Tissues - Logicality AU

Ch. 17 - Normal

Logan's p.o.v.

Ever since Saturday, things with Patton and I have been a bit..tense, to say the least. We went our separate ways as we both left that day. It's been over a week now, and I haven't heard anything from him. Neither Virgil nor Roman have been to the store in a while as well. Lydia is constantly asking me if I'm ok, which I don't understand why she'd do. I'm always the same every day.

I woke up this morning per usual to the sound of my alarm clock. For a few minutes I just laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. Getting out of bed seemed like so much work now. The weight of recent and past events are beginning to catch up to me. I wish that I could just turn all of my emotions off like a switch. So all the pain would go away.

Unfortunately, I don't have such luxuries.

I finally forced myself out of bed and shuffled to my closet. I picked out a long sleeved black button down, my black pants, and finally my shoes. I headed down the stairs and, thankfully, my sister wasn't up yet. She'd be grilling me with questions about my wellbeing by now. Quite honestly, I'm sick of her asking.

I'm fine.

I skip breakfast and head straight out the door and to my car. Climbing in, I yawned as I drove the short drive to work. I parked in my usual spot and headed inside. I restocked some cheese and unlocked the doors when it was time to open. I shuffled my way back to my check out isle and just stood there as I waited for customers to arrive.

After a few minutes, I could hear the door open. I didn't bother to look up to see who it was, however. After not even a minute, someone was standing in the check out isle. I looked up to start checking out their items, but there was nothing on the counter. I looked up to see Virgil in front of me.

"Holy shit, Logan. You look awful."

"Thanks." I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"No problem. Anyway listen, Patton's been doing pretty rough ever since Saturday and, well.."

"You want me to cheer him up?" I asked, irritated. It seemed all I had left was my anger.

"No. I came to check on you. Don't forget that we're friends."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm fine."

"Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

Virgil scoffed. "Don't pull that with me, Logan. Your cranky, your hair is a mess, your not wearing a tie, the bags under your eyes are worse than mine. Besides, I'm the living embodiment of depression. I know it when I see it."

I sighed. "I suppose..you're right."

"I know. Now do you wanna talk about it?"

"What is there to talk about? Patton has a fiancee and I just have..nothing. Of course he would have a fiancee. There was no doubt he would leave me, yet I still had hope. Look where that got me. Now he's left me just like.."

"Your folks?" He asked. I looked at him surprised.

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. Listen, I can guarantee you that Patton misses you. I think you should go talk to him so that you two can work things out."

I thought about it before shaking my head. "He wouldn't want to see me."

"Yes, he would. Now get your ass in your car and go drive to our dorm. I'll hold down the fort here."

"You're seriously suggesting that you 'hold down the fort' aka do my job?"

"I'm not suggesting. I'm telling you that you should've gotten there 5 minutes ago. Now give me the damn name tag and go talk to him." He snatched my name-tag and placed it on his hoodie. I stood there for a second, debating if I should just tell him to go. Knowing fully well there was no way he'd listen, I sighed and left, heading back to my car and driving to Patton and Virgil's dorm.

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I walked up to the door and lifted my hand to knock, but something stopped me. I don't know why, but I was afraid. Afraid of what he'd say, if he was angry, if I'd ruined our friendship altogether. Nevertheless, I quietly knocked on the door. I was hoping he wouldn't hear me and then I could just leave.

However, he opened the door and looked up to meet my eyes. He looked the same as he did any other day. Like nothing had happened at all. I knew from Virgil's comments that I looked off, so now I felt embarrassed. I also now didn't understand how Virgil thought Patton wasn't doing on. He seemed just fine to me.

"O-oh, hey Logan!" He said and smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You look..different."

I shrugged. "I suppose. Anyways, I came by to see how you've been holding up. Virgil said you were upset, though it's clear not he's just being paranoid. You seem fine to me."

"Yeeah..of course." He said.

We stood there in awkward silence, neither of us knowing what to say.

"I was just watching The Office. Would you wanna come in and watch with me?"

I shrugged. "I suppose."

He opened the door for me as I walked in. I looked around and saw that Patton's side of the room was much more messy than I had last seen. Clothes were scattered, wrappers were all around the floor and a small, single glass bottle was not so strategically hidden underneath his bed.

"Sorry it's messy. I didn't know you'd be coming over." He admitted. I shrugged and sat down on his bed next to him. Patton put his laptop in between us and unpaused his show. We watched in silence and I took the time to quickly get familiar with all the characters. After about ten minutes, I couldn't help but ask a question about the show.

"Is it just me or are Jim and Pam clearly meant for each other."

Patton laughed. "Yeah, they're soulmates alright. But Pam is engaged to Roy and Jim hasn't really told Pam about his crush."

"It seems that Pam doesn't quite realize she's in love with him."

"Oh, don't worry, she will. I've watched this show like ten times already. It's a masterpiece."

"Do they end up together?" I ask.

"Umm, spoilers! I can't tell you!" He said, smiling. I shook my head and folded my arms.

"If you don't tell me I won't watch the show."

"Ok, ok, fine! Yes, they do end up together. They get married and eventually have kids."

"Oh, that's sweet." I respond, smiling a bit.

"Yeah.." Patton agrees.

Silence falls over us again until Patton speaks again.

"I missed having you around."

I nodded. "Likewise."

I held out my hand to him, deciding that enough has been enough. I can't go another week without Patton. Even though we may not be anything more, I'd love to simply just be friends with him. I can't imagine a life without him anymore.

"Friends?"

Patton laughed and hugged me. "Of course we're friends!"

I smiled and as we pulled away, I felt the happiness begin to flow through me again. We continued to watch The Office side by side and we laughed and ranted about the things that went on in every episode. Though the show is interesting, I'm more excited that Patton and I are finally on normal terms again.

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(Mk so I'm sorry for those who've never watched The Office if that was confused. *cough* Even though it's a work of art and you should tho season one kinda sucks *cough* ANNNYWAYY! I can't make these two stay mad at each other for too long, soo yeah. Hope y'all enjoyed. Cya! -Manzana)