"Logan!"

Patton was waving from a table in the library.  He was wearing another pair of khaki shorts, but now he wore a cat hoodie that said Stop Stressing Meowt.  Roman was sitting with him at the table wearing ripped jeans, a red track jacket, and a Rosewood Theater shirt.

"Hey..."  Logan waved, very aware of the people who were watching him walk over to Patton and Roman's table.

"You remembered to meet us!"  Patton smiles brightly as Logan took a seat at the table.

"Naturally.."  He responded, slightly confused by Patton's confusion.

"I didn't think you'd actually come!"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Patton looked a little embarrassed to answer.  "Well you won't believe this, but not many people like spending time with us.."

"Why not?"  Logan asked.

"I dunno."  Patton shrugged.  Roman sucked in his cheeks and nodded.  "How're you liking Gainesville, Logan?"

"Oh.. it's fine."

"How do you like the house?"  Roman asked through gritted teeth.

"The house?  It's fine, too.  I haven't really looked around outside my room."

"Which room is yours now?"  Roman sat back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.  Patton looked at the ground, clearly just as uncomfortable as Logan.

"The uh the one at the end of the hall.  Across from the hall bathroom."

Whatever answer Roman was hoping for, this wasn't it.  He nodded, closed his eyes for a second, and stood up.

"I've got to return a prop to the theater teacher.  I'll see you in 2nd period Pat."  Roman said before slinging his backpack over his shoulder and speeding off to the auditorium.

"Sorry about him."  Patton said sheepishly.  "He's a bit sensitive about... stuff."

Logan raises an eyebrow.  "What kind of 'stuff'?"

"I'm not the right person to talk to about it... if Roman wants you to know he'll tell you."

"You're being incredibly cryptic."  Logan said.  Patton shook off any negative thoughts and smiles again.

"Sorry 'bout that.  What's your schedule?  I wonder if we're in the same class!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan wasn't surprised to find out that he had no classes in common with Patton.  Not to be mean, but he just couldn't imagine someone like him in an AP class.  Still, they had lunch together, along with Roman.  Fantastic.  Logan wasn't looking forward to sitting in a loud cafeteria, but at least he wouldn't be sitting alone.

He walked into the cafeteria holding his plain blue lunchbox at his side, which was holding a hummus & veggie wrap, dried fruit, and crackers.  This was one of the healthiest lunch arrays that Logan could find... that didn't taste horrible.

"Logan!"  Patton shouted from a rectangular table halfway across the cafeteria.  He was standing up beside his chair, Roman sitting next to him.  Logan cracked a small smile and walked over to them.

"Greetings."  He said, taking a seat directly across from Patton.

"Hi!  How's your first day been?"  Patton asked, sitting back down.

"It's been fine."  Logan replied, beginning to unpack his lunch.  He got a good look at the table and saw that Patton had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, two chocolate chip cookies, and an apple juice box.  "He is insanely childish... but for some reason it isn't as off-putting as I thought."

"That's great!"  Patton exclaimed.  He smiled brightly at Logan before turning to Roman.  "How's your day been, Ro?"

"Hm?"  Roman muttered, clearly deep in thought.  "Oh, my day's been alright."

"Are you feeling alright?  You seem a teeny bit distracted."

"I'm fine."  Roman said dismissively.  "Just tired."

"Are you sure?"  Patton looked worried at his friend.  Logan noticed that Roman didn't have any food in front of him.  The only thing he had with him was a thermos filled with some sort of drink.

"I'm sure."  Roman tried his best to smile.  Completely unconvinced, Patton decided to just drop the matter.

"Okay.  Are you doing any clubs, Logan?"  Patton took a bite out of his PB&J and looked at Logan eagerly.

"I've considered joining a few extracurricular groups."  Logan shrugged.

"Oooh cool!  Which ones?"

"I'm doing Debate Team for certain.  I am also considering joining Student Government, DECA, or possibly Kiwanis Club."

"Oh.  Those sound... fun."  Patton tried to sound enthusiastic.  "Have you thought about joining GSA?"

"Pardon?" Logan wasn't quite sure what the GSA club was.  This was Roman's moment to shine.

"GSA is the Gender-Sexuality Alliance club."  Roman explained.  "We play LGBTQ+ games and just hang out and talk about stuff."

"Roman's the President."  Patton smiled proudly.  Roman finally let himself genuinely smile.

"Patton's VP."  Roman added, nudging Patton playfully.  "He's the one who makes sure we stay somewhat on track."  Patton's face flushed softly.  Logan thought he might suffocate in the amount of obvious attraction in the air.

"I'll consider joining."  Logan said in an attempt to move on from the topic.  Yes, he knew he wasn't straight, but the idea of being trapped in a room full of chaotic gays terrified him.

The rest of lunch was spent talking about random topics.  Logan learned that Patton was very much a 'dad-friend', constantly trying to keep everybody smiling.  Whatever had upset Roman that morning had worn off, and his extra theater kid energy was really shining through.  By the time lunch was over, Logan felt like he might not mind being fr-... acquaintances with these guys.

"Hey, Logan?"  Patton asked as he threw his trash away.

"Yes?"  Logan responded making sure that his trash made it into the garbage.  Patton looked at Roman, almost like he was asking a question with his eyes.  Roman shrugged and nodded.

"Are you doing anything after school?"  Patton asked.

"Not that I am aware of.  Why do you ask?"  Logan replied as the three of them walked out of the cafeteria.

"Well, Roman and I usually go for a walk for a few hours after school.  Want to come?"

"You just... aimlessly walk?  For a few hours?"  Logan wasn't too keen on the idea of walking around an unfamiliar area without any idea where he was going.  Roman seemed to pick up on that and jumped in.

"We usually end up at Gainesville Park by the end of it.  We just take different routes.  It's not aimless but it's not consistent."  He explained.

Patton was looking hopefully at Logan, who was growing increasingly uncomfortable.  He really didn't want to go to some park with two guys he hardly knew.

"Sure.  I'd love to go with you."  Logan said, a friendly smile on his face.  Wait, what?  Patton squealed with happiness and pulled Logan into a close hug.  Roman looked a little taken aback, staring at Logan who was being crushed in the extremely tight hug.  Logan didn't know what else to do besides just hug Patton back.

"What on Earth...."  Logan thought, trying to figure out why he said that.  Before he could come up with a clear answer, he felt his mouth opening again.  "I'll meet you outside.  I need to finish writing something first."

Patton nodded and assured Logan that he and Roman would wait in front of the school while he finished whatever assignment he needed to wrap up.  Confused, Logan decided to just go along with it.  Before they split up to go to their individual classes, Logan caught a glimpse of Roman.  He had a grim expression, and his face had flushed as white as a sheet.

He looked like he had seen a ghost.