This chapter is a bit happier than some of the other's don't worry

Patton's POV:

Lia collapsed onto the bench, looking utterly defeated. She placed a hand over her eyes and leaned back, panting for air. I put my hand on her shoulder, giving her a small smile, and she nodded at me. 

Remy turned his gaze to Roman, who was frozen in place. "You... is that what you wanted to tell me?" my brother asked, his eyes sharp. 

Roman hesitated, opening and closing his mouth. 

Hissing softly, Remy hit the bench. "Lovely," he growled. "Amazing. Now we have bribery to deal with, on top of everything else."

"I didn't mean to break it to you like that," Roman explained softly. "I wanted to tell you in the morning, but I never got a chance. I'm so sorry."

Remy waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, I'm not angry at you. It's that bitch I want to kill right now. How. Dare. He."

Logan adjusted his glasses, leaning on the back of the bench. "Actually, a bitch refers to a female dog, so you might be better off using the slur 'son of a bi--"

I yelped loudly, waving my hands. "No swearing! No swearing!"

Virgil tugged on a strand of hair. "Hate to tell ya, Pat, but I'm afraid that the situation kind of warrants that sort of talk."

Lia suddenly sat back up, startling me. "Okay. Here's what we'll do." She clapped her hands together, looking determined. "We can talk about this over dinner. People are always smarter over a plate of food."

"I know I am," I laughed softly. "And... I'm kind of hungry, too."

Logan gave me a gentle smile, then looked at Lia. "It's agreed, then. We can meet at the restaurant 'Honeycomb' at..." He checked his watch. "Three hours, how about."

She nodded. "That sounds lovely. I'll have to ask my girlfriend to come, is that alright? She's really smart." A smile spread across her face. "I'm sure she can help us."

Roman tilted his head. "You have a girlfriend? That's cool."

Lia glanced up at him from her spot on the bench. "Yes, in fact. Do any of you?" She brought a piece of pink bubblegum out of her purse and popped it in her mouth. 

Roman snorted. "Yeah, no. I'd rather chew on a dead skunk than kiss a girl." He pressed his hand into Virgil's and squeezed it softly. "That's why I'm kissing him instead."

Trying not to blush, Virgil hid his face and smacked Roman's hand away. "Stop it, you overly romantic idiot."

I shook my head, grinning at their antics. "No, I've never even dated a girl. I don't want to, either," I admitted, fiddling with my hands. 

"I'm on a diet," Remy announced with a smirk. "I can only date adorable men for the rest of my life. Prescription stuff."

Lia looked at Roman, Logan, and Emile, all who shook their heads. 

Emile laughed. "We're a very gay group," he explained, trying not to giggle. "I had a girlfriend back in high school, but it didn't work out for very long." 

Lia raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Oh? Well. That's interesting."

"Tell me more," Virgil purred, his eyes flicking to Remy, who looked ready to smack the painter. 

Emile smiled nervously. "It was a long, long time ago. I don't remember much. Why'd you want to know anyway?" He scratched his neck, looking embarrassed. "It's... whatever."

Virgil sighed discontentedly. "Well, the tree hath born no fruit," he muttered, disappointed. "Oh well."

I laughed, patting him on the back. "Aw, it's okay," I teased. "You can try again sometime else."

Seemingly confused, Emile looked around at both of us. "Try what? What are you guys talking about?"

Roman hurriedly dropped a handful of leaves in Virgil's hair. 

When Virgil turned around, looking murderous, Roman giggled nervously. "A distraction?" he offered, quailing under his boyfriend's violent stare. "I'm sorry!"

Lia sighed, smiling at the two. Looking down at her watch, she yelped. "Oh my god, look at the time! Thank you all for showing up. We can continue this in a bit, okay?" She scuffed her shoe against the pavement, standing up and brushing off her legs. "I have to go."

"Where are you going?" Roman asked. He brushed a lock of amber-red hair back from his face and smiled. 

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just going back home to file some paperwork. Oh, and she should be here around now..." Lia looked up, just in time to see a small, olive-green car pull up on the curb. She smiled. "There she is."

Standing up, she waved her hand at the truck. "Rainbow! Dear, I'm over here."

A woman stuck her head out of the window and grinned. "Coming!"

She had long, amber-blonde hair with turquoise and gold highlights. Her eyes were wide and friendly, a light shade of pearl blue that sparkled in the evening sun and matched her midnight indigo eyeshadow perfectly. 

Wait...

Isn't that...

"Dr. Marsh!" Remy yelped, standing up. "Is that you?"

She gasped, opening the door and rushing over. "Oh, it's you! How are you doing, does everything feel fine? Is your injury healed well?" She patted him all over, making him laugh. 

He scratched his head. "I'm fine. How are you doing?"

She smiled."I'm doing wonderfully," she cooed kindly, ruffling his hair. 

Rainbow then turned back to her girlfriend and flung herself into her arms. "It feels like it's been forever!" she laughed, kissing Lia on the cheek. "How have you been?"

Lia sighed, giving Rainbow a quick kiss on her nose. "Tired. It's been a whole lot."

Emile scrunched up his face in confusion. "Remy... who is this?" He nodded at Dr. Marsh, who untangled herself from Lia and held out her hand for Emile. 

"Rainbow Marsh, Remy's doctor at the hospital. We're friends," she explained happily. "And you are? I think we've met, but I can't quite remember...?" 

I grinned. "Hi! Nice to see you again! If you can't remember, I'm Remy's brother. That's Emile, our friend!" I waved him over and he walked slowly toward Dr. Marsh, shaking her hand. 

She smiled. "And who's everyone else?" she asked sweetly. 

I gestured toward Logan, slipping my hand in his and leaning against him "That's Logan--"

"Patton's boyfriend," Roman interjected. 

Blushing bright red, I smacked him, then turned back to Rainbow with an embarrassed smile. "I mean... I guess..." I looked up at Logan, who only offered me a shrug. 

"Are we not?" he asked, smiling softly. 

I melted. 

Sighing, I nodded. "I suppose we're dating..." I admitted, laughing. "Anyway..."

Rainbow turned with sparkling eyes to Lia, who whistled. "Did I just see them get together?" she whispered happily. "That was beautiful!"

Still blushing, I looked at the ground. "I can hear you, you know."

She straightened her back. "Oh! Sorry. And you're..." She glanced at Virgil and Roman, who were in the middle of a mock fight and tossing leaves at each other. 

Roman threw a handful of bright green leaves at Virgil and paused to wave at Rainbow. "We're their friends, too," he called before getting a faceful of pine needles. 

He sputtered for several seconds before grabbing several dark forest green leaves and shoving it into Virgil's hair. "Oh, babe, don't you even dare."

Stepping forward again, Emile smiled hesitantly. "Hello. Last time we met things weren't good. Um..." He cleared his throat, grinning awkwardly. "They haven't exactly... improved."

Dr. Marsh patted his hand gently. "They'll get better. We're all working on it. Lia darling here stayed up past midnight working on a list of questions for the witnesses, didn't you?"

Lia cleared her throat. "...yes."

"I hate to break up the party, guys," Virgil muttered, still glaring daggers at Roman, "but my boyfriend here needs a reminder why we do not pour a truckload of leaves into someone's hair."

Roman let out a terrified yelp of panic and promptly began to run away from the scene. Virgil grabbed a large, grey-brown stick and chased after him.  

Remy laughed, and I began to follow suit, flopping backward onto the bench and stretching my arms out. 

Maybe things were looking up. 

(They really aren't Patton's wrong)