Tally Marks (Thomas Sanders PolySanders/LAMP fanfiction)

33

"Really, Patton. I'm fine." Logan insisted once more as the pair walked into the cafeteria, making their way to their usual table. They hadn't yet noticed Virgil behind them, who had just gotten to the cafeteria as they did.

"Why wouldn't you be okay?" He asked, startling the pair as they sat down. Virgil joined them, sitting down across from them and looking worried. "Did something happen?"

Patton shared a look with Logan, both of hem frowning. They didn't plan to tell Virgil what had happened, but now if they didn't it would be way too suspicious. Logan turned away first, looking back at Virgil.

"It's nothing-" he started, only to be cut off by Patton.

"No, it's not. It's not right to lie about it." Patton said, frowning and looking at Virgil as well. "We... tried to talk to Roman. It didn't go very well..."

"What did you say?" Virgil asked, looking between the two of them and only growing more worried. "And what did he do?"

"We just wanted him to listen to what had happened! We hoped maybe if he knew what really went on while he was gone, he might understand better. He didn't want to listen to us though, and when Logan tried to stop him from leaving he..." Patton trailed off, wincing and looking down at his hands in his lap.

"What did he do?" Virgil asked again, frowning and looking to Logan. Logan looked to Patton, gently taking his hand to comfort him before turning back to Virgil.

"It was my fault. I grabbed his arm, and because he was angry he acted without even thinking. He pushed me." Logan answered truthfully, also frowning. "I stumbled backwards into the lockers, but wasn't harmed. It was honestly more startling than anything."

Virgil's gaze fell from Logan's, looking down at the table. He felt tears welling up in his eyes as he realized just how angry they had all made Roman, enough to come that close to hurting someone who had once been his friend. "Oh," he mumbled softly, not looking back up at his friends. No one spoke for a while, silently focusing their attention on their lunch instead of making conversation.

Eventually Patton couldn't help it though, looking up at Virgil and hesitating for a moment.

"You should just... give him a little time, y'know?" He muttered, gaining Virgil and Logan's attention. "Roman. Just, wait a little while and give him some time to calm down a little. Then maybe he'll listen, and things will get better."

"I dunno," Virgil shrugged, avoiding Patton's eyes. "I just... don't think this is going to work out that way. I-I don't know what to do."

Patton didn't say anything else, accepting that Virgil just wasn't going to have any hope in this situation. He understood, really, but he wished there was more that he could do to help. Even just to put a small smile on the face of the person he loved. Instead he opted for a change in subject.

"Would you guys like to hang out after school? It's gettin pretty close to Halloween, y'know. We could make a pillow fort and watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and some scary movies?" He offered, glancing at Logan and then to Virgil, a small, hopeful smile on his lips.

Virgil looked back at him, thinking about it for a moment. Then he smiled the slightest bit, nodding his head as Logan also agreed to going. Patton felt his mood lift just a little, smile a little wider knowing he had succeeded in at least making his friend temporarily happy.

"That sounds like a lot of fun, Pat." Virgil said, very thankful for the change of topics. "I'm sure you knew I couldn't disagree to watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, though, so that was a little unfair."

"Oh no, I wasn't even thinking of that!" Patton very obviously lied, his already happy mood made even better by the soft laugh he had received from Virgil as they continued to talk about the other movies they were going to watch.

Things weren't perfect. Even as they spoke and smiled there was something just the slightest bit off, and at moments their smiles would fall as they thought of Roman. They were hurting, and they were missing a friend and for two of them, a love, but at the very least they had each other. They had something to help them, someone who they knew would be there no matter what. The one thing that continued to hurt them all throughout lunch was the fact that they had someone, but Roman?

Roman had no one.