Chapter Text
The guy before him was tall and lanky with short, purple hair, sharp cheekbones, and dark clothing. He was quite honestly beautiful and Roman had seen him both in the theater room, and Kody’s bed at the party. Roman was curious as to how the guy had found himself in both situations.
The guy mumbled something low, something Roman couldn’t make out.
“I’m sorry, what?” Roman asked, leaning closer. He could hear the guy’s breath hitch.
“Yeah, you’re right.” The guy repeated with a slight sigh. “That was me.”
Roman’s eyes went wide at the voice. That was the voice he’d heard through the door. He pulled back, staring at the guy.
The guy must’ve known he’d been found out, because there was a slight relaxing of his expression as he looked into Roman’s eyes.
His eyes were brown and rimmed in black makeup, and the more Roman looked into them, the more he wanted to stay in this moment forever.
“Are these your marbles?” Logan asked, breaking the reverie between them.
The guy looked over at Logan. “Not really.” He said, shrugging in a way that was most likely meant to play it off, but it just looked nervous.
“Do you need help cleaning them up?” Roman asked, giving an eager smile.
The guy paused, his pale face going pink in the fluorescent lighting of the hallway, but he nodded.
“I know Mrs. Montgomery has a broom. I’ll be back.” Logan announced, before making his way down the hall, towards the classrooms.
There was a moment of silence between them before Roman broke it.
“So.” He glanced at the guy, suddenly feeling rather nervous. “We meet again.”
The guy nodded, his cheeks still tinged a blushed pink.
Roman inhaled softly, summoning his strength.
“I really appreciate what you’ve done for me. Genuinely.”
The guy’s face went a darker pink. “I didn’t do that much.” He tried, but Roman persisted.
“No, really.” Roman shifted, looking his peer in the face. “I want you to know what that conversation meant to me.”
The guy held his gaze. “I’m glad I could help. You deserve it.” He smiled softly. “And I think we both deserve better than Kody.”
“Agreed.” Roman giggled, nodding.
They watched each other for another moment, before Roman pulled the fidget cube out of his pocket, and handed it back. “I believe this belongs to you…” He trailed off, realizing he hadn’t asked for the guy's name.
“Virgil. My name is Virgil.” His blush softened. “And keep it. It was a gift.”
Roman hummed, looking down at the toy.
“Alright. But on one condition.”
Virgil’s brows furrowed slightly as he waited for Roman to continue.
“Let’s go out sometime.”
Virgil’s brows relaxed, and his smile grew. “I’d like that.”
Roman looked up at him, offering his free hand. “It’s a date?”
Virgil took it, and nodded. “It’s a date.”
In the space between them, in that moment, all Roman knew was that, for the first time in a very long time, he felt wholy, truly seen.
It didn’t matter if they were standing in the middle of a marble covered floor. It didn’t matter that lunch would end. It didn’t matter that they’d never known each other.
At that moment, they were together.
And that’s all that really mattered.