Roman Winston. The name may ring some bells for people who don't go to Oak Tree School but if you do, you'll know exactly who Roman Winston is. He's the most popular thespian in the whole high school. He was the first guy to be openly gay and he's always gotten the main part in school plays.

Virgil Summers. This name is less well known, even to those who go to Oak Tree. Virgil Summers is the stereotypical emo kid. Quiet, anti-social, likes to be alone. No one knows how but everyone knows Virgil not by name but as Emo Nightmare. And no one knows how but everyone knows that Emo Nightmare is a closeted gay.

Virgil took a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm. Today, he was going to do it. Today, he was going to ask someone out. Not just anyone, he was going to ask Roman Winston, the most popular person in school, out. Had they ever spoken? Once or twice. Had Virgil been head over heels for Roman since Year 7? Yes. Was he so desperately in love with Roman and so anxious that he got tongue tied every time Roman so much as walked near him? Also yes. Was he still going to somehow ask Roman out? Yes, somehow.

"Um, Roman?" Virgil asked, tapping the tall boy on the back. Roman turned around and looked at Virgil. He smiled slightly.

"I'll catch you guys up." He said to his group before returning his attention to the small boy in front of him. "What's up?"

"I-I-I-I-I, um, w-w-well, I was hoping, um," Virgil cursed himself, he was getting tongue tied. He took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would go out with me." He said very fast.

Roman was silent for a few seconds and Virgil felt his heart shatter. He already knew the answer. "Virgil, I'm sorry but I don't like you like that." Roman said softly, obviously trying to lessen the blow of rejection. Virgil nodded, trying not to blink and let Roman see that he was crying. "I really am sorry."

"I-It's fine." Virgil mumbled. "Just... don't let this get out. I'm bullied enough as it is." He muttered before turning away from Roman and running home.

***

It was a few years later and a very panicked Roman Winston flopped face first onto his bed, screaming into his pillow. So... Roman may or may not have developed feelings for a certain emo that may or may not have asked him out in Year 9. Roman sighed, running the events of today in his mind. He had made a joke in front of his friend Patton, Patton's boyfriend and Virgil. Virgil had giggled before flushing and pulling his hood over his eyes. Roman's entire face had gone red at the amount of cuteness that was Virgil's giggle and had gone into full gay panic mode. Luckily, the bell had gone and he had run all the way home.

Roman sighed. Should he ask Virgil out? Would he be rejected? No, he wouldn't be rejected. Virgil had asked him out first. Surely the feelings were still there. Right? There was only one way to find out.

"Virgil! Virgil, wait up!" Roman yelled, catching up to the small emo. Virgil turned to look at Roman, crossing his arms.

"What's up, Princey?" He asked. Roman's heart did a little flip at Virgil's nickname for him.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me?" Roman asked, rubbing the back of his neck and smiling shyly. Virgil burst out laughing.

"I hope you're joking." Virgil stopped laughing at the look on Roman's face. "You're not joking?"

Roman shook his head and Virgil felt anger bubble up inside of him.

"So, you're asking me out after I asked you out and got rejected by you? Wow Princey, you are so much more stupid than I thought." Virgil felt the bubble of anger inside him burst at Roman's hurt face. "You reject me and then, years later, ask me out. What made you think I would say yes?"

"I-I just thought that you still might like me." Roman muttered in a small voice, feeling stupid and hurt.

"Wake up, Princey. This isn't some fairy tale where everyone gets what they want. I asked you out, you said no. You've asked me out so it's only fair that I return the favour." Virgil took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "I don't want to go out with you. I won't let this leak and I think we should both agree to never speak of this again. Okay?"

"Fine." Roman mumbled. Virgil nodded curtly before turning on his heel and walking off.

Roman Winston. Virgil Summers. Which name do you recognise? Most likely, you recognise both. Roman Winston, famed Broadway actor who recently announced his engagement to his boyfriend. Virgil Summers, richest painter and illustrator in Florida. No one knows the connection between these two. They never talk and never think about each other. Well, almost never. Every night, Roman curses his teenage self and every night, Virgil wonders if he really should've rejected Roman. Not every story is a fairy tale and not every ending is happy. They both learnt that the hard way.