Snake Boy

~ Chapter Nine ~

"Have you figured out what you're doing with all this?" 

Logan looked up as Roman joined him at his table in the library. He tucked a scrap of paper into the book he was reading and set it aside. 

"I'm not a mind reader, Roman, please elaborate on what you're talking about?"

Roman glanced to either side of them in the shiftiest way possible before leaning in to whisper, "Dorrian."

"Could you be a bit more cagey about this whole thing?" Logan asked him, annoyed. "He has to decide what he wants, and I am not going to push that on him faster than is necessary."

"Well you can't keep him in your basement forever." Roman retorted quietly. "Do your parents even know he's there?"

Logan just raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, that's a no. He's probably miserable stuck in there all the time." Roman leaned forward. "I have an idea."

"I'll record the date." Logan said dryly as he picked up his book again. He opened it to his bookmarked spot as Roman spluttered indignantly.

"Why don't you let him out-"

He set the book down again.

"The police are on high alert because of how we freed him, it won't be possible."

Roman pouted. "You didn't let me finish."

"Get to the point then. And do it quicker next time." Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've got a paper to write."

"What if I..." Roman paused for dramatic effect, grinning. "Throw a Halloween party."

Logan opened his mouth to shoot the idea down immediately, then stopped. He leaned forward a little bit, resting his elbows on the table and thinking it over.

"Yeah, yeah, you know it's a great idea!"

"Shut up, we're in the library."

Roman waved his hands around dismissively and then slapped them down flat on the table (a little lighter than usual, Logan had to admit). "Well? What do you think?"

"I'll think about it, and I'll ask him. At the end of it all, it comes down to what he wants to do."

Logan stared Roman down as he began to pout. "I'm not going to force Dorrian to do anything he doesn't want to. If he doesn't want to be out in public, I won't make him. And you won't either."

They made eye contact silently for a few moments, then Roman nodded and got to his feet.

"Let me know A-S-A-P, babes."

"You've been hanging out with Macchinetta, haven't you?"

Roman winked. "Of course."

Logan sighed heavily as his friend walked away. However annoying Roman could be, he didn't know what he would do without his closest friend since second grade.

"Roman come bother you about his idea?" Virgil dropped into the recently vacated chair. Logan, about to pick up one of his books, stopped and crossed his arms.

"He did. I have not said yes or no yet." 

"You know there are gonna be kids all over him all night if you do, right?"

"I'm aware, Virgil." Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I will make a list of the good and bad aspects of the idea, then discuss the whole thing with Dorrian. It will be his choice in the end, as it is him we are concerned about."

Virgil grunted and leaned forward, resting his chin on his forearms. "Mhm. Did you do Calculus?"

"I did. You may not copy it, but I will help you with it if need be." 

Logan just raised an eyebrow at his friend when Virgil groaned and thumped his forehead on the table.

"Ah. One of those days."

Virgil nodded, not lifting his head. 

With a small shake of his head, Logan pulled his workbook out and slid it across the table. "I'll do it once."

"Thank you." Virgil grunted, slapping a hand down blindly on the notebook and pulling it closer to his head.

~~~ After School, at the Emory Household ~~~

"Pop, I'm home." Logan called as he stepped into the front hallway.

"In the kitchen, kiddo! Come on in here for a minute."

Logan paused, taking his bag off his shoulder and setting it against the wall next to the door that led to his room.

When he stepped into the kitchen, he felt his heart skip for a moment.

Pop was sitting at the counter. There was nothing on it, but something about the way he was positioned gave Logan every 'you're in trouble' feeling in the world.

"Have you been eating enough?" Pop asked.

"Wh- I'm sorry?" Logan blinked a few times.

"I've had more dishes in the washer recently, and it seems like food is disappearing faster than it should. And I went into your room and there's two plates stacked on the desk." Pop got up and walked over. Logan was busy trying not to panic. His father wasn't angry, so logically he hadn't found Dorrian... right?

"Logan, honey?" Pop tipped his chin up a little. "Is everything alright?"

Logan nodded quickly. "I'm fine, Pop. I've been working on a little project recently and seem to have developed an unfortunate habit of taking food to my room to work. 

"I've done my best to bring dishes back up, but I must have forgotten the ones I used last night. I'll make sure to double-check in the future."

Pop smiled and cupped his cheek. "Alright. If you really need it, make sure to eat some extra food at dinner, kiddo."

Logan nodded again as Pop kissed his forehead. "I'm going to go work on some homework, what time is dinner?"

"An hour, your dad should be home by then."

"Alright."

Logan grabbed his bag and went downstairs. He dumped it on the bed and turned around, scanning his room.

No signs of Dorrian. The blankets on the papasan had been folded the way Logan would fold them, and draped over the back. His desk was immaculate, what little clothing was out had been left where it was.

And the closet door was slightly ajar. Logan approached it, stopping a foot or so short.

Wouldn't do to scare him, he might jump out or something.

"Dorrian?" Logan whispered. "Dorrian, it's me."

When there was no answer, he slid the door open carefully.

Dorrian was curled up on a small stack of clothing that it seemed he'd pulled off of hangers, fast asleep.

Logan couldn't help a chuckle escaping. He reached down and picked Dorrian up.

The smaller boy didn't even react. Logan carried him over to the papasan and set him down, pulling a blanket over him.