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[color=gray][sup]Collab with: Riley [@Lovely Complex] and Jamie [@smarty0114] 
Mentions: Elodie [@Legion02], Trixie, and Min-seo [@Fabricant451]
Location: The Beach House Kiss Closet
Setting: Flashback to NYE Party[/sup][/color]
[hr][hr][/center][indent]Marshall finally had a moment to himself and, to be honest, it wasn’t going well. He needed alcohol, and a lot of it, that much was certain. He had originally set out for the bar to obtain said alcohol after he had separated from his hero’s helping hand. Man alive, did Selena’s brother have the finest physique… but, that was a thought for another time. Marsh’s mind was elsewhere, like, on the fact that his ex-friend almost just murdered him in front of the majority of BHHS’ student body. Maybe that was a slight exaggeration, maybe.

The theater boy was stewing on this thought while he waited for Min-seo, the Korean foreign exchange student running the bar, to take his drink order, when yet [i]another[/i] foreign exchange student had approached him. Elodie. He had known her name and face, as he did most students, because if you attend Beverly Hills High and gossip king Marshall Radley [i]doesn’t[/i] know your name, do you even exist? The french-speaking beauty had come to speak to him with a goal in mind, that was clear. She wanted to know about the Candies and, unfortunately for her, Marshall wasn’t feeling as sweet as he usually did. Tonight, Marshall felt more like a sour candy, but he gave her his best speech of how it is an organization of love and friendship, regardless of his emotions. He doubted she would want to join after that, but he truly did give it his best, given the situation.

Now that Elodie had wandered off, Marshall was left to his own devices. He ordered not one, not two, but [i]three[/i] shots of tequila. It was top shelf, but it still kind of tasted like ball sweat. That was fine. Marshall downed all three shots in quick succession and then exhaled, long and hard. Yup, nope… this wasn’t working. Alcohol might be a solution, but it wasn’t the answer he was seeking. Marshall was hurting, both physically and emotionally, and he really just needed to have moment to himself when he wasn’t wearing the mask of a practiced actor.

A moment to yourself in a room full of hormonal, chatting, dancing teenagers wasn’t exactly easy to come by. Marshall felt himself coming undone at the seams, so he had to find a place, and he had to find one quickly. His eyes frantically scanned the room and found sanctuary in the form of a closet. More specifically, the kiss closet — reserved for drunken regrets, or seven minutes in heaven, whichever you preferred to call it. Marshall didn’t much care, it was an enclosed space, and that was what he required right now.

Hoping beyond hope that he would not stumble into any of his classmates making out, Marshall beelined for the closet. [i]Peace[/i]. At long last, Marshall was alone with his thoughts and feelings — and a significant amount of alcohol in his system, of course. In this quiet moment of weakness, Marsh let himself reflect on what had scarred his mind the most from earlier that evening. He would never be able to forget the look in in Owen’s eyes right before Sean had intervened, no doubt saving his life. It was the most terrifying thing that Marshall had ever encountered, and it was coming from someone that used to be a good friend of his. 

Without much of a choice in the matter, Marshall’s eyes welled up. Overcome with equal parts sadness, fear, and frustration that he was crying about it, Mar’s breath hitched in his throat. At this point, there wasn’t much that Marsh could do to prevent the onslaught, so he just let it happen. Marshall Radley was having himself a good hard cry. In a closet. At a party. Happy 2043!

[i]Knock. Knock.[/i]

From the outside of the bathroom door, Riley Wells lethargically waited for a response. Whoever was in there was taking a good, long minute. Jesus. Truth be told, he didn’t actually have to pee, if he did, he would just pee on the fire outside because that’s what you do at parties like this. Peeing was simply the first excuse he could think of when he held the mic. Improv was part of the job.

All Riley wanted was a moment to himself where someone wasn’t asking for a song change or wanting to request more songs than the time frame of the party would allow. Or worse, someone requesting a shitty song, thinking it was a good choice, but really, Riley would [i]intentionally[/i] skip it and then they’d come bitch about their song not playing.  [color=426f6f][i]I don’t know what to tell you! The playlist is on shuffle.[/i][/color] 

A charming, yet melancholy voice brought his mind back to reality, as he goggled at a large picture on the door. The picture, mind you, was fascinating. It looked like Damian, but with some different facial features, so Riley would assume that the painting was of Damian’s father instead, painted like a greek god, with a strawberry blonde dressed like Aphrodite, hugging his leg — possessively. Man, Damian’s parents were [i]fucking weird[/i]. 

[color=15603A][b]“It’s… It’s going to be awhile!”[/b][/color] Trixie? She sounded like she was choking… on tears? No, probably vomit.  

[color=426f6f][b]“...you good?”[/b][/color] Riley brought his gaze from the painting to his empty cup. While he waited for her response, he not so sneakily put his plastic cup in a nearby plant… it was like a tiny palm tree. He was no gardner. So, it’s name for the night would be tiny palm tree. Now, it would be the place for his garbage. 

[color=15603A][b]“O-of course! I’m just letting it all out!”[/b][/color] He could hear puking noises. Regardless if they were real or not, Rye believed it. 

[color=426f6f][b]“Gotcha. You do you. I’ll… catch you later.”[/b][/color] Okay. Bathroom break spot was a no go. What were his other options? Sighing to himself, Riley dawdled around the area, not in the mood to go outside where there was twice as many people as there was inside. If he did go outside, the best and worst option would be a tent, where debauchery was allowed. Inside though? Leaning his back on the wall, he scanned the room to find an answer only for his elbow to hit a door knob. Turning around, as if fate had spoken to him, he was confronted by a CLOSET. Looking behind him, making sure no one was watching, even though he wasn’t looking that hard, Riley decided the coast was clear and, like a ninja, he rushed in. 

Allelui-- Before the feeling of freedom completely rushed over him, his drunken brain realized he was in an… unimaginable position. With coats against him, and little to no space, he could feel another body in front of him.  Their bodies were so close that he could get a good waft of the mystery kid’s scent, like dad’s Cinnamon Caramel Cookies (both spicy and sweet). He could also feel the kid’s breathing on his lips and the sound of sobbing echoing in the confined space. What do you do in a position like this? Riley felt bad for crashing into this unknown person’s private space. Should he go? But he… she? Was crying… 

Should he stay? 

Like the clever boy that he thought he was, all Riley could say was, [color=426f6f][b]“...you good?”[/b][/color] 

[color=997fdb][b]“U-uh.”[/b][/color] Was the only response that Marshall could eek out. He’d been caught red handed. Err — teary eyed? Either way, he’d been caught having a very private moment by… someone? It was completely dark in here, he couldn’t even see the mystery guy’s face. He knew that it was a guy, because the voice was distinctly male, and that made this entire situation ten times worse. Marsh made his best attempt at hiding the fact that he was just full-on sobbing. Sniffing as quietly as he could, the drama kid gave a more collected response. [color=997fdb][b]“I’m fine.”[/b][/color] A lie.

Riley could recognize that voice anywhere, having been to every single drama production for the sake of knowing what he was talking about in his morning show. He had to know what he was talking about and it was better to be there in the moment than getting a brief from Brynn. Plus, Marshall was one of the Stars in the sky that was their school. He’d feel dumb if he wasn’t able to recognize the primadonna of theatre, the only guy Candy, and the ‘gbf’ of the HOT girls. Now, to reveal himself, or to keep his identity a mystery until they both took their exit? [color=426f6f][b]“This might not help but… you smell nice.”[/b][/color] What? It was true. 

There was no way in hell those sobs were fake earlier. Riley has seen his dad, Remy, cry on a daily basis watching some depressing movie where the hero loses their dog or some shit. This sounded just like that. His only thought though was the scent that was clouding his judgement. [i]Cinnamon[/i]. Subconsciously, he took a step closer.

Recognition set in. Marshall knew that voice, [i]everyone[/i] in Beverly Hills High knew that voice. Riley Wells was, in fact, [i]the[/i] voice of Beverly Hills High. Fabulous. Not only was Marshall caught crying in a closet, but it was by a guy that Marshall was pretty sure was caught in a closet of his own. This moment better not make its way into the morning announcements, so help him. Marsh did, however, crack a smile at Riley’s compliment. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Heh, thanks. It’s french.”[/b][/color] Marshall explained the fragrance. With the mood shifting from it’s previous somber solace, Marshall attempted to make himself look more presentable. Even if it was dark, presentation was everything, especially if he wanted any hope of salvaging this incredibly shitty night. Marsh reached his hands up to wipe the salty streaks off of his cheeks, and only then did he realize just how close Riley had gotten, as he awkwardly brushed his hands against the other man’s chest. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Oh, heh, hello. Uhm…”[/b][/color] Surely Riley wasn’t standing that close the whole time? Did he… did he take a step closer? It suddenly felt like it was a million degrees in that closet, and his emotions flipped so quickly that Marshall felt like he was unbuckled on a rollercoaster. Thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating.

 [color=426f6f][b]“I — ”[/b][/color] What would Trevor do? In these types of scenarios, his brother always knew the right words to say. The right things to do. Just… knew what was right. A boy was found sad in the closet. Disregarding the location, a boy was found sad. What could make him feel better? Breathing lightly against Marshall’s cheek, Riley wrapped him in a warm swaddle of his chest and arms. Hugs. Hugs were always a good start.  [color=426f6f][b]“— hope this is fine.”[/b][/color] When Riley gave the nuns at the orphanage hysterical tantrums, all Trevor had to do was put him in his arms and all the frustration, pain, and sadness would go away. Mental. Physical. Like it had never existed in the first place. The safest place was in someone’s embrace. Especially when it comes from the heart.

Marshall wasn’t ready for that. Nope, he one hundred percent was not prepared. That being said, he enjoyed the hell out of that hug. Anyone that knew Marshall knew that he loved to give hugs, but that was the thing, he was always [i]giving[/i] them. In this moment it felt really, really nice to be on the receiving end. Marsh felt all of the negative vibes roll out of him as he went so far as to give the brown-haired boy a squeeze. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Thanks, Riley. I really needed that.”[/b][/color] Marsh admitted and released the kid from the embrace, perhaps a little too reluctantly. Stepping back, he made sure to wipe off his face like he had originally intended to do, and exhaled deeply once again. They needed to leave this closet before people started thinking that something far more exciting was happening. Not that Marshall would particularly mind if something far more exciting was happening, but he wasn’t so sure about his closet companion. [color=997fdb][b]“We should probably exit stage left, yeah?”[/b][/color]

Although the darkness hid it, Riley did smile at the change in atmosphere. He was successful in cheering up a fellow peer! Right on. Proud of himself, he nodded at the attractive drama kid,  [color=426f6f][b]“You first. I’ll wait a bit. Would be kinda odd if we made our exit together.”[/b][/color] 

[i]Ouch[/i]. Marshall pretty much expected that, but it didn’t stop the sting of it. [color=997fdb][b]“Yeah, of course.”[/b][/color] He said quickly and quietly, turning to leave. Before he opened the door, however, he turned back around towards the darkness. [color=997fdb][b]“You won’t… tell anyone, right?”[/b][/color]

[color=426f6f][b]“Am I ever the one that spreads gossip?”[/b][/color] Riley playfully teased, before continuing, [color=426f6f][b]“Yeah, yeah, my lips are sealed. If it comes out, you can personally slap me in the face.”[/b][/color] He joked. 

Marsh gave a crooked grin, and though Riley would not see it, it could be heard in his voice. [color=997fdb][b]“I think it’d be more fun to seal your lips, boo.”[/b][/color] He said, before slipping out of the door and back into the party.

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Jamie had been standing in front of the closet for a very long time. In fact, he’d been mulling over the comedic potential of the word ‘closet’, when Marshall had ran in. Jamie was taken aback. Mainly because he really hadn’t been expecting that closet to open and shut as quickly as it did, but also because, Marshall. And so Jamie found, probably the most ironic, and blessed situation a gay could ask for. A fellow gay, alone, in a closet. Who may or may not happen to be very cute. And very single. And very much Jamie’s crush.

Jamie hadn’t thought he’d been making his decision for as long as he had, but apparently, he’d been arguing with himself over whether or not to follow Marshall in for enough time that Riley of all people followed him in. [color=31ba9f][i][b]What the fuck?[/b][/i][/color] Jamie thought to himself, his stomach doing an entire gymnastics routine as what romantic dreams he had were suddenly dashed.

He sat there and waited, for a long time, or at least what felt like a long time, while Riley and Marshall did who knows what. [color=31ba9f][i][b]Wait...but Riley isn’t gay. Or is he? I mean...I could see it, [/b][/i][/color] he thought to himself, his brain running circles around the possibilities. Okay. That was it. He’d barge in and act like he didn’t know anyone was there. Perfect. Okay. Let’s go. Jamie slowly inched towards the door, but before he could get much further, Marshall opened the door and stepped out, walking right into Jamie. [color=31ba9f][b]”Oh, hi. I-erm, well I...hi,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, his words stuck in his throat.

[color=997fdb][b]“Oh, uhh.”[/b][/color] Marshall unintentionally parroted Jamie’s surprised remarks. Jesus Christ, was the universe truly going to frown upon him for this [i]entire[/i] night? Of all the people he could have run into, in this moment, it was Jamie. Of course it was. Very, very uncharacteristically, Marshall Radley blushed. Riley was following him out of that closet door behind him in approximately 0.2 seconds, and if they didn’t teleport away right here, right now, this was going to look very, very bad. Unfortunately for Marshall, he didn’t know how to teleport.

Eh-hem. Riley wasn’t that drunk to not feel the advance. Marshall was a [i]candilicious flirt[/i]. These things came natural to him. The door closed leaving Rye in darkness but his head did feel a weeeee bit warm. Let’s blame the alcohol. Oh, and he actually had to pee. Probably. He wasn’t going to overthink any sensations going on right now. After counting in his head two hundred and forty seconds, Riley decided that was enough time and slyly exited out the closet,   [color=426f6f][b]“To the firerrrrr---”[/b][/color] Oh fuck, he was balls deep in some shit now. With embarrassment still written all over his face, Riley looked at the two boys that stood before him. If life had a puppeteer, creating moments like this, just to fuck him, yeah, Riley really didn’t know if life was something for him. He came to the sudden realization there were some things out of his control. [color=426f6f][b]“J-Jamie, it isn’t what it looks like. We were… he and I…”[/b][/color] [i]He wanted to die.[/i]

Jamie was...shocked? That didn’t seem to capture his emotions to the max. Exasperated? No. Flabbergasted. Yes. Jamie was flabbergasted. He had just met his crush, coming out of what was a probable make out sesh in a closet with a boy who’d just found out he had a crush on said crush. [color=31ba9f][b]”No, it’s fine. Totally fiiiiiiiine. I’m just going to go outside for a bit, y’know. I got lost.”[/b][/color] Jamie nodded, his cheeks flushing redder than they were, if that was even possible, as he turned away from the pair, and beelined for the door, out to the bonfire, and hopefully far away from this mess. 

[color=997fdb][b][i]Shit.[/i][/b][/color][/indent]