Chapter Text
If by some fanciful, unrealistic circumstance someone was granting wishes, Logan would wish for early acceptance into college. With financial aid, obviously. Overall, it's his number one goal and everything he does is to reach that.
If wishes were being granted right this second, Logan would wish for his drivers license. That way he could take custody over his step-dad's twenty three year old Honda Civic and not have to ride the bus anymore. It's the least the universe could do after allowing his mother to gain custody over him.
Today, Patton Morales is sitting next to him. He's closer to the aisle, leaning almost entirely off of the seat to talk to some senior. Why Patton Morales is considered “cool” enough to talk to a senior, Logan doesn't know. Especially when his hair is dyed bright pink and he looks like a goth teddy bear.
Not that Logan's going to talk to him. Or that he really can. As far as Logan knows Patton speaks very little English and has even less interest in learning any. That's why he spends all his time anywhere but in class. Little interest in learning. Something Logan can't be bothered with.
Still, it stings a little that he's shoved next to the window and no one bothers to even wave hello. Like they all haven't been in school together since they were children.
When they get to school, everyone is immediately shoving through to get off first. As if they don't do this everyday, as if half of them even go to class. Or participate in class. Or do anything, really.
Logan gets a good view of Patton's legs as he stands up, and tries not to let his surprise show. Is his perpetual disregard for the school dress code shocking? Of course not. Not that Logan’s complaining right now. Even if it's rather uncomfortable this close, and he can feel his face heat up.
Not the worst start to the day all things considered.
…
The second upside today is that Virgil comes over to him at lunch. He's rather flaky, and Logan can never tell if he's considered a friend or not. Either way, when he's around Logan gets a break from shoving his face in a book and trying to seem as uninterested in everyone else as they are in him.
“Hey L,” Virgil says, sitting on the lunch table instead of next to Logan. His shoes are propped dangerously close to Logan’s AP Bio textbook.
Logan tries not to look put off by this, “Hello.” Virgil bites his ring and Logan tears his eyes away, “Not busy today?”
“No,” Virgil says simply. Logan has no idea what he might ever be busy with, except arguing with Roman Alcaraz and making an ass of himself. Or getting high. This doesn't leave a lot of room for conversation if Virgil doesn't make it.
“Alright,” Logan says slowly.
“Your English is really strong right?”
There it is. English homework. How being one of the only students to not speak Spanish translates into doing everyone's English homework, Logan doesn't know. He doesn't know a lot of things when it comes to people his age, apparently.
“I suppose.”
“Could you help me write a resume?”
Logan frowns, “You're not planning on dropping out, are you? We only have the rest of this year before we're seniors. And seniors barely do anything.” Unless you're Logan, and everything is carefully planned for a smooth transition into college. Virgil is definitely not Logan.
“I don't know, depends if I can get a good enough job. I fucking hate school anyway, not like I'll be missing anything,” Virgil says with a shrug. “The money wouldn't hurt.”
Money, the end all be all at the end of the day. Logan understands that at least.
“I can help you,” he says. Logan tries to shake off the feeling that he's making a mistake.
…
The second floor bathroom in the English hallway is blocked off for repairs. That doesn't stop Logan from hearing voices while walking past it everyday, because it's only blocked off by caution tape.
Logan can feel the pressure in his head building by the end of the day, his ears ringing. He doesn't even know what Chad said to him, only everyone's eyes on him. What do they gain from doing any of that? Why can't they just leave him alone? Why don't any of the teachers care? They only start to give a fuck if you say you're going to kill yourself, because of the headache it'd be if a bullied student really went through with it. Why does it have to get to that point for it to matter?
For the first time in Logan's seventeen years, he's skipping class. He steps over the caution tape and runs straight into someone he'd never thought he'd be this close to.
Roman Alcaraz slowly takes in the sight of him, then pulls a lit cigarette out from behind his back and resumes smoking without a word. He looks distinctly out of place, black clothes standing out against the tile. His jewelry is in sharp contrast to how ugly their underfunded school is.
Logan’s just grateful Roman doesn't care enough about him to ask why he looks so disheveled. He's never hung around any of the goth kids, sans Virgil who doesn't hang out with them either, but he's grateful that they're so uninvolved. None of them have ever picked on Logan.
Careful to not be too close, Logan sits on the floor with his back to the opposite wall. Roman doesn't look up from whatever it is he's reading once. It feels like a truce.
At least, until he finally says something, “Never thought I'd run into you here. You're not the worst company.”
“Is that a compliment coming from you?” Logan asks bitterly.
“Fuck around and find out,” Roman replies smoothly. He stands up to ash the cigarette in the sink, and washes away the evidence. Roman flicks the filter end of it at Logan with a grin, but he doesn't seem malicious. If he is, it'd be Logan's first time being bullied by a guy wearing lipstick and cross earrings.
Logan picks up the filter and hides it in his backpack. He just doesn't want to get in trouble, is all.
Roman watches him curiously, dark eyes alight with something Logan can't place. Being seen by him is rather electrifying. He'd probably be considered one of the hottest guys in school if he didn't dress like that, and up close Logan can see he has face piercings. A red stud in his nose and two gold rings on either side of his bottom lip.
He’s a mystery with his secrets plastered everywhere on him. Logan kind of does want to find out about him.
“This is around the time they'll send security to check out over here,” Roman says, throwing Logan a bone. “Wanna get out of here with me?”
Logan gathers his things and stands, “Not Patton today?”
Roman frowns, and one of the rings on the side of his mouth meets his skin. It looks good on him. Logan shakes his head as if that could make the thought disappear.
“No,” Roman says, “I'm trying this new thing where I'm not a total bitch to everyone. If you wanna go to class instead just say that, Calculator Watch.”
Logan laughs despite himself, “You're doing terrible at that then. Where are we going?” He asks, trying to ignore his heart pounding. He's never gone off campus in the day unless it was for lunch, not even Virgil could convince him to. When Roman's looking at him, Logan wants to seem cool for once.
“We'll figure it out,” Roman says, picking up his bag, “after you.”