Sanders Sides One Shots

Sketchbook (Prinxiety)

High-school AU

*Virgil's POV*

I'd always hated high school. Non-stop social interactions, bullying, and all of the pressure never seemed to stop piling up as a burden on my shoulders. The only thing that made it somewhat bearable was him, but it was worse that he was one of the most popular guys in school.

Roman and I had most of our classes together; English, Theatre, Science, Choir, and Math, and I've never seen him look at me once. I knew that nearly every girl (and some guys) had a crush on him. It only ever made Valentine's Day worse seeing him being approached by every other person, but what could I do? With all the other people showing off for him, what could possibly make him take me into account?

The bell rings for first period History, the only class I don't have with him. A great way to start the day, as usual. The period drags on, with the teacher lecturing us about something that has to do with the government that we probably already learned yesterday. Usually, I try and pay attention, but today's just not a day for concentration.

We all have our notebooks out, so nobody would notice if I switched it out for my sketchbook. I sit at the back of the class anyway, so I quietly switch them out and begin to doodle Roman.

I draw an entire page of Romans, even though I'd already drawn no less than five full pages of him before. I drew Roman on the stage in theatre last week, trying out for the lead role that he obviously got, Roman's profile, answering a question in science yesterday, Roman smiling at lunch two days ago, Roman walking down the hall with his prince-like charisma that just filled the building...

Of course, I usually refrain from actually writing his name. Even if someone were to ever look over at my drawings, it would take a while to figure out who it was. I just couldn't help but to write his name in very small letters at the bottom left hand side of the page. Just looking at his name made my heart flutter and a small smile curl at my lips.

I'm jolted out of my thoughts as the bell rings for pure torture, also known as Science, room 205. I sit right next to him. I have the entire year. The classroom usually stinks of what I believe to be arsenic. It smells like arsenic when I walk in, and I smell like arsenic when I walk out. Today was no exception to the pattern. The school has a bit of a rat problem, especially in the 200-210 rooms.

We watch a short video, take some notes on it, and answer some questions that we are to finish for homework if we don't finish in class. As usual, I'm the first to finish, but only because I can write in shorthand, so I just re-write it for homework to get the most free-time at school to practice drawing.

I take a risk and finish my drawings of Roman as he finishes taking notes. A sudden wave of anxiety crashes over me. I didn't finish my book for English. I close my sketchbook (handily disguised as an average notebook) and rummage through my backpack to find The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and begin to read.

It's the hardback version, nice and new. The library had just gotten a new set for the English classes this year. The pages were all nice and clean, the spine wasn't destroyed, and the cover was in perfect condition. I wasn't a total book nerd, but I appreciated a good book every other month or so.

I'm on page 300 when I realize everyone is packing up. I put the book back in my black backpack and go to reach for my sketchbook, only to realize that Roman is putting it in his backpack, leaving his science notebook on his desk. It takes a surprising amount of self control to bite back a string of curses, or any noise for that matter. The only other thing my mind is doing is figuring out a way to get it back.

And then I realize that there are at least six pages in there filled with doodles of him. Of all people to accidentally take my sketchbook, why did it have to be Roman, the prince-like handsome guy that I was so in love with that I drew him every other day?