popularity || sanders sides [DISCONTINUED]

9 | Roman

Chapter Nine: Sleepover Blues
Roman Castillo

I'm unaware of the reason why, but for some reason I was working really hard to make my home presentable for Virgil. I guess I cared about everyone's opinion, even if I hated the person whose opinion I cared about.

I had given my mother and stepfather money to go out for the night, I had begged Ricky to go out with his friends or something for the night, and I knew that Nathan was staying with some buddies for the weekend, so I had the house to myself. I felt like I was forgetting something, though.

But I had no time to think about that as I made my way to the door, hearing the doorbell's sound echo throughout the house just seconds prior. I opened the door, but no one was there. I had thought that it would be Virgil, but somebody must've ding-dong ditched me or something. However, before I could close the door, someone said, "Wait!" and came out from the shadows of the space by my wall. It was Virgil.

"Oh, there you are!" I said, inviting him in. He apologized, "Sorry, my "run away from all possible human interaction" reflexes kicked in last second."

I said that it was fine and we went further into the house, me closing the door behind us. Virgil seemed nervous. Anxious. It probably was nothing. He seems like the person who's always like that.

"So, are you hungry?" I asked, trying to break the awkward silence that was there since we walked in. He shook his head, "No, I'm good."

Then something—-or someone—-jumped out from the kitchen, making Virgil jump back and fall down onto the floor. I helped him up and looked at what was the cause of this.

It was Jonathan. I knew I was forgetting something!

"Woah-oh-oh! Who's that?" Jonathan asked, referring to Virgil. He smirked, "Is my big brother totally bi? Would 'Ronica approve of this?"

I frowned, "One, musical references are cool, but don't use them on me right now. Two, am I not allowed to bring someone into this house without you assuming I'm dating them? Three, for the last dang-dang-diggity-dang-a-dang time, I am not dating Veronica!"

"Yeah, yeah, if you say so." Jonathan said, walking up to his room, with an apple juice in his hand. That must've been what he was in the kitchen for. I turned back to Virgil, who had the slightest hint of a smile on his face, "Was that...Heathers?" he asked. I nodded, smiling as well. Maybe he wasn't so bad.

"I love Heathers! It's the only musical I know besides Hamilton." he went on. I gasped, "There's so much you're missing out on! Like Dear Evan Hansen, that's a good one, and Be More Chill, and Mean Girls--" he cut me off, "Okay, okay. I'll let you show me those. Later. Right now, I am going to use the bathroom, wherever that is, and then we're going to read over our lines for Hamilton. Sound good?"

I nodded, and then gave him directions to the bathroom. I was actually excited now. So I waited for him on the couch, thinking about which musical I would introduce him to first. He came back about five minutes later, "Okay, so. Which song do you want to start with?"

We went through all of the songs we were both in, me showing him how to sing every note. Some of Eliza's notes were high, and I think he actually did a decent job of hitting them. When we got to the end of Helpless, I pointed out that we have to kiss at the end. He said that that was gross and that we would practice that later.

After practicing for about two hours, I got him to sit and watch the Mean Girls movie with me. Then I started to turn on the songs for the musical, telling him that he'd love it, seeing as Barrett Wilbert Weed, who played Veronica from Heathers, was in it, but he told me to wait and that he had to use the bathroom again. That was, like, the fourth time he had went tonight.

It was then that I got a (quite movie-stereotypical) video chat call from Patton. I answered it and was met with the bright happy face of Patton and the tired face of Logan. I could understand why he'd be tired. It was already around 10.

"Hey," I said to them. Patton waved excitedly, "Hi! How's it going? Are you two having fun? Where's Virgil? You didn't kick him out, did you?" That was such a Patton thing to do, ask a bunch of questions at once without waiting for an answer.

"He's in the bathroom. Calm down." I replied. Patton seemed to think of something, "So, have you yet realized that maybe Virgil isn't as bad as you may have thought?" he asked. I thought for a second. I didn't want to admit that Patton was right, that he wasn't all that bad. So my reply was, "No. He's still really weird, man. He's nervous about everything. And he's used the bathroom about four times in the past two hours. Something's wrong with him. I still can't stand him. I don't think I'll ever--"

I cut myself off due to hearing something--someone--behind me. I turned around and saw Virgil standing there, his eyes becoming glassy with tears, "I'm so weird, huh? You don't know me. You-- you don't know me at all!" Before I had the chance to explain, he grabbed his bag and ran out of my house. I wasn't sure if I was right, but I could've sworn I heard the faint sound of sobs coming from him as he left. I felt horrible.

"Patton, I--" I turned back to my screen and cut myself off when I saw that Patton looked mad. That was understandable. I had upset Virgil and Patton, all because I didn't want to admit that Patton was right, that Virgil wasn't that bad after all. I went back to trying to explain, "I--" but Patton cut me off.

"You like Mean Girls, yeah?" he asked. I nodded hesitantly. He went on, "Well, I want my pink shirt." and then he ended the call.

That must've seemed like, to him, the best time for Jonathan to show up, "Sorry for crashing your date bro, I just needed--" Once again, someone was cut off tonight. He must've seen how broken I was, sitting on the couch, about to cry. I had angered Patton, made Virgil upset, and if Logan was still conscious when I made the decision I did, he probably hated me too.

The last way I had expected this night to end was with my little brother and I on the couch, him comforting me and me telling him everything.

I don't know how I am going to kiss Virgil in our production of Hamilton when the day comes.