How to survive Middle School (Sanders Sides Middle School AU)

Chapter 10: Revealed identity

*Roman POV*

A full week has passed since our rescue. Each day, Logan comes home looking more and more anxious, which is concerning, seeing he rarely shows emotion so visibly.

"What's wrong, Specks?" I finally ask one day.

"Anx accompanied me on your rescue mission, and he is yet to return to school," Logan says.

"Maybe he's just injured? Or he got sick?" I suggest.

Those options aren't really better, but they give Logan to contemplate other than the scarier alternative. 

"I doubt it, seeing as he hasn't returned any texts or calls," Logan says.

He isn't making it easy to look on the bright side. Patton's better at doing that than anyone. Even if there really isn't one.

"Kiddos? Is everything ok?" Patton asks, walking into the room.

Even though he's been through as much as me, I still feel like I need to protect him from knowing more worrying stuff. Logan, however, doesn't.

"Anx is still missing," He says.

"We need to go looking for him then," Patton says.

Not a question, a statement.

"Not in your state, you shouldn't," Logan says.

"I can. I feel better and I'm just a little bruised now," I say.

That's a lie, but still.

"Falsehood. Patton is still very hurt, and you were injured worse than him," Logan says.

"Doesn't matter. I'm going out there," I say.

I stand up, and Logan pushes me back down.

"No," He says.

"Look, were you like this when we were missing? I'm willing to bet you were searching every day," I say.

Judging by the look in his eyes, I'm right.

"So we need to search for our friend now," I say.

With that, I get up again. 

"Patton, you might as well join us," Logan says.

Logan leads us through the park and to the woods where he says we were last time. We check the old treehouse. It looks like it's been abandoned. We move on to the rest of the forest. It's fall, so things aren't easily disguised by leaves. Still, if there were any other mysterious treehouses in this forest, they're very well-hidden.

As we're making our way back after a few hours of searching, we stumble upon another person. Half their face is covered by a mask, but I can tell they're happy to see us. But not in a good way.

"Oh great, I found you. Time to get my rep back," They say.

"Reg?" I ask, recognizing the voice.

Reg is part of the slightly less popular rival group at school. The whole 'popularity' thing seems so silly now. 

"Oh look, the prince has a brain," He says.

I see him pull out a knife. Why do people have a vendetta against me? And the others, of course, but I'm always the first target.

I expect him to leap at me, but instead, he dashes to a tree, picks up a branch, and before I know it he knocks out Logan. I forgot Reg was one of the best guys on the track team.

I leap at him, but he simply dodges. I grab a sharp rock nearby and throw it at his face, nailing him in the cheek.

"Patton, run!" I shout.