Focus - Logicality

Logan - Same Small Gays, Big New Beginnings

"That's not possible. That's an unusually high number of coincidences, and--" Virgil looks even more nervous than usual, if that's possible. He's pacing back and forth behind Patton, Roman and I, chewing on the sleeve of his hoodie.

School is finally over. Roman and I are getting Patton's things from his locker while Patton tells Virgil and Roman what happened after they left the nurse's office, carefully leaving out anything he thinks might invade my privacy. I butt in occasionally, but for the most part, I remain silent, making a mental note to thank him later for this.

Suddenly, Virgil gasps sharply. Some protective instinct must go off in Roman's head, because his eyes widen and he fumbles the book he's holding, head whipping around to make sure his boyfriend is okay. "You're in the same astronomy class," Virgil mutters, just as much to himself as to the rest of us. "Your lockers are right next to each other. Patton is your tutor."

"It's not a tutor!" I break in defensively.

He ignores me. "It's a trifecta," Virgil insists. "A trifecta!" He blows his bangs out of his eyes then brushes them back down to their former position. I try not to speculate on the inefficiency of the gesture; it must be a nervous habit, and criticizing it would only make Virgil defensive.

"I thought that was only with bad luck." Patton looks confused and mildly alarmed. Roman zips the boy's backpack and we help him put it on without jarring his bad ankle. The crutch almost falls, but I catch it with my free hand and shut Patton's locker with the other.

"It's only a superstition, Patton," I sigh. This earns me a glare from Virgil.

"That's what you think. But don't you get it? It's a trifecta. Do you guys not know what happens next? Don't you know what this means?"

Patton shakes his head no, and I give at the both of them a skeptical glance. Roman just smiles. "Did you stay up watching conspiracy videos again last night, my precious little Emo Nightmare?"

"Maybe just a bit," Virgil huffs. "But I am not precious! I am the embodiment of pure, unadulterated darkness--the irrational panic fluttering in your chest when you're home alone on a dark and stormy night and the growing storm of supreme angst."

"Very poetic, my love, but I'd like to edit that. You're the embodiment of a pure, fluffy little puff ball," Roman corrects, kissing him on the forehead. "I'll let you keep the storm of angst stuff, though, because it's pretty accurate--you're good at irrationally panicking."

"Nobody listens to me," Virgil mutters, folding his arms across his chest.

"I listen to you," Roman insists. "My opinions are just worth a lot more than everybody else's." Virgil swats him on the arm with the sleeve of his hoodie. "Fine," he sighs. "Only a little bit more." Virgil swats him again. "Uuuugh, do I have to?" Roman sighs. Virgil nods, staring at him expectantly until he speaks. "Your opinions are important and worthwhile and special, but they're still not as amazing as mine and you're adorable and petite and I'm hugging you now."

"This is for calling me a puff ball and saying my opinions are worthless," Virgil says, pushing his boyfriend away and easily dodging his attempted hug. "And this is for the warning," Virgil says, kissing him on the cheek. Roman begins to complain about his boyfriend's uncanny ability to send mixed messages, but Virgil just winks. Roman rolls his eyes and groans, ruffling Virgil's hair, then they continue to argue.

Patton turns away from them with a sigh and addresses me. "We're doing this after school, right? I assumed it would be a random student, but since we're friends--at least, I hope we're friends--we could..." He trails off.

"We could what?" I ask, not following his logic.

"You could just ride with us, and we could go straight to my house."