Chapter 1
It’s five minutes before his call with Pandora, his agent. Already he knows exactly what the feedback will be. It is the same every single time. The characters don’t have enough chemistry, they don’t seem like they like each other, let alone love. Have you ever been in love, Reg?
No. No, Regulus has never been in love or been on a date. He’s had many crushes, but he’s shy and the people he likes are never the people that like him. Still, he has so much love to give. He aches for someone to spend his time with, someone to bother with every little thing he has to say, cuddle up to at night, falling asleep and waking up together. How he’d get there he has no idea, but he can dream.
It’s how he got here,the least romantic person on the planet, writing romance books. He had a crush and dreamed about their future too much. Evan, the guy in one of his lectures that he never talked to, the guy he got paired with for an assignment, who already had a boyfriend, who now is one of his best friends. He is happy this way. Evan is happy with Barty and Regulus is happy with two of the best friends he could ask for.
It was a hit. People related to his longing, but that is all he ever does. Longing, not loving. Now there are all these expectations and imagination only gets him so far.
The ringing of his phone pulls him out of his thoughts. ‘Pandora’, it reads with a picture of the two of them at Regulus' first book signing event.
“Reggie!” Pandora greets him cheerfully once he accepts the call. “I read your newest version, great job so far!”
“No, it’s not, we both know it’s not. It’s lacking soul, Pandora. It has got no feeling, nobody is moved by this. It’s bland and it sucks.”
“Well thanks Reg for saying that so I don’t have to. Your last book was great Reg, but this, where is all the feeling?”
“Nowhere!” He is starting to get frustrated. “I know yearning and longing, I don’t know love.”
“It’s not that hard Reg, there’s people everywhere, someone out there will like you for you, love you for it even.”
“And where am I supposed to meet this person when I am in my flat writing the whole day, huh. Grocery store? Let me just hit on the cashier, don’t think that will be much appreciated.”
“Just download a dating app, meet someone. I truly believe it will help you.”
Regulus sighs, hard enough for Pandora to hear. She knows how he feels about this. Writing his new book has been a struggle and she is only trying to help. They’ve discussed it many times and come to the conclusion his writing is better the more it is real and about him.
“I’ll think about Panda,” he responds defeatedly. He knows it’s a good idea, but also scary like new things always are. “Talk to you later.”
He was not going to think about it. Downloading a dating app? Him. No fucking way. He’d think of something else. Ask one of his friends to pretend to date him, just take him out for dinner once and be done with it, just so he can tell Pandora he went and be done with it.
The more he thought about it the better his idea was beginning to sound, in theory. Who the fuck could he ask. He can’t ask Pandora. He can’t ask Dorcas. And asking either Barty or Evan was also not a good idea. Who else could he ask?
That same night he got the answer to that question.When he knocked on the door of Sirius’ flat, but instead of being greeted by his brother it was James who opened the door. James smiled and greeted him, “Hi Reg!”
“Regulus,” he corrected him.
James shook his head, “Hi, Regulus.” Saying his name with emphasis.
“Where is my brother?”
“Nice to see you too.” James steps aside so Regulus can enter. He sheds his coat and makes his way to the living room.
“Getting some more drinks for tonight,” James answers his question. “He still has some wine if you want any.” James points at the kitchen. Regulus gets himself a glass before he goes to sit on a chair across from James.
It’s awkward. They’re just sitting there in silence, while Regulus sips his wine. He looks up to find James already looking at him.
“Why are you staring at me?”
James blushes at being caught and tries to deflect, “Why are you asking me so many questions?”
Regulus just keeps staring until his question is answered, James has to relent sometime. The longer Regulus keeps looking the more flushed James becomes. “You’re well, you probably hear this quite often, but you’re really pretty,” James manages eventually.
He does hear it quite often, from James. It’s this thing that has been going on for far too long. James complimenting him, flirting with him. The only answer he ever gives is a roll of his eyes.
James could be joking. Be in on the game. But he could also be serious. What if he actually likes Regulus? He doesn’t want to think so, nobody ever likes him. Not really, not when they get to know him better.
“Matter of fact,” James continues, “how do you feel about going out some time. Just the two of us, you know, like a date.”
James is a genius. He would be perfect for his little experiment. Charming, lovely James. He would know how to make his date swoon.
James is already expecting a no. It’s one of the rules of their game, Regulus says no, James shows him his puppy dog eyes and Regulus says no again.
It’s uncharted territory.
“Yeah, sure,” Regulus says as casual as possible. Fuck, it’s mean, using James like this, but fuck it’s necessary. Pandora is right, he needs his next book not to disappoint. And to make his writing feel real, it has to be real.
James was in fact expecting his request to be denied, he already has that trademark pouty look ready to go. Now though, disbelieve quickly makes place for a smile. “Really?”
“Don’t make me doubt it.”
James gets the unexpected answer. The look on his face says it all, absolutely elated. “You won’t regret it Reg, I swear.” James keeps rambling about his plans for their date, but Regulus can’t focus. All he can think about is how James genuinely likes him and he just does this. Uses him for his own benefit.
James’ rambling is interrupted by a key turning the lock. Sirius and Remus are back with more booze and snacks. Even though they seem to have some silent agreement not to let Sirius know, the dopey smile on James’ face stays the whole night.
The next morning when checking his phone he is met with a text from James telling him he can’t wait for their date, his genuine excitement makes Regulus almost regret saying yes.