Chapter 2
Hard to say what caught my attention
Fixed and crazy, aphid attraction
Carve my name in my face, to recognize
Such a pheromone cult to terrorize
"Roman, I don't like these lines. What kind of a dork says 'why is a raven like a writing desk?' What does that even mean?"
Roman sighed as he looked up from his notebook at Seth Rollins who was frowning at him. "The Mad Hatter, that's who. And there is no real answer to this riddle. It was meant to be nonsensical."
"Well, I don't want to play The Mad Hatter. I want to play the role of The King."
At times like these, Roman wondered why he chose this play. He did not have time to entertain the complaints of actors who weren't even recognised as of yet by the local newspaper. He flipped through the script and looked out for dialogues for The King. There were none. "Seth, I'd gladly give you the role of The King but you should be given a head's up that he's just an extra."
"An extra?!"
"The Mad Hatter is a prominent role, Seth. If you're willing to give up being one of the leads-"
"That's okay. I'll stick to it," Seth replied quickly.
Roman smiled. "I knew you'd understand."
"Yeah well, you're lucky that I like you, Roman. Any other kid in school as the director of this and I'd quit."
"Well, I'm flattered. Thank you, Seth."
Seth sighed dramatically and went back on the stage. Roman made more notes on his notebook before closing it. It was after school the next day and rehearsal had been going smoothly before Seth interrupted the rehearsed scene.
They were a month away from the big day and if there were no more outbursts from Seth, they'd be right on schedule with production.
Otherwise the whole thing would come out looking like an elementary school play.
"Shall we continue?" Roman asked.
Summer Rae who was playing Alice gave him a thumbs up while Seth flicked his hair out of his eye. Typical Seth, Roman thought with fondness.
"Have you guessed the riddle yet?" Seth said to Summer Rae.
"No," she replied. "I give up. What's the answer?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Seth turned to Roman. "I'm tired. Can we call it a day?"
Roman rubbed his temples. He was getting tired of Seth's diva antics but he didn't want to make the guy overwork and quit at the same time too. "Yeah, okay."
"Thank you!" He jumped off the stage and ran out of the auditorium.
Summer rolled her eyes and walked off the stage as well. "Thanks, Roman."
"No worries, Summer." He turned to the rest of the production crew. "I think we can wrap things up, guys. Thanks for your hard work today."
There was an appreciative murmur of thanks from them as Roman started to pack his things up.
"What? I missed it?"
He smiled without looking up at the person who said that. "Time waits for no one, Dean. Oh except for Seth apparently."
Dean smiled at him. "Well, he is the star of the show."
"Actually, that's Summer. It's called Alice in Wonderland for a reason, you know." He grabbed his backpack and started walking with Dean. "So where's the boyfriend? I thought you'd be glued to him."
Dean laughed. "He's waiting for me outside school. I just wanted to catch up with you… you know since I was sleeping through English again. Are you heading home? Corey and I can give you a lift."
Again the heart ache. Would he ever get over this? "I'm heading to the library first."
"There's a library in this school?"
"Yeah, Dean. It's only in the west wing of this school."
Dean shrugged. "I never had a reason to go there. Why do you want to go there anyway?"
"I want to borrow a DVD on William Wyler."
"Who?"
"Never mind."
They reached the main school building hallway. "Well," Dean said reluctantly. "I have to go."
Roman nodded. "Yeah, you should."
"This is weird though, isn't it, Rome? We used to go home together all the time. Now, I'm going back with someone else. Don't you think it's strange?"
No, Roman thought. What's strange is that you're not mine right now. "Yeah," he said. "But that's life I guess."
"By the way, how did you go home yesterday?"
"Bray Wyatt drove me home."
Dean gasped. "Bray Wyatt? Roman, are you insane? The guy is a creepy swamp dweller. He's probably a leader of a cult."
"He's neither of those, Dean. He happens to be a very nice guy."
"Oh no. Please tell me he's not your type."
Roman smiled. "Maybe he is."
"I would rather break up with Corey than to see you with Bray Wyatt."
His heart leaped at Dean's words. He couldn't help but asked, "Would you, really?"
Dean stared at him. Roman didn't look away. There was a strange tension between them then. His best friend's lips parted as if he wanted to say something but then it closed. Roman wanted more than anything to pull Dean into his arms there and then. But a part of mind reprimanded him for trying to break Dean's budding relationship with Corey.
Then there was that huge part of him that didn't care.
"I… uh.." Dean said slowly. "I have to go now."
"Yeah," Roman agreed. "Ummm… see you tomorrow."
Dean looked at him for a bit before walking off briskly out of the school. Roman stared after him with longing. He sighed before continuing his way to the library.
Lakeview High used to be an asylum before they converted it into the school. Many students avoided the West Wing as it used to be the main building where operation theatres were. The atmosphere there was spooky but Roman guessed it was because it was so quiet that one could actually hear a pin being dropped.
There were only three students in the library and they occupied the long table in front of the shelves of books. Two of the light bulbs were blown, Roman noted, as he made his way to the DVD section.
When he found the DVD he wanted, he turned around only to find Bray Wyatt standing behind him. "Oh, Bray. It's you. You gave me a shock."
"Sorry," Bray said, smiling. "I thought it was you, Roman. What are you doing in school so late?"
"Oh. There was a rehearsal today for Alice in Wonderland so I had to stay back. We've only got a month to go and I'm already starting to feel the pressure."
"Hmm…" Bray hummed. "So what are you doing now?"
"After this? Nothing much. Just go home and hang out."
"Would you like to stop by my house? We can watch your DVD together."
Roman smiled. No one had taken an interest in his hobbies before. Even Dean, whom he had known forever, called it a bore. "Wow. Sure, Bray. That sounds great."
Bray's home was originally occupied by an ex mayor from the neighboring town who ran his home with an iron fist. No one knew what had happened to the family. Apparently they just disappeared. Fifteen years had passed before the Smiths bought it. Then they too moved to London five years later.
The house was run down, with broken wooden planks and a dark aura to it and although Roman was wary, he reminded himself that it was the company that mattered, not the place.
He sat down on an army green colored chair and placed his backpack on the floor. Bray excused himself to get some drinks for them both.
Roman took out the DVD and smiled fondly at the cover. He loved William Wyler's work. The man inspired him. Roman wished to direct movies as good as his.
He read the summary behind:
Few film directors demonstrated the depth, range, longevity, and sensitivity that William Wyler served up on the American silver screen over his decades-long career. Having made a number of silent pictures in the 1920s, Wyler emerged in the talkie era as a director of respectable adaptations of plays and literary works like "These Three" (1936) and "Come and Get It" (1936).
"I hope you like hot apple cider."
Roman smiled as Bray put two mugs on the table. "It's my favorite."
"Well, score one point for me."
"You have a nice home, Bray."
"Thank you, Roman."
"Do you have any other siblings? I heard you have three."
"Yes. They're all older than them and working at the meat factory."
"Well, gotta pay the bills somehow I guess."
Bray's voice was hypnotic. He loved to speak in a sing song manner, Roman realised. He would be perfect for the Cheshire Cat if Bubba Ray, who had threatened to quit every now and then, decided to do so for real.
His phone vibrated and he saw that it was a text message from Dean: Don't forget Kevin's party tomorrow! Corey said that Kevin's going to call American Alpha!
Roman texted back that he would think about it. He really did not want to see Dean and his new beau making kissing faces in front of him. He would rather sit home and eat ice cream while watching Fast and Furious Seven.
"Do you have anyone, Roman? You know a steady partner?"
No one asked him that before. "Well there was someone I was interested in but I guess I'm too late. He's already with someone." That pain again. Roman wanted to crawl and hide in his bedroom till it was time for college.
"It's Dean, isn't it?"
Roman raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
"I've seen the way you looked at him; full of longing and tenderness."
If Bray could see that, why couldn't Dean, Roman wondered. "Yeah well. Like I said, I'm too late. I guess I'll just have to let the pain subside and slowly move on." If he ever could. Roman wanted Dean with every fiber in his body.
"You deserve someone better, Roman. Someone who sees the beauty in you. Yours is a pure soul. Untainted, unspoilt."
"...That's deep, Bray. But I don't mean anything bad about your words though I'm very flattered. It's misplaced. I'm not that good."
"I can read people, Roman. I know I'm right about you."
Dean texted him back: Where are you?
At Bray's house, Roman replied back.
Not even ten seconds and another buzz: Get over my place now!
I can't just leave, Dean. That's rude.
Roman Joseph Reigns, I'm not asking you. I'm telling you.
"Sorry, Bray. I really wished I could stay but duty calls," Roman apologised profusely. He felt horrible. Bray was just being a good friend. "Maybe I can make it up to you. Do you like parties?"
"Not really."
"Oh. I thought I could bring you to Kevin's party tomorrow. Dean's going to be there with Corey of course and I wasn't planning on going but American Alpha's going to be there. They both used to be in the same middle school as me."
"Say no more, Roman. I will go with you to this party though I fear I will be ridiculed."
"I won't allow you to be humiliated, Bray. Don't worry. I think people will be too busy having fun than to notice us anyways."
"Why were you at Bray's house?" Dean demanded the moment Roman walked in.
Roman tsked. It was just like Dean to jump into a subject head on. "Well, he's my friend."
"Friends?" Dean screeched. "Rome, you cannot be friends with Bray Wyatt. You have nothing in common."
"That's not true. We both love the same type of music and he was going to watch my DVD with me."
"Oh no. No. You are nuts if you think I'm going to let you go out with this guy!"
"Dean, he's just a friend. And what's it to you who I wish to go out with?"
"Because I don't want to see you get hurt, Rome. I care about you."
"Bray's not going to hurt me, Dean. He's been nothing but kind to me."
"So you might be interested in him?"
"Not that way… yet. I-"
Dean's eyes widened. "I'm breaking up with Corey now! You're a precious cinnamon roll, Roman Reigns. I must protect you."
Roman chuckled. Where did Dean come up with these things? "What?"
"It's true. You haven't heard half the stories about this guy, Roman. He's evil."
"Dean, I told you I don't believe in hearsay. Now stop putting my friend down please."
Dean huffed. "Fine. Don't say I didn't give you a heads up."
"Thank you."
"Are you going to Kevin's party?"
"Yes. And I'm bringing Bray."
"What?"
