Once Flames Now Flowers

Chapter Eighteen

Virgil was sat in the cafe where he worked with a small smile on his face. He was excited to start over with Carlos. He didn't want to lose the male.

He felt bad for lying to everyone. He just didn't want them to freak out and worry about him so lying was the best option. Now he was just waiting for Carlos to show.

Everytime the door opened Virgil would look up with a hopeful look on his face and yet it hasn't been Carlos yet. Virgil was starting to think that Carlos might be standing him up but then he got a text.

Carlos:
Hey I'm in the parking lot in my car. I thought we could go to the park. Do you want to drive or walk?

Virgil:
Driving is fine. Do you want anything to drink?

Carlos:
A Venti black coffee and a blueberry muffin.

Virgil:
Ok, I'll be out in a minute

Virgil ordered their order then, when it arrived, he took it out to Carlos' silver car. The door was unlocked so he precariously climbed into the passenger seat, looking at Carlos weerily.

Sure the male knew that they were going to try to start over, but what if it didn't work? What if Carlos got mad at him again and hit him? Would it be his fault or Carlos'?

"Hey, are you okay?" Carlos asked.

Virgil quickly recovered from his thoughts and handed Carlos the coffee with a smile. The taller make returned the smile and took a sip of the drink.

Virgil held his breath as the male sipped at the coffee. What if he got it wrong? What if Carlos got mad again?

"Thank you, it's good," Carlos stated before he began to pull out of the parking lot to the café.

"No problem, so the park?" Virgil asked.

"Yep, unless you'd prefer something else. I don't mind catching a movie or a scenic drive. We can buy stuff and have a picnic if you want. This day is for you," Carlos said.

"I think the park is fine. They have a nice path that goes through the woods," Virgil shrugged.

"Which one? Southlake or Origin?" Carlos brought the car to a stop at the red light and faced Virgil.

"Southlake is the one with the oath through the woods. Origin has a small letting zoo," Virgil explained.

"Why don't we go to Origin and then Southlake?" Carlos offered.

"Nah, let's just go to Origin. I'm too anxious for huge crowds like that. Southlake has enough people that I will be comfortable but not too many that I start freaking out," Virgil rambled.

"Southlake it is," Carlos agreed and turned left to head to Southlake park.

The drive was calm and quiet. Nether make spoke, they just focussed on the road. It was comfortable. Virgil was glad that Carlos didn't want to talk about their dating situation.

"Here we are," Carlos stated after about twenty minutes of driving.

They were at a small park that only had about ten people. Virgil happily stepped out of the car and waited for Carlos to kill the car.

"The path is this way. Back when we were together I would walk here and go down this route. There are some really pretty flowers," Virgil explained.

Carlos watched as Virgil skipped around and rambled on about dumb things that Carlos knew nothing about. The male realised why he had fallen in love with Virgil in the first place. It also made him realise that he had to make sure Virgil stayed his.

For a period of time he had genuinely considered just letting Virgil be with those three boys from across the street but then he saw that smile again. He knew he had to get Virgil back and he would do anything to do that.

That's why he was going to take Virgil. He was going to take Virgil with the help of his friend Eric. They were going to keep him and make sure Virgil would be Carlos' forever.

"Were you even listening to me?" Virgil inquired as he waved a hand in front of Carlos' face.

"Nah sorry, I spaced out," Carlos apologized.

"It's ok! I was just telling you that those are stargazer lilies and they are just beautiful. They mean friendship and love!" Virgil explained pointing at a flower that had hot pink petals with white edges.

"It's beautiful, are they rare?" Carlos asked.

"Not here, they grow everywhere," Virgil said as he gestured around them.

Carlos nodded and bent down, pulling his pocket knife out of his pocket. He cute the stem of the flower and placed it inti Virgil's hair. Said boy grinned in delight.

"Do I look good?" Virgil asked as he gave a little twirl with the flower in his hair.

"You look perfect," Carlos said lovingly.

They sent the next two hours walking around. Virgil continuously rambled and Carlos listened. They enjoyed the time and Virgil taught Carlos how to make a flower crown.

Virgil was now adorned in a flower crown and he had a few leaves stuck to his sweater. Carlos also had a flower crown on (although it looked more like a mop of stems).

"We should probably head back," Carlos stated.

"Good idea. Did you happen to bring any water?"  Virgil asked.

Immediately Carlos saw this as an opportunity and he gave a nod. He had a sedative that would knock Virgil out.

"Well it's actually juice. It was water but I added a packet to it. I never drank it though," Carlos shrugged.

"That's fine," Virgil nodded.

When they got to the car, Carlos poured a generous amount of the sedative into the water along with a juice packet. He handed the juice to Virgil for the boy to drink.

"Am I taking you to the neighbor's house or your job?" Carlos asked as though he hadn't drugged Virgil.

Virgin gulped down the entire water and his eyes grew heavy. He gave a slurred response while looking at Carlos a questioning look on his face.

"I'm really tired. Can...can you take me to Patton's?" Virgil managed to muster the strength to ask the question.

"Yeah," Carlos nodded, having no intention of doing so.

Virgil pulled out his phone while he still had the strength and sent a message to his group chat with Logan, Patton, and Roman.

I'm with Carlos I think he drugged me