Park Bench (Prinxiety AU)

Chapter 13 - Virgil

October 31

     So apparently, when I heard Patton and Logan talking about a 'Roman' a few weeks earlier, it actually was the one from the park. Which makes sense somehow. I mean, the list of people named 'Roman' around here had to be extremely limited.

     I was rubbing his back as he sipped from my water bottle. "I didn't even drink that much," he croaked. I had brought him to the bathroom, just in case, so we were sitting on the edge of the bathtub. I let my hands fall to my lap. "Why... I didn't expect to see you here," he said. I smirked playfully, standing up.

     "You should have, I live here," I said. When I looked at him, his eyes were wide.

     "Wha- You're Virgil!" he shouted.

     "Aw, shoot."

     "Holy-"

     I stopped listening to him freaking out and looked in the mirror. My eyeshadow was still okay. On the counter, there was still a thing of facepaint from when Patton asked me to do his makeup. I rolled my eyes and moved it to the drawer. Patton probably only left it out because he hoped I'd use it for my costume, but I had made the decision not to wear one. I loved Halloween, with all of my heart, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to get dressed up for this many people.

     "When were you going to tell me? I mean, really, when?" he blabbed on. I turned to him suddenly and he instantly shut up. He looked like he was going to faint, but he visibly relaxed when I gave him a gentle smile.

     "Slow down," I said. He nodded. There was a knock on the door, so I opened it so an impatient looking girl could run in. Roman hadn't stood yet, so I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the living room. He looked disoriented for a moment, so I started to lead him to my room, brushing off the look of surprise that crossed his face when he realized we were entering the hallway. For some reason, I didn't let him go until my door was closed behind us.

     He looked around, still seeming stunned. "This is your room?" he asked. I sighed and nodded. There wasn't much to look at. It was mostly just the white walls and bed, with a dresser  "I was expecting something more... depressing, I guess?"

     "I haven't really moved in. I don't think I'm staying long," I admitted, kicking a random shirt under my bed. The room was generally clean from all of my nights of needing a distraction from the many thoughts that prevented me from sleeping. They say a cluttered room is a cluttered mind, but I was constantly being reminded that a clean room was no better.

     He made his way to the window. I couldn't see where he was looking, but I could see the movement in his cheeks that told me he was smiling. "I can't believe you live here. I've been here so much, how have a never seen you?" He glanced at me over his shoulder. "This means I'm walking you home from now on. You do know that, right? You're all out of secrets."

     "I still have some to cash in, but I appreciate the effort," I said bitterly. He frowned.

     "It's still going to be that way?" he asked, turning to face me completely.

     "What way?" Defensively, my arms crossed over my chest. I was feeling suddenly out of my element in my own space.

     "You know, all hostile and angry?"

     "Excuse me, I never asked you to waste time on me. It isn't my fault you find me so entertaining."

     "Virgil, I didn't-" He looked so hurt that I felt the need to turn around. After a moment of silence, he came closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. I shook it off. "I'm sorry."

     "Whatever." I turned to him with a forced smile. "Go enjoy your party, Roman." With a harsh shove from me, he stumbled into the hallway and I shut the door and pressed my back to it. My breath wouldn't slow. Had I really said all that? Out of nowhere? What is wrong with me? I was beginning to panic. Finally, there was someone in my life who didn't know my past, someone with almost no reason to hate me, and I pushed them away. Literally. If only I were less of a screw-up, I could have had a chance with someone who made me happy.

     Stupid.