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Despite the fact that Virgil Storm always sat in the back of the class and never raised his hand, Logan Berry found himself drawn to his mysterious classmate.
Logan thought it was shame that Virgil didn't care about getting to know his classmates. His large purple headphones were a clear deterrent. Logan saw Virgil actually hiss at one of their classmates once when she chose to ignore that warning.
It was kind of endearing.
Nevertheless, Logan didn't bother introducing himself. He didn't appreciate random classmates approaching him either. They knew he got good grades, and they loved to take advantage of that. Logan always begrudgingly offered his help, but he couldn't help but wish that Virgil would ask for his help one of these days.
Logan came to the conclusion that Virgil simply didn't care about school. If he did, he would be more engaged in class. Maybe ask for Logan's help once in a while. Instead, Logan was left to cast longing glances his way when he thought no one was looking.
Apparently, someone noticed. Once it was time for the teacher to pair students up for the final project, the professor put Logan and Virgil together. As Logan and Virgil walked back to Virgil's seat to discuss what topic they would choose to present on, Logan glanced back to their professor. She winked at him and gave him a thumbs up.
Of course, Logan started to blush, but he shoved that unacceptable feeling down before Virgil noticed. Hopefully. The brief glances Virgil cast at Logan made him wonder if he had already messed up his first impression.
Sadly for Logan, he found himself hopelessly in love after the first time they spoke. Despite seeming nervous, Virgil was polite. Not only was Virgil more than willing to do his part for the project (something that Logan found to be a rarity since others claimed he would be able to do a better job anyways), he even suggested the idea of meeting up outside of the class to work on the project. As they were exchanging phone numbers, Virgil suggested setting up a schedule for their meetings.
It was a welcome change to the obnoxious self important classmates that Logan normally worked with.
As time went on, Virgil's intelligence shined through more and more. He was great at researching and brought up interesting points to include in their presentation. Virgil and Logan got into a debate during one of their scheduled meetings, and Virgil countered each of Logan's point with evidence from their research and excellent explanations.
Logan thanked Virgil for the excellent debate even though they ended up at a tie. Virgil looked up through his bangs, examining Logan. He seemed surprised as he explained that he expected that Logan would be annoyed that Virgil dared to disagree with him. Logan reassured Virgil that despite his reputation, Logan simply wanted someone to use logic when disagreeing with him.
Virgil's hesitant but proud smile ticked up higher on his left side. It was adorable, but Logan couldn't tell him that. They were merely classmates working on a project together. Nothing more.
Logan tilted his head at Virgil, a question burning his mind. "You're extremely bright, Virgil. So why don't you speak up in class?"
Virgil shrugged and blew his bangs out of his face. "I mean, its not that I don't know the answers. I just get nervous speaking in front of a crowd."
Logan chewed on Virgil's words. The world deserved to hear Virgil Storm's thoughts, of that there was no doubt. "Perhaps, if you are not opposed, you can sit next to me during lecture days and I can speak up for you?"
The offer was in no way influenced by the way Logan wanted to be able to see Virgil closely every day. To hear his voice. To draw out Virgil's cute little snort by passing notes that made Virgil's face turn beet red when it drew the attention of the students around them. To see the doodles of skulls and planets and instruments that Virgil left in the margin of his notebook when he got bored.
Virgil scoffed. "No offense nerd, but the seat next to you is the most coveted spot in the whole classroom. Besides, its not like I have anything interesting to say."
"FALSEHOOD!" Logan yelled. Virgil flinched back from the volume and his eyes widened in surprise.
Logan took a deep breath, calming down his racing heart. Logan explained, "You always add valuable information to our discussions. Besides, it would be no problem for me to save you a seat."
Virgil looked down at the ground and scuffed his shoe. "Alright," Virgil mumbled. Virgil looked at his watch and cursed. "I gotta go, I have work." He walked away with a two fingered salute.
The next lecture class they had, Virgil flopped into the seat next to Logan instead of going to his normal seat in the back. Logan couldn't help his pleased smile.
They passed notes back and forth the entire class, and Logan did reach his goal of making Virgil laugh. It was an enchanting laugh.
……
As more time passed, Virgil and Logan's presentation preparations were going great, but Logan noticed that Virgil was getting more and more nervous as the date for their final presentation came nearer. That simply wouldn't do.
Logan didn't want his adorable storm cloud in distress.
Wait, since when did he think of Virgil as his? Surely he wouldn't be interested in dating Logan. Virgil's style indicated that Logan typically wouldn't be "cool" enough, even if his actions thus far have shown Virgil to be much kinder than most. It was best to put that traitorous thought out of his mind. For now.
Still, Logan wanted to help Virgil. Naturally, Logan decided that inviting Virgil to eat lunch with him would be the best way to do that. And in order to guarantee that Virgil would feel comfortable with Logan's inquires, he waited until the third lunch outing to broach the subject. It was the most logical course of action!
Logan knew that it was a typical date activity, but they were working on a presentation together. It was only natural for them to spend time outside of class together—even if they had ample time to work with their already scheduled work meet ups. It had nothing to do with the way Virgil's lopsided grin sent butterflies aflutter in his stomach. Or Logan's desperate desire to be around him more.
It was merely a way for Logan to get Virgil the help he needed.
On the third lunch date, Logan was ready to put his plan into action. They both ordered and they went through the familiar song and dance of Logan offering to pay for the food, Virgil refusing vehemently, and Logan paying anyways. At least Virgil seemed less embarrassed by this point since his face didn't turn red at Logan's offer.
Once they both were settled with their food, Logan started with small talk before asking Virgil why he was so nervous about the presentation. Virgil admitted that his anxiety made speaking in front of crowds very difficult.
Logan nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. I should have known that presenting in front of the class would be difficult when you find it distressing to answer the teacher's question from within the crowd of students. I apologize for my lack of foresight."
Virgil put a hand behind his neck and stared down at his fries. "Its no problem, Lo Lo. You shouldn't have to read my mind."
Logan tilted his head as he studied Virgil. Virgil was feeling uncomfortable. That was simply unacceptable. "Would adequate preparation help calm your nerves?"
Virgil put hood up and practically disappeared into his large black hoodie. Virgil was fiddling with one of the purple patches on the sleeve. "I wish," Virgil grumbled.
Logan chuckled, but then he bit his nail and looked to the right of Virgil, now deep in thought. Virgil started shifting uncomfortably.
"Would you be fine standing in front of the class if you didn't have to speak?" Logan inquired.
Virgil squinted at Logan, as if he was trying to determine what Logan was trying to do. "Uhh. I think so? But presenting the information is worth a large part of my grade. I don't want to lose my A."
Logan's eyes glimmered. His confession about having an A made him all the more attractive to Logan. But that is a problem for later. Logan cleared his throught. "We can simply request for you to be excused from the presenting portion."
Virgil hesitated, as if he was hesitant to allow any semblance of hope invade his mind. "I don't want to bother Professor Sharif though… Wouldn't she get mad?"
"On the contrary. I have noticed that she wants all of her students to succeed in her classroom. Certainly she will be pleased if one of her students inquires about accommodations she has offered to provide," Logan reassured while setting down his shake to straighten his tie.
Virgil sighed in relief and his tense shoulders relaxed. Hope began to write itself across his features. "All right, but you have to help me ask her."
"Of course, Virgil. I would love to be of assistance to you," Logan said sincerely. Virgil rolled his eyes, but Logan was 100% serious. He would do anything to help his storm cloud.
Logan and Virgil's conversation devolved into chatter about their daily lives as usual. When they finished their shake and fries, Logan walked Virgil back to his dorm like did after every lunch appointment. Not date, appointment.
He wished it was a date.
………
On the day of the presentation, Logan was excited to present the information he and Virgil had painstakingly gathered. He woke up early to pour over all of their research once again, even if they had already compiled the research they would need on the slide show Virgil had made. Virgil was much better at assembling compelling visuals than Logan was.
So both of them researched, Virgil made the slides, and Logan presented. Logan needed to review his notes if he was going to do well.
Logan started pouring over his note cards when the coffee maker's sound changed—his second cup of coffee of the morning was almost done brewing. Logan set his cue cards down on his bed and went to grab it.
Logan sighed contentedly into his steaming cup. The smell of coffee was delightful. Then he added copious amounts of caramel creamer and sugar. No matter how much Logan toted the importance of healthy eating, he couldn't help but indulge his sweet tooth when it came to coffee. And shakes. And… well you get the point.
He took a sip of the sweet drink and hummed in delight.
Yet when he glanced down at his black watch, his peace dissipated. He needed to leave his dorm in nine minutes if he didn't want to be late for his before class meeting with Virgil, and he still needed to shower.
He downed his coffee in three large gulps, now very grateful that the added creamer helped to cool the coffee quickly. He jumped in the shower and quickly washed his hair and body. Logan stepped out of the shower and gave his hair a precursory towel dry.
He was grateful he picked out his outfit the night before. He threw on his black shirt and blue jeans. Logan haphazardly tied on his favorite striped blue tie. He grabbed his brown messenger bag. Logan was out the door only one minute later than his originally planned departure time, but his brain felt scattered.
Virgil raised his eyebrows as he took in Logan's more disheveled than usual state. "What happened to you?" he snarked.
Logan sniffed in indignation. "Apologies for arriving late. I was reviewing our research."
Virgil suppressed a snort. "I wasn't talking about your timing, Lo," Virgil said amused. Virgil very obviously rubbed his hand through his own hair giving Logan a pointed look.
Logan reached up to his normally perfectly manicured hair and felt it standing up on its ends. "Ah. It seems as though I forgot to comb my hair in my rush." Logan felt his face heating up. He couldn't believe he let Virgil see him in such a state!
"Its no problem, nerd. You seem picture ready to me." Virgil took out his phone and took a picture of the flustered Logan with a smirk. Logan tried to snatch the phone away but Virgil danced out of his reach and stuck out his tongue.
"I would appreciate if you would remove that picture from your phone." Logan huffed, arms crossed over his chest in annoyance.
Virgil's eyes glinted mischievously. He snapped another picture. "And lose such perfect black mail material? In your dreams." Logan sighed in his defeat as Virgil put his phone back into his bag, but then Virgil kept searching his bag for something.
After a couple of seconds, Virgil triumphantly pulled out a purple comb and handed it to Logan. "Alright, I have my black mail. You can fix your hair now."
"Thank you, oh gracious one," Logan said dryly, but he truly was grateful to comb his hair into its usual place. Sighing in relief, he handed Virgil his comb back.
Virgil started shifting in place from one foot to the other. Logan had learned that motion showed that Virgil was feeling nervous.
"You're sure you don't want me up there while you present the material?" Virgil asked hesitantly.
Logan shook his head back and forth fervently. "I require no such thing. No matter how much I enjoy your presence, I do not want to put you in undue distress."
Virgil smiled softly. "You enjoy my presence?"
Logan set about fixing his tie, not looking up as he answered, "Of course I do. I wouldn't have wanted to meet up for lunch so many times otherwise."
Virgil started to blush. Logan stared in confusion, but when he realized what his words implied, a heat began to flood his cheeks.
"Uh, yeah. I uh, enjoy your presence too, bro." Virgil squeezed out, flipping his hood onto his head to hide from Logan's gaze.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "Bro?"
Virgil pulled the drawstrings of his hoodie to hide his face further. Logan chuckled at the adorable sight.
"If you are not opposed, I wouldn't mind for our lunch dates to be interpreted as romantic outings," Logan said, not quite able to meet Virgil's eyes.
Virgil perked up. "Really?" he asked hopefully.
Logan nodded, finally looking intently into Virgil's beautiful stormy grey eyes. He wanted Virgil to know he was being truthful. Solution, eye contact. "I have to admit I do find you rather attractive. You are intelligent enough to not only keep up with me, and you add to conversation meaningfully as well. You are truly brilliant," Logan admitted sincerely.
Virgil's blush deepened, but he did stop cowering in his hoodie. "Uh, yeah. Thanks. You too." The pair stared at each other for several moments. Rubbing his neck, Virgil broke the silence, "Sooo, the presentation today. Are you ready?"
Logan graciously accepted the topic change, knowing that Virgil would need some time to process his accidental confession. He would have to revisit the topic later. Over fries and a shake. Or perhaps a romantic walk in the park where he could give him a rose? A plan would need to be put together, reviewed, and revised.
Logan smiled lovingly at Virgil. "Of course I am! I was reviewing the material right before I left. I have the note cards right…" Logan started to rummage through his leather messenger bag. His search grew more frantic and his face paled.
Concern laced Virgil's voice, "Whats wrong, specs?"
Logan's face paled as he remembered his cue cards he left on his bed that morning. "I forgot the cue cards. How could I have made such a grave over sight?" Logan ran a hand through his freshly fixed hair, messing it up once again. Logan glanced at his watch and started pacing.
"There isn't enough time to go back to my dorm to retrieve them without being late," Logan groaned in frustration. Was he so incapable that he couldn't remember the most important thing for their presentation after bragging about how prepared he was.
Virgil put a hand on Logan's shoulder and turned Logan towards him. "Calm down, Lo Lo. I thought this might happen. Well, it wasn't like I was doubting you I just was feeling anxious about the presentation and was worried about not doing enough and… well… here." Virgil handed Logan a replica of his original cue cards.
Logan was stunned. "How did you…?"
Virgil smirked, happy that his over preparedness paid off. "Remember when I asked to check your note cards for the proper citations the other day? I copied all of your notes onto another set of note cards just in case something happened to the first set."
"You really are brilliant," Logan whispered in wonder. No wonder he fell in love with this boy.
Virgil looked at Logan through his bangs. "Did you get anything to eat before heading out the door? I have a granola bar you can eat."
Logan's stomach growled on cue. "That would be wonderful. Thank you, Storm Cloud."
As Logan unwrapped the granola bar, the pair headed to their class. Despite their flushed faces, they still had a presentation to ace.