Learning Control

Chapter 5: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

"Okay Virge, you gotta help me," Patton said, walking into their shared dorm room and setting his bag aside as he started pacing.

Virgil sighed, looking up from his sketchbook grumpily, but asked, "What do you need?"

"Remember at lunch when Janus called me Logan's boyfriend."

"And then you and Logan both freaked out and denied it, almost making me deaf, what about it?"

"I just- I don't know what to do. Do you think Logan likes me?"

Virgil thought for a moment about all the times Logan gushed about Patton when Patton wasn't there. "Maybe."

"Ugh! This shouldn't be this difficult! I really want to ask him out but what if he says no?"

"This is not at all my department, so I don't know what to tell you."

"If I ask him out and he rejects me, things will be awkward forever and our friendship will be ruined! But what if he does like me, then if I don't ask him out we'll never get together and he will eventually move on from me!"

"You're going to need to ask someone else about this," Virgil said. "Romance isn't my thing at all, I've lived here since I was nine and wasn't very social."

Patton sighed, sitting on his bed. "I'm just afraid. Maybe I should ask Roman, he seems to be the romantic type."

Virgil felt a strange sense of competition at the mention of the new guy. "Woah hold up, he's new here, he probably won't know your and Logan's dynamic. I suggest to start slow, do something small, ask Logan to the movies with just you two."

"I probably shouldn't, he's way out of my league."

Virgil actually laughed, "Patton, bud, you beautiful fool. That's not true in the slightest."

Patton blushed red. "Don't laugh, it's true! He's smart and handsome and so gentle, I just want him to wrap his arms around me."

"I'm sure he'd gladly do so," Virgil mumbled to himself, finishing an outfit design he'd been working on. "Look, just ask if he'd like to go to the movies together, you don't even have to ask him for it to be romantic. Hang out with him more than anyone else, build a strong and stable relationship with him, and then ask to be his boyfriend."

"And you're sure it would work?"

"Positive. And I know for a fact that Roman wouldn't have been able to give you better advice."

"You don't seem to like Roman very much."

"He's in my P.E. and algebra class and he thinks he's so much better than everyone else. It's so annoying, he followed me around and we ended up getting competitive."

"Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Virgil gave Patton a disgusted look and Patton stuck his tongue out at him playfully.

"He's such a hot head, far too energetic for my liking."

Patton laughed, "Yeah you could say that, I mean he does have fire powers."

"That's even worse! I hate fire."

"I know kiddo, but he's still really kind. Just give him a try, he is new here and I'm sure he's excited so he should settle down within a few weeks."

"I kinda have no choice since you befriended him and his brother."

"That's right! So you're stuck with them anyway."

Virgil groaned and leaned back in bed. He was going to complain some more but he was interrupted by someone knocking.

Patton got up and opened the door, revealing Roman standing there with a smile.