Chapter Text
Roman eyed himself in the mirror, for once in his life not liking what he saw.
Of course, there wasn’t an issue with his outfit. It fit perfectly. A white button up shirt with red buttons paired with red pants that had a subtle floral pattern to them with a red floral tie to match. He and his mom had spent hours measuring and cutting each piece to make sure it was perfect.
But now, it felt anything but perfect.
He sighed and straightened his tie before taking a seat on his bed. This was supposed to be the best night of his high school life but here he was, sat at home sad and alone.
Roman grabbed his phone off of his nightstand and sighed when he saw texts from Logan and Virgil.
LoLo SandiePants to Me, 6:01pm:
Text me when you get here.
Virgie <3 to Me, 5:59pm:
have fun tonight bb! i bet you look handsome as hecc <3
Virgie <3 to Me, 6:00pm:
love u send pics x
Roman sighed and rubbed the back of his neck slowly. He texted Virgil back a simple heart before opening his text history with Logan.
Me to LoLo SandiePants, 6:01pm:
change of plans. i ripped a seam in my shirt so i’m gonna be late. i’ll drive myself to school and meet y’all there. have fun in the limo!
He sighed and turned off his phone. He was really doing this.
Logan stared at himself in the mirror and smiled. He wasn’t one to gloat but...he looked good in his sleek, simple navy blue suit. He had on a light blue tie - simply because he liked the colour, not because it was the colour of a certain someone’s eyes - with a subtle diamond pattern. He even had a boutonniere ready to give to Patton.
He took the box in his hands and looked at it, breathing in slow and deep. Tonight held a lot of high stakes for him. He just hoped it would go well.
He’d never really felt this way about anyone before. This relationship business had always been Roman’s wheelhouse. Logan preferred to stick with facts and figures. It hurt less that way.
But then Patton blew into his life like a cool breeze on a hot summers day and Logan found himself hooked. He couldn’t explain the way he felt all of a sudden. He just knew he wanted to spend as much time with Patton as physically possible.
“Logan, your pretty friend is here!” Logan’s eyebrows shot up when he heard his little brother’s voice carry from the bottom of the steps.
“Thomas!” Logan grabbed the box, fled his room, and rushed down the stairs, his cheeks bright pink. “What did mom tell you about opening the door? You’re still too short to reach the peephole, anyone could’ve been out there!”
Thomas pouted, his hand dangling off of the doorknob. Patton stood at the doorway, eyes wide and a nervous smile on his face. Logan gave him a small wave and a nervous laugh before walking up to his little brother.
“M’sorry.” Thomas mumbled, kicking at the carpet with his foot gently. “I got excited.”
Logan laughed quietly and ruffled Thomas’ hair, making the younger boy giggle.
“It’s...okay. Just don’t do it again, okay?” Thomas nodded defiantly before looking back at Patton who waved at Thomas happily.
“Hi! My name is Thomas Sanders and I’m 6-years-old.” Thomas said loudly. Patton laughed and stepped into the house, closing the door behind him.
“Nice to meet you, Thomas, I’m Patton. I’m your brother’s...friend.” Patton paused at the word friend, his eyes leaving Thomas to look at Logan who was still flushed bright pink. Were they friends? Or...was there something more there? Dear God, Patton hoped there was something more there.
“Thomas, why don’t you go upstairs and see if mom needs help with her grading?” Logan said, grabbing hold of Thomas’ shoulders and turning him in the direction of the stairs. Thomas giggled and wriggled out of his brother’s hold, running to the staircase.
“Okay! Bye Logie!”
Logan watched his brother go and cringed at the nickname. He slowly turned to face Patton who’s eyes were wide with glee.
“Don’t-”
“Logie?” Patton asked tentatively, grinning. Logan sputtered and hid his face in his hands. “That...is adorable. Your brother is the cutest.” Patton paused, taking in Logan’s embarrassed expression. “But not as cute as you.”
Logan grinned embarrassedly and scoffed, shaking his head. They looked at each other and smiled.
“Um...Patton, I actually had something I wanted to ask you.” Logan said quickly. If he didn’t do this now, he was sure he’d lose his nerve. Patton looked up curiously.
“Oh, okay. What’s up?” Patton asked. Logan reached out for Patton’s hand and led him to the couch, his grip on the boutonniere box tightening.
“Patton, I...I enjoy your company quite a bit.” Logan started, looking up and gazing into Patton’s bright eyes. “And...I’m not very good at...romance.”
Patton chuckled quietly but squeezed Logan’s hand.
“But it would mean the world to me if you would consider being...my boyfriend.” Logan said, offering Patton a gentle smile. He took the box out from behind him and revealed the boutonniere, handing it to him.
Patton grinned, his heart leaping and flipping in bounds.
“Logan, I would love nothing more.” Patton said quietly, taking the boutonniere and pinning it onto his lapel gently. He looked up into Logan’s eyes and grinned before inching forward ever so slightly.
Their lips met and it felt...perfect.
Remy Alexander to Me, 6:13pm:
are you sure u don’t want me to pick u up and drive u to logan’s?
Damien stared at the text and nibbled on his lip, thinking about what would happen if Remy, God forbid, did decide to come to his house. His father was downstairs and he really did not want those two worlds colliding.
Me to Remy Alexander, 6:13pm:
i’m sure. i’ve been to logan’s a bunch of times so i’ll just meet you there.
Remy Alexander to Me, 6:13pm:
kk. can’t wait to see you. i bet u look gr8 x
Damien stared at the ‘x’ at the end of Remy’s message and he flushed bright red. He wasn’t sure what the current state of their relationship was. It felt like Remy had been flirting with him for the past few weeks...and he’d just assumed that they’d be going to the dance together. Were they boyfriends? Did Remy think they were? Part of Damien hoped Remy thought they were just so he could avoid the awkward ‘what are we’ conversation.
Damien stared at his reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing the hair peeking out from under his black panama hat. He and Remy had decided to coordinate their outfits around their collective love of the colour yellow. Damien had on a white button-up coupled with a mustard yellow tie he’d found at a thrift store and his best (only) pair of black slacks. He looked mismatched slightly but...he hoped it was in a stylish way.
He fixed his hat one more time before grabbing his wallet and keys and lightly padding down the steps. His father and mother were sat in the living room. Daniel was reading the newspaper whilst his wife sat, knitting beside him. He tensed his jaw and grit his teeth when he reached the bottom and walked towards the door.
“¿A dónde crees que vas?” Damien’s father asked, not looking up from his newspaper. (Translation: Where do you think you’re going?)
Damien sucked on his teeth and kept his eyes fixed on the floor.
“Hay una fiesta en mi escuela. Voy con amigos.” He replied, crossing his arms. (Translation: There’s a party at my school. I’m going with friends.)
Daniel clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Tienes que estudiar, no debería pierdas el tiempo en fiestas estúpidas.” Daniel replied, lowering his reading glasses and shooting Damien a pointed glare. (Translation: You have to study. You shouldn’t be wasting your time at stupid parties.)
“Daniel, solo déjalo divertirse, por favor! es solo una noche.” Margarita said, placing a hand on her husband’s forearm. Daniel rolled his eyes before lifting the paper back up to his face, not saying another word. Margarita looked at Damien apologetically. He simply shrugged. “Have fun at your party, mijo.” (Translation: Just let him have fun! It’s only one night.”)
Damien gave his mother a wave before leaving his house. He momentarily pressed his back up against his front door and let out a quiet breath, shaking his head. He stuffed his hands in his pockets before unlocking his bike and beginning the ride to Logan’s house.
Damien arrived at Logan’s and climbed off of his bike, wheeling it into the large front yard and resting it against the fence. He’d always marvelled at just how different his and Logan’s lives were. It became clear to him every time he visited his house. It was ornate and large but...somehow still homey. As if an architect had looked at Logan and designed a house that...somehow felt like him.
He walked up the porch steps when he heard a voice behind him.
“Hey, killer.” Remy greeted with a grin as he stepped out of his car. Damien turned and smiled, blushing. “You look a-may-zing!” He punctuated each syllable with a clap, making Damien laugh and roll his eyes.
“Thanks, you look great too.” Remy placed his signature sunglasses on his head and did a silly pose for Damien, showing off his mustard yellow (silk, thank you very much) shirt, white tie, and black pants.
Remy walked up the stairs and Damien rang the door bell.
Logan and Patton answered the door together, their hands clasped and cheeks tinted pink. Damien and Remy raised their eyebrows and Logan rolled his eyes, allowing them both into the house.
“Where’s Roman?” Damien asked as he walked into the house. Logan checked his watch and then his phone and sighed.
“Well, Roman says that he will have to meet us there. He’s had a ‘fashion faux pas’.” Logan reported, dropping his phone back into his pocket. “Shall we go?”
The four boys chattered amongst themselves excitedly as they all left the house, ready for a night to remember.
Roman was still home, pacing back and forth. He was supposed to have left for school 15 minutes ago and yet here he was, in his room, not showing the world his amazing ensemble and instead agonising over his boyfriend who was probably perfectly fine!
“Roman?” Roman whipped around and sighed softly when he saw his father standing at his bedroom door. “Oh, um...sorry, I didn’t know I was interrupting. You clean up good.”
Roman smiled at his father weakly and sat down on his bed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Thanks, dad.” He murmured, fiddling with his tie. “I was just about to leave but...”
Christopher furrowed his eyebrows and sat next to his son on the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Roman looked at his dad and sighed.
“I don’t think I wanna go to the dance anymore.” He mumbled, “Virgil isn’t going and...I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right.”
Christopher cleared his throat and sighed. He really wasn’t good at this kind of thing...
“But, it’s fine. I know you don’t like talking about this kind of thing so-”
“What?” Christopher raised his eyebrows and sat back to take a look at his son who looked so small. “Roman, I love you. You’re my little boy! I...I haven’t been the most understanding dad but and I’m sorry for that. But you mean everything to me and I want you to be able to come to me about this kind of thing.”
Roman looked at his father and smiled, tears threatening his vision.
“Really?”
Christopher smiled lovingly at him and nodded firmly.
“Really. Now, why don’t you tell me what’s eatin’ you?”
Roman bit his lip and leaned slightly so he was resting on his father’s arm.
“Virgil told me he didn’t want to go to the dance which is fine but...now I feel wrong going. I-I feel like I’m abandoning him which is so ridiculous because he said he would be fine! Now I’m all ready for the dance and I’m wearing the suit that mom and I made and everything feels...wrong.” Roman said quietly, wiping his eyes and grimacing. Christopher wound an arm around his son’s shoulders and squeezed gently.
“Did’ya ever think about...not going to the dance?” Christopher asked. Roman pulled away from his father, eyes wide with surprise. “I’m just saying, son, it doesn’t sound like you wanna go. Maybe...maybe your heart would be happier elsewhere, you know?”
Roman pondered that thought silently and nodded.
“These things seem like big deals now because they are. And I know how excited you’ve been for this shindig but...you know, dreams and priorities can change. Maybe this is one of those times.” Christopher said with a shrug. “What seems more important to you right now: Going to the dance or seeing Virgil?”
Roman bit his lip and rubbed his hands along his pants slowly, nodding.
“I think I know which one.” Roman said, his lips lifting into a soft smile. He turned to his father and really looked, feeling like he was actually seeing him for maybe the first time since he’d came out. “Thanks, dad.”
Christopher beamed right back at him and stood up, pulling his son into a tight hug.
“I love you, Roman. Now...get out and do what you have to do.” Christopher said, releasing Roman from his grip and patting his cheek gently. As Christopher left the room, Roman grabbed his phone and checked the time. The night was still young and he had to prepare.
Virgil was fine. He was! He didn’t really care that all of his friends were at some lame dance while he was at home watching New Girl on Netflix. He didn’t mind that his friends were probably dancing up a storm and making memories while he scarfed down yet another bowl of popcorn.
He really didn’t care.
He sighed and glanced at his phone, hoping to see a picture or a text from Roman. Nothing.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You did this to yourself, you’re the one who said he didn’t want to go!
Virgil wrinkled his nose and tried to block out the tiny voice in his head by clicking ‘next episode’ and snuggling down into his covers. Downstairs he could hear some muffled voices speaking and the door closing but he ignored it. It was probably his mom and her book club friends.
He tried to focus on Nick and Jess’ antics when he heard slow footsteps climbing up the stairs and approaching his door. He sighed and held back a groan. He’d told his mom countless times, he was fine! He was not lonely and definitely didn’t wanna join her book club tonight.
The door began to open and Virgil kept his eyes glued to the screen.
“Mom, I’m fine, you don’t have to keep checking up on me.”
“I like her. Your mom seems nice.”
Virgil looked up at the voice and his eyes widened. There, stood Roman in his homecoming outfit, holding a bouquet of red roses, leaning against his doorjamb.
“R-Roman, what are you doing here?” Virgil asked, running his hands through his hair and sitting up in his bed. “You’re supposed to be at the dance.”
Roman smiled softly at Virgil and stepped into his room.
“I know where I’m supposed to be.” Roman said quietly, his eyes shining. “I’m supposed to be right here with you.”
Virgil blushed and placed his laptop next to him on the bed, getting out from under the covers and standing up.
“You look amazing.” Virgil said softly, admiring Roman’s outfit. Roman blushed but grinned happily at the attention. “I didn’t know you were coming...otherwise I would’ve changed out of my pyjamas.”
Roman looked down at the oversized batman t-shirt and sweatpants Virgil was wearing and he chuckled, shaking his head and pulling his boyfriend close.
“I think you look astounding.” Roman murmured, one hand coming up to Virgil’s waist. The other hand was still occupied, holding the bouquet. He gallantly offered the bouquet to his boyfriend and grinned. “For you, my love.”
Virgil rolled his eyes but hid his face behind the bouquet, trying to hide his blushing cheeks and goofy smile.
“You’re such a sap.”
Roman grinned and took the flowers from Virgil’s hands, gently placing them on his nightstand.
“But you love me for it.” Roman said quietly, taking both of Virgil’s hands and pulling him close. “Virgil, will you do me the honour of dancing with me?”
Roman pulled out his phone and pressed play, grinning as a song began to play.
They stood there in the middle of Virgil’s bedroom, wrapped up in one another, gently swaying to the soft guitar beats and the soothing tones of Tatiana Manaois’ voice.
As the four boys arrived at the school, they still couldn’t find any sign of Roman anywhere. Logan furrowed his eyebrows as he looked around the parking lot, hoping to see Roman’s car.
“That’s strange, he said he would meet us here. I’ll send him a text message.” Logan said, pulling out his phone and sending Roman a text. “Let’s head inside in the meantime?”
The four of them all cheered and began entering the dance, taking in the decorations and the dim lights and the loud music. It was everything they had imagined and somehow it felt...liberating to be there.
Logan felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he pulled it out, checking his notifications.
“Guys, Roman just texted!” He exclaimed, causing them all to crowd around. At opening the message, all of them cooed at the image that popped up (sans Logan who was a professional student who did not coo).
The picture was of Roman and Virgil cuddled up together, wearing the brightest of smiles on their faces, Roman’s tie loosened and Virgil’s mouth set in a smile wider than any of them had ever seen.