Warning: censored curses

*Virgils's POV*

Just then, Thomas was coming down the hall, guiding a very.....oh my God, they beat him up that bad?!

Patton looked fûcking horrible.
He was was limping, hand clutching his side, as his good hazelnut eye filled with tears as he started to move faster down the hall towards us.
But he was still smiling, which was a good sign that I don't have to go beat the fûck out of Dollyn again.

"Hi guys!" Patton said, yawning, swaying slightly, as Thomas made sure he didn't fall.

"Greetings, Patton." Logan said, calmly, giving Patton the same analysis that I was, his eyebrows furrowing in frustration and something else.

"How was your nap, my fine fellowed friend?" Roman asked, smiling. I looked closer at Roman's eyes, seeing how hard he was trying to hide his worry. Dang, I can barely notice, he is such a great actor.

"It was....good...till I was woken up by Mrs. Vetal. What happened?" He asked, rubbing his good eye.

"Hey Patton, could we come over to your house today?" Thomas asked, trying to change the subject.

"Sure....but what happened?" Patton said, getting back on topic, still confused and half asleep.

"I punched a guy and knocked out his tooth. Also, my name is Virgil, Verge for short." I said, bluntly to Patton.

"You...what? And hi, Virgil. I'm Patton." Patton chuckled, as he yawned again.

I was taken aback slightly, as my eyes widened slightly from under my hood. He wasn't at all phased at my name change. He didn't even question it.

"I...uh punched someone...and their....tooth fell out." I repeated, quietly.

"You what? I heard you fought them, but I didn't know you'd punch them so hard their tooth fell out." Patton said, instantly awake at that sentence.

"Yea...." I trailed off, hiding my bruised hand in my hoodie pocket that also had the tooth in it.

"Anx, I mean, Virgil. Why would you do that?" Patton asked. "Your in trouble now.... because of me."

"Falsehood, he is in trouble because he chose and followed through with punching Dollyn in the face, not through any actions of your own." Logan said, as he tapped his fingers on his leg ever so slightly.

"Well why wouldn't we fight to protect you, Patton? You didn't deserve to receive any of this nonsense!" Roman said, as he fixed his hair in a portable mirror he had.

"Patton, we're always going to be here for you, as much as your here for us." Thomas said, setting Patton down in a chair, as Patton nodded, before I cleared my throat.

Everyone turned to look at me and I froze like a deer in headlights of an oncoming truck.

Shoot
I cleared my throat without thinking....
Um....
What was I to say....?
Then I remembered what Patton said to me, and I smiled.

"W-well, it was my turn to be your hero, was it not?" I said, which caused Patton's gaze light up, a single grateful tear from his one hazelnut brown eyes cascading down his red cheeks before more followed suit.

"You guys." Patton said, as he tried grabbed everyone for a group hug, much to Logan's dismay, though, he didn't pull away.

"Aww." Thomas said, quietly, as he grinned, hugging Patton back.

"Now, what do you guys think of Disney?" Patton asked, chuckling weakly.

Roman, Thomas, and I glanced at one another, and Logan joined in, but then averted his gaze to the door.

"Of course, Patton!" Roman said, his excited smile growing.

"I mean, I was the one to suggest it, but sure!" Thomas said, smiling.

"Yea, whatever, sounds kinda cool." I said, shrugging it off slightly, as I his my grin away from everyone, but Patton still saw me.

Logan sighed, but he has a small smile on his face as well. "That sounds wonderful, Patton." Logan said, as Patton beamed, as bright as the sun.

Our sun.

This is how it should be....
Always.

Till the Mrs. Vetal swung open the door, that is.

*Logan's POV*

I averted my attention once more at the now ajar door, with a cross and discontented Mrs. Vetal entering through.

I couldn't recognize this emotion....this feeling that I have, until I glanced at Virgil slightly.

Anx.
Anxious.
He was anxious.

I was anxious.

I was anxious, not acutely accustomed to getting into a ruckus, but here I am positioned.
What assumptions would my parental figures....no, pause. This endeavor is for Patton's well being and safety. I must not let my own cognitive distortions take dominance within my mind and distract me from the purpose I ventured to accomplish.

"You five, in my office, now." Mrs. Vetal said, as I stood up abruptly.

Virgil went in first, putting in his earbuds that were playing something from Be More Chill, a musical I entertained myself with so that I may possess a comprehensive understanding of Virgil and his interests, as he pulled up his hood. He condensed in on himself, as he amplified his....edgy trait.... intensely.

Roman went in next, not giving a single care, except about his hair and his appearance. "A prince has got to slay." Roman consoled himself like a quiet mantra, though it was quite loud. I couldn't fathom how he, in all realms of possibly, could be this oblivious yet collected in this situation.

I assisted Patton in rising to his feet, feeling a pang of something resembling guilt when I witnessed Patton wince when he moved to standing position. 

"Its ok, logan. Just a couple of bruises, no big deal. I'm fine, let's go!" Patton spoke, his signature smile on his face.

"Alright, I believe your claims. However, when we leave the premises, I will assess your wounds, no disagreements." I scolded, as I repositioned him slightly so that the two of us would accommodate through the ajar door.

"Alright, Logy, alright." Patton said, as he smiled, his eye closing, fatigue prominent in his usable optical.

"My name is Logan, Patton." I corrected him, as I rolled my opticals at the nickname, entering the office.

Before I could understand what was commencing, the door slammed closed, and a faint click sound that was assumingly the sound of the door locking echoed in the room, causing all four of us to look at the now locked door in a sense of alarm and confusion.

Thomas was still behind the door, with Mrs. Vetal.

*Thomas's POV*

"Mrs. Vetal, what was that for? What's going on??" I asked, very confused, as I saw her lock the door, trapping my four friends in the room.

"Oh, we'll I just wanted us to have a one on one chat about something..... important....Thomas." Mrs. Vetal said.

"What? What's this about?" I asked, getting defensive.

"Rumors spread, Thomas. Rumors spread far and wide. High school is the perfect place for rumors. And I've heard rumors that your...." Mrs. Vetal started, but I cut her off, assuming I know where this is going.

"Making a band to take to the surface, yes, I know. It's no rumor, Mrs. Vetal. I totally am. It was my idea and mine alone." I said, as I leaned back against the door, kicking my leg over my other leg, all cool like, or trying to. I got this, no big deal.

"No....I do know about that as well. I meant....do you know what one of our policies are, at Crofter high?" Mrs. Vetal asked, fiddling with something at her desk.

"Why, it's that the core classes are the core of our school, although, the core of our school is actually in the basement, kinda funny actually." I said, rambling a bit, trying to find humor in this tough situation. It wasn't working well.

"No, one of our most strict policies here is the anti-gay movement that this school has and promotes. We are one of the last schools against the LGBTQ+ communities that have been plaguing this country. The punishment for being found guilty in this school is tremendous and reputable." Mrs. Vetal said.

I gulped nervously, though mostly to myself. What does that even mean? I just brushed it off, I'm not going to have her pin me like this, not without a fight.

"Why, no. I had no idea. I mean, it's not like I'm gay, totally not." I said, lying through my teeth.

"Tut Tut, didn't your father ever teach you it's wrong to lie, Thomas? Besides, I have photographing evidence of you, kissing a boy in the bathroom. What do you say to this?" Mrs. Vetal said, as her evil grin got wider.

She plugged in a hard drive to the receptionist's computer and a still image popped up of me kissing....my ex..... He left the school because his parents pulled him out, or at least that's what I thought, now I wasn't so sure.

I paled, fixing my stance from chill to panicked as I felt my stomach drop to the floor, my brain jump-starting from 0 to 60 in a flash.

She found out....

She found out......

Oh no....

"So, Thomas, with this new information in mind, we're going to go in there, and I'm going to demand that you shut down this silly little group of wannabe music students, and you'll agree, and then I'll forget where I put this hard drive that has the picture on it, deal?" Mrs. Vetal explained, as my heart started pounding in my ears.

"If you don't manage to get them to shut it down...then....I'll post it around the school, email all of your teachers, and give a copy to the 'pretend' underground newsletter that I 'don't know exist', and I'll email your parents, on top of the normal punishment." Mrs. Vetal said, as I gulped again, feeling trapped, as my breathing started to go crazy. I couldn't breath....

This can't be happening....

My parents don't know I'm gay, and I doubt that they would accept me....

"Make your choice, Thomas." Mrs. Vetal said, grinning like the evil Cheshire cat, as I struggled to keep calm.

I kept thinking about it, my mind racing, as I tried to steady my breathing like Logan did for Virgil. I grabbed the hem of my shirt, tugging at it. It wasn't working right....I can't....no....my parents can't find out....

"Well...?" Mrs. Vetal asked, tapping her foot, agressively.

"I....I..." I started, only to find my tongue was tied. I was pinned.

"You.... you....pick a choice already! I don't have all day." Mrs. Vetal said, slamming her hands on the table.

".......Alright. I'll speak against the Sander sides." I said, defeated, as I looked down at the floor in shame.

"I knew you'd see it my way, Mr Sanders." Mrs. Vetal said, smiling, as she grabbed the USB chip and unlocked the door.

I only nodded, as she opened the door to four very worried faces.

*Logan's POV*

I put my phone down, as the door opened, a plan already formulating in my head.  From the collected total I eavesdropped and recorded....yes, this has a high probability of success.

I thought about this, calculating the odds of success and failure, until I gazed apon the look on Thomas's face, making all of my calculations come to a sudden halt.

Hopeless, desperate, forlorn, distraught, resigned, despairing, wretched.

Defeated.

I let out an audible gasp at this, as Patton got up quickly, before I attempted to withhold him in his seat.

"Patton, this is not wise. Moving will cause more pain." I said, as I could not find the right words to express anymore, which was odd.

I glanced at Mrs. Vetal, who was seated in her seat, sharpening her pencil, a wicked, unnerving, malicious grin on her face.

Patton stumbled over to Thomas, as he hugged him tightly. "Kiddo? Are you ok?" Patton asked, as he looked so concerned, the intensity of Patton's worry seeping off of him in waves, that I'd have to confide that they affected me too.

No comment.

Virgil rapidly took out his earbuds when he noticed Thomas wasn't replying, as he looked just as alarmed. "Thomas, what's going on? What the fûck did she say to you?!" Virgil said, shouting, forgetting that the principal was in the room.

No comment.

Roman glanced up in shock, his mirror dropping into his lap. "What in the gods, Thomas....what did she do to you? What evil black magic did she possess you with that leaves you unable to reply to us???" Roman asked, as he attempted to walk over.

No comment.

"That's far enough, Mr. Hendrix. I let Patton do it cause he's..... special, for lack of a better word. Mr. Sanders, escort Mr. Montgomery to his seat next to you, why don't you?" Mrs. Vetal said, with a grin that was unsettling to the eyes.

Thomas didn't say anything, as he just moved Patton over to his seat gently, both of them sitting down without a sound.

Thomas's hand was shaking, as Patton's worried eye grew larger. "Kiddo." Patton said, as he pulled Thomas close to his body, hugging him.

The only response we got from Patton's actions was his grip on Patton's cotton blue tee tightened considerably.

I looked back to gaze at Mrs. Vetal, about to say something.

Only then, did it hit me, that I made a considerably terrible non infinitesimal mistake.
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Greetings!

So, how did you like the chapter?

This chapter was so long, I had to split it up into three chapters, isn't that crazy!
Part three is on the way.

Bye
Love you
Duck