Move-In Day
After his conversation with Evan, Regulus headed to the nearest station and took the train to Loyola. He was helping Sirius move into his new college apartment. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but he was proud of Sirius, he really was.
As Regulus stepped onto the campus, he saw none other than James fucking Potter holding the door open for some girl, as he held a box in the other hand. “Reggie! I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Yes well Sirius asked me to help him move in, and though I heavily considered saying no, I’m here. I assume he asked the same of you?”
“Oh Sirius didn’t tell you? We’re roommates!”
“Fucking hell” Regulus rolled his eyes, but James just grinned at him and told him to grab a box so they could head upstairs.
Their apartment was on the 3rd floor so they had to climb two flights of stairs to get there. The door was already open and Sirius was inside. The place was a mess, it would take hours to sort out and set up everything.
“I’m gonna go grab the last few boxes, you can start helping Sirius with all the stuff already here.”
“Ok.”
“Oh, and I wanted to let you know that, umm” James paused and looked down at the
floor for a moment like he was embarrassed, “Lily’s coming over soon as well. I invited her before, and I didn’t know that you were gonna be here. I’m really sorry Reg-”
“It’s fine, honestly I don’t mind” It wasn’t fine and he absolutely did mind, but he just wanted James to stop talking and just leave now.
There were two bedrooms, a sitting room, and a small kitchen in the apartment. It was
small but nice. Sirius was already in the bedroom he had claimed as his, and Regulus walked in and greeted him. “Hey.”
“Hey. Were you talking to James just now?”
“Not really. He just started talking to me and wouldn’t really stop.”
“Yeah, he does that sometimes.”
Sirius tried to make more small talk with him, but Regulus wasn’t having it and eventually Sirius got the message and they continued on in silence.
30 minutes later and there’s a knock at the door. James and Sirius were both occupied, so Regulus went to open it. Lily Evans stood in front of him, stunning as always. He hated her, of course, but he could still appreciate her beauty. Regulus realized he was staring at her, but she seemed to be doing the same. He wasn’t going to be the one to break the silence.
“Is Jamie here?”
“Yes. James is here.”
“Cool! Thanks Regulus!” She slid past him and peeked into both bedrooms (going into the wrong one first) before finding James. Regulus tried to ignore them but it was difficult when they insisted on being affectionate literally all of the fucking time.
“Hi baby” He heard James say when Lily came into his room.
“Hi. I didn’t expect Regulus to be here.” Lily responded.
Regulus really shouldn’t be listening to this but he couldn’t stop himself.
“Yeah Sirius wanted him here I guess. You don’t have to talk to him though”
“Ok good, I’ve always thought him to be a bit off putting.” Lily said this so casually and he wanted nothing more than to strangle her right there and then. How could she say that about him? He was sure James would jump in to defend him, but he said nothing, in fact he murmured in agreement with his girlfriend.
Regulus decided to leave. At this point, he couldn’t stand to be around James and Lily anymore. He made sure to slam the door on his way out.
James must have heard him leaving, because when he got down to the street, James was just behind him. “Regulus! Wait Up!”
He turned around. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry about Lily, I just don’t want her to find out about us. Or anyone.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck about Lily!” He exclaimed.
“I know.” James looked down at the ground. “I just wish you guys could get along.”
James was an optimist. It was his nature. But Regulus wasn’t. And he wasn’t going to change for anyone, not even James.
James stepped closer to him. He was a couple inches taller than Regulus, so he had to tilt his head up to look at him properly. James tucked a piece of Regulus’s hair behind his ear. “You’re so beautiful, Regulus.” James leaned in even closer.
“Not here James. Not in public.” He knew James was about to kiss him.
“Oh right, my bad.” He looked disappointed. “I’ll see you later?”
“Might be a bit tricky now that you’re living with my brother.”
“We’ll find a way to make it work, love.”
Regulus left, but he wasn’t going home. He knew that as soon as he did, his parents would be at his throat, and after what just happened today he would rather kill himself than go home. He was headed to Pandora’s house. They had been best friends since they were 5 because Pandora came up to him during recess in kindergarten and just started talking to him. After that day, she continued to talk to him everyday so forth, and 12 years later they’re still as close. Her home life was pretty shit as well, so they bonded over that as well. She had two older brothers, Rodulphus and Rabastan, they were both married, so Pandora was home alone most of the time which worked out for Regulus who was over at her house more often than his own.
“Panda! Open the door!” He knocked at the front door, but no one was answering. “Come on, I know you’re in there”
She opened the door with her boyfriend in tow. “Sorry I didn’t realize he was here.”
“It’s ok darling, Xeno doesn’t mind if you come in.” She said, then turned to her boyfriend. “Do you?”
“No, of course not. Come on in Regulus.” Xenophilius said to him. Regulus knew he was trying to be nice but his voice was strained. It didn’t really matter to Regulus though, who came into the house and promptly plopped himself onto the couch in the living room. The TV was on.
“Were you two fucking?”
“Yes, obviously.” Xenophilius responded.
“Oh I didn’t realize. Sorry for interrupting.” Regulus felt embarrassed all of a sudden.
“Don’t be darling, it’s really alright.” Pandora had the wonderful ability to never make you feel bad about yourself. Though she seemed to be lost in her own world most of the time which made others wary when it came to her, Regulus loved her like no other. “Why’d you come? Is everything okay?”
“No.” Regulus never lied to Pandora. She knew everything about him.
“Is it Sirius?” Regulus shook his head. “Is it James?” He nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”
He really didn’t. But Pandora had told her boyfriend she’d catch up with him later, and so Xenophilius left, leaving Pandora all to himself.
“Sirius asked me to help him with moving into his apartment, but he didn’t tell me he’s rooming with James. And when I went over there, James was there, and then later Lily showed up.”
“Oh love, I’m so sorry. James shouldn’t have let her come with you there, that’s so awful.” Pandora pulled him closer into her lap and ran her fingers through his hair. Regulus watched the TV in front of him, as he willed tears to stay in his eyes and not fall down his cheeks.