If I Can Say It

Hey friend, don't cry.

Boy has it been awhile. Sorry for the long wait. Life has been crazy and I kinda lost motivation for this story but I'm going to try and finish it. I know this chapter is a bit shorter then my other ones but I really just wanted to get something out. Again, I'm sorry for the wait and I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Patton's POV

Patton sighed heavily, looking over the restaurants latest documents. Business had continued to decrease steadily and his saving were going by fast. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. He worked from dusk til dawn, everyday, for hours without a break. 

He'd put everything into this place, put everything into keeping his parents dream alive but for what? A place that was run down and old? Food that hadn't changed in the last four or so years? Customers that grew older with no new blood to revive it? 

This wasn't living! He was working himself to death and he knew it. But he couldn't stop. He wouldn't! This was his parents dream! Their livelihoods! Everything they had ever worked for. And he was ruining it. 

He refused to be a bad son and let them down again. He wouldn't repeat his mistakes. He promised himself bitterly. Standing, Patton places the documents with the rest, a pile of unpaid bills being covered up by new debts. If only it were so easy to just cover up the past.

Virgil POV:

Virgil tapped his fingers nervously against the wooden table he sat at. Roman sat next to him, a pen in hand, frowning over a piece of paper containing their plans for the restaurant. All they were waiting on was Logan to arrive with Patton. 

Virgil desperately hoped this went well. He really didn't want to lose some of the only people that made him feel safe, loved. Even as a kid, friends were hard to come by. Most were wary of his emo demeanour and stayed away. Those that got close to him only did so to bully him relentlessly. 

Honestly, he had never been so happy the day he finished high school. Each day was one nightmare after the other and the day he left, he had smiled for the first time in years. 

He hadn't realised he was frowning until he was jolted out of his thoughts by the bell ringing, signalling the entrance of some customers. He looked up to see Patton's smiling face as he pushed open the door, Logan following behind, eyes glued to his phone. 

He looked up at Patton's gasp. Virgil watched as Patton's eyes filled with worry when he spotted the two of them sitting there. "Is-is something wrong?" He asked, "are you guys okay? You look really sad? Do you want cookies? I can make some cookies!" He exclaimed, turning to head to the kitchen. 

"No, wait" Roman said, standing up to face Parton face to face. "We're fine, we are all fine." He said, "but we did want to talk to you." "About what?" Patton asked, coming over to the table. Logan followed him and took the seat to his left. "It's about the restaurant.." Virgil spoke hesitantly. 

Instantly, Patton's face fell. Quickly, Roman interjected. "It's nothing bad! Really! But we noticed the place was kinda run down and.." "The kitchen doesn't work properly and there's no new customers." 

With each word, Patton's face fell further and Roman and Virgil quickly realised that they were doing this all wrong. "I know, I know. I'm trying to work harder but there's just no time or money and I." At this, he stared crying, tears falling down his face faster then he could wipe them away. "Look at me, crying when I could be working. You guys don't need to worry, your old dads got this!" He said, wiping away his tears and pasting a smile on his face. "I'll just start working harder," he assured them. 

"No! No! That's not it at all!" Roman cried, leaning toward his friend. "We don't want you to have to work harder," Virgil added, "you already work too much and your gonna yourself sick." Patton's smile started to waver, the ends tilting downwards slightly as he's eyes misted over. 

Logan turned Patton so that they were facing each other. "It seems you misunderstood what we were implying. We don't want you to work harder, you already work to much. We know that. What we want, is too help you." Logan staged firmly, grasping Patton's hands gently between his own. 

Patton looked around uncertainly. "Really guys? But you already help so much.." "Of course, Padre!" Roman exclaimed, "your our friend and we want to help you succeed." Virgil spoke up, "we wanted to help. we-we made some plans that might help the business.. you know.. bring in some new customers, catch peoples attention..." Virgil trailed off. Patton burst into tears. 

'Oh no! What did we do?!' Virgil thought, catching Romans eye and seeing his shocked, worried expression. "Thank you!" Patton cried, lunging forward and dragging them into an awkward group hug. Awkward because Roman and Virgil were sitting on the opposite side of the table so the edges dug into their ribs. But it was worth it. 

"Why though. Why would you want to dedicate some much time and effort to a business that's already failing.." he asked. "Because your our friend" Roman said. "And we want to see you succeed," Logan added. "And because we love you." Virgil said without thinking.

Instantly, his brain short circuited. 'What!? What was that!?' He thought. Those thoughts were instantly dismissed when Patton brought them into another group hug. The table edge dug into his ribs painfully. 'That's gonna leave a bruise' he thought to himself but he didn't care. Seeing Patton smile, truely smile, made it all worth it. 

After the crying had died down to a minimum amount and Logan had made them some tea (he made Patton's extra sweet), they sat down again to talk. "So.." Patton began nervously, fiddling with his cup, "what were your guys ideas?" Virgil grinned nervously before grabbing the notebook off Roman and handing it to Patton. "This is what we were thinking.."