Chapter Text
Michael made his way down the steps inside the dilapidated hotel like he has done many times before. At this point he could make his way to the boys' den blindfolded, he would never dare that however. Knowing his luck, that would be the day something changed. Something simple like Marko putting one of his projects on a step near the outside to dry. No thank you. He may have only known them for a few months, but he learned quickly that out of all them, Marko is the one you want to avoid the wrath of the most.
On the third night of meeting them, some guy tried to pick on Marko. Probably thought what a lot of people did. Smallest of the group, quite soft looking. Must be the easiest target right? Wrong. The older Emerson boy has never seen someone jump on a guys head so fast. Paul had to drag him off, well he attempted to. Dwayne had to help him in the end. Michael remembered turning his head to David in horror, but he was just smirking. That smirk that seemed to be permanently etched onto his face.
In fact from David's body language it looked liked he even wanted to join in. Michael debated about being friends with them for a week after, but they had this sort of charismatic magnetism that he just couldn't ignore. In the end they became really good friends. The boys were cool with you as long as you were cool with them, and most importantly. Not an asshole.
"You guys home?" Michael hollered, his voice bouncing off the walls.
"Yo bud! Over here!" Paul shouted back.
Michael had to double check. Yep. That was Paul laying down on the floor next to the bed. That guy seemed to like to lounge on everything but the bed. Michael walked over to him, sat on the edge of the bed to look at his friend's face.
"Where's the others Paul?"
"Oh, they've not long got up. They'll be through soon."
"Michael! You hanging with us tonight?" Marko yelled.
"Jesus Marko! One of these days you're gunna give me a heart attack for real." Michael clutched at his chest.
"Stop being so dramatic, your heart ain't that weak." Marko waved Michael off. "Anyway, ya didn't answer my question. You hanging with us tonight?"
For such a simple question, it made Michael feel a lot of guilt. He really hadn't been spending as much time with them since getting close to Star and her friends at school.
There was an attempt to let them meet each other, but he could tell the boys really didn't like Jason. To be honest, Michael doesn't blame them. The guy was an egotistical ass, that was only put up with in the group because he was Heather's boyfriend. They have only hung out as one big group twice. When Michael first introduced them, and not long ago when Marko tried to give them all alcohol poisoning, David wasn't there for that.
Lucky bastard.
The guilt grew when he remembered the reason he came here in the first place. To ask if any of them knew how to do a ballroom dance. God was he really just turning to them for favours now? He only took David out for a milkshake because he felt obligated, and he can hardly call taking care of a drunk David spending quality time with a friend.
"Sure."
Michael found himself saying now, he doesn't want to become that person. The human boy was determined to keep these friends he actually liked.
"Awesome!" Paul exclaimed, sitting up straight like Dracula.
Dwayne slung his arm around Michael's shoulders, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Glad to have you buddy."
○○○
The boys ended up hanging out on their corner of the beach. Dwayne was sat next the fire on the sand, Paul was leaning against the log that Michael and David were sitting on. And Marko was in a nearby tree. They were all smoking, drinking and just talking amongst themselves. It was one of the calmest nights they have had in a while.
"Got any interesting plans Michael?" Marko asked while dangling off a branch.
"Not really. Jason's family has this ballroom themed party thing. He has invited me to it. Apparently they do all the dances and everything."
Marko jumped from the branch to land next to Michael. "You know how to dance ballroom style?" Marko asked. Sitting himself next to the human.
"No. Never danced in my life."
"Hey! Davey knows how to do that dance! He can teach you Mikey!"
Paul basically threw David under the bus with the suggestion. Of course the air-head meant nothing by it, David could practically hear the gears turning in that head of his after he said it.
Realisation settled over the more mellow terror twin's face. Before Paul could start making excuses to try to 'fix' it. Marko butted in, because of course he did.
"Great idea Paulie! Davey is a perfect teacher, he even managed to teach me it when I was bored once."
"Why can't you teach Michael then Marko?" Dwayne added to the conversation.
"I said when I got bored once. Didn't say I was any good or retained it. Listening ears Dwaynie, put them on."
"Continue with that attitude and see what happens." Dwayne said deadpan.
Marko just smirked at him before nudging Michael.
"Would ya like Davey to teach ya?"
"Umm..." Michael turned to look at David. "If you wouldn't mind?"
David really wanted to yank Marko's head off in that moment. The little fucker knew he wouldn't be able to say no.
"Of course I don't mind." David smiled at Michael.
Feeling like he needed something to do Paul slapped his knees and stood up.
"I'm gunna snag some more beers!" He announced before jogging up to the boardwalk. As he turned the corner to get to the shop where he usually got the goods he bumped into Star. He quite liked her, she was a free spirit. Bouncy. She was quite a dare devil too.
"Hey Star!" Paul shouted.
She smiled up at the vampire. "Hi Paul. What you doing?" She bounced on the balls of her feet.
"Just getting some drinks. The others are at the beach." Paul pointed in the general direction they were. "Wanna come and hang with us?"
Star pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "Maybe next time. I was just about to go see Maria"
"Okay. How she doing?"
"She's good."
Star's demeanour changed just slightly, Paul only caught it because he can hear her heartbeat.
"Are you all good Star?"
"Hm? Yeah! Yeah I'm good." She blushed.
"You sure?"
"Can I tell you something Paul?"
Paul blinked in confusion but nodded. He could hear that her heartbeat was getting faster.
"You wanna go sit somewhere first?" Paul offered.
Star nodded and Paul fell in step beside her. They went into the diner next door to sit in the booth at the back for pivracy. They sat across from each other. Star fiddled with her hair before looking up at Paul.
"I–um...I'm a lesbian." Star stated looking down biting her lip.
Paul let the information sink in for a moment.
"You going to ask Maria out?"
Star's head shot up, her eyes bulging.
"I can't." Star gritted through her teeth.
Paul inclined his head to the side. "Why not?"
"Well for one, I said yes to dating Michael because...well I just. Felt bad saying no. And I'm pretty sure Maria isn't into girls."
"Why not tell Michael?"
"I'm not sure I can."
"Why tell me?"
"Because you feel safe enough to tell."
If Paul's heart was still working he would feel it swell. It felt really good to be that trustworthy to someone.
"Thanks." Paul beamed at Star.
Star smiled back at him.
"Can you do me a favour Paul?"
"Sure."
"Don't tell anyone."
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
○○○
Marko's inward clock told him that Paul has been gone for twenty minutes. That's a long time to go get drinks. The air-head has probably gotten distracted by something shiny along the way.
Marko leaned over to David to let him know that he's going to look for the other terror twin. Their leader just looked amused. Knowing that Paul most likely has seen a fire show or something on the boardwalk and is in a trance.
Marko stepped over Dwayne, who was taking a nap. This always happened when he got comfortable and had a few drugs and alcohol in his system. It was tempting to poke him on the way to see if he would chase him up the boardwalk, but Marko would do that next time. He wanted to see what Paul was up to more at the moment.
To Marko's surprise he saw Paul saying goodbye to Star, who seemed to be going in the direction of Max's video store.
"What ya up to Paulie?"
Paul jumped about a foot off the ground. For a vampire he wasn't very aware of his surroundings most of the time. He's great when they're hunting, because like the others he let's the vampire side completely take over. It's actually really funny to Marko. Getting to witness the different sides to this goofball.
"Hey bud! Star was just asking me about dresses for that ball thingy." Paul smiled at Marko.
"Uh huh. Sure she was."
"Well she ain't exactly gunna ask Mikey if she wants it to be a surprise is she?" The taller vampire put his hands on his hips.
Smirking, Marko just shrugged. He knew Paul was hiding something.
"Don't look at me like that!"
Marko mimicked an innocent expression. "Look at you like what Paulie?"
"Nothin'. I'm gunna get the drinks and get back to the others."
Paul sauntered off. Marko waited until he was out of sight in the shop before making his way to Max's video store.
Max usually wasn't fond of the boys going in his shop. It wasn't because he hated his boys. He loved them with all his heart. But they were rambunctious rascals. (His exact words). So Marko snuck in.
What he saw made him grin from ear to ear.
There Star was. Chatting away to Maria. Looking at her as if she was the whole world.
The way David looked at Michael.
Marko made his way back to the others. He will play matchmaker later. For now he wanted to tackle a sleeping Dwayne and see how long everyone can last.