Timekeeper

3.Roman isn't doing so well.

Chris came over and grabbed my arm. Once again throwing me into the deathly still and silent dark that threatened to crush me. Why was it so hard to cope with the transition? The cold ripped through me and I could feel as my body began to shake. Chris's hand left mine and suddenly I felt completely alone. I closed my eyes to try and block out the dark but it only made it worse. 

Out of nowhere, I felt myself start to fall. My lungs lodged in my chest and I felt like I had to hold myself tight as to not fall apart. I hit the ground hard and groaned in response. This is getting ridiculous.

"I wonder if Logan would decorate a tree with us." I opened my eyes at the sound of Virgil's voice and sighed. I looked around to see I was in the living room. Several Christmas trees lined the wall and I rolled my eyes. The obnoxious one was no longer there, probably moved to some other part of the house. Romans room was the most likely place, as he was the one that decorated it. I watched as Virgil place a bright purple ornament on a branch and my eyes narrowed. I never took him for a Christmas guy. I always thought that he would have much rather stayed in bed all day than put up holiday decorations.

"I don't know, kiddo." I turned to see Patton coming through with a plate of cookies and hot chocolate. Virgil smiled as he took a cup and took a sip. "I honestly don't know."

"I'm sure he'll come around. By the way, where's Roman?" I thought it seemed a bit quiet. I looked around and sure enough no sign of him. I couldn't even hear his music blasting anymore. Had he turned it off? 

"He... in his room." Virgil's smile started to fall and I could see he didn't like that as he began to turn away. Patton sighed as he placed the plate down on the coffee table and pulled Virgil in, rubbing his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry kiddo. I'm sure whatever is keeping him away is very important."

"But he was the one who wanted me to be a part of all this. He even asked me in person this time. Yet all he ever does is hide away in his room." I furrowed my brow in confusion at what was going on. Where is Chris anyway? What's the purpose of this. The kid drags me here and then just vanishes? I saw as Patton glance my way and I froze. I am still invisible right? Like it didn't just stop because Chis brought me back to the obvious present? "Dad?"

"Sorry, you were saying?" Patton shook himself from his thoughts and Virgil groaned. "I'm sorry, Kiddo. I know how you feel but I promise you Roman isn't going to miss the party for anything."

"That's what you said about the trees too." Virgil leaned into Patton as the tears started to fall. This obviously meant a lot to them and here Roman was again messing it up. I shook my head and made my way to Roman's room, stopping only at the closed door. Great a rood block. I lifted my hand to push on the door but ended up going right through it, falling onto the floor with a thud. 

I jumped up, brushing myself off, and looked around. Roman was sitting at his desk again. It was a total mess. Pieces of glass and glue littered the area and I knew just what he was trying to do. I looked it over and sighed. He was honestly no better off then when I first saw it in his room. He wasn't even using the right glue. He wasn't waiting long enough to let one piece dry before adding another. It was like he was rushing or...

"I'm never going to get this fixed," Roman mumbled as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "Maybe I should just ask Logan... no, I already told him I threw it out. He'd only get pissed." My eyes widened at the realization. That wasn't just some random glass mess. It was Virgil gift from Patton. I was expecting a stuffed animal or some weird amalagamate object, not a glass figurine. When did Patton learn how to make things with glass? 

"I am such a moron!" Roman yelled as he threw his arms in the air. Jesus, maybe I really did get to him. I watched as he got up from the desk and laid down on the bed, an arm stretched over his face. "I ask Virgil to come to because I was going to give him his gift back then. I wanted it to be special, but I can't even get on thing fixed on it."

Well had you asked for help, I can assure you it would have been completed long before now. I saw the tears begin to fall from his face and I just sighed. Roman isn't doing so well. 

"Maybe I should just skip the party?" My eyes went wide and my mouth dropped. He was going to skip the very party he was excited about because he couldn't fix the gift?! "I just can't face Virgil. Logan was right about me."

"Poor Roman. He's so insecure and vulnerable. Every word you said cut him and cut him deep. You never even took the time to see it." I turned to see Chris standing there with this heartbroken look on his face. "Maybe you should have spent more time on understanding their emotions than yelling about there lack of productivity."

"I am not going to stand here and take this from a child." I said as I started for the door. "Last I check I was logic. So end this ridiculous farce and let me get back to work."

"You won't listen to a child?" His eyes closed in thought and I threw my arms up in frustration. He sighed, opening his eyes and smiling wide. Next thing I knew Chris was gone and I felt as someone tapped on my shoulder. "How's this then?"

I spun around to see a much older Chris staring back at me. His grey shirt was no longer too big on him and his blond hair was shorter styled in a sort of floof type thing. He put his hands in his jean pockets and smiled, waiting for some sort of answer.

"Who the hell are you?" I finally said when I pulled myself from my thoughts.

"I'm Chris... It's short for..."

"I told you not to say it." His smile turned into a pout and I sighed. "I don't really have a choice in this do I?"

"With what? My name or this trip?" I narrowed my eyes and he shrugged, getting very serious for a second. "No, you don't. So, let's get this over with shall we?"