T.W. A couple of Jerks?

Patton fiddled with the sleeves on his hoodie he had tied around his neck, as he peered around the corner, watching Roman get to his locker. The normally popular male wasn't surrounded by his friends, which was a surprise.

He watched the note fall to the floor, and he watched him read it. He'd left it anonymous, so he'd have to figure it out, but he knew it wasn't hard to figure out.

He left the corner, and went to sit with his friends, ignoring the nagging feeling he got to check on where Roman was with the note.

-

A few days passed, and Roman hadn't approached Patton about the note, which meant he either didn't know it was him, or he had discarded it, and wasn't going to try.

-

"Did you leave this?" Roman held up the note Patton had left in his locker a few days ago. He nodded slightly, and avoided looking up. "Look, I appreciate it, but I don't like you. I don't even know you. So, I'd appreciate if you didn't do it again, and if my boyfriend found out?"

Patton's breath caught in his throat, and he had to fight back tears as he nodded, and let the other walk away. He had a boyfriend? Since when?

He sighed and walked to his locker, only to see his friends stood there. He knew he should put on a happy face, but he couldn't bring himself to.

"Hey Pat!" Virgil smiled, and something was different about him, but Patton couldn't figure out what was going on. "I have something to tell you two, and I don't want you getting upset with me, so please just... Hear me out."

Patton smiled weakly, and looked at his friend, ignoring the concerned looks he got from Logan. He didn't want to face his issues, but he realised there was going to be a point where he would have to.

"I got a boyfriend..." Virgil smiled, and Patton noticed a dreamy look in his eyes. "He's amazing, he's kind, honest, funny... Everything I want."

It's ironic, Patton thought. Roman got a boyfriend recently, and now Virgil is talking about his boyfriend. Is it possible... No, Virgil wouldn't do that to him, would he?

"Who is it?" Patton asked meekly.

"See... I don't want you being upset with me when I tell you."

"Then why did you do it if you don't want me to be upset with you." Patton's eyes narrowed, and he felt the betrayal hit him.

"He asked me. I didn't know what was going on! I knew you left that note, and then he said he needed help and I don't know! I just... He seemed so... Confused. Like he needed an excuse to shoot you down."

"He could've literally said no, instead of recruiting my best friend to play boyfriends with him!"

"Maybe he wanted to be nice!"

"Saying 'no' is the nice way to do it. He's a jerk, and I hate you. How dare you go and be with the guy you know I like."

"He clearly doesn't like you back, so what difference does it make?"

"The fact that you're my best friend and you know better. He could've gone for anyone else and I would've been hurt, but I would've understood. But, he went to you, because he knows you're my best friend, because anyone can see that! And you had the audacity to say yes! You stabbed me in the back, and pretended the knife wasn't in your hands. You're blaming someone else, and I won't stand for it. I hate you."

Patton walked away, tears threatening to overflow. He wasn't popular by any means, but he knew a lot of people, and it just so happened that everyone he knew wanted to talk to him right then and there. Of course he wouldn't be horrible and ignore them, or tell them to leave, but he was short with his answers, and he couldn't deal with too many people.

By the time he reached the bathroom, the number of people in the hallway had increased greatly. He pushed through them, only to reach Roman, and his best friend, reading the note Patton had left for him.

Having had enough of everything that day, Patton forced himself forward and snatched the note from Roman.

"That was private. For your eyes, and your eyes only." He hissed. "Maybe you and Virgil are made for each other. You're both self-centered jerks. I can't believe I ever liked someone like you. Have fun with him."

Patton screwed the note into a ball, and threw it in the bin closest to the bathroom. He contemplated burning it, but that meant he had to carry it with him all day, and he couldn't bring himself to do that.

He stumbled into the bathroom, after having forced his way past two of Roman's jerk friends. He barely made it into the stalls before he broke down.

Through his blurry vision, he managed to lock the stall, and slide down to the floor. He knew it was unsanitary, but he didn't care. His best friend, and crush betrayed him, on the same day. Why did he even think about doing anything? Why did he listen to Virgil's advice? Why did he even try? Everyone was going to be talking about it, and he'd be mocked for the rest of the school year. He would be known as the idiot who crushed on the popular guy, and then got mad at him after writing a childish note. He should have known that he would do something like that.

It wasn't just Virgil that upset him. The fact that Logan didn't even follow him hurt too. He thought Logan would stay by his side, but he figured he wasn't worthy of friends, and if that was the way it was going to be, then so be it. He would keep his head held high, and he'd work his way through it.

He wiped away the tears that stayed on his face, and took a deep breath. It wouldn't be easy, but he would work his way through it, and he'd do it alone.

He walked out of the stall and took his glasses off, allowing him more access to his face, to splash some cold water on it.

He sighed and dried his face with some of the paper towels in the bathroom, and as he was sliding his glasses on, he heard the door to the toilets open. He turned to the person who had walked in, and froze in his tracks.

"You." He hissed. "Did you follow me in here for any reason other than to torment me?"

Roman sighed, and hung his head.

"No. I came to apologise. I didn't want to read the note. James took it from me, and insisted he read it. I tried to stop him, but I couldn't. I didn't want to go to Virgil. Initially, I asked for help, and I didn't know what to do. I meant what I said though. I don't like you..."

"I get that, you don't have to repeat it." Patton hissed.

"If you want to know, Virgil suggested we try it. It'd make you upset and then I could swoop in and save you, the whole princely thing. I didn't agree with it... But he insisted, something about how he knew you better than anyone else, and you may get angry, but it'd be somewhat helpful?"

"I don't care what the reasons are, you're a jerk, and if you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving."

"Patton please. Let me talk."

"You've talked enough, don't you think?"

"No. I need you to understand. Please."

Patton sighed and turned to face the male he'd liked for a long time.

"I went to Virgil for help, because I wanted to be nice, when I said I don't like you, it's not because I don't like you, it's... I've wanted to talk to you for years now, and I didn't understand how someone like you could be you, and care for so many people, and I envied you. I think... I think I love you, and I know it's such a strong word, but... I do. I'm sorry for everything I did. I didn't want to make you hurt. I... I may be a jerk, but I'm a hopelessly romantic jerk, who hopes you'll forgive him, and let him take you out on a date?"

"You think coming here, and saying everything I wanted you to say will fix it all?"

"No, I don't. But I want you to understand. The offer is on the table, and if you decide to come, I'll be at the diner at 6pm, tomorrow. I'll wait for an hour. If you show up, then that's great, if you don't, I'll understand."

-

Patton spent the following day and a half thinking about everything Roman said. Of course he wanted to go, he wanted to be with Roman, but he didn't trust him, and it could all be a setup to embarrass him again.

In the end, Patton decided to go to the diner, and risk it. He wanted to be there, and see what happened. Roman seemed genuine when he was talking to him, so hopefully, it would be okay.

-

Patton ended up having a good time on the date, and agreed to a second. And within a few months, the two were dating, and everything that happened had been mostly forgotten. On the off chance Roman and Patton spoke of it, it was quite often something they laughed at. And Virgil? Patton apologised, and the two made up, and went back to the way they were before, as though nothing happened.

1630 words

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