Author's note: I, Xander Price, recently rewrote this and change the formatting to match the original story because I didn't like where I was taking the story. So, here is the new version, I hope you enjoy!
Baz
It's unnecessarily grandiose to use Open Sesame on the doors but I do it anyway because I know everyone will be in the dining hall, I may as well make an entrance.
I wanted it this way. I wanted to be on the person who got to break the news that I'm back.
Snow is the first person to react-leaps to his feet, sends furniture flying. Its work not roll my eyes. (It's a bit of work not to stare at him. He's thin. And drawn. Normally, he'd be back to clobbering weight by now.)
Dev and Niall, bless them, act like I've arrived eight minutes late to breakfast, instead of eight weeks. Dev nudges Niall, and Niall gives me a bored once-over then moves the teapot away from my spot, which they've left empty. Good men.
I walk over to the serving table to make up a plate. I pretend I'm not ferociously hungry. (I feel like I'll always be hungry now.)
Snow is still standing. His meddling sidekick is yanking on his sleeve trying to get him to sit down. He should listen to her. Wait what's this? ... Where's Wellbelove in this pretty tableau? I scan the room without turning my head. There she is, sitting on the other side of the room-trouble in paradise? - staring at me. They're all staring at me. But I can tell Wellbelove expects extra from me, so I give it to her. A long, cool look. Let her make what she wants that; she will anyway.
I also see my cousin giving me the "We need to talk, but I can wait," look. Good, I don't feel up to much of anything.
I settle down at the table and Dev pours me a cup of tea.
"Baz," he says, smirking.
"Gentlemen," I say. "What have I missed?"