PLEASE NOTE: This is Book Two in the Why I Run Series! If you haven't read Why I Run before reading this, please read that one first!  ENJOY LOVELIES!! X3
- Max :)
______________________

Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Months after Why I Run ; October 19th, 2017, Present Day

"Aww, look you guys! The Fanders are celebrating our BIRTHDAYS!!"

The rest of us all glanced between each other, all equally confused for once. "But why? None of our birthdays have passed recently," Logan answered, frowning.

Patton walked in, holding his laptop and grinning widely. "Well, not our actual birthdays, obviously," Patton admitted. "But apparently we did the first Sanders Sides video this exact day last year and the Fanders are all calling it our birthdays."

"Well that's silly," Roman said, laughing lightly. "I mean, Virgil wasn't even in the first video anyway."

"I had no interest in introducing myself to a bunch of critical strangers - no thanks," I stated dryly, munching on another Oatmeal Raisin cookie.

"Should we tell them that we actually have birthdays?" Patton asked, setting the laptop on the floor and plopping himself on the floor with it, lying on his stomach as he curiously scrolled through many art pieces of Sanders Sides birthday fan art.

"OH! You know what we should do? We should save it for a more dramatic scene - right after all the Fanders have seen our rooms," Roman suggested, overly dramatic (as usual), staring at the wall as if it was some kinda distance sunset and crap - clearly wrapped up in his thoughts.

"Why do you have to be so... extra? What is so wrong with just telling them?" Logan questioned.

I smiled. "Extra - vocab word."

Roman pouted. "But that's no FUN," he whined, ignoring my statement.

"Yeah! I agree with Roman," Patton said, nodding his head vigorously in agreement. "It would be so much funner to wait til' later!"

"Funner is not a word," Logan corrected quickly. "Might I suggest 'more fun' instead for future use."

"But funner is just... just funner to say!" Patton giggled.

Logan sighed. "Why do I even try?" Logan muttered under his breath, getting to his feet.

"Wait, Patton when - actually - is your birthday?" I asked, almost sheepishly.

"September 23rd, 1988, kiddo."

"Oh," I said softly. Then I frowned, confused. "Wait - Thomas wasn't even born yet. Thomas's birthday is April 24th, 1989."

"Yuppers. I'm the only side actually older than Thomas himself," Patton admitted, cheerfully. "Why do you think I call him my son?"

"Wait, Virgil - do you know any of our birthdays?" Roman asked, curiously.

I flushed with embarrassment. "I... I'm not that great with dates," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck self-consciously.

"Oh well Logan's is on May 18th, 1990 - a year after Thomas was born," Roman continued explaining. "Mine is on a truly ROYAL day - July 31st, 1990."

"... what's so special about July 31st?"

Roman let out a gasp of horror - once again, over dramatic. "July 31st is no less than HARRY freakin' POTTER'S BIRTHDAY! Well," Roman thought aloud, backtracking. "The same day at least, although Harry was actually born in 1980."

"I still haven't read those books," I said nonchalantly.

Patton and Roman both let out gasp of horror, staring at me like I was a monster. I rolled my eyes in response, not really bothered.

"Even I have to admit, once I got around the entire fantasy aspect of the novels, I did find myself enjoying them," Logan admitted. "The world itself is an admirable one at that, once I grasped the idea of this fictional universe."

"Good for you," I responded, getting up to grab some more cookies.

"Hey, uh, kiddo - I just realized. When's - uh - when's your birthday?" Patton asked me, curiously. "I don't think you've ever mentioned it before."

Roman spun to face me, looking a little surprised, if maybe a bit surprised that he also didn't know. "Yeah, Virge. I don't think you've ever told me."

"The Fanders and Thomas celebrate it on December 19th," Logan added, trying to be helpful. "But... that's not your actual birthday, is it Virgil?"

"November 22nd, 1992," I answered, sharply and quickly. Please don't ask questions, please don't ask questions...

All of them frowned at this, looking between each other. "But... you did even show up until we were - like - eight," Roman said, glancing at Patton and Logan as confirmation.

I shifted my jacket, anxiety starting to build up at the mini interrogation. "Why would you guys want to hang out with me? Especially back then. Know this might surprise you - but I was not popular, even as a kid," I added sarcastically.

"Well? Then where were you?" Logan asked. "I find it odd that a major trait - or quite frankly any trait at all - could have slipped past all of our notice at that age."

"What can I say? I wasn't exactly a popular trait," I shrugged. "I just always been a creepy cookie," I said, grabbing another.

"But see that's the thing, kiddo - there were no other traits," Patton said slowly, eyebrows scrunching together in worry. "Not then anyway. It was just... us."

All of them shared a nervous look.

"Who was the first trait that you talked to when you came? Maybe that can give us an idea of where we all were," Logan suggested, looking between all of us as a silent agreement.

I shrugged. "I don't remember back that far - that was a long time ago."

Roman shook his head. "Virge, you don't show up in my memories at ALL until we were at least eight - that's for certain. Where were you all those years?"

Patton and Logan nodded, expressing their agreement with Roman.

I shrugged. "I don't know what you want me to say.  Where else could I have been?"

Logan blinked very quickly for a second, as he usually did when he was lost in thought. "Virgil, did- did you wear the same type of outfit, before the "makeovers", when you came? I mean, you could not have been this... emo as a child," Logan suggested.

"Nope," I said, folding my arms over my chest. "Been dark my whole life," I smirked.

"I just don't understand how we coulda missed ya kiddo," Patton said, frowning. "Are you sure?"

"Yes Patton - I'm pretty sure that I know my own birthday."

Logan frowned. "I - I'll be right back," he said quickly practically running out of the room.

I frowned, tension spreading along my shoulders.

"Patton, go follow him," Roman suggested lightly.

Patton didn't argue, quickly following after.

And then it was just us.

"So," Roman started, taking a step towards me. "Are you going to tell me the truth?"

Seeing how tense I was, Roman gently started kneading my shoulders, rolling out the knots. I twisted around, giving him easier access.

After a minute, Roman stopped, still waiting for my response.

"I didn't lie about anything," I muttered, eyes bouncing over everything in the room except Roman's eyes.

"Maybe you didn't lie... but you didn't tell the truth either. You weren't here. Not as a kid," Roman said. He paused, as if waiting for me to fill in the gap. When I stayed silent, he continued. "Where were you, Virge? Virgil?"

I shifted nervously. "Roman, please let it drop."

Roman didn't say anything for a moment. "Okay," he said, coming closer and lightly kissing me on the cheek. "But you'll have to tell me eventually... you know that, right?"

I sighed. It would be inevitable. "Yeah, I know. Just... just let me... keep it to myself for at least little while longer?" I pleaded.

Roman smiled tightly - clearly not satisfied, - but he conceded. "Just promise you'll tell me everything first."

"... Yeah, I'll tell you first."

Roman reached out and lightly squeezed my hand before leaving me alone.

I... I wasn't ready for them to know about my... past.

I just wanted to live in this fantasy a little while longer.

__________________
Virgil comin' THROUGH withallthemysteryandangst

Voters (from "Chapter Thirty" of Why I Run):

AuriLW
Marie1452

dead_inside_3
SassyCC
death-of-a-phangirl
deziRee314
Corerianna
SheDaGecko23
Angel--Louise
teaxtif
jm9651785
AnAverageGayFangirl
beverlyeden
Amelia_Divine
animegirl81
Azari_Heere
ali6ce
SalmaMendez
englishChips
Lightseed
xJustAGeekx
SoftxRacoon
sweet213
Cyndaquil17
And_PeggySchuyler
Fireplayz
ImSorryplzforgiveme

Voters (this time from "Epilogue" of Why I Run)

AuriLW
SassyCC
Marie1452
deziRee314
SheDaGecko23
teaxtif
animegirl81
Amelia_Divine
death-of-a-phangirl
ali6ce
TheKittenOfCrazy
weebulicious-cat
englishchips
TaelsBias_
Lightseed
SoftxRacoon
ImSorryplzforgiveme


I'm sorry if I missed anyone! I had to go soooo far back in my notifications (because I procrastinate too much lol) Just lemme know and I'd be happy to put you in (if you voted before I post Chapter Two)

BUT Y'ALL SEE ALL DEM NAMES WOW :D

These might be a little slower updates because I'm going to be working on finishing "Maybe One Day" at the same time, but I'll do my best to do as much as possible before school starts again.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

- Max :)