Assistance Required

Fall Break

Mon Nov 2- Wed Nov 4

The Fall break was only three days, not including the weekend, but it was nice to have a few days to just relax with friends. Virgil picked up a couple of extra shifts at work since he didn't have to worry about classes. Roman helped him get a little ahead in Spanish and he started on the next novel for his pulp fiction class. Patton, Janus, and Logan all lived within the state so they drove home to visit their families.

The others decided, since there wasn't much else to do, to explore the town a little more. Virgil showed them some of his favorite places: the pizza place he and his dad used to order from, the 24 hr gas station he went to when his dad was drunk and wanted something to eat, and the places he used to go after school to avoid going home. It was strange sharing his favorite places with other people. But of all the people, he was glad these were the ones he was sharing his history with.

He told them about avoiding the kids at school and when he had tried a cigarette for the first time when he was fifteen. They ended up getting fast food and eating it in one of the parks. It was the same park his mother took him to after church on Sundays, back when he used to go. His father never went, so it was just their tradition to grab lunch and come to the park. Virgil looked at the swings; he remembered he used to play on the swings when he was done eating. He used to play for hours before his mom took him home. It was one of the few times he remembered seeing her smile.

Virgil turned to look at the smiling faces around him and he smiled too. It had been a long time since he had felt like he had a real family. After they ate their food, they asked if Virgil would be okay with walking around. Roman offered to give him a piggy-back ride instead since hills would be tough with the crutches. Thomas carried Virgil's crutches while they walked. Virgil shared some more of his childhood stories, like the time he fell down the hill and fractured his arm. He held a smile the entire time. He couldn't help it.

They walked around for a few hours before they went back to the car to head back to campus. Once they were on campus again, they decided to watch another movie. Virgil listened to the other four debate over what movie to watch while he relaxed on the couch. He didn't really care what they watched. Once they decided, Roman sat down next to him. Remus sat on the other side of Roman while Joan and Thomas sat on the floor. Roman wrapped his arm around Virgil and pulled him close during the movie. Virgil didn't protest, even with the others there. He was too content to be embarrassed by the affection at the moment.

Virgil hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep until he woke up in Roman's arms. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. The light from the windows was gone now and Logan and Janus had returned. Virgil had gotten used to having the room to himself the past couple of days. Logan and Janus had joined Thomas and Joan on the floor. The TV was still playing, but it wasn't the movie Virgil remembered them putting in.

"Well hello there, Sleeping Beauty," Roman teased.

Virgil pushed Roman as he sat up.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Just a couple of hours."

Virgil lightly kicked Logan with his foot. Logan jumped and turned around.

"Did Patton tell you what time he's coming back?"

Logan looked at his watch.

"He should be back soon. I arrived about an hour ago."

"I got here a little after Logan," Janus said not looking away from the TV.

"Oh, is Virgil awake?" Joan asked with a smile on their face. "I think Patton would love to see these!"

They showed Virgil their phonescreen. Virgil instantly went pale when he saw a picture of him asleep snuggled up to Roman. Virgil reached for the phone but they pulled it out of his reach.

"Delete it!" Virgil said.

"Oh but you two are just too precious!"

"Joan, I swear! I will kill you!" Virgil said as he stood up.

They just laughed as they waved the phone in front of his face.

"You can delete mine, but you can't delete the others!"

"Others?"

Janus and Remus snickered.

"You too?!"

"I need something to blackmail you with," Remus said as he shrugged.

"Thomas might have one too," Janus said.

"No!" Thomas said. "No! I didn't take any pictures! However, I also didn't stop them from taking pictures."

"I'll take you all out! One at a time!" Virgil said as he lunged for Joan.

They fell onto the floor laughing as Virgil reached for the phone.

"What's going on?!" Patton yelled.

Everyone froze as they looked up to see Patton standing in the hall.

"Oh, hey, Pat," Remus said.

"You've got to see this!" Janus said as he pulled out his phone.

"No!" Virgil yelled grabbing Janus' leg.

Janus stumbled and dropped his phone.

Virgil grabbed it just as Joan handed Patton their phone.

"Too late!" Joan yelled.

Patton looked at it for a second.

"Aww! You guys are so cute!"

Virgil felt his face heat up as the others laughed around him.

"Aww! He's blushing!" Janus said as he took back his phone.

Virgil pushed him away.

"Get that camera out of my face!" he said as he moved back to the couch.

"I have it all on video!" Remus exclaimed happily holding up his own phone.

"I hate all of you!" Virgil said.

"All of us?"

"Except you, Pat! You're okay... but everyone else!"

"Wha! What did I do?!" Logan asked.

"You let it happen!"

"I suppose that's fair."

"Does that put me on the list too?" Roman asked.

"Yes!" Virgil pouted.

Patton squeezed in next to them on the couch.

"Aww, you poor thing!" Patton teased.

Virgil playfully glared at him.

"Did we hurt his feelings?" Joan teased.

"Poor baby!" Janus added.

"Stop!" Virgil said.

"Uh oh! He's getting angry!" Roman said.

"Run!" Remus said.

"Oh my gosh!" Virgil exclaimed as he pulled out his phone.

He ignored the others as he opened Tumblr but he heard them laughing. A few minutes later Virgil heard them put on another movie. He listened to the movie while he continued to scroll through Tumblr. Virgil kept feeling movement next to him. He looked up from his phone to see Patton picking at his fingernails instead of watching the movie. Virgil elbowed him lightly to get his attention.

"Everything okay?" Virgil whispered.

"Mhm," Patton nodded before turning back to the movie.

Virgil stared at him for a minute before turning back to his phone. He thought Patton might have seemed a little off, but maybe he was just imagining it.