Assistance Required

Stand Up

TW cursing, violence, homophobia

Sun Nov 15

Patton walked into the cafe with him once they arrived. He had decided to try some of the food while he was there. Virgil clocked in while Patton ordered.

"He's cute," he heard Emma say behind him. "Who's he?"

Virgil turned around to look at her.

"Who?"

She pointed to Patton laughing at the register.

"Oh, he's just a friend. And he's taken by another one of my friends, so don't ask."

"I wasn't going to! But... why is he driving you? What happened to that other guy?"

"Patton is the fourth person to drive me to work."

She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but one of them shows up more often than the rest. I haven't seen him recently. You know, the tan one who's a little taller than you? With the reddish-brown hair and brown eyes?"

"Oh. Roman?"

"Yeah! What happened to him?"

"There's a play coming up. He's been rehearsing."

"Ooh! An actor! Do you watch him rehearse?" she teased.

Virgil's face heated up.

"No!" he said as he turned away.

"I can see you blushing! Spill the details or I'm telling your friend over there about the coffee incident!"

Virgil rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Roman and I have been on a few dates and he invited me to spend the week with him during Thanksgiving, but we aren't official or anything yet!"

She squealed causing a few people to turn towards them.

"Oh my gosh! How cute!"

"Why do you even care?" Virgil said as he switched out the coffee filters.

"Please, there isn't a relationship in this whole establishment I don't know about. I have to know everything! How long have you been dating? Have you guys kissed yet? Did you ask him or did he ask you? Where did you go on your first date? What did you-"

"You're dating someone?"

Virgil froze at the sound of the familiar voice. He couldn't move. He couldn't. Why was he here? Why? Virgil slowly turned around to see his father staring at him.

"C-can I h-help you?" Virgil asked as he walked up to the counter.

His father placed some envelopes on the counter.

"I came to drop off your bills," he said coldly. "You haven't responded to any of my messages. I didn't realize you were off with some... boy."

Was he breathing? He couldn't tell if he was breathing.

Say something, you idiot!

"I-I... uh... um..."

"Excuse me?"

Everyone turned to the new voice. It was Patton. Why was he still here?

"I can help you, sir!" Emma said.

"Oh, I just wanted to say goodbye to Virgil before I left," Patton said.

"You know my son?"

Virgil slid the papers towards Patton.