So, this is the last chapter-the end. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with me and this story. You're all awesome.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dead Poets Society. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.
INT. TODD AND NEIL'S ROOM-MORNING-VALENTINES DAY
Todd and Neil are asleep in Neil's bed. Neil wakes up and gives Todd a chaste kiss. Todd's eyes open. He is smiling.
TODD
Best way to wake up, ever.
NEIL
Happy Valentine's Day.
TODD
Happy Valentine's Day.
NEIL
I...I wrote you a poem.
TODD
You...you did?
NEIL
Yeah. It's nowhere near as brilliant as the one you wrote me, but...
TODD
Neil, don't. Just let me read it.
NEIL
Ok, but don't laugh at me, okay?
TODD
Why would I laugh at you? You wrote me a love poem. I can't laugh at that.
NEIL
God, I love you.
TODD
Obviously, you wrote me a love poem.
Neil chuckles and gets up, walking over to his desk to retrieve a piece of paper. He returns to the bed and hands Todd the piece of paper. Neil settles in with his back against the headboard of his bed. Todd sits in between Neil's legs, his back against Neil's chest. Todd looks down at the paper he holds in his hands.
TODD
Will you read it to me?
NEIL
Of course.
Neil leans forward to read the poem, reading it softly into Todd's ear.
NEIL
Things I Love About Todd Anderson by Neil Perry
I love your smile
Your eyes
Your fingers entwined with mine
I love when your usually quiet voice gets loud
When your eyes light up when you see me
When your whole being glows when you write
I love your arms around me
But mostly, I love holding you in my arms
When Neil finishes reading Todd turns around to face him, his eyes misty.
TODD
It's the best poem written about me, ever.
NEIL
It's the only poem written about you ever.
TODD
I still love it.
NEIL
Yeah?
TODD
Yeah, but not as much as I love you.
NEIL
Yeah, and how much do you love me?
TODD
This much...
Todd kisses Neil. When the kiss ends Todd's face glows for a moment before falling.
NEIL
What's the matter?
TODD
I don't have anything to give you, and I feel like a bad boyfriend.
NEIL
Todd...you're not a bad boyfriend, you hear?
TODD
But you gave me a love poem on Valentine's Day, and I don't have anything to give you.
NEIL
I don't need anything from you, though.
TODD
That doesn't stop me from wishing I had something to give you.
NEIL
Todd, just stop it, alright?
TODD
But I can't just stop it...
NEIL
We're going for a walk.
TODD
What?
NEIL
You heard me, we're going for a walk.
TODD
Is this just an excuse to hold my hand?
NEIL
[smirking]
Perhaps.
TODD
Well, I couldn't turn that down, could I?
NEIL
You'd be pretty silly to.
Todd gives Neil a quick kiss.
TODD
Well, come on then, let's go for your walk.
NEIL
Our walk.
TODD
Our walk.
EXT. WOODS-LATE MORNING
Todd and Neil walk hand in hand. It is still winter-patches of snow and ice, but spring is definitely on its way. Todd spots a single flower. He pulls his hand out of Neil's and picks the flower. Todd returns to Neil, stands in front of him and holds the flower out to him.
TODD
Happy Valentine's Day, Neil.
Neil takes the flower from Todd.
NEIL
Thank you. I've never been given flowers before.
TODD
A single flower.
NEIL
But a flower none the less.
The smile fondly at each other.
INT. TODD AND NEIL'S ROOM-EARLY EVENING
Todd and Neil are both dressed nicely-the Valentine's Day dance is starting soon. They are helping each other get rid of wrinkles and straightening ties.
TODD
I don't want to do this.
NEIL
I know. But we have to. I promise I'll make it worth your time.
TODD
I know. Promise we can cuddle after? It'll give me something to look forward to.
NEIL
Promise.
They kiss. They break apart when there is a knock on the door. Neil opens the door to reveal the other Dead Poets.
PITTS
You guys ready?
TODD
[sighing]
As ready as I'll ever be.
CHARLIE
Come on, Todd, girls!
TODD
You know how awkward I am, Charlie...
NEIL
Come on guys, let's just go!
INT. WELTON GYM-EVENING
The dance has just started. The scene we see is that classic cliché where all of the boys stand on one side of the gym and all of the girls stand on the other. Ginny Danburry (who was in A Midsummer's Night Dream with Neil) is looking at Neil. Neil's eyes find Ginny's.
NEIL
Hey, Ginny! Dance with me!
This sets the dance in motion, and pretty soon the whole dance floor is filled. We see Charlie chatting up as many girls as he can. Knox looks like he is trying to have good time, but is failing-presumably because he'd much rather be with Chris. Cameron is a bit awkward, but he can seen dancing with a few girls. Pitts and Meeks are having fun getting into dancing. Todd stands off to the side of the gym while Neil dances with Ginny. Neil keeps glancing in Todd's direction. Mr. Keating appears next to Todd.
KEATING
Hello, Mr. Anderson, enjoying yourself?
TODD
Oh, hi Captain. What are you doing here?
KEATING
Chaperoning.
TODD
Oh.
KEATING
So, enjoying yourself?
TODD
Dances aren't really my thing. But Neil wouldn't let me stay behind...
KEATING
And yet he was quick to abandon you to dance with someone else.
TODD
A friend of his from the play. And I don't really mind. I'm not a very good dancer.
KEATING
You just haven't had enough practice yet!
Neil suddenly appears in front of Todd and Mr. Keating, slightly out of breath from dancing.
NEIL
Hello, Captain!
KEATING
Hello, Mr. Perry. Enjoying yourself?
NEIL
Yes, sir.
KEATING
Good, good. I'll leave you to it.
Mr. Keating begins to walk away. A few yards away he turns around.
KEATING
Oh, and Mr. Perry? Drag Todd on to the dance floor with you, will you? He seems under the delusion that he can't dance. I want you to prove to him that he can.
Mr. Keating smirks before turning around and disappearing into the crowd. Neil turns, smiling broadly to Todd.
NEIL
Well, come on then!
TODD
[bowing his head and lowering his voice]
But you know we can't dance together, people will throw a fit.
NEIL
Yeah, I know that. But I know Ginny, and she knows other girls from Henley Hall, so we'll find someone for you to dance with!
TODD
But...I don't want to.
NEIL
Todd. You didn't get all dressed up like that just to stand around looking sorry for yourself. Now come on.
TODD
Fine.
Neil leads the way to where Ginny is getting herself some punch.
NEIL
Hey, Ginny!
GINNY
Hi.
NEIL
This is Todd.
GINNY
Hello.
TODD
Hello.
NEIL
He's a bit reluctant to dance, so I was wondering if maybe you could dance with him? Poor guy would spend the whole night standing alone in a corner if he had his way. And you know, we really can't have that.
GINNY
[giggling softly]
Oh, um sure.
Todd gives Neil a look that says "I hate you" before leading Ginny out onto the dance floor.
TODD
I'm just gonna warn you now, I have no idea as to what I'm doing.
GINNY
Me neither, to tell you the truth.
TODD
This is going to be awkward, isn't it?
GINNY
Yeah...
They dance for a few moments in silence.
GINNY
So, um, how do you know Neil?
TODD
We're roommates.
GINNY
Oh.
TODD
You were good in A Midsummer's Night Dream.
GINNY
[smiling]
Thanks.
They dance until the song ends, when they move off the dance floor in a silently made mutual agreement. Neil bounds up to them.
NEIL
So? Dancing? Good? Yeah?
Todd and Ginny both nod and make claims of agreement.
GINNY
Well, I'm going to go talk to some of my friends. Bye!
TODD AND NEIL
Bye!
NEIL
So, really, how was it?
TODD
It was...oddly pleasant. I mean, we're both pretty shy, so it was a bit awkward, but it could have been worse I suppose. Neither of us stepped on the other's foot or anything, so that's good.
INT. TODD AND NEIL'S ROOM-NIGHT
Todd and Neil walk into the room after the dance.
TODD
Can...can I kiss you? I've been wanting to for hours...
NEIL
Todd...you don't need to ask me to kiss me.
Todd kisses Neil. When they pull out of the kiss Neil is the first one to speak.
NEIL
So? Was I able to keep my promise and ensure that it wasn't a waste of your time?
TODD
It was better than I expected, but...
NEIL
But...?
TODD
But I only really wanted one thing.
NEIL
And what is that?
TODD
To slow dance with you.
Neil, without saying a word, pulls Todd to him, and starts slow dancing. Music swells as the two dance. The lighting slowly fades to black.
The End. I'm not sure exactly when or what I'll be posting next, but hopefully I'll have something for you guys soon.