Prince next door (Prinxiety au)

Chapter 11

Virgil decided he'd go home after all. Roman's gotten in his head about his grandma and now he can't stop thinking about how sad she'd be if he didn't show up. He supposes she's worth all the mess with his parents. It's about a two hour drive and Janus is behind the wheel. Remus riding shotgun while Virgil and Roman are in the back. Virgil doesn't say too much. He's constantly thinking about being home again. If maybe it would be different this year. Remus turns up the music and starts singing along. Roman quickly following his lead as he grins from his brother to Virgil who also immediately recognized the song. As kids the three of them figured they needed an anthem and lo and behold that song is now playing on the radio. Virgil feels a smile grow on his face, but he doesn't sing along.
"Emo, if you don't sing, I'm going to kick you out of the car." Remus warns.
"No, he's not." Roman assures him with a glare to his brother. Remus shrugs and continues to sing carelessly.
"Remember the song?" Roman wonders.
"Of course I do." Virgil smirks. Earning a happy smile from Roman who continues to sing as well. When the chorus comes along, Virgil can't help himself and he sings along anyway. Remus cheers when he notices it while Roman winks at him. Virgil sees Janus smile at his, at this moment even louder than usual, boyfriend before smirking in the rear view mirror at Roman and him. The two hours pass a lot faster like that and before he knows it they're back in their hometown. A sigh escapes his lips when his house dooms up. Janus parks on the driveway in front of the Shaw house and they all get out. Remus can't even open the trunk yet before miss Shaw runs outside and pulls him in the tightest of hugs before going over and doing the same to Roman.
"Hey, mom" Roman pecks her cheeks with a happy smile.
"Jan, come here." She orders when Janus slowly backed away from her reach.
"Oh, uh, I'm fine misses Shaw. Nice to see you again." He holds up his hands in defense.
"Nonsense." She pulls him in a hug nonetheless. Virgil snickers softly at the scene until he realizes that turns her attention to him.
"Oh, Virgil! Good to see you again too, honey." She smiles warmly at him before hugging him as well. Virgil is suddenly overwhelmed by the many memories in which she calls him that accompanied with a hug.
"Good to see you too, misses Shaw." He hugs her back for just a quick second.
"Am I just growing old, or have you all changed so incredibly much?" She wonders when she looks at the four of them.
"It's only been four months mom." Roman chuckles.
"Right, right, I'm just being crazy as usual." She jokes softly.
"Well come inside, sweeties." She gestures to go to the front door that's still standing open from when she rushed outside.
"I'm going home." Virgil tells Roman softly as he points at the house next door.
"Will I see you around?" Roman asks with- wait, is that worry in his eyes?
"Of course." Virgil assures him with crooked smile. Roman's smile returns at that as well.
"See you later, misses Shaw." Virgil waves at the kind woman.
"Oh, Virgil honey, happy holidays and give the greetings to your mom, will you, sweetheart?" She replies. Waiting for Roman to come inside as well so she can close the door again.
"Will do." He promises her before walking down the driveway and up his own. He lets out a shaky breath before opening the back door and walking inside. His mom looks up surprised to see him.
"Virgil, sweetie? How did you get here? I thought I'd have to pick you up from the bus station." She speaks up. Her smile growing as she walks up to him and pulls him in a tight hug.
"Can't breathe, mom." Virgil mutters. She laughs softly as she lets him go again. Her smile suddenly falters then and Virgil starts to get worried.
"Did your dad drop you off? Is that why I didn't have to go to the busstation? That man thinks I can't do anything myself!" She starts to ramble. Virgil rolls his eyes. And thus it began.
"Can we please don't start this so early?" He begs her softly.
"Start what?" She tilts her head confused. Virgil sighs.
"Nothing. Never mind." He replies. "No, mom. Dad didn't drop me off. Roman and Remus did. They're at the same college as me." He reassures her then. She looks pleased by that answer.
"So are you and Roman friends again now?" She wonders. Virgil shrugs. Unsure why he suddenly feels his cheeks heat up.
"Yeah, I guess so." He replies weakly. He guesses so? Oh yeah, mom, we're right back to being best friends again. Only apparently I'm a dumb idiot because guess what? I still love the guy in the completely wrong way! Good for me, huh? Walking right back in that never ending cycle. Virgil thinks bitter to himself.
"Well, that's nice." His mom replies. Virgil hums.
"I'm going to drop this off in my room." He announces. Gesturing at his large backpack. She nods approving.
"We're eating spaghetti tonight." She calls after him.a
"Yum!" Virgil reacts loud enough so she can hear him on the stairs. After that he goes to his dad. Something he's been dreading so possibly more. Not because he doesn't love his dad. Nor has he ever been mad at him for leaving. It's just... Weird. Seeing him with a new wife. A baby in her arms. What twenty year old has a baby brother? Or well half brother.
"Virgil!" His dad pulls him in a hug after opening the door.
"Hey, dad." Virgil hugs him back. Despite the fact he didn't want to come, he did actually miss both his parents.
"How have you been, son? How's college?" His dad asks when they walk inside.
"I'm fine. College is fine. Roommate is a bit of a struggle, but I can manage." He admits.
"See, I told your mother we should've checked with what kind of people you'd be living. She never listens to me." His dad starts off frustrated. Virgil sighs. It started good alright. He knew he shouldn't have said anything remotely negative. Every time he does that either one of his parents somehow find a way to blame it on the other. Which only makes matters worse.
"It's fine, dad." Virgil reassures him. His dad hums, but doesn't seem to believe him.
"Let's go see Sharrol and your little brother." He announces instead.
"Half brother." Virgil corrects. He doesn't really have a bond with the young boy. Maybe because Virgil has been over two hours away for three fourth of his life. His dad doesn't react to the correction.
"Hey, Virgil!" Sharrol calls with a big grin when they walk inside the dining room that's already set.
"Hi, Sharrol. Little Thomas." Virgil waves his two finger salute at her before looking over the crib at his half brother. He's already grown and changed a lot since the last time he saw him.
"He grows up incredibly fast. It seems like only yesterday he was this little infant and look at him now. Already making noise and trying to grab things." Sharrol comes to stand beside him and looks down at her son.
"Yeah, he, uh, he's cute." Virgil admits awkwardly. After three years, he still has no clue how to act around his dad's new wife. Maybe it's because it went so fast. His parents were divorced for barely a month when his dad already introduced him to Sharrol. Last year they married and the past summer this little guy was brought to the world. Virgil has dinner with them. They ask more about college and he replies with very basic answers to not let any negative aspects shine through. He manages to get through the night without having to hear too many stabs to his mom or without being interrogated about all the 'horrible things' she does these days.
"See you on Christmas day, Dad." Virgil hugs his dad goodbye.
"Bye, Sharrol." He calls from the doorway before leaving to catch his bus back home. This year they've decided he could celebrate Christmas eve with mom and Christmas day with dad. New year's day would be lunch with mom and dinner with dad. Meaning Virgil will most likely just stay home for new years eve so he can wake up properly. Not that he's heard of his old friends yet. They've probably already forgotten all about him. He takes out his headphones and puts on some music to distract himself.