"Listen," she put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll give you $10 everyday if you become friends with my son." She handed him the money.
"Okay."
Virgil was unusually lonely. It wasn't that fact that he didn't want a friend, it was the fact that no one wanted to be his friend.
He always sat alone at lunch, away from everyone else. He had a loner seat in each of his classes, a seat away from everyone else. But he was top of his school. Always getting straight A's and getting perfect scores on every test. And people despised him for it.
So when this happened, of course Virgil was shocked beyond belief. He was at a loss for words. Of course, he didn't talk much as it was. Him and his family shared very few words.
"I want to be your friend." He was handsome, tall, and had a good build. But he was extremely blunt. All Virgil could do was stare at him.
"W-w-w-what?!" Virgil stepped back, shocked by the sudden words directed towards him.
"So, what's your answer, I don't got all day." He stared down at him coldly.
Does this guy even know how to smile?! Virgil thought. He turned around. "Thanks, but I'm fine on my own." He began walking away until he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"I, uh.. I'm not good with talking to people, so... I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." The kid hid the bottom half of his face with his wrist.
Virgil blushed. Cute?! He pulled his arm back and avoided looking at the other.
"I'll consider it. Try smiling, it usually makes you come off as more nice. Instead you just seem like an asshole. I thought you were gonna take my money or something." He turned and began to walk away.
"Ouch.. that stung.." he mumbled. He jogged to catch up with him. "I'm Roman, by the way." He smiled at him.
"Tree." Virgil said as Roman ran into a tree. "I'm Virgil."
Roman rubbed his nose. "Ow.. nice to meet you Virgil!" He looked around at all the kids staring at them. "I, uh.. I'm gonna head to class."
"It's the end of the day, dumbass. Classes are over." He stared in front of him. He'd noticed the stares from when Roman first started talking to him.
"Ouch. No wonder you don't have friends." Roman began following him again. "But now I'm here!"
"Shut up, asshole." Virgil growled. "I never asked you to be here."
Roman smiled. "You're right. You didn't ask me." He swung his arms behind him.
"Yo fag! Catch!" A muscular kid threw a football at Roman, who caught it with his face.
Roman fixed his balance and looked up at the guys. Virgil turned around to watch, thinking about how he was going to take it.
Roman smiled. Virgil stared shockingly at him. "What?! Beat their asses!" He yelled.
"Yeah, come get us!" The guys laughed.
Roman winked at them. "Wouldn't you just love for me to do so?" He picked up the football. "If you want it back, you better come get it." He cooed.
"Bro, go get it!" The biggest guy pushed out one of the others.
"What? No! You go get it! It's your ball!"
Roman's smile dropped as he felt someone take the ball. He watched as Virgil chucked the ball at the tallest guy, hitting him square in the nose.
"You're pathetic." Virgil said. "Now hurry up." He kept walking, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Roman watched him walk. He smiled and ran up to him. "You did that for me, right? Right?!" He pointed to himself.
"Of course not, you bastard!" He slapped the back of his head. "I just hate those kind of guys." He walked at a little bit of a slower pace than Roman, who was practically bouncing up and down. "So you're gay?" He asked.
"What? No! Of course not! Those guys just like to pick on me. Making up random stuff." He laughed nervously.
"I'm not judging you. I have a gay aunt, so it's not like I'm homophobic." He shrugged. "But I'm not surprised either."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Roman complained. "Do I look gay?!"
Virgil glanced at him, then averting his eyes to the space in front of him. "Yes."
"Hey sweetie, how'd your day go?" Virgil's mom popped out from the kitchen, drying a plate.
Virgil let out a deep breath. Something he's been holding in since he met that kid. He threw his bag down and hugged his mom.
"I made a friend!" He let go and jumped around the room. "I didn't even do anything, he just came up and asked me! I-I'm so happy!" He fell onto the couch, his cat Winston coming to see what was up. "I've never had one before. It feels so good to have someone to talk to."
His mother smiled and went back into the kitchen, instantly frowning once she was out of sight. Did I do a good thing?
Virgil dashed upstairs with his bag and set it in front of his bed. He picked up Winston and held him. "I can't believe it." He sighed.
