Life after that was different but in a good way. Virgil and Roman were getting closer, Janus was still upset but he had started to pull away. Roman wasn't complaining but he knew Virgil was concerned so he kept his mouth shut. Roman had also started talking to Remus again. The twins avoided the conversation topic they didn't want to go back into.

But currently it was Thursday of the next week and Roman waited impatiently outside of Virgil's psychology class. Roman was auditioning today and he planned on dragging Virgil with him. The way Roman saw it was Virgil's idea, then Virgil attended.

Virgil had helped him pick out a song, and went over what he would say. He also mentioned that they would give him a monologue to recite depending on who he was going for. Roman rather went for Gaston but Virgil said he should go for Adam. So to settle the dispute Logan broke the tie, Logan really didn't care for anything to do with theater but Patton was too nice to choose. Logan had listened to Roman sing and then told him that he would do better as Adam or the Beast.

To say Roman was a little salty was an understatement. He hadn't been on stage for years and the first time he was going to, he goes for the lead? That was weird. Not to mention many kids were trying out for Adam. The theater department was small but they were creative from what Virgil had told Roman. The only thing Roman had going for him was the fact he was the only upperclassmen auditioning for it.

What Roman didn't tell Vrigil was he had signed up under miscellaneous. That was the group that really didn't care where they ended up but wanted to be in the production. They went first so Roman knew he would have to tell Virgil at some point.

Roman leaned on the wall and checked the time. He was going to be late but he refused to go without Virgil. Why? Simple. Virgil was what gave him the confidence to do what he was going to do. Virgil had changed his perspective only slightly. Roman still believed that he would not return for the next year but he would stay in Virgil's life. He would visit and take him into town when he did.

He wouldn't let Virgil go because Virgil had asked him one night when Roman was running through his song if Roman would stay his friend even through the summer. Roman had said of course and then asked Logan about it after. Logan told him that Virgil asks that to everyone he knows. Virgil had some trust issues and Roman did too but Virgil was kind. He also didn't take any of Roman's shit.

Remus had been trying to get Roman to return to acting for years. Virgil made it happen within two weeks. Not only that, but Virgil was returning to makeup. Speaking of which, Virgil stumbled out of his class after what felt like forever. He was wearing the school tie and a patchwork hoodie that Roman learned he made himself. His backpack was open and he was struggling to close it, clearly rushing. Roman watched in amusement for a moment before calming walking over and zipping the bag up.

Virgil's head snapped up so quickly Roman thought he was going to get whiplash. "You seemed to be in need and we are on a time limit." Roman had handed his backpack to him and they were on their way. News had flown over the school that Roman and Janus were now at a standstill in their feud despite it not really ever being over.

Roman was walking Virgil to more meals, they did their homework together, and Roman had every intention of making Virgil attend each rehearsal. Virgil always ignored rumors, he really didn't hear much about himself because he really didn't care anymore. Virgil checked the time as they found a seat at the theater.

Thomas was onstage and he seemed to be reading the list of potential cast members. There were some students who were arriving and getting things ready. "So we wait now?" Roman asked quietly and Virgil nodded. Virgil took a seat and threw his feet up on the seat in front of him.

Roman sat next to him and sat straight. Despite him not being at home, the etiquette he was taught still haunted him. The price of being well off. His parents started out gaining traction in the company they were at when he was eight. They were then given co-ownership of the company and a line in New York. That meant the family was now powerful and rich. He didn't like the money, it was nice and no object but he really just missed his family.

Roman didn't realize Virgil was watching him. Virgil slipped his sketchbook out of his bag. He was redrawing the Vampire Prince from the short story he wrote. Virgil was a Renaissance Man. He had many talents and they never seemed to stop, and they always impressed Roman. Virgil claimed it was because he just had a lot of time on his hands.

Roman thought it might be escapism. The two had different ways of doing it, Roman escaped his emotions by shutting them out and Virgil escaped them by making new worlds or drawing. Even turning to makeup artistry to express himself. So when Virgil kept glancing at him and looking down at his sketchbook, Roman noticed.

"Are you really drawing right now?" Roman asked shakily. Virgil was surprised at the tone. It was one that Roman had taken with him before and it didn't end well for either of them. Virgil had figured out by now that Roman being a dick was a product of constant stress.

Would you rather me not? Virgil wrote it on a sticky notepad he had in the pocket of his jacket. Whenever he hung out with Roman he carried them. Since it was quite a lot now, it was like part of the uniform.

"I would rather this be over. You know so I can be disappointed in myself and you can be mad at me for not doing well, then you will be stuck doing makeup for people I have never seen you interact with that will probably make you resent the job, then you will hate me and not want to see me ever again." Roman went off. Virgil looked at him confused. "Don't act like you don't know that's true. You hate people you don't know, you hate touching unless you allow it to happen, and you will not be able to tell them how to move which isn't your fault but I am putting you in a place where you will be really out of your element and in an uncomfortable situation. So it makes sense you'll hate me when this is over." Virgil rolled his eyes.

Roman looked over and saw him reaching into his bag for another note book there he took time writing. Roman wasn't sure what he was doing but it didn't dull the anxiety. He shouldn't have said anything because now Virgil will know. People who know information could hurt you in the end. That's what he had learned.

You are nervous, I get it. I made that deal with you so you would do this. So do it. Show them what Roman Kingsley can do. Virgil had written on a sticky note.

"And if I don't ?"

We will not know until my uncle finishes talking to Patton and the choreography head. Roman looked up.

"Is that why he wouldn't choose between the roles?" Roman asked. Virgil smiled and nodded.

My uncle is the head teacher of the production which means he directs and Patton is backstage manager. Logan helps too if Patton asks but mostly it's the teachers that my uncle is close with.

"Huh, so you would be going even if I didn't try out." Virgil nodded. "Did you bribe me into going so you didn't have to be by yourself?" Roman asked. Virgil shrugged and got up.

I'll be right back. Virgil wrote and walked away. He walked up to his uncle and they seemed to be conversing. Thomas looked up and saw Roman sitting there which made Roman want to sink down in his seat. Thomas smiled and then said something to Vrigil, who scowled.

Virgil jumped off the stage and walked back over to Roman. "What was that about?" He asked. Virgil gave him a shrug then sat back in his original seat. There they only waited a few minutes. "Oh, I didn't choose a role. I left it up to your uncle."

I know. Virgil handed him the note and then auditions started.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

The auditions started and Roman kept getting nervous. As much as Virgil could control what he felt from others and how to kind of keep his own panic attacks at bay, Roman was a different story. No matter what he did, Roman was always in the background of his thoughts and when it came to what Roman felt.. Virgil felt it too.

When he walked away from Roman earlier, he needed a reset. So when he talked to his uncle he asked what Roman was trying out for. That's when he also told Thomas that he was willing to head the makeup department if he could do Roman's. So while he tried to ground Roman without actually touching him, Roman only got worse.

Calm down. Virgil wrote for him. Roman shook his head.

"Easy for you to say." Roman responded quietly. They were having the freshmen and sophomores going first.

Roman, I am a ball of anxiety. If I am telling you to calm down, then you gotta just breathe a little. I know my tone is hard to decipher but know I say this nicely. Virgil wrote. Roman shook his head and went back to sulking. Virgil just wished he could see in Roman's head for a second, just to see what he was thinking. However, he amused himself silently by thinking how happy Logan would be that he used the word 'decipher' despite being in the same level for English.

Virgil glanced at Roman's hand and then gave it some thought. So he moved quickly, he took Roman's hand and grounded him. Roman looked over at Virgil and Virgil looked back and smiled. Virgil knew Roman was going to feel better but the nerves were going to return.

Virgil was holding Roman's hand with his non-dominant hand, so he could write still. As the auditions went on, Roman kept getting nervous and Virgil kept grounding. I won't leave or anything, want to know a common tactic I have learned when I go to the office?

Roman read the note and looked at him. Roman still didn't know why he went to the office but Virgil felt that he knew that it was therapy. "For what?" Roman asked.

Public speaking. Roman leaned over Virgil's shoulder to read it. Roman nodded. Pretend it just you and the person you are talking to in the room. In this case you can just pretend we are back in my room and we are just having a sing along.

"So, what you are saying is to stand up there under lights and not pay attention to the actual director?" Roman said. Virgil rolled his eyes.

Get your stuff, we are moving seats. Virgil wrote and let go of Roman's hand, or tired to. Roman held tighter to his hand.

"You want to move seats now? During auditions?" Roman asked. Virgil pointed to the stage and it looked like the freshmen were finishing. Roman nodded and got his bag. He had to let go of Virgil's hand which allowed Virgil to reset. He was tired, he had gone to bed late last night and had to get up early, he had an easy day of divination because he was observing.

But he had a long day and Roman needed him, so he would take a nap when he got to his dorm or while they waited for the results. Thomas was good at choosing roles. He had a musical theater minor in school. So he pushed through. He walked past Roman who followed him and he sat down behind his uncle. He was sitting in the front row and Virgil chose a row that was in the middle of the theater. The pair sat down and Virgil got his notepad out again.

There, now you can look at me and we are back in my dorm and my uncle will see you have eye contact with him or your audience. Virgil wrote. Roman nodded.

"That does make me feel better. Well, enough I guess." Roman said. Thomas stood up and announced that the sophomores would be proceeding next. Roman's breathing quickened slightly. Virgil held Roman's hand again.

Roman visibly relaxed. Virgil rolled his eyes. Princey was so dramatic. So they sat there holding hands until the juniors were announced to go up. Virgil waved Roman off and sat back down. Instead of his usual stance he sat upright so Roman could see

him.

Virgil knew how much it meant to someone who was panicked to see something they needed. Roman had taken Virgil for moral support, and Virgil would be that moral support.

Each person went up and sang, and a few were asked to do monologues. Then Roman came on the stage. To anyone else, he looked put together maybe slightly nervous but Virgil knew he was shaking. Thomas glanced behind him and saw Virgil, to which Virgil waved to pay attention to Roman.

"If you would, please say your name and the song you will be singing. Also do you have music?" Thomas asked. Virgil cursed inwardly. He forgot that part, but Virgil remembered that he knew the song and there was an instrumental version. Virgil grabbed his phone and then got up.

"I- um.." Roman looked to Virgil who was motioning to stall. "My name is Roman Kingsley, I will be singing Rose's Turn and I have music?" Roman said. He looked over to see if Virgil could give him an answer to that. But Virgil was already backstage.

He got Patton and gave him the soundtrack. "Roman? That sounded like a question rather than a statement. Do you have music or not?" Thomas asked. Virgil pushed Patton on stage.

"Yes, he does. Some technical difficulties, I apologize." He said. Thomas nodded and Patton waved and the music started. "Virgil, this better be good." Virgil smiled.

It will be, I'll stay here. Virgil was sure Roman saw him in the wings, so he was confident that he would be okay. Roman started off kind of scared and quiet but then Virgil was swaying to the music in the wings. Roman saw it and then smiled. Roman got really into his singing.

Virgil was proud of Roman and his heart swelled when he realized that Roman was doing what he told him to do. When Roman finished, Thomas excused him and Roman rushed off the stage. Virgil gave him a smile. He was going to wait until they sat down because he had no way of asking Roman how he was feeling.

Before he could, Roman rushed over to Virgil and engulfed him in a hug. Patton sucked in a breath, touching Virgil without warning wasn't a good idea. Everyone knew that.

Everyone but Roman knew that. Roman could've guessed it but Roman was coming down off of nerves and an adrenaline rush. Virgil knew what his body was doing. He was strong but everyone needed love. Roman hadn't said much about his family but Virgil knew things. He saw the articles when he did his research about the Kingsley family rising to high standards and popularity.

So everyone was surprised when Virgil hugged him back. Roman buried his head in Virgil's neck and shakily sighed. Virgil leaned his head on Roman's and rubbed his back. Virgil was okay for a few minutes and then became really aware of people, so he tapped Roman's back and he pulled away. Roman apologized and Virgil shook his head and went back to his seat.

The rest of the auditions went by and Virgil was resting. He had his feet up on the seat in front of him and his head was leaned back. He had his eyes closed, he was drifting in and out of consciousness. He didn't really care, he was content.

"Thank you by the way." Roman said suddenly. Virgil opened his eyes and looked at Roman. Roman was watching the students on stage. "I forgot how much I loved performing and being on stage. Why I started doing it in the first place." Virgil nodded.

Roman looked up at him, Virgil made sure to make it known he was listening. Roman shrugged. "Whatever you do to calm me down, thank you. I feel much better than before." Roman paused. "I told my brother." Virgil's head snapped up and his eyes were trained on Roman.

The reason why Virgil loved listening to his stories about his family was because Virgil never had any siblings, his cousins except for Patton were all older, and he just was the outsider in a lot of respects. He was a sucker for a cute family story.

"He's happy, and determined on coming. I told him it was just him and maybe my parents. He asked why I was getting back into it and I didn't tell him why directly but I wanted to tell him about you. But he can jump to conclusions." Roman said. Virgil pulled his notebook out to write a response.

I can't wait to meet him. Virgil wrote.