A/N: So, I originally published this story on fanfiction under a different name. But I have decided to also publish it here to see what kind of response it gets. As I could not find the original first chapter anywhere in my computer, I'm going to be typing it out. So, this version may alter a bit from the original. I plan on going back and editing IT as well.
Royce is a hard person to write for, I had to be in the right mindset for him. And I do not see him having a relationship with someone as aggressive as he is. However, he does not order Emily around or be abusive to her. Newsflash people, just because someone has temper issues, does not mean they are going to take it out on their significant others or children. As a person with a questionable temper, I can tell you that with certainty.
Now, Royce is still going to have his ego and confidence, as well as the temper Cyrus noted that he had in his Ghost File, but he mellows out somewhat around Emily.
This story will begin in 1955, when all the teens in this story would have been fifteen, but there will be frequent flashbacks to their childhoods to flesh out the relationship between Emily and Royce. The story will continue through 1956 and 1957 and then from their deaths until the first movie.
Rated M for sexual content between teenagers (dead and alive), jealous and narcissistic twin sisters, violence, due to dear Royce's temper (come on, we know that boy got into fistfights, probably on the daily if we're being honest with ourselves.), ghost related violence, and language.
I know it will seem like Emily's parents don't care about her sister, but they do. They just have given up on trying to control her. There are times when you just have to throw in the towel and hope things work out. And honestly, Emilia is hateful and all the most horrible things you can imagine. She is easy (the 1950's term for 'slut') and uses it to get people to do what she wants. She is rude and ungrateful to her parents, despite the life they have given her, and she is borderline abusive to her twin, leading to animosity between she and Becky on several occasions. Her disdain for her 'prim and perfect sister' only turns to deep hatred when Royce dumps her in favor of Emily (but as you'll see, she knew Royce did not love her, but was hoping she could manipulate him into doing so), as she had been unaware of Royce's feelings for her sister. How this was is unknown as everyone else was aware of it.
And as for Royce's attitude toward the Greasers, it was not an uncommon mindset in the 1950's for the rich to look down on the poor (As illustrated by SE Hinton's book, The Outsiders, though it took place in the 1960's.) But not all rich people did. Like Emily's family for instance.
I think I have explained everything I needed to. This was a very long-winded author's note, I apologize for that.
I am just super nervous about this story as NO ONE has tried to tackle what Royce's life was like when he was alive (at least not in more than small one-shots), and we honestly did not have much to go on in turns of his living life. So, I kind of have to take what I do know and build around it with nothing but trusty google and my own knowledge to help me out.
I try to use 1950's lingo, but some of it is hard to try to put in full conversations, but I will try to use it as much as I can without going overboard.
Now, on we go!
Also, there is a tumblr for this story. It will help you to read it.
Two months.
Two months had gone by since Emilia had ambushed Royce Clayton in the courtyard of school and virtually gave him no choice but to say yes to dating her. He was not the type of person to embarrass someone like that. However, it appeared the star slugger of Valley's High's baseball team had finally had enough of her bitchy sister. It had started because Emily had a violin solo for the Christmas concert and Royce had brought her flowers.
She glanced at the Stargazer Lilies in the vase beside her bed, the beautiful purple and blue petals gleaming in the lowlight. She could feel the heat in her cheeks as she turned back to her stand, placing her violin in position. Partially to practice for her concert, but mostly to drown out her sister's banshee like screams. The quieter of the two twins had no idea how Royce kept his cool with her in his face like that.
For reference, the March Family and the Clayton Family went way back. Being one of the Founding Families of Crescent Valley, they had been responsible for building the town into what it was today. As such, from the time they were born, Royce Clayton and the fraternal March twins, Emilia and Emily had always been close friends, growing up across the street from one another. Truth be told, however, Royce had always been closer to Emily, the more quiet and withdrawn of the two. The only friend she had aside from Royce was loud mouthed and borderline obnoxious Rebecca Sullivan, sister to Royce's greaser enemy, Johnny.
Who was also, not so coincidentally, the same person Emilia had been messing around with behind Royce's back. Or at least she thought it was behind his back. He had seen Johnny sneaking out of her room at night. He figured when he refused to have sex with her - or even kiss her, if he was being honest - the fast one of the March twins would go look elsewhere. Or that's what he had told Emily when she had inquired as to why he was tolerating it.
You see, Royce Clayton had, at some point in time that he could not place his finger on, fallen completely in love with Emily March. One hundred percent gone, as Becky and everyone else pointed out. The only person that was oblivious to his feelings was the target of them.
Emily herself.
The person who was so engrossed in her music that she had not realized someone else had entered her room until they gently touched her shoulder. The poor girl was so startled by the intrusion that she spun around in place, landing a solid punch to the person's shoulder, causing them to lose balance and hit the floor with a small but clearly male 'oof.'
"Oh gosh, Royce," she set her violin down on her bed and quickly helped him up, dusting off his shirt, trying hard to ignore the feeling of his abdominal muscle underneath the material. "I am so sorry."
The blue eyed boy merely chuckled and squeezed her hand slightly in response.
"It's fine, doll," he took a seat on her bed, peeking behind him to make sure he had left the door open on his way in, before looking back at her. "I shouldn't have crept up on you like that. I know how you get lost in your music."
She brushed one of her blue/black waves behind her ear and looked away from him.
"It's not an excuse for assault, Royce," she gathered her sheet music, tucking it away in her case, along with her violin. "Where's Emilia?"
He tried not to roll his eyes but could see from her raised eyebrow that he had failed in schooling his expression. It was not possible to be fake around Emily or to lie to her. She knew him too well.
"She charged out of the house after I broke up with her," Emily's eyes widened at his words, clearly unaware that he would actually go through with it. "Don't act so surprised, kitten. You know I can't stand your sister. It's not a secret."
She took a seat beside him, keeping an appropriate distance between them, just as her mama had taught her. She was not her sister, her mother had said. Cassandra March had settled on at least one of her daughters being a lady, already knowing there was no hope for Emilia at this point, her virginity having flown out the window the moment she escaped her father's watchful eye. Not to say Emilia was a slut, because she wasn't. She had only had sex with Johnny Sullivan. And only once.
She shook her head at herself. Her sister consistently treated her horribly and yet even in her own mind, Emily could not be cruel. She decided to focus on the conversation at hand.
"Then why did you agree to go out with her, slugger?"
The question was a good one. But he became distracted by the new nickname she had given him. Usually, she merely addressed him by his name. Nicknames from Emily were a new development. He snapped out of his thoughts when he realized she was looking for an answer.
"She did not give me much of a choice," he rubbed the back of his head. "My mother taught me to be a gentleman. And gentleman don't embarrass women in public. No matter how much I would have preferred to shut my tongue in a car door than date your sister."
Emily surprised him by giggling, her lips curving into a sweet smile. God, she was a knock-out. His thoughts were constantly plagued by her - some of them not so appropriate, not that he'd admit that out loud - as opposed to his thoughts of baseball and getting out of this dead town before he was trapped here like everyone else. And he still wanted those things. But he had realized in the last few weeks that he wanted to have Emily by his side when he achieved them.
Even at fifteen, Royce was a person that knew what he wanted, never having the self-doubt or indecision as others of his age group always did.
"You look beautiful, Emmy," he reached out and toyed with one of her inky tresses as he spoke. "If it wasn't obvious."
She toyed with her skirt.
"Becky made it for me for the concert," she cared about Becky Sullivan very much and to be fair, Becky was fiercely protective of her tiny, shy friend. Quick for violence in her defense, much like Royce himself. That was the only thing he admired about the foul-mouthed, violent tempered sister of his nemesis. "She's very talented."
"For a Greaser girl, I guess."
He thought he'd said the words in his head, but based upon Emily's hard glare, he figured he had not.
Whoops.
"She works double shifts at the diner just to help put food on her family's table," she stood up and crossed her arms, looking at him angrily as she spoke. "Not to mention to pay for the material she and her mother use for the dresses they make." Royce sighed silently but allowed her to continue her rant, realizing he kind of deserved her attitude for insulting her friend. "And somehow she still manages to get all A's in school. Just because she comes from a poor family and lives on the rougher side of town doesn't make her any less human then the rest of us, Royce Matthew Clayton."
Ooh. She pulled out the whole name. Yep. She was mad at him.
Unlike the Clayton family, Emily's family did not frown on the less fortunate, often donating money, food, and clothes to the families that were in real trouble. Cassandra refused to see babies go hungry because their parents could not afford to feed them and Nicholas March never denied his wife anything. This was the mindset she raised her daughter's with, and Emily embraced her mother's ideals whole-heartedly. As did Emilia. Though she did it in a much different way than her mother had intended, and that her father frowned upon. But much like his wife, he had given up all hope on his wayward, easy, daughter, thankful that at least Emily had self-respect and manners.
"All right, all right," he got up and gripped her shoulders gently, making her look at him. "I'm sorry, doll. I should not be such an asshole about your friend." She smiled slightly. "Even if she is mean to me every time she sees me."
She rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder lightly.
"You are unbelievable, Royce."
He decided to press the carefully constructed boundaries set in place for the boys and girls of the age, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, pulling her into his arms for a hug.
"I really am sorry, Em," to his surprise, instead of pushing him away, she hugged him back. "She's your best friend and I should be more respectful."
She pulled back and smiled up at him, making his heart tug in his chest.
"Apology accepted, Royce."
A/N: As I said, I am SUPER nervous about this story, but I truly hope people enjoy it. Reviews are very much appreciated, as long as their constructive.
