And Then He Smiled (Logicality)

Chapter 41 - Janus Friar

Occasionally Patton would find Janus with Logan.

He usually just sat their beside Logan's bed, gazing upon him with a mindless expression. The light reflecting upon small droplets of tears that couldn't bear to fall. His eyebrows furrowed as he held his head up by his chin.

Often, Patton would see Janus talking to Logan during this time. It would be about anything. About school, about home, about life. Janus even told Logan about the flower seeds he'd taken from the store before it closed! He told Logan that he planted them in his garden and that he'd been taking good care of them.

Every single time Patton watched, he always let them be.

The wrinkled smile upon his cheeks always almost faulter before he forced it back upon its feet and his foot never seemed to stay still on the ground. His eyes always dazed in and out of reality as he spoke, replying to an empty room with every word.

Patton had never actually thought about how everyone else must be feeling about this. I suppose he forgot. But that's alright.

"Hey Janus," Patton quietly announced his presence to the teenager.

"Hey,"

Placing a bottle of water on the side beside Janus: Patton grabbed himself a chair and sat down on the other side of Logan's bed. A low gargle emitted into the room, craving for food before muting its noise.

The beeping sound of Logan's heart filled the room with soft breaths of the brink of death. It was quiet.

"How are you even getting here Janus?" Patton asked, his eyebags seemed lighter than before yet still quite heavy.

"The bus, I take it from the school bus stop," Janus told Patton staring at his comatosed friend.

"Doesn't that take a while?"

"Not really,"

Patton's heart couldn't help but ache for this poor boy, he'd sheltered this kid in his home and he barely knew anything about him. Yet he still did...because of Logan. Because he trusts Logan.

"I could get Roman to drive us all?" Patton suggested, "He basically has a minivan,"

Janus' eyes never left Logan's side, almost as if he couldn't meet Patton's eyes, "...no, it's alright, the bus ride is relaxing,"

"Are you sure?"

"I am,"

Gently interweaving his own and Logan's fingers together in a warm hug, Patton had a mournful smile as he gazed upon his soulmate. Though, he couldn't ignore the worried feeling that melted his heart. Sometimes, he felt his eyes dribble in Janus' direction ever so slowly, but their eyes never met.

The two strangers sat in a peaceful silence as the conversation ended. Again a stomach's growls muffled the beeping before ceasing to grumble.

"I'm going to go now, it was nice chatting to you Patton,"

"Do you need a ride home?" Patton asked.

Janus shook his head at the ground, picking up his school bag from beside the bed, "I'll be fine,"

"Have you eaten today?" Patton questioned, looking up at the boy whom was almost leaving the room.

Janus just stared back, almost wide eyed, "Yes I have,"

"We can go get food if you are, you don't need to lie to me," Patton almost pleaded.

"I'm not lying," Janus ended, firmly closing the door behind himself.