6:33pm

Guess what? No trigger warninggggssss

Au
—

Virgil woke up that morning around twelve pm, bleary gazing around his room that was lit up by the sun streaming in through the blinds. Groaning, he groped around his bed, trying to find his phone when his movements paused and his eyes opened. He had suddenly become very aware of the fact today was his birthday. His parents, Logan and Patton, have been commenting for weeks about how they had the 'perfect' birthday gift for him, but they couldn't tell him because it was a surprise.

He hated surprises. He knew they knew he hated surprises, yet they did it anyway. With slight anxiety floating around his system, he sat up from bed and stretched his arms above his head, finding his phone under the quilt beside his thigh. He made his way down the stairs, making a quick break at the toilet on his journey. When entering the kitchen, he spotted his two dads and brother sitting at the table. His younger brother, Roman, looked annoyed and grumpy - but he was thirteen, that was to be expected with a child moving on into their teenage years. Virgil was only three years older than he, and remembered those days like they were yesterday.

"Mornin'" he murmured, dragging himself to the fridge where he found some lunch. "Morning?" Logan repeated, "it is midday"

"Didn't ask for details, Lo" Virgil responded, voice low and groggy as he sipped from his soda can and stuffed a sandwich into his mouth. "Virge! Sleep well?" His dad, Patton, exclaimed, turning in his chair to gaze adoringly at his son who quirked an eyebrow and shrugged, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I guess...anyway, uh, what's the surprise?" He changed topic, secretly eager to find out what it is to get the surprise over and done with.

Unfortunately he hadn't managed to prise it out of his brother, but he was sure he was under some sort of bribe. "Oh!" Patton chirped in remembrance, patting the wooden chair beside him. Bringing over his snacks, Virgil slumped in it and eyed his family expectedly. "So, we all know how much you adore your bedroom" Patton began, and Virgil tensed slightly. He would defend his room with his life if they decided to try and do anything with it. Like...like...cleaning it. He shuddered at the mere idea.

"And from that it is easy to decipher you prefer to be alone" Logan carried on, sitting up in his chair. Virgil never called Logan 'dad' or any other title of the sort, he always found it more comfortable to say his real name. Roman, on the other hand, called his parents by their titles in different languages everyday. It was hard to keep up, and most of the time Patton and Logan didn't know he was calling for them.

Virgil nodded in agreement to Logan's statement; he loved being alone, and would chose to be alone over anything else...well, there is a possible chance he would choose cuddling with his dad over it but don't tell Patton he thought this!

"Well, we knew you didn't want anything physical, apart from money" Patton murmured the ending under his breath. Virgil snorted and took a large bite from his sandwich, nodding in agreement. "So we assumed this would be the best gift we could give you" Logan finished his sentence once again. Finally, Roman had enough and groaned over dramatically.

"If you don't tell him I will!" He threatened. Patton cooed and shot him a grin, turning to Virgil. "We booked a room in a hotel not too far away, but the distance doesn't matter, and we will be staying there for two days! Meaning you" Patton tapped his nose affectionally, "will be home alone for two days straight! In the holidays! Isn't that awesome!?" He exclaimed, more for reassurance than anything, because he doesn't know the first thing when it comes to enjoying being alone.

Virgil's eyes widened a fraction in surprise. They've never done something like this before. Well, they have purposely driven the longest route home in the past to give Virgil those few more minutes of alone time, but never something like this. Being home alone for Virgil was a rarity, quire frankly, as Patton was a stay at home husband, meaning he did everything he needed to do outside while Virgil was in school, and by the time he got home, Patton would stay inside for the the afternoon. Virgil did enjoy all of their company, (Roman's the least) but being in a house alone was something else. Something just as special.

And Virgil found himself grinning at the fact his family knew him so well.

"Two days? Really?" Virgil repeated, because he honestly thought he was hearing things. "Yep! Two days!" Patton clarified with a giggle. "Enjoy it, Hot Topic" Roman muttered darkly, "I have to stay in a hotel room for two days! Without my vanity!" He threw his arms up to show his exasperation, crossing them stubbornly over his chest again. "My birthday better have the entire cast of Heathers" he grumbled under his breath afterwards. Beside him Logan rolled his eyes, murmuring 'you impossible child' under his breath.

At exactly one pm the next hour, they all left the house, leaving Virgil to shut the door and lean on the wood with a growing smile, not feeling the need to hide it due to the fact he was alone and no one could watch! Gleefully he rushed through the house and back to the kitchen, whipping open the fridge and grabbing another load of snacks before he hurried up to his room. Splaying the snacks across his bed, he laid down, flicked on Netflix and ate. For five hours. Watching and eating.

He thinks it was five hours well spent. But, he had become bored with Netflix so instead turned off the T.V and played music through his speakers, dancing with his footsteps while cleaning everything up and taking another bathroom break. It felt freeing to be alone, and he was sure when he moved out he would love it more than anything.

Singing along to the lyrics, he sat down at his desk and brought out his sketchbooks. He didn't really like showing anyone what he drew, and to keep it a secret from everyone, he only drew when he was sure no one would walk in and or when he was alone. And this was the perfect opportunity so for the next three hours he drew and drew, either fixing up past drawings or making new ones. They weren't fully fledged scenes, just random characters he made up.

On the last page he tapped his pencil against his chin and looked across his desk to find anything to draw. He then spotted a picture of him being held by Patton beside Logan who was actually smiling in the picture. Something that didn't happen often. He must've been seven years old? He could remember that day - they all went to the nearby zoo.

Taking inspiration from that, he drew himself with his dads all huddled up on the couch, faces lit up by the screen that couldn't be seen on the drawing. He was actually really proud of it, and happy that was the last picture in this certain sketchbook. Ending it on a good thing.

Now, though, he felt lazy and finally stopped his music. He checked the time, 9:38pm. He wasn't going to sleep yet. Grabbing a thick duvet, he wrapped it around himself and waddled down the staircase into the living room, flopping onto the couch that was for some reason more desirable than his bed while he was home alone. Grabbing his phone, he opened up his social media and indulged himself with the online world, replying to his friends who all lived in different countries. He had a few friends in real life, but they were all school friends, while these people he could actually be his true self with. It was refreshing, having people similar to himself.

He ended up joining a group call and rested his phone on the coffee table, laying down fully and just listening to their conversation, adding his input whenever needed. He deemed the first day of lonesomeness (even if for awhile he wasn't entirely alone) to be perfect, and fell asleep soon after the call had ended.

The next morning he decided to sleep in, grazing channels from the couch, every so often wandering to the kitchen and either grabbing new drink or different foods to sustain his hunger. He was glad he wasn't living alone yet, though, because he quickly realised he would've had to have gone grocery shopping soon, and he was not emotionally prepared to do that without an adult.

Again, he filled hours of his time with stuff he would usually do when his family was here, instead though not just in his room. He even found himself lounging in the laundry room, draped over the washing machine and tumble drier for awhile.

The time was nearing three pm when his phone pinged with a message.

Dad - how're you doing, Virgie? Okay?

- yeah
- thanks for this
- best birthday ever

Virgil smiled at the messages, because they were true. It was the best birthday he could ask for.

And when they came back the next day, Roman sure did complain, but they were all happy,

And that was what truly mattered.

—

Hm, never mind I take that back lmao

7:21pm