(COMPLETE) The Teaching Elective - A Logicality Fanfiction

Chapter 16 - Chinese New Year

Summary: Virgil takes his middle school crush, who is also crushing on him, to his extended family's for Chinese New Year. And they have to share a bed because of course they do so... Stuff happens.

So I don't celebrate Chinese New Year, but in this story Remy (Virgil's Dad) is Chinese - maybe from a South East Asian country like Malaysia? Not quite sure - but if anyone celebrates Chinese New Year and has any corrections please tell me! I'd love to educate myself on this.

"Are we there yet?" Gavin asked after the fourth hour in the car had passed, and it was getting later in the evening. It was about the thirtieth time the four-year-old had asked that question. "Are we there yet?" Now it was the thirty first.

And even worse, Virgil couldn't properly relax in this car journey. He had his headphones on his Panic at the Disco playlist and was trying to look out the window to search for the city skyline in the distance. But he couldn't entirely focus because, even though Gavin was stuffed in his car seat between them, Roman was joining them on the journey to the city. He was going to spend an entire week with the guy he told his family was his crush. An entire week with just Roman and his overbearing Ayis and Dads.

Virgil turned his head to admire Roman every so often. He was also listening to music with his earphones, probably some Disney soundtrack. He was obsessed with Encanto (again), so he was probably listening to that. But he looked captivating in the moonlight, one side of his face lit up by the streetlights passing. Every so often Gavin wanted to listen to his music too. Gavin usually wanted to listen to his big brother's songs because they were for big kids – Roman listened to music Papa and Baba approved of though, and he was big, so his music taste was much better.

"Are we there yet?" Roman heard Gavin's thirty second question through his earphones. He turned to Virgil. His eyes were shut so he was probably trying to get some sleep, the stars lighting his black curly hair and making him look so peaceful. It was hard to believe Roman disregarded Virgil's beauty for so long.

Soon the family and Roman arrived at a townhouse just outside of the main city, with people going in and out and chatting loudly. Virgil smirked at Roman as Gavin ran forward into the arms of an older Chinese woman. The woman accepted the hug before she saw the two teens trying to hide from all the festivities. "Vergie-boo shǎ guā, you've grown so much since last year! And you have a friend!" Virgil's cheeks were squished and Roman was brought into a hug. "I'm Virgil's auntie, or Ayi as we call it, but you can call me Min! What's your name sweetheart?"

"Roman King, nice to meet you." Ayi Min's eyes widened at Virgil and Virgil's eyes widened back while he bit his lips, making his aunt giggle in return and welcome the two teens in. Apparently Laba porridge had just been cooked.

*******

After eating the traditional porridge Virgil and Roman were sent into one of Virgil's many aunts' spare bedroom to sleep. "It should just be upstairs..." Virgil whispered as the pair walked through corridors of relatives – Virgil being stopped each time for small talks and updates. "Third door to the le- there!" Virgil let a breath go as he finally escaped all the relatives, looking back at Roman who was just smiling. Smiling so cutely.

Until his smile dropped and his eyes widened. "Um... Why is there only one bed?"

Virgil knew his Ayis wouldn't act normal around their nephew's crush – although he didn't think they'd replicate a fanfiction cliche to try to get them to date. Virgil's role was to act normal now, he can't make anything awkward if Roman was with him for a week. The pair had shared rooms in sleepovers anyway – so what would sharing a bed change? Everything will be normal.

"Uh... Probably because they only knew I was coming first. Gavin still stays with Baba and Papa, so I usually get my own room." In part of acting normal, Virgil thought of getting changed into pyjamas since it was quite late in the evening, and both were very tired after their long journey. "Feel free to go ask for a separate room – can I just get changed first?"

Roman's mouth became as dry as a desert when Virgil pulled his purple shirt over his head. He was saying something but Roman wasn't particularly listening, he was more focused on trying to drag his eyes away. Roman just sat on the bed, finally dragging his eyes away to look at his phone. He had seen Virgil topless before at sleepovers – he had to think of that – this wasn't an unusual situation but seeming the pair were going to share a bed, it was going to be a new experience now.

"Hey Princey, here's your pjs." Roman looked up to see that Virgil had opened his friend's suitcase and got a pair of pyjamas out for him. He was still shirtless of course as he got his own sleepwear. Many happy intrusive thoughts went through Roman's head as he watched Virgil bend and stretch for a pyjama shirt, but all he showed was a smile.

Once the pair were dressed, they drowned out the noise of the party by putting on a Disney movie. They loved playfully arguing over the classics together, although neither would admit to each other that the arguing was causing a mysterious tension between them as they were sharing the bed covers.

Eventually, as the Disney movie reached the romantic climax, they started to chat about their friends. "So... You know Logan and Patton are both obsessed with each other, right?" Roman laughed, lying against some red and white pillows, and noticing the intricate red and white designs on the ceiling.

"Obsessed is a little strong in Logan's sense, but Pat's pretty obsessed yes." Virgil laughed, starting to lie down and resting the back of his head on the palm on his hand. His elbow lifting meant his shirt lifted too, showing his pretty tan skin... Roman's thoughts were strong.

"I don't know. I had a chat with Logan and he's pretty obsessed with Patton too." Virgil quickly turned his head to Roman, his eyebrows furrowed and a smile tugging on his face.

"He told you? What secrets did you have to reveal to get him to admit his crush on Patton? Or did you just annoy him enough to get him to say it?" Roman's thoughts transported him to an alternative universe, where he confessed that he told Logan about his crush on Virgil. And that Virgil smiled and told him he still had a crush on him, and they kissed in bed together like an old married couple. A man could only dream.

Virgil noted the blush on Roman's cheeks but didn't say anything. "Uh – I just told him a personal secret, but he was willing to talk about it. He seemed super relieved that he finally said it."

Middle school Virgil would have done anything to have Roman lying next to him in bed, blushing and speaking quietly, stuck in a private moment between the two of them. "Why are you blushing?" Virgil asked sweetly, making his eyes glow under the light of the laptop. Roman turned to see Virgil, lying down, as his blush became stronger. "Aw, do you also have a crush on someone Sir-Sing-A-Lot? Who's stolen one of my best friends' heart?"

Roman took a deep breath. Who wouldn't want to confess to their crush when he was looking at him so cutely like that? Roman really was a hopeless romantic, and an optimist. Virgil wouldn't hate him if he confessed his feelings and they weren't reciprocated – right? If he rejects him, it's just payback.

"You... Stole my heart. I think I've developed a crush on you." Roman was whispering, he felt relieved when he confessed. He felt as though he had been holding his breath for weeks and could finally exhale. "It's early days though – I only realised like a couple of weeks ago. So, we don't have to act on it at all, we can just kind of chill and stay friends or..."

Virgil didn't say anything, but he came closer. He fit his head on top of Roman's armpit and Roman wrapped his arm over Virgil's shoulders. He couldn't believe this was happening. "You're not pranking me, right? Or am I dreaming... Can you pinch me?" Roman laughed under his breath and did as he was told, pinching the boy's cheek opposite him, watching Virgil's eyes widened as he felt the pinch and soft touch. Roman then did something he had only dreamt about in the last few weeks. He kissed Virgil.

Fireworks erupted in Virgil's chest as Roman leant down and kissed him. He smiled into the kiss and held the back of Roman's neck closely, going in for a second kiss when Roman pulled away. This moment had been on his mind every day since eighth grade and now, even after a rejection years ago, it was finally happening. "Hm... I think chilling like this works fine. As my boyfriend."

"I wonder if Patton and Logan are making out right now." Roman and Virgil giggled as Roman began a third kiss, and a fourth, and a fifth... Until neither of them were caring about the week-long party they needed to attend the next morning.