and didn’t want to smudge her makeup. She went downstairs to have a little breakfast even though there was going to be food, she wanted to feel satisfied. She put on her green heels and went over to the kitchen and ate a fruit salad.
She was expecting Brandon to come and pick her up so after she finished eating, she took her phone and her purse when she heard a knock on the front door. She gushed in surprise as he held a beautiful pink corsage with his car at the back. “Oh my God, Hi Brandon” she said blushing.
”I’ll work it out, I’m working it out. I won’t bother you for long.” A disbelieving chuckle left his lips and he shook his head in amusement. “You’re never bothering me.” It would never be a bother to have to help Gio in any way, and even though offering him his house was a big thing, it still wasn’t an inconvenience in Lui’s mind. ”Thank you though, it really means a lot,” Gio added. He smiled gently, lifting his shoulder in a slight shrug. “Anytime. You’d do the same,” he said. He really believed that, that if the roles were reversed, Gio would extend a place for him as well.
Luciano caught the first hints of the smile growing on Gio’s face before he looked down, and he chuckled breathlessly, the image of the beautiful smile imprinted in his mind. “I’m not amazing, I’m just me." Lui reached out to tilt Gio’s head back up, shaking his head ever so slightly. “You are amazing. You’re beautiful and kind and brave and—ay, someone I am very lucky to have.” The content smile stretched across his face as Gio continued on. "I try my best to be one, but I’m not nearly as amazing as I want to be, or as you are. You really are amazing, I feel like I don’t say that enough, but you are the most amazing person in my life and I don’t know what I did to deserve that privilege." He breathed out slowly, happiness radiating from him. “But you are really the best guy I could ever have, and I’m not even exaggerating. You outed yourself… to give us a real chance.” His voice lowered and he leaned closer to Gio. “That was very stupid, but also the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.” His smile curved. “And I love you for that and for being you.”
“I just hoped you’d like it.” “You know, no matter what you have on I think you look amazing.” Mikel told her and was sincere about it. He could care less if she was dressed up with her hair and make up done or if she was in sweatpants and a messy bun. To him, as long as she was happy and comfortable is all that mattered and he thought she looked beautiful always. “I don’t mind, even if I like the Jeep.” He smirked over at her, “just trying to impress you I guess.” When they had gotten in the car she leaned over the center counsel and kissed him. ”And I’m a lucky girl.” He couldn’t help but feel his cheeks and ears get hot so he turned to look down at the gear shift since he knew he was blushing slightly which didn’t happen often to him. He was smiling though. He was finally happy and in a good place in his life. He worked hard to get to a happy place for awhile and now things were lining up in his favor for a change. He truly had been working to be a better guy. To make up for the mistakes in his past.
He moved the gear and put the car in drive. The care was a manual just like his Jeep. He liked stick vehicles because they kept him focused while driving and in the past he would find himself needing something to focus on for stability or his mind would wander. He drove them to the venue and once there he could put before she could and ran around the car to open the door for her. Though there weren’t many things he learned from his parents about relationships, he did know that his dad always opened the door for his mom no matter what. He put his hand out for her as they walked in.
He couldn’t help but grin as they did so. He was never so happy to be at a school related event. The place was decorated everywhere you looked but it wasn’t over down. It actually looked decent to him. “I’ve never actually been to a dance.” He admitted to her with a little shrug of his shoulders. “I used to think this type of stuff was overrated.” He looked around a bit more and took in his surroundings. He soon looked back at her, looking down to make eye contact and gave her hand a small squeeze. “I’m really glad I am here though, especially since I’m with you.” He never thought words like that would come out of his mouth or even be a thought in his mind so he felt a little nervous every time he said anything that may be expressing his feelings to people. Vulnerability was not his strong suit.
”You’re never bothering me."
Gio smiled sheepishly ”Good to know” he said “Anytime. You’d do the same,”
Gio nodded ”Absolutely” he said with a nod agreeing with the statement ”I definitely would”. He really would though, he wasn’t saying that just because, he was saying it because if the cards were reversed he would absolutely do the best he could to help him.
"You are amazing. You’re beautiful and kind and brave and—ay, someone I am very lucky to have." ”I guess we’re both lucky aren’t we” Gio smiled looking at him, he really did feel lucky, never in a million years he thought he’d be able to have someone this amazing in his life and call him his boyfriend, that’s like above and beyond, he couldn’t ask for anything better.
“But you are really the best guy I could ever have, and I’m not even exaggerating. You outed yourself… to give us a real chance. That was very stupid, but also the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do. And I love you for that and for being you.”
Gio smiled lightly listening to his words, and let a small chuckle escape his mouth when lui called it stupid ”I do stupid things sometimes” he said ”but I’m glad I did it, I think it was the right call” he added with a light smile ”and I love you too” he stated looking at him and brought his hand from the back to Lui’s upper neck gently stroking his cheek with his thumb ”just because you’re the simple yet so amazing thing that is you” he added with a soft loving smile
”I guess we’re both lucky, aren’t we” Luciano smiled back, nodding slightly. “Yeah, both really lucky,” he agreed. He never thought that everything would lead to being here, dancing under the twinkling lights of prom. Perhaps he was looking through rose-coloured glasses, but everything about this moment made him feel like the luckiest guy alive.
”I do stupid things sometimes,” He snorted, his lips curling into a smirk. “Very stupid,” he interjected, playfully rolling his eyes. ”But I’m glad I did it, I think it was the right call.” His gaze softened, the small smile returning. “Yeah, I think so too.” After all, it did allow him to hold Gio close to him like this in the middle of everyone. It meant Gio could be free to be unapologetically himself, without having to worry every second about being found out. He was out on his own terms.
”And I love you too." Luciano smiled, his eyes flicking to where Gio’s thumb stroked his cheek. He liked that the two of them could just exchange ‘I love yous’ now, and it could be a casual thing. In comparison to the majority of his other relationships, this one was moving somewhat faster, but maybe that was because the feelings had been building before the two of them had even started dating. Either way, its pace didn’t seem fast to Lui, it felt right to him. Like this was how it was supposed to be. ”Just because you’re the simple yet so amazing thing that is you.” He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips, exposing some of his teeth. “I’m just glad I get to be here with you.”
“Yeah, I just got here and I can already see this place is fancier than most schools, cause all of this, is right up my parents alley.” Where he was before was definitely upper class, but Cerulean high was unlike any other school, especially once the whole Blue Royalty game is taken into account. “I’d heard about Blue Royalty, and that its a big deal here. Probably something else my parents thought about with me being here. Are you trying to win it like, I’m guessing, most everyone else is?” Malachi nodded slightly at Andy’s questioning. “My parents have a way of making what they want to happen, happen. Whether anyone else agrees or not.” Even when Malachi went against what his parents wanted, it was often just delaying the inevitable.
”Very stupid,"
Gio chuckled ”Hey judge me more quietly won’t you, I can hear it” he said with a jokingly teasing smile “Yeah, I think so too.” ”I’m glad we both agree on it” he said with a light smile, he was honestly glad he did it though, it wasn’t even about being gay, it was about how he felt like a free person and now he was one step closer to being fully himself outside, because while hiding such big things about his life he could never be fully himself, it just holds him back. ”I’m just glad I get to be here with you." ”you won’t see me complaining about it either” he chuckled ”I like it” he added with a smile, and it was true, he was honestly genuinely enjoying just being there the both of them together, as simple as that yet so magical and so special both at the same time.
Brandon’s face lit up when he saw that she opened the door. Her outfit was a surprise to him and he stood there admiring it. “Wow, you look beautiful.” He said while smiling. He could feel his cheeks warming up. He awkwardly fumbled with the corsage until he finally grabbed her arm and slid it on her wrist. “I tried to find the perfect one, I hope you like it.” He explained. He definitely wasn’t used to shopping for that kind of thing, and he got frustrated until he finally picked one with the help of his dad. “I’m glad that I didn’t come too early or too late. So shall we get going then?” He said. He walked to the car with her and opened the passenger door before getting in the car himself and driving. He still couldn’t believe his senior prom was happening right now. It was surreal. “I’m so excited right now. I know that it’s just a prom but It’s always something I’ve day dreamed about.” He said. “The only thing I’m annoyed about are blue royalty tasks but then again, no one has to do them. We can just have a fun night.” He was more so trying to convince himself than anyone else.
“Yeah, I just got here and I can already see this place is fancier than most schools, cause all of this, is right up my parents alley.” ”Hard to miss” he added and looked around ”Fancy like it’s Ivy League and it’s not even a college” he said with a light snort, partially mocking the fanciness of the school. Andy didn’t usually appreciate fancy schools, in his opinion most people that come out of those ended up being snobs with a massive superiority complex, which he didn’t really appreciate much.
“I’d heard about Blue Royalty, and that its a big deal here. Probably something else my parents thought about with me being here. Are you trying to win it like, I’m guessing, most everyone else is?” ”Not at all” he said as Kai assumed he was going after blue royalty ”I honestly couldn’t care less about blue royalty, but I don’t mind others going after it, just do what you want” he shrugged. Technically he could understand why people saw interest in becoming blue royalty, but it just never appealed to him, it wasn’t something that he wanted or seeded whatsoever, so what’s the point?
“My parents have a way of making what they want to happen, happen. Whether anyone else agrees or not.” ”fair” he said lightly raising in eyebrows for a second as if they were shrugging. ”Can’t relate but that’s just me” Andy himself didn’t usually let his mother (or anyone else for that matter) make decisions for him, and it wasn’t even a ’troublemaker’ think, he jusy doesn’t like not being in control of his own life, he wants to be independent and fully in control of what happens in his life, and most people that tried controlling his life didn’t want the same things as he did, so he just stopped listening.
Zion got ready to go to the prom, styling their hair and having their brother help them zip up their dress. They put their phone in their purse and grabbed their keys from the hook. Their parents stopped them before they could leave and took pictures of them in their dress. They left their house and got into their car, driving towards Tala’s house.
As they drove, they couldn’t help feeling nervous and excited at the same time. They hoped that they would be able to give Tala an amazing night, as well as complete their tasks. They really didn’t hold back this time. They thought to themselves, refocusing back on the road. They arrived at Tala’s house and took a nervous breath before picking up the corsage they’d bought for her and exiting their vehicle. They walked up to her front door and rang the doorbell, then stood back and waited for someone to open the door.
