"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" Or So The Song Goes...

"Patton is the most cheery guy you'll ever meet." That's how everyone would describe him. Whether you've known him for years or just met him. That's who Patton wants to be. The most cheery person. Someone you can trust. Someone always in a good mood, always willing to listen and help. Because that's who his parents want him to be. The one they can show off. "Oh look, here's our little ray of sunshine!"

But truth be told, Patton was not. His smile was rarely real. He was expected to be the one to stay positive in every situation. And that wasn't easy when all your family did was fight and yell and take their problems out on you.

Underneath his smile and façade, was a tired 18-year-old boy. Someone who dreaded Christmas. Someone who could barely hold in his tears in front of his parents and friends. Someone who closed himself off from everyone and everything when his bad emotions became too much. Someone who right now stood in the middle of a fight between his parents.

Patton didn't process what was being said. He just knew it was going to be turned towards him sooner or later and become his fault. It always turned out that way. If only they weren't paying for his college degree, then he'd run away and live with his best friend, Virgil. That didn't actually sound like such a bad idea right about now.

Christmas was a very stressful time for Patton. It always had been. Sure, it was stressful for him almost every single day, but Christmas was even worse. His family didn't have much money, so they had to make do with what little they had. And that affected the mood of everyone living in his household. Himself included, even though he wasn't allowed to show it. The one time he had, his parents made him regret it. That's when he learned that they only wanted a sunshine child who was only to be seen, not heard.

As predicted, his parents' argument ended with Patton getting the blame once again and being sent to his room without dinner. He didn't even know what it was about. As soon as he closed the door to his room, he reached for his phone. This was getting too much for Patton to handle. He needed out for good this time. And there was only one person he could trust. Virgil. They'd been best friends since high school.

Virgil had told him time and again to get out of there. It was too toxic an environment for Patton to live in. And he was right. But his parents had needed him. He owed it to his parents to help them out. Even after the times, his mother had kicked him out of the house for the rest of the day on freezing cold days in almost no clothes, because he forgot to do a chore before they came home. He got bruises from it too.

Patton held his phone closed to him. He really wanted to call Virgil. Really wanted Virgil to come and get him. Wanted to run away with Virgil and never return to this hell-hole. Patton unlocked his phone but looked passed it. His eyes fell on Virgil's present. He'd worked hard on it. Worked hard to get the needed parts to make it. He could make this his excuse for calling Virgil? Yeah, and tell him to meet at the park.

His hands were shaking as he scrolled through his contacts and found the one he knew by heart. He hesitated, though. What if Virgil didn't want to meet up with him? What if he told Patton to just get on with telling his parents off? What if? What if? Wait. Wasn't Patton always the one helping Virgil when his thoughts spiralled? And what was it Logan had called it again? Cognitive distortions? Virgil was lucky to have a brother like that. A brother who could, and would without a second thought, help you no matter what. Patton was ashamed to admit that he was a bit jealous of Virgil in that aspect. But you make do with what you have. And what Patton had, was two parents who hated each other and himself.

He shook his head. He needed to call Virgil. And call Virgil he did. The phone rang. And rang. And rang. Patton was about to just hang up when the phone was answered.