Sanders Sides One Shots

Sketchbook Part 2 (Prinxiety)

Slight trigger warning (references to self harm and bullying)
Text messages are italicized

*Virgil's POV*

He gave me his number. Roman, maybe the most popular boy in the entire school, had given me his phone number. Yes, I was standing in an alley two blocks from where I lived, looking like an idiot, but I. Had. His. Number!

I ran the rest of the way home with a stupidly wide grin on my face. He and I could go on a date! And he had kissed me! I hadn't been this happy in such a long time. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my chest. I practically waltz myself into my house and into my room to do my homework and text Roman.

I type his number into my phone and create a contact for him before sending him a text, but not before over analyzing everything about what I addressed him as to the punctuation at the end of the text. It took a solid five minutes to decide on:

Hi Roman

I sighed in exasperation and apprehension. This was going to be so much more difficult that it needed to be. The sign that he was typing back popped up, but instead of a text, it was a request to call. I made a noise somewhere between a screech, groan and scream and froze. My phone rang, and rang, and then it stopped. A text went through.

Why didn't you answer the call?

I internally groaned. This was going to be difficult.

Remember how I said I was socially awkward? I also have a huge amount of anxiety.

He texted back not even a minute later, much to my relief. Waiting for people to text back nearly killed me every time.

Ah. Well, that's okay. I mean, not for you or anything. That must be quite difficult to cope with.

I nearly smiled. Roman was just so nice.

I'd still like to text though

I also really appreciated how fast he typed.

Oh good! I'm sorry for accidentally taking your sketchbook earlier today.

It's fine. I don't think we would have met otherwise.

Yes we would have. I've been sneaking glances at you the entire year, but I didn't know if you thought I was obnoxious...

You were sometimes obnoxious, but I was so hopelessly in love with you that I didn't really care

I gasped as I realized that I just sent. I knew that we had kissed, but I hadn't meant to phrase what I said the way I did. His response was much more belated this time, only making my feeling of dread grow.

...did it make you feel more alone?

I frowned at the screen. That definitely wasn't the response I was expecting. And the fact that it wasn't capitalized was strange. The question stopped me cold. I'd never really thought about it, usually I just accepted it for what it was.

Sometimes. I'd never really thought about it.

I'm sorry.

It's fine. Really. With my life, feeling alone is normal.

I started to wonder if opening up to him this much was a bad thing, or if I was doing it all too soon. Maybe I was making him upset. Maybe I was-

Well I'm going to change that, Darling.

My heart gave a leap upon reading 'Darling'. I smiled.

You don't have to. And why 'Darling'?