Page 8 of Dreamers Often Lie

“We’re having a few special guests tonight at the party, and that means you have to be on your best behavior and make sure the other hellions do too.”

“Who is it?”

“Since the mayor has made his proclamation, and he won’t budge on it – believe me, I have tried. Monty,” he sighed dramatically. “Monty and I have decided to try something new. I don’t think most of the boys will like it, but it is the only way. Without our rivalry, we won’t feel as exciting and dangerous to our viewers, and we’re afraid they’ll start going to other studios. We have to spice things up, if you get my meaning.”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re saying.”

“Get your ass back here and get ready as fast as you can.” He hung up, and I slid my phone back into my pocket.

The driver opened the door for me, and in a few minutes, we were speeding down Sunset Boulevard toward the house. Something was about to change, and my stomach swirled. I hated surprises.

4

Merc

“This is a very bad idea. I’m too heartbroken.” Roam was the most dramatic of anyone I had ever met. He was way too emo for his own good.

“Then you need to dance!” I grabbed him by the hands and swung him around in a quick circle before letting go. He stumbled backward a few steps and bumped into Abe, who caught him by the arms and kept him on his feet. “A party should be just the thing to get poor Roam out of his misery.”

Roam stayed planted, and his shoulders slumped. “You dance then. My feet are like lead. Besides, we’re walking into the camp of the enemy.”

“That heavy feeling is why you need to trip the light fantastic. Besides, you’re really starting to bring me fucking down, bro. You’re the object of lust of more people than you will ever know. Let their love for you help you get over Ross. I mean, dude, that was never going to work out, and you know it. That’s why you let yourself fall for him.”

“I am a total drama queen,” Roam chuckled sadly. “Even if it was less than a month, breakups are rough.”

“Love is rougher,” Ben cackled and ruffled his hair. Roam hated it when someone messed with his perfectly manicured hair.

“That’s right!” I was pulling out all the stops. I didn’t want to have to deal with mopey Roam all night long. This party was going to be rough enough without him making it worse. “Love is rough, so what is it that we do, boys? We get roughwithlove.”

Roam stopped and groaned. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Love lifts us up to crash us back down to the Earth with the force of a fucking bomb, Roam. We are who we are, and to ask more of love – whichweare masters of – is fucking ridiculous.” I walked over and grabbed his crotch with my hand. “This is love, Roam.” I grasped his shaft through his very thin shorts and rubbed it gently. It quickly hardened in my grasp. “What you wanted with Ross was just a dream.”

“Are we not supposed to dream, Merc? That’s fucking sad not to want more than this, isn’t it?” He breathed heavily.

I let go of his crotch and took his face in my hands. “Ross lives the kind of life we can never have, Roam. We’re branded by who and what we are, and that’s the way it is unless you can find a way out.”

“I hoped Ross was my way out. I’m tired of being a body for someone to slide their hands over – the unnamed faces I stare at while they take what they want from me.” He let out a long sigh and reveled in his anguish. He was never happier than when he was miserable. “I knew it wouldn’t work out, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hope.”

“It’s ok to hope – but you can’t lose yourself in it, man.” Ben slapped him on the back.

“I still think this is a very shitty idea.” Yeah, Roam was definitely going to get on my fucking nerves tonight. I was gonna have to babysit him as he cried in the corner if we didn’t do something fast. “Cappie and his boys are not going to like the fact that we crashed their party.”

“The mayor’s decree will stop them from… Besides, this is a giant party, and we have costumes. Look at you in your white go-go shorts with the matching harness and mask. You look like an angel. What do we have to be scared of, man? Let’s have fun. You’re gonna have to knock people off your jock all night long. Everyone’s gonna want a piece of that.” I was trying way too hard, and it was getting old fast.

Roam crossed his arms and pouted. “Dude, that is the last thing I want right now. Just let me wallow in my shit. I’m down so bad I cried on the fucking treadmill at the gym. I was terrified that someone would take a picture.”

“God, you are just full of teenage petulance, aren’t you? I forget sometimes that you’re only nineteen.”

“It’s not like you're much older.” He whined.

“I’m twenty-two, and I’m very fucking wise.”

“You’re definitely a wise ass. Besides… I had a dream today that…” He turned around. “It’s silly.”

“Most dreams are. I had a dream today, too.”

He turned back to me. “What was yours about?”

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