Soulmate Notebook

Chapter 10 - Remus

"We should all go out tonight to celebrate!" Roman exclaimed as they all looked up from their notebooks to look at each other.

"Oh! Can we go see the new Disney movie! Then we can go get dinner and get some desert!" Patton exclaimed excitedly.

"I don't know, guys, what if something goes wrong?" Virgil questioned a little anxious.

Roman wrapped an arm around Virgil's shoulders and said, "Nothing bad is going to happen, storm cloud. Remus and I will be there to protect everybody."

"Alright, I'm in I guess," Virgil said with a soft smile.

"Even though it is Monday, it would be beneficial for me to join you. Count me in," Logan replied adjusting his glasses.

"That would be so much fun and maybe the night will lead to other things," Remus said suggestively.

"Remus, really?" Roman questioned chuckling.

"You five have fun, but I have to get home," Janus said still not looking at the group.

"Janus, you should look at us when you speak. Unless you're trying to hide something from us," Logan explained to the snake. Janus slowly turned his face so they could see it, but the only one who gasped was Roman.

Roman was in front of Janus in a split second and asked, "What happened to your face?"

Remus grabbed Roman's arm, making his dramatic twin look at his eyes. Roman nodded and the two left the room and left Janus standing there awkwardly as the others were now staring at his face trying to see what Roman was talking about. "Roman, he's using an illusion to hide his wounds from his four-wheeler accident. Janus didn't want anybody to worry or fuss over him. So, when we go back in there, you're going to pretend like you didn't see through the illusion," Remus explained and partially lied to his twin.

"Sorry, Janus, I was seeing things. So, we're all on for tonight, yes?" Roman apologized and asked the boys as the other four walked out of the nurse's office. Everybody shouted a yes except Janus, who didn't say anything. "Janus, are you coming with us?" Roman asked.

"I told you that I can't. I have to get home, so I can do chores and do my homework," Janus said a little too fast.

"Come on, Janus! It'll be fun and you can do that stuff after," Roman tried to convince him to go. Janus stopped walking and looked at Roman strangely. Remus came over to the half snake boy and grabbed both of his gloved hands. Janus looked up at him with tears in his eyes after Remus whispered something. He shook his head furiously and Remus released one of his hands to wipe away his tears. He whispered something else to Janus making him nod his head in agreement. The two walked back to the group, and Janus was holding onto Remus's hand for dear life.

"Roman, I'm going to walk Janus home. I'll meet you guys at the theatre," Remus told his twin with a look. Roman ignored the look and continued to push for Janus to come.

"We can't celebrate without him! He is a part of this group and we need him there to celebrate. Janus, please come have fun with us," Roman whined and pleaded. What happened next none of them was expecting, not even Janus.

"I. SAID. NOOOO!" Janus shouted at Roman while still holding Remus's hand. A yellow fog exploded from the snake and changed the school into a rain forest with yellow boas all over in the trees. Remus quickly stood in front of Janus and cupped his face in his hands. Janus had closed his eyes when he shouted, so he didn't realize what he did. The school alarms started going off and the safety procedures for this type of incident was going up.

"Jan, please open your eyes and look at me. You don't have to do anything that you don't want to. Roman didn't mean for you to get so upset. Did you, Roman?" Remus began comforting the snake again.

"No, I didn't. I just got excited and let it take control of me. Janus, I'm sorry for pushing you," Roman apologized. Janus however didn't respond to Roman, but he did respond to Remus.

"Jan, it's ok," Remus stated. Janus slowly opened his eyes, but the only thing he focused on was Remus's golden eyes. Somehow, looking into those calm, concerned eyes helped Janus calm down. When he was calm enough the elusion dissipated, except for the one he had on his face. Janus crashed into Remus hugging him tightly as he tried not to cry. Remus held him close and protectively. "Roman, take the others out to celebrate. I'm taking Janus home. He needs rest after the day he's had," Remus instructed as he gently pulled away from Janus. He retook his left hand and lead him out of the school building.

As Remus walked Janus home, he noticed the smaller boy growing more and more nervous. Remus stopped walking and asked, "Jan, dearie, are you alright?"

"I'm *fine*, Remus," Janus lied. He knew that Remus saw the full extent of what his father does to him, but he still denied it. Janus tried to continue the walk home, but Remus got in his path and crossed his arms.

"Rem, I said that I would tell you Saturday," Janus responded, starting to get irritated, "Now, I need to get home so I can get some water on my scales." Remus and Janus were both being extremely stubborn, but Remus realized how tired Janus looked. That's when he remembered that he was going through his ecdysis cycle.

"Come on, Jan, let's get you home so you can rest. You must be exhausted after today, plus starting ecdysis," Remus said as he continued walking. Janus sighed in relief that Remus decided to just let him go home for now.

When the two made it to Jan's house, Remus went and knocked on the door. Janus pulled him back and hissed," What are you doing?! You didn't have knock! I wasss Jusssst going to go inssside, Remusssss! Pleasssse, go before he opensss the door."

"Are you sure, Jan? I can wait here with you if you want," Remus said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Yessssss! I'm jusssst going to enter the houssse," Janus answered. Before Remus could respond, Janus opened the door and closed it back in his face. He took a deep breath once inside and headed towards his room.

"What took you so long in getting home?" Jason asked his son, "Why was there a knock on our door?"

"I walked home because the buses were overcrowded. The knocking was just a guy from school wanting me to come hang out tonight. I told him I was busy," Janus answered, hoping it would satisfy the man.