Roses {Prinxiety}

A Orange Rose

An orange rose is passion
Blossoming in Lust's foul hands

____________________
Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

I grunted in response to the cashier, who had been asking me if I found everything alright.

Even though this little store is hardly big enough to warrant such a stupid question.

And the fact that the only thing I had in my hand was two bowls of 99 cent Mac and Cheese and an chocolate bar that I grabbed while waiting in line.

Either way, she took my grunt as a yes and easily handed me my bag once I'd paid a whopping $5.96.

"Have a nice day!" she said with a forced smile.

I simply turned the volume in my headphones up, drowning out her overly... extra... voice.

I stepped outside wincing a bit at the cold, weather making my shove my hands further into my hoodie pockets, yanking the hood over my head. I was supposed to be heading home, back to my apartment, but... my feet had other plans - taking a minor detour back to the coffee shop.

Why was I even going there? For Roman? There's no way he'd even be there at this hour anyway - they close early on Sundays. The place wouldn't even be open. I should get home before it gets dark out.

And yet somehow I found myself still going anyway.

By the time I reached the shop, I was right - it was closed.

Well, almost anyway.

"Sir, do... do you want me to call someone to pick you up?" It was the same tiny brunette who took my order this morning. Although now she was wearing a black leather jacket, looking ready to head home for the night, key to the shop to lock up. But she wasn't asking me, she was asking the question to -

Roman.

"Nononono," Roman slurred, crashing into the glass door on his way out. "I - I'm ffffiiinnnnnneeeee," he argued, taking a wobbly step forward. "I'm SUUUUPER fINNEE. I'm finnner than heckity heck," he slurred deliriously.

Oh my goodness. This man needs like fifteen hours of sleep. Minimum, I thought to myself.

The girl looked about as convinced as I was, eyes flickering indecisively between the shop and the clearly sleep-deprived man in front of her. "Sir, I really don't think - "

"I got him," I said instinctively, taking a step forward.

...

Wait.

Did I really just say that?!

The girl bit her bottom lip nervously, glancing between us as Roman seemed to take a moment to recognize me.

"Hey! It's... P- PRREETTYY PURRRPLE BOY," he giggled, poking me in the arm before bursting into another fit of giggles.

Make that sixteen hours.

"Are you sure? I can just call -"

I shook my head, tossing Roman's arm over my shoulder, as it seemed he couldn't walk himself. At the contact, he took the opportunity to bury his face in my shoulder. "Soft," Roman muttered dizzily.

I reached across Roman, yanking his bag off his shoulder and setting it on my more... Stable one. "Come 'ere - no, no sleeping. I need you to tell me where you live," I said, slowly pulling Roman along, dragging him really.

"Nooo," Roman whined. "I wanna sleeeeeeppp, pppplleasssse prrrrretty purrrple boy don't make me stay awaaaake. And I wanna stay with yyyoooooouuuuu," Roman begged, eyes already closing.