They all met up at the door after school, Roman's appearance shocking them slightly, but they quickly recovered. They briefly talking about their day to let all of the cars and busses get by so that they could leave and go home this Monday night. Once that was done, they would all start heading off in different directions. Roman with Patton, Logan with Virgil.

∆
"Hey Pat!" Roman said, and Patton gasped. "Roman, what are you doing here? Isn't there practice today?" Patton asked, as Roman nodded.

"There is, my clever, cookie loving friend. However, I have another task that I must pursue." Roman said, being evasive about what, as he smiled at Virgil, who just kept waking.

"Why so glum, emo nightmare?" Roman asked, as the darkly dressed boy shrugged.

"I'm fine, just tired." Virgil replied, though that wasn't the complete truth.

"Logan, what are you doing after school today?" Patton asked, smiling.

"Oh, I am currently working on a personal project, and I am unfortunately busy today. However; if you wished to accompany me, I would not mind." Logan said, as he pulled out his keys.

Patton nodded, his mind swirling. Today he would tell them. No more lying.

"Okie dokie! Roman, I'm going home with Logan and Virgil instead. Is that ok, kiddo?" Patton asked, turning to Roman, who pulled out his keys too.

"Practically perfect, Patton. It works for me. I'll see you guys tomorrow! Bye Microsoft Nerd, Marilyn Morose, and Padre! Parting is such sweet sorrow." Roman announced flamboyantly and rather loud. "We shall meet again."

"So loud." Virgil mumbled under his breath, as he slunk into Logan's passenger, his stomach churning.

Something was bugging him, something about Roman, something at home too.

"Bye Roman!" Patton called, climbing into the back seat with a slight hum.

Logan placed himself in the passenger seat, as he sighed, checking his mirror and seat, before lighting the ignition.

"Virgil, do you wish to accompany us? Your presence is more that welcome as well." Logan asked, looking at Virgil through his rearview mirror, noting on his distressed posture and facial features.

Virgil was silent for a couple moments, weighing his options before looking back at Logan.

"....sure." Virgil decided, glancing at Patton briefly and back to Logan. "Sounds nice."

"Exemplary." Logan said, and they took off to Logan's residence in semi comfortable silence, as Patton couldn't help but hum slightly, but this atmosphere helped ease some of Virgil's tense nerves.

Virgil smiled, as they got to the very formal looking, cool blue house, taking a step on the lawn.

"Come, I have some adequate snacks for the three of us." Logan said, off handedly, grabbing his bag.

"Is it cookies?" Patton asked, his hopeful smile lighting up his face like the sun.

"Unfortunately, not Patton. It is granola bars." Logan said, glancing back, his glasses shining in the light slightly.

"Good enough!" Patton exclaimed, as he bounded in the front door, followed by a slightly exasperated Logan.

Virgil smiled a ghost of a smile, as he followed his friends inside.

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On the flip side, Roman got into his car and had to contain his excitement. He set his destination on his phone, which case resembled a crown around a heart, and took off out of the parking lot near the speed of light.

He was happy,
NAY
He was excited,
NAY
He was thrilled!

He was going to his special 'mind palace', as he called it.

The library.

Roman has kept his secret place all to himself, a run down, run of the mill library that he stumbled apon during one of his early morning jogs.

No one would ever cast Roman as the type to read, or enjoy reading as much as he actually does. But books have a magical way of transporting the reader to a whole nother realm, a story with adventure, action, and especially romance!

So he lies, to keep his secret place a secret. To keep the magic alive in his heart.

Once he got there, he quickly got out of the red car, locked it up, put a tarp over it, and raced inside the slightly decaying building with gusto.

"I'm back!" He called to litterly no one, as he swaggered to his shelf that he cleaned off, grabbing his favorite book and sitting on a comfy bean bag chair that he supplied the last time he was here.

Getting situated, he sighed, dusting off this desk next to him, when he noticed that the drawer under it was slightly ajar. It wasn't that unusual, but there was something in there that wasn't there before.

"What's this?" Roman asked himself, his curiosity taking over him.

Curiosity killed the cat, and no satisfaction brought it back

He pulled it out of the desk and wiped away the dust on the cover, seeing the dingy, leather colored journal in his hands, so old that it might fall apart if he opens it too far.

Never judge a simple book by its cover, for the unpleasant parts are in between

Roman put it in his bag for later, as he really wanted to finish the book he was on now.

Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today, for tomorrow is worse than now

Roman sighed, in content, book finally out of sight and out of mind.