No Never Yes||Prinxiety||

My Tormentor Is Actually Cute- Roman

"I'm not scared anymore, you know what I mean?"

Patton pulled me aside as soon as Ms. Kleinman turned around to resume teaching. He wiped at my nose a few times with a panicked look. "Are you okay?!" He spoke in a rushed half-whisper.

"He is obviously not, considering his nose is bleeding. The more appropriate question is: How are you feeling?" I had never seen Logan looked so concerned. He squeezed Patton's hand and looked over at the maniac who had swung at me. He was talking about something to his friends, but I could tell he was really watching me with his one good eye. An eye for a eye. Or nose. It felt fitting.

"I'll be fine as soon as I wash this off," I gestured loosely at the blood that had caked onto my face. "Who knew the creep over there could hit like that?"

Logan rolled his eyes. "Virgil does appear to be muscular. It's not a big surprise."

I cracked a smile. This was too good. "The embodiment of a dark and stormy night's name is Virgil?" I snickered. "Oh, that's funny." I successfully ignored the funny feeling in my chest.

Patton interjected. "I'm not defending him since he attacked you unprovoked, but I kinda like the name! It's cute!"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Well, maybe it wasn't unprovoked..."

Logan eyed me suspiciously. "What did you say?"

"I might have threatened to hurt him so he hit me first." I shrugged, trying to play it off.

"Ro! No wonder he looks scared of you!" Patton looked back at, and yes it's still funny, Virgil with some concern.

"Nonsense, he's not scared of me." I looked back briefly, but I couldn't help but feel bad. He looked so scared and regretful. He looked more like the kid I thought I knew: the one that was scared of his own shadow and never talked. Not at all like when he stood up at stared at me, daring to talk back. I admit I felt a little bad, but this wasn't my fault!

The class ended and before I could say 'Sincerely Me', Hot Topic had flown out of the room. He's like a blur, that kid. I made my way towards the bathroom to wash my face and Logan suddenly spoke up.

"Roman," he looked over to me as I dried my face with the rough paper towels. "Your soulmate's initials are V.S., correct?"

"Yeah, why?" I made sure I hadn't missed a spot. That would really give people something to talk about.

"Did you happen to catch sight of Virgil's initials?"

"No, he's keeps them cov- hey, what are you implying?" I wish I didn't understand exactly what he meant when I looked at him with wide eyes.

Patton giggled. "Wouldn't it be funny if he was your soulmate? Virgil who started a fistfight? Talk about a first meeting!"

I laughed drily. "Hilarious, considering soulmates don't try to beat the living shit out of each other."

Patton muttered. "Language."

"Sorry, Pat. But really, there's no way it's him. Lo, do you know his last name?" I turned to Patton's boyfriend, hoping he wouldn't give me the answer I feared.

He shook his head. "Regrettably, no. He's a very private individual. I only found out his name from listening to his friends. Some arrangements with the teachers makes sure they don't call on him and such. I could make an attempt to find out."

"So, there's a very good chance it's not an S? Great, because we are not compatible," I said, kind of lying.

The truth was, I could see myself trying to win him over. It was a secret dream of mine to break down the walls of some mysterious stranger with gorgeous eyes. And I kept thinking back to my thoughts from earlier, about how easy it would be to just kiss him. I don't know if I wanted him, or I just wanted to flirt with someone. It was most likely the latter.

It wouldn't be the first time.

"Well, it was just an idea." Logan dropped the subject after sensing my discomfort.

"What do think Miss Kleinman's going to do to you?" Patton looked nervous. He was very protective of his friends and he looked mortified at the idea of punishment.

"Oh my God, what if she won't let me audition? I just have to be that prince, it's perfect for me! And those songs? So romantic," I clutched my chest. "I would rather be suspended."

"Unlikely, since you haven't been a problem student until now." Logan cut through with the brutal honesty. I guess he didn't know it was a lie. And I wasn't keen on correcting him. "It's most likely a stern warning. Unless she's feeling particularly vindictive today."

"Let's hope it's a warning," I threw the paper towel away and opened the door. "I need all the luck I can get."

——
Classes came and went with relative ease. I couldn't help but look around for the pretty purple boy, but as soon as we made eye contact, he looked down and pulled his hoodie closer over his face. Geez, I had really fucked up this time. Every time I saw his swollen eye, I thought of my own nose. The weight of the actions was starting to slow me down.

Naturally, my reflexes are amazing. It's how I managed to escape middle school without too many bruises. But everything was off when he talked to me. I still couldn't tell if he was flirting with me. He caught me off-guard when he landed the punch, not because he was talking to me like that. It was his laugh. He had the cutest laugh I had ever heard. It was clear and it hit that resonance people aspire for. It was the best thing that I had heard all day. Then he hit me. It was hard to believe such a pure laugh could come out of that bundle of darkness.

Part of me wanted to go over and apologize, to start over with this kid. I had a gut feeling I'd be spending some time around him. And my gut feeling is never wrong. The last class bell rang and I knew I had to take a chance on this. I quickly gathered my belongings and walked over to him. Virgil remained seated at his desk, slowly packing his things. He didn't immediately notice me, so I cleared my throat. He looked up and stood up so quickly, his head accidentally collided with my chin and we knocked each other a step back. Again.

"Fuck!" He stammered, one hand over his eye and the other on his forehead. "Ow..."

I noticed he didn't apologize, but I didn't dwell on it. His two friends stood to the side, sizing up the situation. They seemed to be deciding whether they should attack me or just laugh. He looked over at them and they awkwardly left, watching me the whole time. I knew Patton and Logan were still there, quietly hovering, but now was my chance.

"So we should probably go talk to Ms. Kleinman now." I tried to start something that at least resembled a conversation. He nodded. "You wanna walk together?" I asked. I actually saw Patton take hold of Logan when I said that. How melodramatic.

Virgil looked at me like I was stupid, which I was starting to think too. "Why? We don't exactly get along." He made a fair point.

"Well, I have a feeling that's going to have to change soon. So?" I extended my hand. "What do you say?" That was the riskiest thing I did but it was too late now.

"You better not try to fight me, again." Virgil took my hand, and I noticed how well our hands fit together. My heart sped up briefly as he used it as a lever to stand up. His expression betrayed nothing. He let go, to my dismay, and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He waited by the door. I turned over my shoulder to ask Logan and Patton if they could come too, but they answered before I even opened my mouth.

"Sorry, kid, I have to get to cheer practice," Patton headed out the door. "Call and tell me how it went!"

"And I have to tutor. Sorry, Roman." Logan followed him out and suddenly it was painfully silent between myself and the boy who punched me.

"Well, are you coming or not?" Virgil turned and walked out without a moment's notice, leaving me scrambling to keep up.