And now for the rose that everyone has been dreading since the beginning XD
Also this chapter was fun to write (I freakin love Roman being dramatic XD)

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A black rose is death
Lying gracelessly on the wooden casket

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Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

I chewed on my nails anxiously, debating whether or not to stop by the coffee shop.

Which was really me debating whether or not I was going to see Roman.  Because if I went I would see him for certain, and if I saw him I'd have to tell him, and if I told him, then all sorts of bad things could happen -

Who was I kidding? No, I'm not telling someone I hardly know about all my personal problems - NAH.

I twisted around making a u-turn just to come face-to-face with the very person I was trying to avoid.  Dangit.

"Hey Purple Boy!" Roman said, smiling as he jogged up to me.  He took as gorgeous as ever, and about as chaotic as usual.  "Fancy running into you here," he said, grinning.

"Hey," I responded weakly, shaking my head to let my bangs fall into my face.

Roman frowned at the break in my voice.  "Hey... is... is everything okay?" he asked.  He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and I forced myself not to gasp at the comfort.

"I...," I trailed off, not meeting his eyes.  "I need some advice" I asked quickly, yanking my hands over my sleeves, feeling my face turn pink as I winced internally.

"Of - Of course," Roman returned, looking both surprised and his eyebrows pinching together in concern.  

Together we both walked in silence towards the coffee shop, me fiddling with the wire of my headphones (you know when you can't even listen to music that there's a serious problem).

I hopped in line behind Roman, nervous shifting to myself.  "I got this," Roman said pulling out his wallet.  "Iced Coffee right?"

"Uh - yeah," I said.  "But -"

"No worries, you grab us a table, sound good?" he pushed, clearly not taking no for an answer.

"O-Okay," I stumbled, getting out of line and walking towards an empty table, too conflicted to argue.

I plopped down at a table in the corner, anxiously digging my hands into the pockets of my hoodie.  I tried to think of something, anything else.

"Here you go," Roman said and I jumped, not noticing that he was back to fast.

"Oh - uh - thanks," I said, taking the cup from him.  I glanced and noticed that Roman had gotten his usual hot chocolate, setting it lightly on the table before quickly hooking his bag.  I reached into my pocket, pulling out a five.  "Here," I said pushing it towards him.

Roman merely shook his head.  "On me, no worries," he said, taking a sip.

"But-"

"So what's got you all stressed out, Purple Boy?" Roman asked, pushing my money back towards me.

I felt my expression immediately default to his usual hostile state and I immediately stood up.  "This was a bad idea," I said.  "Sorry - I - I have to go," I said, starting to leave.

"Wait," Roman said, grabbing my wrist and I immediately froze under his fingertips, sending tiny sparks up my arm.  "I want to help, if I can."

Slowly, I forced myself to sit back down, tucking my hands into my hoodie pockets.  "So why do your friends call you Prince?"

Roman blinked in surprise, but didn't acknowledge my attempt to change the topic.

"it was my first actual theater performance, in the Orlando production of Into the Woods.  I played the Wolf/Prince, and I was so excited that I often - ahem - slipped into what they liked to call 'Prince Mode'," Roman said smiling.

"You have to be making this up," I said, between sips.

Roman smirked.

"Wait, you're not actually going to -"

https://youtu.be/xEi2L-iqZ5I

"Prince Mode - Initiate," Roman winked, jumping to his feet.

Holy water Batman, he was really going to do this.

"I know you," Roman started dramatically, grabbing a chair and jumping on top of it, starting to freakin serenade me like it was a gosh darn musical.  "I walked with you once upon a dream."

"Why that song?" I muttered, trying to curl into my hoodie and die in peace.

"I know you.  The gleam in your EYES is so familiar a gleam," Roman said, voice getting louder and still standing on top of that chair, making everyone in the shop look at us with various looks of both confusion and amazement.

"Geez," I muttered, nearly under the table at this point.

"Yet I know it's true - that visions are seldom all they SEEM!!"

"Couldn't you at least be quiet about it...?"

"But if I know you," Roman said only getting louder.  "I know what you'll do!"

Geeeeezzzzzzz.

"You'll LOVE MEEE AT ONCE," Roman belted, and I had to admit that while I was also mortified at all the eyes on us, I was impressed.  "The way you did once upon a dream," he finished, earning a clap from several people in the shop.

"Please sit down," I groaned.

Roman gave a quick bow on top of the chair before swiftly jumping back down.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Of course," Roman replied, chipper as ever.  "Are you going to tell me what's bothering you now?"

"..."

Roman took a deep breath and threateningly stood, bracing his foot on the chair, ready to jump up and surely do an encore.

"Nonono!" I stammered, borderline desperate.  "Fine, fine... I'll tell you," I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck - trying to find the words.

"Y-You remember when I was telling you about my little brother, Ollie?"

Roman nodded, face serious.  His eyebrows pinched together again and he lowered his voice.  "Yeah, of course I remember.  Has something happened?"

I sighed, dropping my face into my hands.  "My grandmother passed away," I said finally.

Roman's jaw dropped and he took an inhale of surprise.  "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

I shook my head.  "She didn't love me," I said, unable to hold back the bitterness I felt.  "And it wasn't much of a surprise, she's been sick for... a long time," I added.  "Still... am I insane for wanting to cry over someone who didn't give a crap about me?  It's the stupidest thing," I muttered.

Roman shook his head.  "No, not at all," Roman sat up a little taller in his chair, staring at his hot chocolate thoughtfully.  "I... I haven't said much about my family," Roman admitted.

"They... well, needless to say that neither of my parents approved that I was going into music - as my career.  They thought it was a waste, since I was going to school on an amazing scholarship, that I should go into some 'real' profession.  That music was something I could do on the side, but that was... it."

I felt my eyes widen.  "Yikes," I managed.

"They didn't help me or support me in my dreams, which admittedly were a bit unrealistic, but once I had a plan and they still didn't support me? I decided that they were not the people I need in my life right now," Roman said softly.  "Now all that doesn't mean that I don't love them.  I mean, they're my parents.  But I can't surround myself with such negative energy, their opinion of me... it's something I value too highly... for them to be disappointed in me.  So if that means I have to keep my distance until they finally wrap their heads around the idea that I can do what I love and not be  eating out of dumpsters... then... that's just the way it has to be," Roman finished, expression dark.

"You're grandfather might come around, possibly let you see Ollie more," Roman tried.

I shook my head.  "My grandfather... he doesn't have the money to really provide for Ollie with my grandmother.  In fact I called him and begged him to let me take him, that I could care for him.  And... he said 'I'd rather die than let Ollie stay with you -" I cut off abruptly.  "He is going to put Ollie into the foster system."

Roman gasped, leaning forward.  "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know!" I answered, exasperated.  "I don't know - I - I don't have the money to sue him, and there's no way that convince him to give me Ollie, and I don't know, I don't know, Roman," I said pressing my forehead against the table.  "And then there's the fact that the funeral is this Friday and I want to go, but I don't know if I should, if I even can, I - I just don't know anything."

Roman was silent for a moment.  "Do you honestly believe that you are the best choice for Ollie? That... being with is really what will benefit him the most?"

I looked up sharply at that, to see Roman avoiding my eyes.  "Of course I do," I returned, shocked.  "I'm his family."

"Family doesn't mean everything," Roman said, sighing.  "Unfortunately.  But... I think you should go to the funeral and pay your respects.  Be smart about it though.  And..."

"And?"

"If you really want Ollie... I - I know a guy, who owes me a favor."

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I hovered, hiding in the trees.  I couldn't walk over.

I didn't move, but my eyes were not locked on the wooden casket, but on the little blond boy in the black tux.  One that I hadn't seen in almost a year.

I choked back a sob at the tears rolling down his cheeks, wanting nothing more than to walk over and hold him, hold him and take him right there.  I wanted to go right in a sweep him away.

But I couldn't.  I couldn't do that.

Then I would blow my chances at getting him back.

"I'm coming, Ollie," I whispered, sneaking back into the trees.  "I promise."

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Now that was not nearly as scary as you all thought it would be, now was it? XD  Even though it wasn't as angsty as I would have normally made it, I think it was nice. :3

- Max :)