Unstable || Prinxiety

Chapter 7

(Roman's POV)

In. Out. Repeat. In. Out. Repeat. I focus on my breathing, keeping it at a slow, monotonous pace. I roll onto my other side and flip my pillow, annoyed, frustrated and uncomfortable. I sigh loudly, and not for the first time this night. It must be nearing 4:00am and I still haven't fallen asleep. I blame Virgil entirely, considering he selfishly turned on his night light, completely ignoring my protests. I couldn't possibly sleep with light on in the room, I told him. Did he care? No. Not at all. Typical. I resist the urge to check my phone, knowing it would probably wake him again, and I don't want to deal with a grumpy Virgil for the rest of the day. I truly am a saint.

Virgil faces the wall, his blanket pulled up around his waist. Bored, I trace the angular lines of his back in my mind, noticing how his shoulder blades are so defined they could almost pierce his skin. Freckles are scattered on his pale skin like constellations, and I have the sudden urge to cover his bare flesh with a blanket. I don't like the way he is right now; so vulnerable and open. I'm used to him being the strong, mysterious being in the group. The one that never feels weak, never lets words get to him. But seeing him now, I realize how fragile he really is. And admitting that to myself makes me feel strangely guilty, and I'm not even sure why.

I really need to get some sleep before I do something I regret. I'm sure he won't notice if I turn off the light now, right? Slowly inching my hands over to the switch, I click off the light, sighing in relief as darkness washes over me. Too focused on getting sleep, I don't notice when Virgil's breathing quickens. I don't notice when he wakes from his dream with a jolt. I don't even notice when he starts shaking. 

I do notice, however, when he shrieks and jumps onto my mattress on the floor, burying his face in my neck. What happe- Oh. Instantly, I fumble to find the light switch, cursing as I'm temporarily blinded by harsh artificial light. 

"Scared... dark... nightmares" I hear him mutter to no one in particular, still obviously terrified. His arms press against my body painfully like a vice. "It's ok... I've got you," I whisper  awkwardly, cringing at how weird I sound. As I rub slow circles on his back, I feel Virgil's breathing slow. The pulse in his neck thrums against my shoulder. His purple hair ticking my collarbone, he rests his arms on my hips. 

I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

My chest explodes with nerves as I run my hand through his hair - what am I doing? He exhales against my neck, slipping into a deep sleep yet again. How can he sleep like this, so close to another person? I would've thought the sound of my heartbeat was loud enough to keep him up, let alone everything else.

Maybe Virgil wants human contact more than he lets on.

Resting back on the pillow, I sigh again. I was right when I thought this would be a long night.

* * *

(Virgil's POV)

Moring comes to me like the swing of an axe, and I'm awake before I even fall asleep. It feels like I got barely any sleep last night, and although I don't remember the nightmares I had, I know they were bad. I still have that jittery feeling of fear prickling down my spine. I have no bearing on anything, so I reach to get my phone. I pause my hand, instead of seeing my bedside table I see... Roman? 

I jump up as if scalded, why am I on Roman's bed? Oh my God, I'm never going to be able to look at him ever again. I plod over to the bathroom. There's no way we are ever speaking about this. I'm not even going to think about it, nope. Nothing happened. 

I cleanse my face with the cool water, a brilliant contrast to the hot, flushed feeling on my cheeks. I walk back into the bedroom to see Roman awake and ready. He looks the same as yesterday - as if nothing ever happened. Maybe he was asleep when I moved into his bed? 

"What are we doing today?" He says, looking at me with an excited glint in his eyes.

"We? Nothing. Me, I'm going to see a friend," I throw over my shoulder. 

"Come on Virgil. You know I have to come with you," he replies. Oh well, it was worth a shot. I see curiosity in his eyes as he follows me out of the room. Ugh.

"After we see your friend, we'll go meet one of mine! This is going to be so fun!" he rambles, his words attracting the attention of pass-byers. I can almost hear them thinking, 'They're friends?' I can hear their surprise, their envy. Everyone wants to be Roman's friend.

"You know what, maybe it will be fun," I say. What can I say, Roman's positivity is contagious.