After Virgil texted him, he went back to his dorm. He was going to surprise Virgil by being there when he texted that morning to hang out. Roman figured he was getting a little attached but he wasn't going to think about that now.

They weren't really a couple, sure they were spending Valentine's Day together and it was his favorite holiday. He was a romantic at heart, he would never tell Remus he loved Valentine's Day. When he was back at his old high school, watching everyone give gifts and flowers warmed his heart.

He went so far as buying flowers for each girl who he figured wouldn't get one because the guy was too sacred or they just weren't seen by anyone. Roman always had an eye for those who weren't seen. Maybe that's what drew him to Virgil. Someone who was seen but had the personality of someone who really doesn't get seen.

He didn't care. He always made sure his friends didn't do anything on Valentine's Day or the day before depending on when the school did it. He had a heart and he had watched people get together because of his actions. Should he get Virgil something? He just had a birthday and Roman figured Virgil was going to get him something too.

Would it be awkward? They were just doing a movie night. He was buying the snacks, he would ask Patton what Virgil's favorite ice cream is so he only bought that. Would Virgil make a big deal of it? If he brought up ideas for the night, would Virgil humor him? Or would he shut down the ideas?

Roman unlocked his door and laid back down on his bed. Micheal looked over at him. "You're back early, Emo Prince Charming asleep?"

"Very funny. He's helping Logan with something." Roman responded.

"Interesting." Micheal said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Roman snapped. Micheal chuckled.

"I was just testing how jealous you are, which is very so what's going on? Nervous that Patton's boyfriend is making the moves on Virgil?" Micheal asked.

"No! Logan nor Virgil would not do that to Patton. I am just thinking."

"About Virgil." Micheal finished.

"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone. We want it to be on the down low." Roman got off his bed and moved to his desk. "You have to promise me, on your grandmother's grave." That was a thing they used to do when they were younger. It happened a lot in elementary school. It was taken very seriously and still is.

"Whoa dude, this seriously? Alright, consider this room Vegas. What is said here stays here." Micheal sat up.

"Why can't you just say it's like a therapy session?" Roman groaned.

"That's not how this works, now come on you ass. Spill it." Micheal said.

"So, Janus is asking my brother to dinner. Remus needs to be here in order for that to happen so I called him and asked him if he could come here for something. Then I am somehow going to outsmart my brother to blindfold him and let Janus drive my car to dinner, but that's not the issue. For Valentine's Day. Anyway-" Micheal interrupted him.

"And you are going to ask him to dinner too and have a double date with Remus and Janus! Roman, I am so proud of you!" Micheal said happily.

"Nope, shut up. We are not going to dinner! I didn't even ask him out." Roman said.

"Then what are you talking about?" Micheal asked.

"I was going to ask him to go with me and Remus because Janus was nervous, but ended up running off. He disappeared and we found him. When I asked if he was mad he just didn't answer that. But he said he didn't think it was a good idea, can't blame him. Remus loves Virgil almost as much as I do."

Micheal just stared at him. Roman saw that his roommate had frozen. He gave him a confused look. "Roman. Did you hear what you just said?"

"That Remus loves Virgil almost as much as I dOH MY GOD!" Roman started freaking out.

"Nonononononono, stop that now. Right now." Micheal said.

"How are you not freaking out? I just said that I love my best friend." Roman shouted. "One who I am a little afraid of is his friend and what his cousin could possibly do."

"To be honest I am kinda. But there are different kinds of love. Platonic, familial, or romantic. You don't have to love Virgil romantically when you say that." Micheal saved

"So you think I don't? I lying?" Roman asked. Micheal sighed.

"No, I think you are overthinking it and it was partially my fault. I apologize, let's just forget that and go back to who it wouldn't be the best idea." Roman sighed, still a little shaken.

"Remus would be focused on translating everything for Virgil, he wouldn't pay attention to the fact that he is on a date. But he did agree to do something with me. Just us. As friends. But I am thinking about getting him something." Roman said. Micheal shook his head.

"You shouldn't. He's expecting something low key, getting a guy you are crushing on a gift for Valentine's Day isn't something that is a good idea. No." Micheal said.

"But-"

"No. That's it. Friend day, not a date." Micheal told him.

"You're right."

"You can't ruin it before you even get started." Micheal said and laid back down.

"You are going to help me?" Roman asked.

"Roman, I watched you have several mental breakdowns over this dude. If I don't help you then I am pretty sure that makes me a bad roommate. Also a little offended by that statement that Virgil is your best friend but we will work on that."

Roman laughed and made a plan in his head. A plan he would never use until time was right. Micheal tried to distract him from falling down the rabbit hole of romance. But he did.

Until he was distracted by a knock on the door. "That would be my coffee." Roman said and got out of bed. He opened the door to Virgil balancing two coffees and a potted plant. "Come in." Roman said while taking his coffee.

"Hey Virgil." Micheal said.

Hi Michael. Virgil signed once he got to the desk and put down the roses?

"So, what's with the flowers?" Micheal asked. Virgil took his phone out and Alice Cooper's voice rang through the room.

"They are a surprise for a friend which is why me and Logan were gone. I need you to keep them here." Roman nodded.

"It's for Patton." Micheal said. Virgil glared at Micheal.

"What?" Roman said. Virgil shook his head. He went over and wrote something to him.

"I see. I forgot that detail, I'll shut up." Virgil nodded. "I got the wrong person, Patton like's periwinkle not baby blue." Micheal said. Roman nodded. "Well, I am gonna go. Roman, don't."

Roman rolled his eyes and watched his roommate leave. "Please hold on to the plant." Virgil's phone said.

"I was going to without you asking a second time, but who is it for?" Roman asked.

"You'll find out when they come to pick it up."

"Why can't you tell me?" Roman whined.

"Because, the guy needs help with it and he's planning something big for the day. Or at least it's sweet, he's trying. Please don't question it until it happens."

"Alright, I won't."

"Drink your coffee, it's already sweating. Also Logan got you a muffin." Virgil moved to the desk and sat on it after moving the things so he could. Out of his bag he pulled a bag from dunkins.

"I swear you are too much." Virgil shrugged. "Shall we plan our movie night?" Roman asked.

Virgil nodded and pulled out his notepad and pen. They were switching to that then. What did you have in mind?

"Well, we could start with a few horror movies. The classics that you have on DVD. Don't argue, I've seen them. Then we could do a few Disney movies. Maybe Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Frozen, and despite it being a travesty we can watch the Black Cauldron." Roman said. Virgil handed him his muffin and then moved to sit with him on the bed.

What a sacrifice. Virgil wrote. Roman rolled his eyes.

"I can feel the sarcasm from that." Virgil smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "Could we get onesies? Like find some when we go get snacks." Roman asked.

Where do you think we were going? Target? Virgil asked.

"We could hit multiple stores." Roman said.

Virgil shook his head. Make a list and I'll take you.

"I am excited to see your stomping grounds, you get to show me around like I did you." Roman said. Vrigil nodded and they talked for the rest of the time about what they were going to do. They talked until the coffee was gone. And despite drinking a full cup of coffee, Virgil still took a nap.

And Roman read a book the entire time Virgil was on his chest.

He could do this.

Be a friend to the guy he was in love with...he totally could do that.

Right?

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Virgil knew something was up when he woke up on Thursday. His schedule had changed so now he had Picani on Mondays and Fridays. Which meant he missed a good part of both English and History. Roman was adamant on making sure he was caught up. Virgil didn't have the heart to tell him not to actually do it. He likes listening to Roman talk. Even if he could talk, he would listen to Roman all day.

Virgil knew something was up when Roman was late to breakfast with Janus right beside him. Janus and Roman were planning for Janus' date, Virgil knew that. It was just weird when Janus stuck around, Roman still sat next to him and told him good morning and did his normal routine. Virgil didn't care that his friend was there, he was surprised that they were getting along.

Virgil knew something was up when Janus met him at the door of his and Roman's History class. Virgil knew something was up when Roman didn't walk with them back to his dorm. Instead Roman showed up a half hour later and looked a little upset. Or nervous. Virgil wasn't the best at these things.

Janus was still there and Virgil had changed into purple sweatpants and had pulled on a sweatshirt Roman had given him earlier that week. Roman smiled when he saw Virgil in the sweatshirt.

"If you like that so much you can keep it." Roman told him and Virgil felt his face flush. Virgil shook his head.

No, it's yours I just didn't have anymore to wear. Roman read the note.

"I highly doubt that but alright." Roman said and walked into the room. "Good, Janus is here. By the way, I've been meaning to tell you that training your snake to respond to sounds like tap rather than voice commands is really cool."

"Thanks." Janus responded. Virgil rolled his eyes. They were both avoiding the topic at hand. Virgil could feel the awkwardness in the room and you didn't need to work in energy to feel it.

Not that I don't love having you both in here but what the hell is going on? Virgil asked Roman. Roman glanced at Janus.

"Want to take this one?" Roman handed him the paper. Janus nodded.

"We need your help." Virgil raised an eyebrow. "We have almost everything set up for the date on Saturday. Expect how to get Remus here. Roman could text him but Remus has experience with getting out of things with Roman. We were wondering if you could ask him." Janus explained.

Virgil knew when Janus called Remus by his actual name it unsettled Roman but if Remus was really happy with it then Roman couldn't say anything.

"We think it would be better if you did it." Roman said quietly.

Virgil nodded and took his phone out. "Aren't you going to ask what to write?" Janus asked. Virgil shook his head.

"Remus and Virgil talk all the time. Virgil is good at getting what he wants, but I am sure you know that." Roman said.

"Anything except you." Janus mumbled. Virgil glared at him and hoped Roman didn't hear him.

"Now we wait." Roman said. It seemed he didn't.

Virgil grabbed his notepad and wrote down the time.

"That's so much earlier than needed!" Janus said.

Offer to distract Remus. Virgil wrote.

"Why?"

He's your brother? Roman sighed and nodded.

"He's my brother, he can hang out with me and Virgil. He is under the impression Virgil is inviting him, so why wouldn't he be hanging out with him." Roman said.

"As long as he can get us to the restaurant and back, I don't care." Janus said.

You can go out the back way, I'll tell him where to park. Virgil wrote.

"There's a back way?" Roman asked. Both Janus and Virgil nodded.

"We use it when we sneak out." Janus told him.

"You guys sneak out? How, this place is practically on lockdown each and every night after curfew." Roman said.

"Virgil can get to places without really trying. He's quick like that." Janus responded.

"Really now." Roman said.

Like you didn't know. How do you think I found the tunnels?

"You have a point." Roman responded.

"Well, I do have some homework to do and a few more things to set up before Saturday so I am going to leave. But I'll see you tomorrow Virgil. Roman." Janus grabbed his bag and left.

"He sure knows how to make an exit." Roman said. "Want to go over what we did in history again?" Roman asked. Virgil rolled his eyes.

We've been over it almost everyday this week. Virgil wrote. Roman was still on the couch and he had his legs on Roman's lap. It was a normal occurrence for them to be like this.

In some ways, Roman was extremely touchy and Virgil figured he wasn't going to like it but he was wrong. Roman made him feel comfortable and grounded. It was just weird to him that a person he met less than a year ago, about six months at this point, could hold so much trust.

And it didn't scare him. Janus was a person who he planned on talking to next, but sometimes life didn't go to plan. He saw Janus often enough, but was that often enough to start talking to him? Virgil really needed to talk. To Picani.

Do you mind if we go to the office for a few? I need to talk to Picani about something. Virgil wrote. Roman nodded.

"Sure, something for your uncle?" Roman asked. Virgil nodded. Roman was smart, but did he really not catch on to the fact that Virgil went to therapy? Maybe he knew and just didn't want to bring it up in a way of being polite.

Virgil would go with that. They made it to the office and the secretary told Virgil Picani was free. Virgil made Roman sit in the lobby. He heard the secretary make a comment.

"Kicked out again?" She asked.

"Yeah, he needs his privacy." Roman said, with a smile. Virgil could hear it. He always had a good track record with adults despite being here for behavior. Virgil knocked as Roman made friends again. Picani opened the door.

"Back before our session?" Virgil nodded. "Well, in ya go."

Once Picani closed the door Virgil spoke. "I think that Janus should be next in terms of trusting, I mean I met him after Logan. He made me feel safer when I came back from the hospital." Virgil was going off and Picani was surprised.

"Hold, hold, let's pause for just a second. Since when can you talk to me?" Picani asked.

Virgil counted on his fingers. "About two months, talking to you is like talking to my uncle. I know you won't judge me." Virgil cleared his throat.

"Water?" Picani asked. Virgil nodded. He went over to his door and yelled for water. The office worked like clockwork. They had a system for everything and they were helpful. Virgil felt the wave of anxiety flow off of Roman. "Roman, he's alright. Just needs some water." Picani said to him. Roman must have shown visible signs.

Virgil took a sip of water and continued as he talked. His voice got clearer and less scratchy. "The issue is, I am low key wanting to talk to Roman. But I think I might have a panic attack if I talk to either one of them right now." Virgil said.

Picani smiled. "Virgil, you don't need to plan out who you are talking to. The fact you can talk to other adults is amazing. Even if it is in private like this, it's all progress. You will talk to them when you need to, besides Roman has stuck around this long right?"

"What if he decides he doesn't want to when he learns that I have been talking to other people rather than him?" Virgil asked.

"He won't because he will understand that it was to make you feel more comfortable about it. You know Patton from childhood, you know Thomas from childhood, Logan dragged you down here to help you with your anxiety and then fought someone for you, Janus feels so guilty about the entire thing he changed his outlook on life and wants to become a lawyer. You made a change in these people and trust them more than you would Roman and that's okay. You just haven't gotten there yet." Picani told him.

It sounded a little all over the place but that was just how the therapist's thought process was like, Virgil knew it because it was his own as well. "I guess."

"Well we can talk more tomorrow but now you have a boy out there who really cares about you. Don't let him go." Picani said.

"We aren't dating." Virgil told him as he got up and moved toward the door. Picani shrugged and opened it.

"Not yet at least. See you tomorrow Virgil." Virgil waved and walked over to Roman.

"You alright?" He asked. Virgil nodded.

I just needed a drink.

"Let me guess, you can't talk about it because it was confidential?" Roman smiled at him. Virgil nodded. Something like that.