A week after the last day of high school / Age 18...
Hayden is pacing around his kitchen, nails chewed into little nubs as he can find nothing else to soothe his nerves. Seeing Hayden like this is quite an unusual feat, but there is so much lying on the flimsy envelope cast on the tabletop.
Vincent sighs for the umpteenth time. When he agreed to come over to Hayden's house, he wasn't expecting to watch Hayden pace for over an hour.
"Hayden," Vincent says calmly, despite how much he wants to punch his counterpart right now. "Listen, I love you and all, but if you don't open that damn letter, I am going to give you a paper cut and then put hand sanitizer on it."
"Ouch," Hayden grimaces. "Don't be so violent, Vinny. This is an important moment for me!"
"Well, I'm feeling downright homicidal, so I suggest you figure something out soon."
Hayden only huffs. He pauses to take a peek at the envelope on the table that is addressed to him in fancy script. His hand slowly, almost achingly reaches for the paper, before shooting back so abruptly to his chest that Vincent has to facepalm.
"I'm sorry! I just can't do it," Hayden exclaims before pacing again.
Meanwhile, Scott is sitting opposite to Vincent, observing their interactions with a smile. He knows how ridiculous his son is, so he wasn't exactly expecting him to open his college acceptance letter anytime soon, but watching Vincent's buttons get pushed is quite humorous, especially since no matter how many times he complains, he always stays.
"How do you tolerate this on a daily basis?" Vincent mutters to Scott, tiredly propping his head up on his palm.
"The same way you do," Scott chuckles. "You tune it out after a while."
"Not helping, Dad," Hayden snaps, glaring at his father.
Scott shrugs innocently.
"I don't get why this is such a big deal," Vincent sighs.
"Easy for you to say, 4.3 GPA," Hayden snaps back.
"Come here," Vincent commands softly, kicking out the chair beside him and patting the open seat.
Hayden slouches into the seat, glaring at the possible death note lounging on the dining room table.
"It won't be the end of the world if you don't get in," Vincent explains softly.
Hayden scoots a little closer at the caring tone in his voice.
Scott was about to give Hayden the same pep talk, but it looks like Vincent is covering the task just fine.
"But it will, Vincent," Hayden explains with a downcast expression. "How can I ever prove to myself that I can truly be something if all the times I've slacked off come back to bite me in the ass. Besides...I want to stay close to you."
Scott smiles knowingly.
"You could always try again next year," Vincent explains. "You could even take a gap year before joining me."
Hayden shakes his head. "Do you know how much can change in a year? I don't want to risk it."
Vincent lets out a laugh. "And what's going to change, dumbass?"
"I don't know," Hayden mumbles self-consciously. "You might run off and make new friends without me."
...And I'll be forgotten like I have been time and time again, Hayden thinks but doesn't say.
Vincent instantly lunges for the envelope, ripping it open. Hayden shrieks and tries to grab at Vincent's hands, but it's to no avail as Vincent quickly reads the news.
"You got in," Vincent says with mild disinterest before throwing the crinkled paper on the table.
"What?" Hayden mutters in confusion.
"Oh my god," Scott says excitedly, getting up from his chair. "Hayden, I'm so proud of you." Scott heaves a hearty laugh before hauling his boy out of his chair and hugging him.
Hayden is still stuck in a state of shock.
Does the college practically have a one-hundred percent acceptance rate? Yes, but Hayden's never believed in himself the way anyone else has so he didn't think this was even possible for him.
"I got in?" Hayden says smally, staring at Vincent for confirmation.
Vincent rises from his chair, rolling his eyes with a little smirk. He places his hands on Hayden's shoulders before shaking his body so he can get it through to his pea-sized brain.
"You got in, idiot," Vincent says slowly, his smile growing bigger at each word. "We're going to college together."
"Holy sweet mother of baby back ribs!" Hayden screams, leaning closer to Vincent to the point where he can see every detail of the face he's grown fond of. "Vinny, you shitting not be better me."
Scott laughs at his son's scrambled words, examining the pair's happiness fondly.
He really hopes that things work out for these two.
"You fucking got in," Vincent reveals one last time.
Before Vincent has any time to prepare himself, Hayden is throwing himself in his arms. Hayden's arms circle around his neck as an elated laugh bubbles out of him and into Vincent's eardrum, warming his whole body.
Vincent, for once, can't resist the affection and tightly hugs Hayden. He may not be great at showing emotion but nobody would be able to tell that about him if someone took a snapshot of this instance.
Speaking of snapshots, Scott secretly gets a picture of the two, thinking about how much his son has changed for the better with Vincent by his side.
"Thank you, Vinny," Hayden says sweetly, still cuddled up in the raveonettes arms.
"Hm?"
"Thank you for blessing me with the smell of your hair," Hayden announces, forgetting the real reason that he's thanking him, which is for always being there for him. "It's like heaven."
Vincent laughs loudly before politely shoving Hayden off of him. Hayden steps down, but his smile never disappears, causing his cheeks to hurt.
"Come on, I'll treat you to dessert," Vincent claims.
Hayden brightly looks at his best friend before wrapping his arms around his bicep, causing Vincent to roll his eyes.
"Are you coming, Scott?" Vincent asks curiously.
"No, I'll be fine here," Scott says with a careless flick of his hand. "You two go have fun."
Vincent nods before leading Hayden out of the door.
As the two walk to the ice cream parlor, their conversation is as lively as ever. Hayden can't seem to shut up about their future college life while Vincent feels Hayden's energy rubbing off on him but doesn't show it.
Everything is going so perfectly for Hayden right now...that is until Vincent stops dead in his tracks with a panicked expression.
"Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck," he mutters, whipping out his phone.
"Vinny, what's wrong?" Hayden asks in concern, resting his chin on his shoulder.
Vincent's eyes widen when he sees the amount of angry texts from Sabrina.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Where are you?
Are you on your way yet?
Vincent?
I'll forgive you if you are late but please just tell me where you are.
Vincent, seriously?
Where are you?
Are you almost here? Are you even coming?
Forget it.
ââââââââââââââââââââââ
"Shit, I totally forgot that Sabrina's graduation party was today," Vincent says frantically.
"Oh..." Hayden says, not even trying to hide his disappointment, but Vincent is too preoccupied to even notice his tone.
"She's going to fucking kill me," Vincent flusters, dialing her number. "Pick up, pick up, pick up."
Hayden stands restlessly as he watches his best friend devote himself to someone elseâsomeone that unfortunately isn't him and never will be.
Vincent repeatedly curses when she doesn't pick up.
"Shit, Hayden. I'm sorry," Vincent apologizes hurriedly. "I really have to get going. I'll take you out some other time, okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine, Vinny," Hayden says carelessly to hide his deep hurt. "Go on, get your girl, blah, blah, blah. You'd be doing the world a favor by not buying me ice cream. I mean, have you seen that sugar content?"
"Damn straight," Vincent chuckles before apologizing again and rushing off.
Hayden just stands there and watches him race away.
He never thought he'd manage to feel worse than he did on prom night when Vincent and Sabrina first met. Yet, as he is standing on the sideway, letting minutes carelessly tick by as he tries to mend his thoughts of self-destruction, Hayden feels so hopeless.
How long can he let heartache go on? Will Hayden always be the second choice?
...Is his Vinny slipping away?
Hayden's head begins to hurt as he starts feeling overwhelmed by the thought. He instantly whips out his phone to call his dad. Scott answers immediately.
"Dad?" Hayden says, his voice wobbly and thick with emotion.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Can you p-please come pick me up?"
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"Hi, Vincent."
"There he is!"
"Vincent! How are you?"
Vincent nervously pushes through the crowd of Sabrina's family and friends as he politely greets all of them while looking for his girlfriend.
When he finally spots that brunette hair of hers, he doesn't get a chance to explain anything to her because her parents happen to spot him first.
"Oh, there you are!" Sabrina's mom beams.
"Get together for a picture, you two," her dad says with his camera already out.
Sabrina sends Vincent a cold look before glancing at the camera with a cheesy smile. Vincent, not really knowing how to go about the situation, tentatively wraps his arm around the girl's waist before giving a smile as well.
The second that the couple is done with the photo, Sabrina discreetly shoves Vincent's arm off of her.
"So, Vincent, where are you headed for college?" Sabrina's dad asks curiously.
Before Vincent can answer, Sabrina's mom cuts in.
"You could always go to Princeton with Sabrina," she says persuasively.
Vincent would rather die than go to an Ivy League, but he doesn't say that.
"I'm headed to a small school in California with my best friend," he explains.
Sabrina scoffs and Vincent gives her a confused look.
"Are you lovebirds going to be able to handle the distance?" Sabrina's dad questions.
Vincent glances at Sabrina, who keeps her lips firmly shut.
Vincent laughs awkwardly before saying, "I'm sure it'll be difficult, but nothing we can't handle."
"Such a charming boy," Sabrina's mom says.
Vincent's face unintentionally screws up at the comment, because that literally couldn't be further from the truth.
"Can I get you something to eat?" Vincent asks Sabrina softly.
"I already ate," she snaps.
Her parents look stunned by her attitude but instantly look around for something to do so they aren't caught up in the lovers' quarrel.
"Um, we'll just be...over there," her dad smiles awkwardly. "Call us if you need anything."
When Sabrina's parents shuffle away, the girl turns to Vincent with a heated glare.
"What is up with you?" Vincent whispers.
"What is up with me?" she scoffs. "Come here."
She doesn't give Vincent a chance to protest as she digs her nails into his arm and pulls him into her vacant house. She slams the door shut before looking at Vincent expectantly with crossed arms.
"What?" Vincent says.
"You aren't going to explain yourself?" she says almost desperately, looking for any reason why Vincent is so late when she repeatedly told him how important this was.
Vincent walks toward her with a placating gesture.
"Sabrina, I justâ"
"Vincent, where were you?" Sabrina huffs, on the verge of tears. "My grandparents have been dying to meet you, you missed the entire ceremony that my parents planned, for god's sake you didn't even bring the one thing I asked you to!"
"Listen, I'm sorry I forgot the silverware, butâ"
"Just please answer. Where were you?"
Vincent sighs, "I just got caught up in something with Hayden, and Iâ"
Sabrina starts laughing. She places her hand on the counter as little giggles slip from her lips.
"I should have known," she says coldly. "Let me guess, he still hasn't learned how to grow the hell up and you're stuck babysitting."
"What?" Vincent grits.
"Please, Vincent," she snickers. "He doesn't do a damn thing himself and you defend him time and time again."
"You can't talk about him like that," Vincent warns. "You don't know what he's been through."
"No, but what I do know is that you'd pick him over me any day!"
"He's my best friend, Sabrina," Vincent says in outrage. "Of course I'd take his side."
"You don't find it weird that he is above me on your list of priorities?" she scoffs.
"Um, no?"
"God, I'm so stupid," she says, putting a hand to her forehead as if she's had an epiphany. "I can't believe I didn't notice sooner."
"Notice what?" Vincent says, confused.
He has no idea what she's on about, and honestly speaking, Vincent doesn't have the energy to fight with her like this.
"You don't love me, Vincent," she explains.
"Butâ"
"Let me finish, please," she whispers, her anger disappearing at the notion that Vincent is too ignorant to even notice his guarded heart. She can't blame him.
"I get that I'm the safer option," she begins with a sad smile. "I have loved all of the times we have shared and all of the times you have cared for me so deeply, but there is something you are just not seeing that is right in front of your face."
She walks over to Vincent and politely holds her hands out. He takes them gently, his eyebrows furrowing up in bewilderment about whatever she could be hinting at.
"What are you talking about?" Vincent asks.
"Do I not remind you of anyone?" she whispers, her eyes welling with tears. "The brown hair, the brown eyes, my tall height?"
"Um...no."
"Come on, you're supposed to be smart," Sabrina teases.
"I-I don't understand what you are talking about."
"I'm talking about us breaking up," she explains.
"Why?"
"Vincent," she laughs softly, putting her forehead on his cheek. "I love you so much. You've been so good to me, even when I get a little ridiculous, but your heart is reserved for someone else and I can't change that. I wish I could so badly but I can't, so you need to stop stringing me along."
She gives him a deep kiss when Vincent doesn't say anything.
Vincent doesn't even realize that he's meant to be heartbroken at this moment because more than anything, he's just plain confused.
"And I'm sorry for the horrible things I've said about Hayden," she admits. "It just hurts sometimes to see you clearly looking at someone else."
"But I haven't been looking at anyone else," Vincent retorts. "You're the only girl I've ever had my eyes on."
"And that may remain true for the rest of your life," she smiles. "But you are sheltering yourself from something better. These words may not resonate with you now, but I think they will one day. And whenever you do see that personâthe love of your lifeâI will be cheering you on from the sidelines. For now, though, this is goodbye."
She runs her fingers through his hair as she takes advantage of his kissable lips for one last memorable time. She departs with another kiss on his cheek, walking back out to her celebration teary-eyed.
The only thought on Vincent's mind as he stands in the middle of Sabrina's isolated kitchen is "What the actual hell just happened?"
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By the time Vincent walks into his house, his parents are already annoyed by the long day of no contact from their son. Vincent tries to quickly slip upstairs but unfortunately gets caught when Valerie calls out his name excitedly.
"Vincent!" she blubbers, running over to hug her brother.
Vincent can't help but release a little smile as he leans down and wraps his arms around her.
Vincent has been closer than ever to the twins, but that unfortunately comes with some repercussions. His parents are starting to resent Vincent because they know Vance speaks to himâas if that's mature for two adults over forty.
Vance has slowly grown more talkative over the past two years, but when faced with a stressful situation or their parents bearing down on his shoulders, he always freezes up.
Vincent looks over Valerie's shoulder to find Vance shyly shuffling his feet.
"Come here," Vincent offers softly.
The corner of Vance's lip turns up as he joins the hug as well. He melts into the protection of his older brother.
"Vincent, we need to talk to you," his mother announces from the living room.
Vincent sighs defeatedly but doesn't want his baby siblings to know about the rift, so he reaches out and tickles their sides, causing them to scramble away.
Vincent then begrudgingly walks into the common area to join his parents.
"Yes?"
"Can we see your college acceptance letter?" His dad asks. "I want to frame it in my office."
Fuck, this day just had to get worse for Vincent.
He's pleasantly surprised by the notion that his dad wants to recognize one of his accomplishments for the first time in his life, but there is one teensy tiny problem with thatâhe has failed to mention that he isn't going to Harvard.
Whenever his family would have discussions about college at dinner time, Vincent would neither confirm nor deny anything they were saying, so they kind of just assumed he had it all figured out and was going to Harvard.
Vincent is in for a rude awakening because he's not sure how this is going to end.
"Um, about that," Vincent begins awkwardly. "I, um, accidentally threw it away."
"Something so important and you just discard it like trash?" Ana says snootily.
Vincent resists the urge to roll his eyes, knowing that it'll only get him in more trouble.
"Do you have the email, then?" Kane asks.
"Uh...sure," he answers nervously, whipping out his phone to pull up his acceptance email from Woodside College, which is definitely not Harvard.
He hands his parents the phone and glances around the room innocently while awaiting their feedback.
Tense minutes pass until Ana finally says, "Is this a joke?"
"No?" Vincent claims, his voice a higher pitch than usual. "I'm actually going to college with Hayden in the fall. We are heading down to California."
Kane puts a hand on his temple while Ana slowly rises from the couch and stalks toward Vincent at an achingly slow pace.
"You mean to tell me that you have been lying to us this whole time?" Ana asks with a dangerous glint in her eye.
"Well, I would consider it withholding the truth, but to each their own, I guess," Vincent mutters.
"Son, you better clean this act up right now because if this isn't a jokeâ"
"It's not."
Ana looks at her husband in disbelief who is just as shocked by the news.
"Get out," Ana says coldly.
"What?" Vincent laughs, a little stunned.
"Get out of my house," she repeats. "I don't want to see you again."
"Ana," Kane murmurs in disbelief.
"But, Momâ"
"No!" she screams. "You don't get to call me that when you have so blatantly disobeyed my rules time and time again. The disrespect that your father and I have had to put up with has gone on for far too long. You embarrass us every single day and I just can't believe that we couldn't birth someone better than you. So, no, you don't get to call me 'Mom' when I don't have a son anymore."
"Are you being serious?" Vincent asks, utterly flabbergasted.
Kane says, "Ana, how about we talk aboutâ"
"Grounding him doesn't work, he is a disappointment to our family, and now he wants to follow that stupid boy just so he can have fun and forget about his future?" Ana says. "I'm sorry but that is not my son. That is a failure that I want to have no connection to. He doesn't deserve to be in this house."
"I'm not leaving," Vincent announces, standing his ground.
He can't believe his mom would kick him out just because he doesn't want to go to the college that follows the perfect map of his life she created when he was born.
"Dad," Vincent says desperately.
His dad looks like he wants to take Vincent's side, but at the same time, he has never stood up for him before, so what is going to change in this little moment of need? Nothing.
Kane looks down and shakes his head, letting Vincent know that he isn't going to save him.
Vance and Valerie peek their heads into the room when they notice all of the yelling taking place.
Valerie is clutching tightly onto Vance's hand as she softly asks, "What is going on?"
"Vincent, go!" Ana screams.
"Are you seriously trying to kick me out?" Vincent laughs bitterly. "I'm leaving for college in three months anyway."
"Yeah, and until then, I don't want to see your disgraceful face anymore. Go and live your life by following that dumb kid, but don't rope me into your plans. I want nothing to do with you."
Vincent is totally speechless, and he has yet to move from his spot.
Is this really happening?
"Get out of my house!" Ana roars, shoving Vincent in the chest.
"No, you can't do that," he argues. "What about Vance and Valerie? You can't just separate all of us."
"Vincent, so help me god," Ana speaks through clenched teeth. "If you don't start packing your stuff and aren't gone within the next twenty minutes, I'm going straight to court to start an eviction order. Get the hell away from my family."
"Wow," Vincent mutters in shock, physically taking a step back because it feels like he has been shot in the chest with a bullet.
"Mommy, what are you talking about?" Valerie blubbers with tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Come here," Ana soothes her daughter. "Don't worry, he won't be here anymore to distract you."
Valerie tries to run toward Vincent, but Ana scoops the six-year-old up before she can reach him.
"Goodbye," Ana says shortly as Valerie is sobbing and trying to claw her way out of her arms.
Vincent turns his back and storms toward his room, trying to stop himself from getting emotional as he hears Vance scream his name.
Vincent doesn't take long to pack two duffle bags of whatever necessities he can fit inside. He feels like a lifeless robot as he packs his childhood away to be forgotten by his own family. His heart physically hurts trying to leave this place because, although he endured this torture for far too long, he can't let everything fall onto Vance and Valerieâthat idea is enough to break him.
After about ten minutes of angrily moving things around, Vincent is finally walking down the hall of his home for the final time. He walks through the living room and sets his bags by the door, but can't make himself leave without one more thing.
"Let me say goodbye," he demands, staring at his teary-eyed siblings.
"No, go away," Ana fiercely says.
"Please," Vincent says desperately, his tone thick and wobbly.
"Ana, just let him," Kane reasons.
Ana shoots her husband a death glare but lets go of both of her children, who scramble to Vincent for the second time today. He wraps them up in his arms, tears springing to his eyes for the first time in probably years.
"V-Vincent," Valerie sobs, tucking her head into his neck.
"I know, I-I know. I'm sorry," he whispers, hugging the pair tighter.
"Please, don't go," Vance blubbers. "I can't live without you."
"But you two are the strongest little rascals I know," Vincent says, a tear rolling down his cheek and dripping off his chin. "Every little thing will be okay."
"No," Vance whines, insistently shaking his head into his brother's shoulders.
"Vin-Vin," Valerie cries. "P-Please stay."
"I can't," Vincent achingly mutters, his lip dangerously trembling. "I'm so sorry."
He plants a long kiss on each of their heads before standing up. Valerie looks up at her brother and continues to cry as her knuckles roughly rub into her eyes. Vance, however, despairingly latches onto Vincent's leg, refusing to let go.
"It'll be okay," Vincent assures, patting his head with a shaking hand. "I'll try to visit as much as I can."
Ana waltzes over to pry the child off of Vincent's leg, who only screams and thrashes at the action.
"Don't you dare try to talk to my children again," Ana spits, opening the front door as Vance has a tantrum in her arms. "Now go."
"I hate you!" Valerie screams at Ana before running through the house.
When Vincent finally steps through the door, he turns back around to examine everything that has ever comforted him in his house but is only left with dismay as the door is slammed in his face.
With nothing else left to do, Vincent sits on the doorstep and silently cries for the two people who needed him most that he has only disappointed.
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Vincent gives three simple knocks on Hayden's door.
It takes a few moments to hear anything from behind the scenes, but Vincent eventually notices Hayden's skipping steps on the other side.
The door swings open to Hayden's cheerful face, but with one glance at the state Vincent is in, his smile drops.
"Vinny, oh my god," he expresses, taking note of his best friend's disheveled state, puffy eyes, and the full bags slung over his shoulder.
He reaches out to touch Vincent's cheek, but Vincent turns his head in embarrassment.
"Well, it was bound to happen at some point, right?" Vincent laughs halfheartedly.
"What happened?"
"They kicked me out," Vincent sighs.
Hayden swiftly takes the heavy bags from Vincent's shoulders and quickly puts them just inside the house. He then looks worriedly at his best friend, who only looks resigned to his fate with his hands carelessly thrown into his pockets.
Hayden, not knowing what else to do, gently hugs Vincent...and Vincent doesn't fight it. He lets his body go slack as his form molds into his best friend'sâthe person he would do anything for. Vincent's chin falls onto Hayden's shoulders as he closes his eyes and breathes deeply at the warmth.
Nobody knows how long the two boys embrace on the porch step, but Vincent lets himself go at the hands of Hayden Williams. The tall, brunette with brown eyes gently sways their bodies together.
Even in this soft moment, Vincent still doesn't know what Sabrina meant...but he is bound to find out real soon.