Park Bench (Prinxiety AU)

Chapter 14 - Roman

October 31

     "Virgil?" I called through the door. "Please, I'm sorry, I'm not sure what I did. Open the door. Virgil." I knocked a few times but inevitably resigned. He hated me. Just like that. Did I make the wrong joke? Was it because I had learned his name? I wasn't used to not getting my way. I reached my hand to knock again, but someone came in the hallway.

     "Oh, Roman, what are you doing here? I need to introduce you and Virge," Patton said. Before I could get a word in, he knocked. "Kiddo, you in there?" There was a moment of quiet, but Patton smiled at me reassuringly. His face switched to one of fatherly sternness. "Kiddo, I'm coming in, please be wearing pants." He opened the door slowly and stepped in. "Kiddo?"

     The window was open.

     "Not again," he muttered.

     "Problem?" I asked carefully, masking my panic. Had he snuck out? Did he jump? Was he hurt?"

     "No no, he gets a little nervous sometimes, he's probably gone-"

     "To the park, yes. I'll go see."

     His confusion was ignored as I ran through the house, pushing past guests and pretending not to hear that This Is Halloween was playing over the speakers. I was out the door, with no shoes or coat, running up the street in the dark, and no one could stop me. If anyone had tried, I didn't notice. The wind was in my eyes and hair and filled my ears with noise.

     I reached the park and stormed into the field. It wasn't until halfway across that I noticed the bench was empty. I took a slow look around at the park. Someone was walking on the path with their hood up, and I grinned. "Virgil!" I shouted. I ran up and grabbed his arm.

     "Hey, what the hell, man?" He asked, pulling back his hood to reveal that he was indeed not Virgil.

     "Oh, come on." I dropped his arm and walked away. My phone went off. I pulled it from my pocket to see that Patton texted me. "Pet store?" I mumbled, reading it over a few times. "Why a pet store?"

     I just shook my head and started for the sidewalk once more.

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     I couldn't see him in the window as I approached the building, but I held hope. I just couldn't figure out why he'd pick a pet store--Patton didn't have pets.

     I walked in. They were closing soon, but there was still time. Before I could ask a cashier if they had seen him, I spotted a flash of purple hair through a glass panel, and I breathed a sigh. I made my way to the room he was in and knocked without reading the sign. The door cracked open to show a woman. "Hey, sorry, we aren't taking in any more adoption clients tonight."

     "Oh, no, I'm just here for my friend," I replied, somewhat awkwardly.

     "Princey?" a voice asked from in the room. The lady glanced down at my outfit and opened the door. My face became warm as I remembered I was in my costume. I stepped in and smiled at Virgil shyly. "Ah, my prince, come to drag me back to the dungeon."

     "Who's this?" I asked, walking over and sitting next to him. He was petting a cloud-like puppy, who was asleep on his lap.

     "Peanut."

     "Peanut?" I repeated, and he nodded. I reached over and pet the pup's small head. He lifted to the touch, now awake and looking around.

     "He's been here a couple of weeks now, so I've been coming in to see him whenever I'm upset. I'd adopt him if I wasn't living in a guest room." He sounded sad. His hand was resting on Peanut's back. Even Peanut seemed to have lost his permanent smile, but it quickly reappeared when Virgil started scratching behind his ears.

     I watched their movements carefully, before asking to hold Peanut. An idea was forming. I had figured out how to make my dear emo happy.

     "You're not wearing shoes," the lady by the door pointed out. I shrugged and Virgil laughed, which of course made me laugh. It went quiet again, and Virgil smiled at me. The feeling in my stomach had returned once more.