The Sanders Fleet

Prinxiety

{Possible trigger warnings: thunderstorms, implied anxiety attack, swearing, arguing, missing child

If I miss something, I apologize and please let me know}

"Roman, could you grab the mallet for the tent stakes?"

"Yeah, one sec." Roman spun around and jogged over to his dad's truck, hauling himself up into the bed and going to dig through the bag of tools they'd brought along.

"Do you want the black one or the brown one?"

His dad stood up and looked over at him. Roman grinned and got a fondly exasperated look in response.

"Either will be sufficient, Crow. Just bring one over."

Roman laughed and grabbed one, hopping out of the truck bed and walking over to offer his dad the tool.

"Thank you, Roman. Would you get the air mattresses and the suitcases? Once I'm done with this we will be able to put them inside the tent."

Roman went over to the truck bed again, grabbing what he'd been asked to get. He could reach most of them, but the last one had shifted over towards the cab too far so he hauled himself up again.

"Well hey there, neighbor!"

He looked up to see a man with light hair and wearing a sky colored polo standing in the center of the campsite next to his. Roman smiled and gave a wave.

"Need any help over there? Wouldn't want you to hit your noggin if you lose your balance getting out of the truck bed."

Roman chuckled and shook his head. "I'll be fine, but thanks for the offer."

"Roman? Who are you talking to?"

Roman's dad walked around the side of the truck and paused. "Ah, hello."

"Hi, I assume you're this sweet kiddo's father?"

"Sweet kiddo is hardly accurate to describe Roman, but I am his father, yes." Logan nodded. Roman scoffed and his dad offered him one of those tiny smiles that only he ever got.

"Well I'm Patton." Their campsite neighbor crossed the space between them, offering his hand. "Patton Sanders."

"Logan Emory, and this is Roman." Logan shook his hand and gestured to Roman, who hopped down from the truck bed to do the same. 

Patton smiled and narrowed his eyes a little at Roman behind round, blue glasses frames. "You're... seventeen?"

Roman nodded, grinning. "Almost. I'll be seventeen next month."

"Well then you're just about the same age as my boy. He'll be here later, he had soccer practice after school."

Patton turned to Logan. "Do you two have any dinner plans? I wouldn't mind the extra company if Virgil doesn't get here before I start cooking."

"Virgil?" Roman muffled a little snort. "That's- that's his name?"

His dad pinched him sharply on the wrist and he jerked away. Patton didn't seem to notice as he nodded. "Oh he's a sweetheart! My little darkling. You'll love him, don't worry. So what do you say, dinner at mine?"

Logan nodded. "Such an arrangement seems advantageous. Perhaps we could continue it through the weekend, if all works out."

"I like that idea!" Patton grinned. "I'll let you two get back to setting up, and I'll let you know when I'm starting on dinner."

Roman grabbed the two sleeping bags and slung them into his dad's arms as they went back to work on their site. "We brought the extension cord, right?"