Unstable || Prinxiety

Chapter 23

(Roman's POV)
Song: Next to Me - Imagine Dragons

There was something about seeing Virgil sleep that made me sad. He looked so pure, so innocent - it was a painful reminder of the part of Virgil that I never got to see. The part he used to keep from me. I wonder what else he hides from the world, festering away, locked up in his mind. Looking at him now, though, I could see no sign of worry or malice. He seemed perfectly at ease. I wish he could stay like this forever.

"Virgil?" I whispered, wondering if he was really asleep or faking it. How could someone sleep after such a day? The silence that greeted me answered my question.

Before today, I thought everthing was getting better. I thought that Virgil's evaluation would be over, that he'd be free and life would go back as normal, normal with only one exception. That Virgil and I were friends. But just as I thought that life was somehow getting better - for Virgil and me alike - I woke up. I was awake, and it was all completely new, yet somehow familiar.

No one in Thomas's mind had ever cracked before. No one had ever remotely thought of committing suicide. I wish I knew what to do. But I didn't. And it seemed to me like no one else did, either. Not even Logan, who we all seemed to blindly rely on.

The clock on the far wall told me that it was already mid morning, however it didn't feel like that. It was a new day, but to me the horrors of yesterday still stuck. Maybe if I went to sleep, I'd wake up feeling different.

So I did what I did best. I ran away from my problems, slept them away.

* * *
It was late when I woke up, and it took me a moment to realise that I wasn't in my normal bed. I was in Virgil's room.

But there was no Virgil. My eyes sought for the familiar face, yet there was only sickening empty space next to me where he should have been. My heart sank as I speed-walked to the kitchen, maybe he was cooking? Again, there was nothing. He isn't here, he isn't here.

I could only hear the thud of my heart as I sprinted through the halls aimlessly with seemingly no destination in my mind. Before long, I found myself situated outside Logan's room, with Patton's room to my right. I found my hand hovering pitifully over Logan's door, just whispers away from making contact. I always go to him. I always go to him when there's a problem. That's why I was so surprised when I found myself turning to Patton's doorway.

The loud, resonating thud of the knock echoed throughout the hall, breaking the splintering silence. After a few moments, I found myself knocking again, this time repetitely and with an urgency and stress that I never use. I'm always calm and collected - well, mostly calm and collected.

The door opened mid knock. "Patton," I began "Virgil's missing aga-"

That's when my eyes drew to the figure standing in front of me.

Virgil?

My relief was outlived, shortly replaced by anger. "Where were you? What are you doing here?"

All of a sudden, I was furious. Furious that he scared me today, furious that he considered sucide. Furious that I even cared this much.

"Hey, Kiddo. Are you okay?" Patton materialised next to me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Virgil just wanted to talk about a few things."

Virgil and I met eyes for a moment, and in that second I was overcome with pure, unsolicibe guilt. Apologise. The thought trickled through my mind, settling on my conscious as a dull reminder.

"I'm... Sorry Virgil," I muttered, "for everything." He looked up, surprised by my words.

"You actually just apologised to me?" It was if the consept was impossible for him to understand. A strange, unnameable emotion passed briefly through his eyes, and he looked away. I guess maybe the old Roman never would have apologised. My pride wouldn't have let me admit any wrongdoings. But now, I was different. And I think Virgil had finally understood that I had changed, but for the better.

A/N

Thanks for reading! It's not finished just yet btw, I'm just taking FOREVER to write the next chapter.

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