Assistance Required

A Place to Stay

TW cursing, mention of abuse

Thurs Oct 22

Virgil spent most of his classes doodling in the margins of his notes again. He honestly didn't care anymore. Drawing was the only thing that didn't give him a migraine these days. During lunch, he decided to talk to Roman again.

"So, did you talk to him last night?" Virgil asked hesitantly.

Roman nodded.

"Yeah, we're both going to talk to them Friday after midterms. I'm going to go first and afterward, Patton will go. Since the break isn't that long we're all staying on campus anyway. I mean a few of the others might still visit their families, but most of us are staying on campus."

"You aren't going to visit your family?"

Roman shook his head.

"We'll be seeing them for Thanksgiving next month anyway."

"Oh yeah, Thanksgiving."

Virgil hadn't thought about where he was going to be during the break. He knew he could stay on campus during the fall break after midterms and Thanksgiving but after finals? At least he had time to figure it out. This was also going to be his first holiday season away from his family.

"Oh, gosh! I hadn't even thought of that! Are you just going to spend Thanksgiving on campus?"

Virgil shrugged.

"It doesn't really matter. I spent most of Thanksgiving avoiding my dad. We never really had a big dinner anyway. Our meal usually consisted of some form of take-out."

"You've never had a proper Thanksgiving dinner?"

"I mean it was just the two of us anyway. No point in making so much food for two people. Plus, my dad was usually drunk through most of it and I was always too stressed to eat anyway."

"Geez, and I thought splitting the holidays was bad."

"It is what it is."

"So wait, what about Christmas?"

"What about it?"

"Did you still get presents and stuff?"

"Yeah, of course, I did. They weren't the best since Dad spent most of his money on drinks and didn't really know what I liked, but he got me gifts. Most of them had to do with sports. He really wanted me to play baseball. But, like I said, it is what it is."

"Oh."

They joined the others at the table.

"Okay, but what about this year?" Roman asked.

"I'll probably just stay here during Thanksgiving."

"And during Christmas? The semester will be over! You can't live on campus by yourself for a month!"

The others turned to look at them. Virgil stared at his plate. He really wished Roman hadn't brought this conversation to the table.

"I don't know. I'll figure something out," he muttered.

"Like what?"

Virgil shrugged.

"I don't know yet, but I still have a little over a month to figure it out! And if all else fails-"

"You can't move back in with him!" Patton said. "Not after everything he's done. He almost hurt you in front of us!"

"Only as a last-ditch resort. I promise," Virgil said.

"Do you have any relatives?" Logan asked.

"No one I've talked to in years. I don't really know my dad's family and I haven't talked to my mom's since she..."

Virgil bit his lip. He couldn't look at them. He didn't even want to be having this discussion. The others seemed to understand.

"So there's no way for you to get in contact with any of them?" Joan asked.

"I wouldn't even know how. My dad's family cut him off when he started drinking his life away and my mom's family sure as hell isn't talking to him."

"Virgil..."

"Sorry, Patton."

"If I didn't live in another state, I'd offer to let you stay with me," Thomas said.

"Oh! I only live a few hours away! I could ask if you could stay with me!" Patton suggested.

Virgil shook his head.

"You guys have done enough already. I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask though," Janus said with a smirk.

"If one of us has the space and our family allows, I do think it wise you accept the invitation. It would be better than living alone not knowing where to go."

"Except, I still have to work. I was hoping to pick up some extra shifts between semesters. I need to save up."

"Shoot," Patton pouted.

"I live a little closer and driving to and from here shouldn't be too much of a hassle," Janus said. "I'm sure my mom would let you stay."

"Look I appreciate the offers, guys but-"

"Last I checked you're a little low on options. And the last place you should stay is with that bastard you share genes with."

"Hey!"

"You aren't going to call out Janus for cursing?" Logan asked turning to Patton.

"I kind of agree with him," Patton muttered shrugging.

"Wow, you must really hate him," Roman said.

Patton glared at the table.

"I don't like people hurting my friends," he muttered.

The table was silent for a minute. Logan hesitantly placed a hand on Patton's arm causing him to look at him. Patton took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I just... seeing him grab you like that even knowing what you've been through-"

"He didn't know about the concussion..."

"You're on crutches! That's very obvious!"

"The point is," Janus interjected, "that you can't move back in with your dad if he's going to treat you like that. He obviously doesn't care about your well-being. He might have felt guilty about abandoning you, but that doesn't justify his actions."

"He has a bit of a temper, yes, but I'm used to it."

"That doesn't make it okay!" Patton said.

"That's a lot less comforting," Logan muttered.

"For the sake of all our sanity, please consider Janus' offer," Joan said.

"Yeah, I don't want to have to drag your ass," Remus said.

"Where specifically?" Roman asked.

Remus just smiled as he stabbed his chicken. The others exchanged worried glances. Was he just joking or did he actually have a plan? Knowing Remus, he may never actually know the answer.