Out of Character (True Colors 2)

“Hey.” Milo noticed me hovering. “I was getting worried about you. You better change fast.”

His concern felt almost as good as a hug and I smiled at him. “Will do.”

When I emerged in my costume a few minutes later, Milo and Kellan were deep in conversation with April.

“Jasper! You know how Mom doesn’t want me doing any crowded big events? She was going to make me skip the revue at the college despite us having tickets. But Kellan has a work-around.”

“Tech rehearsal tomorrow night. Full run-through. Limited audience. I can get you guys in, get you seats away from anyone else.”

“I might have already said yes.” Milo gave me a crooked smile that melted me even more than his earlier concern. “Your sister is pretty persuasive.”

“Better extend that persuasion to Mom,” I warned. “But sure. I can pick you up if Mom says it’s okay. Where is she, anyway?”

“Dropped me off so she could do a conference call in the car.” April made a face. “And had a million warnings about keeping my mask on.”

“She’s not wrong.”

“But you’d like to do your own remembering. I get it,” Milo added, an unexpected bit of compassion from him. While I figured he was referring to his own mom, I also hoped he didn’t think that I was a nag, trying to get him to change more than he wanted to. I wanted him to find his own way. But not pushing was hard.

“How’d that group-house interview go?” I asked him in a whisper as we all made our way to the lounge.

Milo groaned. “Postponed. One of the housemates is sick.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah.” His posture deflated, and I wanted again to hug him, but I refrained.

“Looking splendid today, everyone!” Natalie greeted us. “And Prince Neptune, your fame precedes you. The family that you did the drawing for last week showed it around, and I’ve had a number of inquiries as to if you’d be with the group today.”

“I’m here.” Milo blushed deeply even as he hurried to get a sketchbook out. “If I skip playing, I can probably do more than one sketch.”

“We’ll give you a reprieve,” I joked as I waved him over to a table. Even once I was set up for a game with a kid who was new this week, my attention kept wandering to Milo, watching him draw a thin boy with a heavy cast as a mighty Viking warrior complete with shield and horned helmet. Pride made my shoulders lift and my chest expand. He was incredible. And, at least in that moment, he was mine.

“Tell me it’s pizza night,” Milo joked as we packed up. We were the last two of our group left because Milo had kept drawing past our usual ending time. His final tally of sketches was four—the little Viking, a flying superhero, a hulking strongman, and a special request for a mermaid.

“You have definitely earned your pizza,” I replied as we headed for the hall, letting my tone turn low and flirty. “And I owe you—”

“Dude. Lionetti. What the hell are you wearing?” Two of my worst nightmares greeted us before we could reach the elevators. Luther and James, in gray janitorial outfits with matching scowls, were pushing big utility carts that stood between us and an easy escape. High school had taught me to always be aware of the exits where the two of them were concerned, and even Milo’s presence wasn’t enough to stop the chill racing up my spine.

“Forget what he’s wearing. What are you doing with this Willy Wonka reject?” Luther gawked at me.

“Aren’t you a little old for playing dress-up?” James sneered at me. “What are you supposed to be, anyway?”

I opened my mouth to defend the Frog Wizard costume to them, but then closed it because I knew these guys. They’d just twist my words, make it worse, and I wasn’t about to give them fresh ammunition. No, the best thing to do with bullies like them had always been to walk away fast.

But they were blocking an easy escape, and Milo appeared to have put down roots next to me. His eyes were wide and stricken, and his skin had turned a pasty, pale green.

“You look f-ing ridiculous. Both of you. Who put you up to this? Is it some sort of prank?”

“Blink once if you need a rescue.” Luther laughed as Milo continued to stay silent. “Better make sure no one takes a picture of you two. You wouldn’t want it to go viral.”

I was dangerously close to decking him because this wasn’t high school. I wasn’t risking my scholarship prospects with an expulsion. I didn’t have to take this heckling, and even if Milo had turned into stone, I didn’t have to stay there and wait to see what if anything he was going to say to his friends.