million dollar men
Chapter 2:
You said you wanted to feel alive, so we went to the beach
You were born in July ‘95 in a deadly heat
You say you’re a winter bitch, but summer’s in your blood
You can’t help but become the sun
The music played in the crowded room. Laughter filled up every empty space as a group of 20 year olds played never have I ever. Regulus had earlier met Mary, Lily, and Marlene. Earlier meaning about 20 minutes ago. Mary, Lily, and Marlene were all in a band called The Sapphics, they were one of those bands that you don’t have to be gay to listen to but ninety percent of their audience is gay teenage girls. So Sirius wasn’t shocked when Regulus said he had never heard of them when Sirius asked on the way to the party. The “party” was all of them in a hotel room getting as high as the empire state. And Regulus who because of previous problems, had to stay sober. Was having the time of his life watching from afar. If you asked him, though, he would deny it.
Remus and Sirius were doing their own thing as normal. Their own thing being terribly attempting to flirt with one another, the normality was the fact that they do the same thing while sober. They were so obviously in love that the fact they didn’t realize it themselves saddened Regulus, and almost all of their friends. Not to Regulus’ knowledge but to their own, they did have a friends with benefits thing back when they were 15, it ended quickly though because they ended up arguing about dating other people. The whole time it was because their feelings went beyond some simple friends with benefits thing.
With everyone sitting in the hotel room, drunk off their asses. James had found his way to Regulus, tripping on Marlene's foot on the way over, which had caused Regulus to laugh at him. James sat down next to Regulus on the floor. “You’re pretty.” He stupidly, but honestly, said. “Me?” Regulus questioned, with genuine concern. “Yeah you…with your stupid hair and stupid eyes. It's all so stupid.” Regulus rolled his eyes, “You’re stupid, James Potter,” he laughed a little. “I made Regulus Black laugh, I guess I’m actually funny.” Regulus stopped laughing just as James did, “No, that’s not it, you’re just so oblivious to the point where it’s funny.”
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James.
I woke up thinking about Regulus, this was new. It was also weird. I mean why would I be thinking about him. Shit. I might have been stupid last night. What I would be stupid about is a whole new story. But I know I was being stupid. I always get stupid when I get drunk. At least I’m not an emotional drunk. Crying wouldn’t have been great for me last night. I looked around the room and only was able to see as far as Marlene sleeping on the couch from my wonderful view from the floor. Empty bottles were scattered around the room. It felt like waking up at a frat party. I sat up from the floor, my back made a dangerous crack as well as my neck. Deserved for sleeping on the floor. The bed in front of me held Mary and Lily, and next to them was Sirius and Peter who were both practically hanging off the sides of the bed. I was wondering where Remus was but I won’t lie when I say I didn’t look for Regulus first. The denial was so real. I would never fall for someone who hates me as much as he does. I’m not stupid. Or I thought I wasn’t.
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“Coffee!” Lily yelled out, entering the room with two trays of coffee, Mary by her side. “Someone should fetch Regulus and Remus,” Marlene suggested, getting up from the couch. “Wait, why? Where’d they go?” Sirius interrupted, sounding on edge. “Calm down with the jealousy, Sirius,” Lily teased, laughing.“Me? Why would I be jealous?” Nobody answered, opting instead for silent laughter that only fueled Sirius' confusion. “We’re back! Missed us?!” Remus announced, entering through the door with a bag of water bottles and Aspirin. Regulus followed, looking more than half asleep.“Regulus, you were the only sober one. How come you basically look dead?” Mary questioned, prompting a sigh from Regulus. “That one snores,” he explained, pointing to Remus. Remus just looked up from his conversation with Sirius and put his hands up, “Whatever he said, I'm not guilty.”
“Mornin’ James.” Peter greeted, settling on the floor beside James. “Mornin’ Pete. Quick question, did I do anything stupid last night?” Peter snorted, “Other than your terrible attempt at flirting with Regulus, nothing much.” Sirius deadpanned, “Excuse me…?” James rubbed his hand behind his neck, “Pretty sure Pete is joking, right.” James said, shoving Peter's arm. And that was when the myth, the man, the legend himself, Regulus Black decided to chime in. “James. Let’s not deny the truth.” Peter laughed, almost spitting out his coffee, “Oh, you’re hair, your eyes…you’re so pretty.” Peter said, mocking me. Then everything James said to Regulus the previous night came back to him, “I mean I was really drunk. I didn’t really know what I was saying.” Regulus jokingly scoffed, “Are you denying my beauty?” He put down his drink, “No I’m not, it’s just l-” James said trying to defend himself when Sirius cut me off, “I’m not keen on continuing this conversation.”
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Regulus.
The idea of being photographed while you’re just trying to be leaving a place as simple as a hotel. With as simple as intentions of only having some drinks with newly made acquaintances. Then when you add in the simplicity of having people accuse you of dating someone who you absolutely despise, it one hundred percent worsens the situation. I should already be used to this, cameras in my face, I mean. I’ve had my life put on display since the second I came out of the womb. And with Sirius having already been born, we were in enough spotlight as it was. My first experience with the public, that I remember of, was Halloween night when I was only 11. I had only asked to Trick or Treat with my friends, but I was quickly denied and given no reason other than I can’t have them taking photos of you. I had a black eye. My father had hit me in my eye the previous night. So instead of Trick or Treating with my friends, I sat inside my room and listened to my parents argue from the room over. Sirius had ended up ditching his friends and spending the night in. That night he showed me more music than I could possibly even think of. I remember him showing me a Green Day cd that James had bought for him. And I remember hating it. If only we had more of those moments. If only I remembered them better.
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Driving back to the house was…interesting, definitely something you’d watch on Netflix at 2:00 am. They all took the same car, which you can just imagine was fascinating. Because of the fact that James wanted to be humble while swimming in money, Remus drove. Sirius controlled the radio (to no-one's surprise). And Regulus sat in the blacked out window, next to Peter, who was sitting next to James. While Remus and Sirius were talking, and Peter was listening to music on his phone, James obnoxiously sighed and began speaking, “Regulus. I want to say w-well what I said earlier, I justdidn’t think and I d-” He cut in, “There's no need for you to apologize, I understand. Why are you so caught up on apologizing anyway? It's like all of a sudden you care…?” James smiled and leaned towards him, “Well, Regulus Black. I have found my life's mission.” Regulus tilted his head, anticipating what he already knew was coming, “And what’s that?” James hummed, “It’s to make you like me.” Regulus laughed, “Go ahead. Try.” James then put on the most cocky face, “Regulus Black, you will like me. Whether you like it or not.” Regulus sat back in his seat, “Let’s see him try.” He mumbled under his breath. The thing is, James Potter loved a challenge. Especially when it came to people liking him.
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It isn't that hard, boy
To like you or love you
I'd follow you down, down, down
You're unbelievable
If you're going crazy
Just grab me and take me
Regulus was a writer, that was no lie. He loved writing, even if it came down to something as simple as just writing one sentence that he thought sounded good on paper. So when Regulus’ parents denied him the ability to write his own songs, it ruined him. They said they didn't want the public thinking there was something wrong with him. So his one way of escaping was ripped out of his maimed limbs.
No-one's ever read his writing. He refuses to show people. Something that caused him to doubt how great his writing abilities were. Especially that when he was 15 his mother found his journal and had read the pages out loud to him. And before she threw out the book she spat out, horrific…everything in there was absolutely horrific.
Still he wrote, something that he secretly was proud of himself for not giving up. Again, he would never admit that. Some things are better and not important enough to tell people. Some things are meant for taking them to the grave.
After spending a couple days living with four boys who all had their own exciting traits, Regulus had made the decision that Remus was his favorite. He didn’t ask too many questions and when he did it was the perfect one. He also liked the same music as Regulus, something that was hard to find within both their own friend groups. Remus liked David Bowie, that was something Regulus could admire. As an artist himself, he admired good music. There's nothing bad about good music.
On the third day of living with them James had knocked on Regulus’ door right after lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Regulus hesitantly opened the door. “Want to go to a bookstore with me. I’ll buy.” James proposed, leaning on the door frame. Regulus had just been making a list of books to read so without even second guessing it, he agreed. James had to ask him a few more times just to make sure that he wasn’t playing around with him. “James. Listen. Let me just grab my things and we can go. I already said yes like 5 times. If you ask one more time I’m gonna say no.” Regulus said, closing the door. James waited outside the door for him. Smiling harder than he
has in a while. Regulus opened the door, wearing baggy jeans, a tight fitting green shirt that was a little cropped, a leather jacket and a tote bag. And James stared.
“James-you good?” Regulus questioned. “Yeah. Ready? Let’s go.” James said, grabbing the keys and closing the front door behind him and Regulus. “Did you tell Sirius we were going to the store?” James opened the car door for Regulus, “Uh. I knew I was forgetting something…” He closed the door and made his way to the other side, getting in. “You weren’t gonna tell him, were you?” Regulus asked, turning on the radio. “Yeah, I wasn’t.” James smiles.
Basket Case by Green Day comes on the radio.
“Hey, I love this song.” James turns up the radio.
“I know.” Regulus smiles out the window.