"How did I go from 'You're really cool' to being not only ignored but replaced!" Logan shouted to himself as he paced in his room "What's next? Is Thomas going to give Janus my spot permanently?!" This thought stopped him dead in his tracks. He had said it out of anger and frustration, but as soon as it left his lips, it hit him just how much of a real possibility that could be. Thomas hadn't cast Janus out like he normally did whenever he attempted to take the place of another side. "At least he did when it was Patton." This thought struck him like a figurative physical blow, he could almost feel the air being forced from his lungs. He collapsed into his desk chair that was thankfully already directly behind him. "What if Thomas defended Patton because he considers him more essential than I? What if Thomas no longer considers his logical side necessary?" Logan could feel his breathing start to increase in speed but he couldn't stop himself. Logan shut his eyes and desperately tried to calm himself but found himself unable to think clearly enough to remember any of the calming techniques that he usually suggested to Virgil whenever he started to get worked up.

As if summoned by the mere thought of him, there was a knock on Logan's door accompanied by Virgil's voice on the other side. "Hey, Logan? Are you ok?" Logan could hear concern in Virgil's voice. Logan began to answer but his voice failed him, he cleared his throat and tried again "You can come in if you'd like, Virgil, but I'm fine. Really" on the last word, Logan's voice broke slightly and betrayed him. Virgil entered and looked directly to Logan at his desk, where he was normally found. Logan may not be the best at reading social cues, but he knew concern when he saw it. "You know that I can tell when any of the sides are overly anxious, right? Anxiety is kinda my thing." he leaned against the wall directly across from Logan. He removed his glasses and ran his hand over his face. "I am fully aware of that Virgil, but like I said before, I'm fine." Virgil studied the logical side for a moment before speaking "What's up, man? This isn't normally like you." Logan sighed "I am aware of that as well, Virgil. But there isn't much normal going on lately." "Oh trust me, I know" Virgil rolled his eyes "Thomas has been a nervous wreck ever since deciding to go to the wedding instead of the callback." he looked back at Logan to see that his words were having an ill effect on the one he had come to help.

"How am I supposed to help Thomas if he won't listen to me?" Logan finally truly looked at Virgil, looked him in the eye "he barely even noticed I was gone today." he laughed without humor and broke eye contact, looking down at his hands "and even once he did notice, he hardly cared." "In his defense, it wasn't like he didn't have a reason to believe you were there. Janus" Virgil said the name with a sneer "was up to his old tricks again. And thanks to Princey's little tips the last time he impersonated you, he actually did a half decent job this time." Logan felt a burst of anger bubble up inside him again. He stood to his feet so quickly that his chair rolled backwards til it hit his desk with a bang. Logan turned away and returned to his pacing

"And once he did notice?! What then?! Did he send him away and wonder where I was?! No! He didn't even care! He let that snake stay! And in my place! Is this permanent? Am I to be cast out now like Janus used to be? Like Remus still is? Like yo-" Logan stopped himself before he finished the statement, but one look at Virgil's face could show that the damage had already been done. "Virgil, I'm sorry. I didn't mean" Virgil cut him off by pushing himself off the wall and standing upright, a look of pain and anger on his face. "No even bother, I know what you meant." He shook his head and then looked back at Logan "I'll always be a dark side to you people, won't I?" The words hurt, but he still tried desperately to back-peddle. Virgil started for the door, but Logan called after him. "No, Virgil, I'm sorry. I wasn't-" The brooding side paused with the door slightly open, but he had yet to step through it. "Just save it. Why should I listen to you anyway?" He looked Logan directly in the eye, and filled his words with as much venom as he could muster. "No one else does." And with that last stab, he departed.

Logan was stunned into silence, no words had ever stung him quite like these. They may not have been close, but he had considered Virgil a friend. And to have a friend say something like that knowing it would cut right to the heart of him, that could drive any man to his breaking point. Logan crumpled to his knees, tears starting to build up in his eyes. The worst part was that he was right. What was the point of having knowledge and logic if no one listened to it? All the knowledge in the world was useless if it can't be shared. Even the most logical of minds is useless if not put to use. He found himself a teacher without a class. A book without words. Logic and knowledge with no use. A brain without a body. A side.....without a friend.