TW: Panic

Popularity is an iffy thing. It usually comes naturally, provided you have a few select traits. I've been to enough schools to actually know how this stuff works, and it's not much different across the country. Like, scarily similar. I was once sure we moved to the same town twice because some kids at school were practically carbon cut-outs of people I knew at another school. And this was on opposite sides of the country.

It's currently early December. The longest I've stayed at a school so far. The Light's rescue happened three weeks ago. Today they came back to school. 

Everyone had a million questions for them. Not a surprise. But now is the time where we take them down.

The three of us stop at my locker, right near a group of who we call 'the fangirls'. They are pretty much fangirls of the Lights. 

"So," I say, "It seems the Lights are back,"

"Yeah," J-Dee says, "I'm surprised they left for so long. I mean, four weeks is a little excessive for an attention grab,"

"Yeah. And saying they died? Not cool," Remus says.

"You really think this was all an attention scheme?" I ask.

"Yeah, why else would the police not get involved? They obviously faked it for the attention," J-Dee says.

We see the fangirls looking at us and quietly talk among themselves. When they scurry away, we stop our conversation. 

At lunch, we continue our plan. We sit at the Lights table to assert dominance. Grace and her cronies also take up all the other 'acceptable' places to sit. Good. I still think Grace is a jerk for making Patton cry, but that's only because Patton is one of those people you don't make cry without being an asshole for it.

"When can we dye our hair again? It's starting to fade," Remus says.

"I dunno," I say, "I'll bring some dye, maybe on Monday,"

They nod. Their hair's respective colors have been starting to fade out, making it look a little sickly.

After lunch, Logan splits off from his group and approaches me.

"A- Virgil, what's going on? Why are you mad at us?" He asks.

"I found out about your dirty lies about me, so you can stop playing dumb," I snap.

"What are you talking about?" Logan says, puzzled.

"You. Know. Exactly. What," I growl.

So now he tries to be all friendly? 

"No, in fact, I don't," Logan says.

I roll my eyes. Sure he doesn't.

"Please tell me what is wrong," Logan says.

I stare at him, glaring. 

"Since you insist on being so dumb, I'll tell you. I found out about the things you guys say about me behind my back. How you think I'm an overly emotional emo freak, and that you don't even like me," I say.

The look of pure confusion on Logan mildly surprises me. He's probably faking it. Why should I believe anything he says now?

"I don't know what you are talking about, or who told you that, but I can assure you that isn't true," He says.

I catch the small bit of genuine hurt in his eyes. Who's lying here? You'd think I would learn and figure out who, but no. I'm too trusting. School either turns out this way or I end up with no friends and either bullied or forgotten.

"Whatever," I say.

I turn away from him. I won't give him the satisfaction of storming off, although all I really want to do is run and hide until things make sense. But running and hiding, although easier, won't get me answers. Is it bad that that's all I really want to do instead of anything useful?

---

I'm at the mall, alone, looking for some hair dye. I used the last of my other colors on Remus and J-Dee the first time. They want the same colors, yellow and green, and while I'm here I pick up some purple as well. It took me a while to be confident enough to wear anything other than black and grey. Purple's not too noticeable, which is why I chose it. 

I pay for the dye and as I'm leaving, I run into the Lights. Great. Right when I have no one to defend me.

"Virgil, can we talk?" Roman asks.

"Nope. See ya, Princey," I say, turning around.

He grabs my shoulder. I wince. I hate physical contact with anyone.

"Logan said you think we talked bad about you. We didn't. We can prove it too," Roman says.

"Yeah right. Just show me the deleted messages so I can fake forgive you so I can be on my way," I say.

I think that was the most sarcastic thing I've ever said. Probably not, but still.

"We never said anything mean! Who even told you we did?" Patton asks.

"My real friends," I say, "J-Dee and Remus,"

Roman just blinks at me.

"You mean the J-Dee and Remus that kidnapped me and Patton, told the police we died, and have been some of the most popular kids in school just to spite me?" Roman asks, "That Janus and Remus?"

"...What?"

"Do you know anything about their past? Cool edgy kids don't just not be popular unless they're really weird," Roman says.

Well, this is news. But how do I know I can believe them? Now that I think about it, how do I know I can believe J-Dee and Remus? Everything is shrouded in doubt. Why is it so complicated?

I don't know what to do, so I just run. I flee. I can't handle anything right now. 

I run to through the park and into the forest, out of breath when I stop. And by out of breath I mean barely able to breathe.

I stop at a tree. Just a tree. I set the bag down and curl into a ball. I can't think straight. Or gay. Or in any way. I just can't think.

I don't realize how fast my breathing is until I hear a sound jerk me back to reality. I look around. A forest at night is not a calming thing. Especially considering the horror movies I've seen. Great, now I'm panicking more.

"Virgil? Virgil, where are you?" I hear a voice call.

I'm too scared to respond. All I know right now is run. I need to run. But my legs feel frozen. Both from the fact it's colder than normal for upper Florida in the winter and because of fear. I don't know what to do as the voice gets closer except hope it isn't a kidnapper.

Sorry for the late update, AtLA is on Netflix so I've been rewatching it. I hope you enjoyed reading, and feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments. Have a lovely day/night you magnificent peep!