Chapter 3
Regulus knew convincing his older brother to let him go to the bonfire would be a failed plan, so he had simple solution: not tell Sirius.
"It's a simple plan," Marlene instructes, "While everyone leaves, you just need to call over a friend who can drive here to pick you up."
"Dorcas," Regulus replies instantly, not even taking to factor how the girl in front of him was his best friend's number one hater.
Marlene's eye twitches. "You have no other upperclassmen friends?"
Regulus frowns. "Be thankful I have at least one. I'm no James Potter who collects friends like pokemons."
A bright laugh escapes Marlene, the type of laugh that makes you feel like you earned something: Eyes crinkling in happiness, head thrown back, and body free of tension. Regulus decides she's the second coolest person at school.
Dorcas would always be first.
"Why are you even helping me anyway?"
Marlene's laugh ceases as she bites her lip, thinking of an answer before she shrugs. "Because it's the first night of summer and I don't think you have better plans."
"You don't know that. Maybe I am an actually a super hero who fights crime by night and is a regular teenage boy by day."
Marlene rolls her eyes, but reaches to ruffle the younger boy's hair, which immediately causes a scowl. "Yeah okay Peter Parker."
"MARLS!" Peter calls from downstairs, "WE'RE LEAVING! LETS GO!"
"I guess thats my cue. See you later, baby black."
Regulus is about to protest about the nickname, but the blonde is already out the door before he can say anything. He grumbles slightly and flops back onto his bed, and he waits until he hears the cars pull out of the driveway to text Dorcas, but when he pulls out his phone, he sees another text.
Sirius : Have a good night
Sirius :I love you
A frowns settles on Regulus's face and he suddenly feels a lot guiltier about what he is about to do. He places his phone beside him, and circles his vision on the celling, trying to decide which choice he will pick. On one hand, he understands that there was some parentifcaiton of Sirius when they were growing up because their parents never showed them love the way they were suppose to, so Sirius took it as his job to fill in. He gets it, he really does, and he appreciates how his older brother looks after him, but on the other hand he's approaching sixteen and can't be sheltered for the rest of his life.
The two choices were on his mental seesaw, each of them adding more reason why he should or shouldn't go. But in the end:
Reg : Hey Cas, can you pick me up?
Remus Lupin didn't understand what the point of them all coming to a party together if they were all just going to disband the second they got there. Mary went off to her date for the night: some football jerk he didn't know the name of, Marlene and Sirius immediately went to get a drink, Peter went to go find his girlfriend Sybill, and even Lily left him to sit with James by the bonfire.
Lily and James together was something Remus could not figure out. James was one of his best friends; he knew James liked Lily since they were all around eleven, but wasn't it just that? Like . James's crush just seemed so youthful, he couldn't pinpoint exactly the way James Potter was fond of Lily Evans. Lily, on the other hand, was more than his best friend. She was his other half, his first friend, and the first person to ever make him feel liked. He knew her better than anyone, and he knew that she didn't have his romantic feelings for James.
There was no special glint in her eyes when she looked at James. Not the way Peter's shined when he talked about Sybill, or Marlene when she talked about Mary (yes he knew about that too), and probably his when he talked about Siri-
No he was too sober for this.
Sirius Black was a dangerous thought. It wasn't surprising for a person to like Sirius Black; Sirius would attract attention no matter where he went. He was a charmer, a flirt, a heartthrob, it was not surprise Remus wasn't immune to his charms.
Sirius was also aware of his charms, and had no problem to charm boys and girls to hook up with him. In fact, Sirius seemed to be flirting with a random bloke right now.
Remus didn't realize he had been staring at the scene until his eyes met Sirius, and the atmosphere suddenly seemed a bit more tense. A sort of burning sensation washed over Remus, and he felt like every part of his body was on fire . The world suddenly stopped as brown met silver.
Though like a splash of cold water, the moment ended, and Sirius focused his attention back onto the bloke in front of him.
Yeah, I'm too sober for this
Regulus use to never understand the appeal to parties and drinking. To him, it was a blob of people acting out of stupidity or wanting to get away from their problems.
Now he can understand the appeal more. Maybe it's because they're on the beach, the moon is so bright out tonight, and he was intoxicated, but there's something about tonight that he likes.
"Your first party Reg," Barty says with a mischievous glint in his eyes, throwing an arm around Regulus, "Thoughts?"
"Fine," Regulus answers, his voice a little sluggish.
Evan comes around and throw his arm around the other side of Regulus. "So, are you going to -finally- do something about golden boy?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He does.
Dorcas rolls her eyes, taking a sip of drink. "Don't play stupid, Reg. It doesn't suit you."
Despite under the influence, Regulus still glares harshly at the older girl, but does not offer any argument, leading Pandora to interfere.
"Oh leave him alone guys," Pandora grins, "Just be happy he's here."
"This is why you're my favorite Dora," Regulus winks, "If I were into women, I'd go for you."
"I thought I was your favorite!" Barty protests, a pout forming on his face.
Regulus rolls his eyes. "I don't know why you thought that."
"You would me, Black."
"Shut up Crouch."
"I'll crouch down for-"
A smack upside the head from Dorcas cuts Barty off. "Okay you're done for the night."
Barty and Evan snicker together, only getting more of a rise out of Dorcas.
"Harassing children, are we?"
Dorcas tenses at the voice, and her facial expression turns blank as she turns to the voice.
"McKinnon," Dorcas greets coldly, and Regulus feels like the temperature actually dropped.
"Meadows," Marlene says just as stiffly before turning to Regulus and her eyes visibly brighten. "Baby Black! You made it!"
"Baby Black," Evan and Barty echo, snickering to themselves.
"Idiots," Regulus mutters, knocking their arms off. "Don't call me that."
"Yeah whatever," Marlene rolls her eyes, "Sirius and Remus are having constant staring contests tonight, so I think your brother will be preoccupied."
Regulus raises an eyebrow. "My brother and Lupin? Really?"
Marlene smirks slightly. "It's a work in progress."
Pandora nods in understanding. "Well Remus is lovely. Good for them."
Marlene flashes a toothy smile at Pandora. "Yeah that's our-"
"Are you done?" Dorcas cuts her off. "Or are you just going to be fucking annoying and bother us for the rest of the night?"
Marlene's all composure pauses at the word annoying, and Regulus watches as the light in Marlene's eyes extinguish at the word as if it's sin and not just a word. "I'll be off then." Marlene nods to Regulus. "See you, baby black."
An uncomfortable silence washes over the group when the blonde leaves, and Pandora is staring Dorcas down with an unhappy glint in her eyes. And one thing about their group is that no one likes to upset Pandora Lovegood. It was an unspoken rule, and even Dorcas, who is the oldest and toughest in the group, is avoiding eye contact with the younger blonde.
"Cas-"
"I'm going to get another drink."
No one stops her.
Regulus sighs. "I'll go talk to her."
He stalks off, in hope to catch up with his best friend, who is striding down quickly towards the center where the drinks are. Too caught up with his goal, he doesn't even recognize two of the people he passes.
"Reg?"
Regulus completely stills at the voice and his eyes snap towards James Potter, and he feels his heart skip a beat like it always does when it sees him. Though this time James is not alone. Next to him is a redhead. That redhead is Lily Evans to be exact.
Council Representative of her year, captain of debate team, varsity tennis player, and owner of James Potter's heart Lily Evans. Even her appearance right now was perfect. Her wave read hair that flowed perfectly on her back, her green eyes looking at him with warmth and kindness, a white sundress that hugged her curves perfectly, and even her earrings sat perfectly -which didn't even fully make sense- but Regulus knew one thing: He would never sparkle the way Lily Evans did.
"Regulus, are you okay?" Lily asked, her voice as sweet as honey. She looked at him so earnestly and warmly, but all it did was wanna make Regulus run away and maybe even cry.
He suddenly regretted coming here very very much. He didn't know why he even thought he should do this in the first place. To prove Sirius wrong? Or was it for himself? Or was it for him ?
James Potter gaze was turning more and more concern with each second Regulus didn't speak, and if this was any other circumstance, he might have swooned. But right now it only made him wanna cry more.
"Reg? Regulus?" James asked, a source of urgency in his tone, 'What's wrong? Are you okay? Do you want me to-"
Quickly turning around in panic, Regulus attempted to escape only to rougthly bump into someone. Great.
"What the fuck? Watch where you're, wait, Regulus?"
Fuck. This was the last thing he needed. For two reasons: he was in big trouble, and the second reason being that Sirius had always been the only person Regulus felt completely safe with, so he feared that being in this vulnerable state while being intoxicated around his big brother may actually have him burst into tears.
Sirius Black was on his way to find James after making out with some random bloke near the ocean when he bumped into a younger figure, causing a bit of his drink to spill.
He did not expect that figure to be his brother.
Sirius's blinked and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out whether he was hallucinating his little brother or he was actually here. When his brother was disappearing from his line of vision, he settled with the latter.
Just as he was about to give the scolding of his life, he noticed, even in his tipsy state, that his younger brother's eyes were welling up with tears. Sirius widened his eyes in alarm, the big brother siren going off in his head, and wondering who the fuck he would have to kill for making his baby brother cry.
"Reggie?" Sirius asked, the panic already in his voice as he pulled Regulus aside from everyone, leaving Lily and James in the center. "What's wrong? What happened? Did someone do something?"
The questions seem to trigger Regulus's emotion as the next second the younger boy bursts into tears, and he physically sinks down to the ground where Sirius immediately follows. "Regulus? Reg? Little star, you're really worrying me. Talk to me."
Though Regulus does not talk, and instead continues to cry out his heart as he shoves his face into his hands. The heart physically breaks Sirius's heart, and he instantly pulls his younger brother in his arms, wishing that he could shield his brother from all the pain in the world. "Reg," Sirius pleads, "I can't fix it for you if you don't tell me what's wrong."
Regulus only shakes his head and clings onto Sirius, crying in his shoulder even harder. "Why don't I sparkle?"
The words are muffled and drowsy because of the crying, but Sirius manages to hear. He furrows his eyebrows. Sparkle?
"What are you talking about?" Sirius asks softly, running a hair through his little brother's hair, in hopes to calm him down.
"I don't sparkle," Regulus hiccups, "I'm not good. I'm not good enough."
Sirius widens his eyes at the claims and he think he might have heart failure right now. "How could you even say that? Regulus you're my little star for a reason!" Sirius takes Regulus's face in his hands, "You're bigger than the whole sky! You shine so so bright, do you hear me? I don't want you to ever say that again."
Regulus only cries harder at the words, tightening his grip on Sirius.
And Sirius holds his younger brother, coaxing comforting words, desperately trying to calm Regulus down. When they were young, and Regulus use to get really bad nightmares, Sirius had resorted to singing in hopes to calm his younger brother down.
"The monster's gone," Sirius sang softly, "He's on the run and your big brother's here."
Beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful Boy
"It's okay," Sirius coaxed, "Big brother is here."
So there they were: two brothers under the night sky full of stars, holding each other on the first night of summer.
Mary didn't understand why she even thought in the first place that spending the first bonfire of the season with a guy was the best idea in first place.
'Men are shit," Mary announced, dropping next to Lily, where the redhead was watching the ocean with Marlene.
Lily hummed. 'What happened?"
"He ditched me," Mary shrugged, "At least I get to keep the jacket."
Marlene snorted. "Priorties."
Mary winked at the blonde before turning to Lily. "I thought you were with James."
"Oh yeah he had to go find Sirius and Regulus."
Mary furrowed her eyebrows. "Regulus is here?"
"Yeah," Lily frowned, "I think something happened to him because he seemed upset. Poor thing."
Marlene's eyes widened. "He was upset?"
"Yeah?" Lily's eyes narrowed, "Why?"
Marlene scratched the back of her neck. "Do you think Sirius has an actual good reason for not letting Regulus come? Because I thought he was just being an overprotective shit, so I kinda helped Regulus come."
Mary whistled. "You're brave for that, Marls."
Lily smacked the Marlene in the forehead, receiving a wince from the blonde. "What were you thinking, idiot?" Lily hissed, "No matter what you thought ,Regulus is Sirius's little brother and you shouldn't meddle."
"I was just trying to help Regulus!" Marlene protested, rubbing the spot where Lily smacked.
Marlene and Lily just sat there glaring at each other, leaving Mary to look back and forth between the two for a few moments before the trio bursted out laughing, clinging onto each other's arms.
Mary let out a sigh, throwing up her head to look at the night sky. "I hope we never change."
"People change all the time," Lily threw up her as well, "But not us."
"Never us," Marlene agreed, a small smile on her lips. "We are for life."
"For life."