Hey, hey everyone! This chapter contains a bit of anxiety, themes of deception and deceit and brief mentions of self destructive behaviors. Other than that all is well. Have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoy the chapter! As always; take care of yourselves and thank you for reading.

"I'm telling you it's the worst!" Virgil complained.

"Ah yes, completely. Totally the end of the world," Janus hummed leaning against his left hand as his right stirred at his milkshake.

"Jan, take this seriously. I'm not kidding, I don't know what to do," Virgil pouted, absently stroking Ember's silky ear for comfort.

Janus sighed and Virgil could hear him shifting in his seat across the table.

"Virgil, I don't think there is any reason to be any more panicked about realizing you have a crush on three individuals than you did when you only had a crush on two. It won't ruin your friendship with them any more than it would if you had a crush on just one of them," Janus replied.

"You think me having a crush on them is going to ruin our friendship? Who am I kidding? I knew it'd ruin our friendship," Virgil rambled.

"Yes. Their trust in you will be completely shattered," Janus paused to listen to Virgil's panicked whine before continuing a bit more seriously. "Honestly, do you have so little faith in these people you claim to have crushes on that you don't think they'd be willing to at least understand and accept the fact you have romantic sentiments towards them even if you do not necessarily wish to reciprocate those feelings? Do you think they would scorn or ostracize you just for emotions you couldn't help developing?"

Virgil paused, his breath catching in his throat as he comprehended the point Janus was trying to make.

"No… I don't think they would," Virgil replied slowly.

"Then what are you so afraid of?" Janus asked.

"I guess that it'd just change things or make them feel awkward. They are in a relationship as soulmates. Compared to that… I'm just a random outsider. I have no chance with them," Virgil chuckled wryly.

"Most certainly, a group of polyamorous individuals who clearly more than enjoy your company leaves absolutely no possibility of ever considering adding someone else to the relationship, even just as a temporary experimental thing," Janus frowned before sipping at his milkshake unamusedly.

"Mnn, but here's the thing we don't know that for sure. And we can't exactly ask them now can we?" Virgil pouted.

"Why not?"

"Because then they'd know I was interested!" Virgil reasoned.

"Roman and Remus are twins, have Remus ask. He likes prying for random bits of information," Janus replied exasperatedly.

"You know if you're gonna be so judgy you don't need to hang out with me," Virgil frowned.

"But I'm not wrong," Janus pointed out.

"I guess not… But still it's so unfair! Why does Princey have to be so extra?" Virgil complained.

"What even happened that made you so wooed by him?" Janus asked.

"It was such a nice restaurant Jan! And the menu he typed out for me and the special reserved table. And, by gods, the carriage ride. It was straight out of a movie. But also… he just… it wasn't just the events. He was so just understanding and accepting. He went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable and it just made me realize he truly did care about me…" Virgil mumbled embarrassedly.

"So he took you on an unprompted carriage ride, and it wasn't a date?" Janus inquired skeptically.

"He said it was just a peace offering and a means of getting to know me better," Virgil replied.

"When normal people want to get to know someone better they usually, I don't know, go out for milkshakes," Janus started, nudging his own milkshake to emphasize his point. "Not casually renting a carriage ride that I don't even know where he would have gotten it from around here."

"Maybe he just wanted to show off," Virgil reasoned.

"And why would he want to do that to someone he just wanted to be friends with?"

"Maybe he determines his value based on his money and thinks it is all he has to offer."

"Have you met the guy? He literally has enough ego and confidence he could be the most broke down and homely man around and still be adored by half the campus," Janus countered.

"There is such a thing as fake confidence," Virgil pointed out before smirking. "I would know it's the only kind of confidence I have."

"He obviously has his issues but I don't think it's all fake."

"Are you sure though?"

"Just drink your milkshake," Janus chuckled.

Virgil let out his own snort as he carefully groped around the table where he knew he'd set his salted caramel milkshake. He found it and took a long sip as he slumped back against the fabric covered bench.

"They are totally not lucky guys," Janus mumbled, his glass clinking against the table as he set it down.

"Hmm?" Virgil hummed confusedly around the straw in his mouth.

"You aren't obvious at all about your feelings. After all, it's not like we have been friends since elementary school and haven't seen each other in years and yet the only thing on your mind is those boys," Janus observed.

"Oh god, Janus, I'm sorry-"

"Not offended. I find it to be quite entertaining. You've become quite the interesting case study for me to observe," Janus practically purred in amusement.

"Sneaky snake," Virgil pouted.

"Oh how is me informing you that you are an 'interesting scenario to study' make me sneaky? I'm not hiding anything," Janus mused with a slight raise of his brow.

Virgil pursed his lips as he lowered his head.

"Hiding things… That's right… Do you know what Remy is hiding?"

He could hear Janus tensing and shifting across the table.

"What Remy's hiding?" Janus repeated thoughtfully.

"Mhm, he said he knew something he specifically couldn't tell me. Do you know what it is? It's killing me knowing there is something but that I can't know," Virgil pouted.

Virgil could hear the soft chuckle emanating from Janus's throat.

"Ah, yes, classic Remy," Janus let out a breathy sigh. "I can't give you the answers you're looking for but I can tell you one thing about Remy. He's terrible at lying. He can fabricate and weave falsehood like an expert, but he's too guilty and uncomfortable to bear the burden alone. It's inevitable, the same outcome always happens every time he lies. He tells too many people and they aren't the right people to tell so they end up getting more people involved and eventually it's one giant mess he pretends to have a hold on when it's really so far out of his control until the curtain finally comes to close, the facade is forced to and one little flaw in the glass bursts through and releases the ocean of truth. No matter how big or small the lie, he always handles it the same way and he is the definition of a fool in the way he always expects the outcome to change. Sooner or later the answers you seek are gonna rear their ugly head, whether you truly want them too or not. If he's already told you there is something going on, he's already begun losing control and he's getting nervous."

Virgil gripped tightly at the cold glass cup in his hand, tensing uncomfortable as he listened to the unfamiliar growing coldness growing in Janus's as he spoke about his own soulmate. He could feel Ember nuzzling him, sensing his unease as well.

"That's, um… some interesting imagery you used… You really know Remy well, huh?" Virgil chuckled awkwardly trying to shrug off whatever strange emotion Janus was expressing.

"I'm a quick study on people's character when lying. Remy's is a… frustrating case. He's good at keeping a secret or maintaining a lie but only for a set time frame, you can watch each stage run like clockwork, counting down to the very second repercussions hit. I love him, I truly do, but I hate that side of him. The one that knows he can't handle lies and secrets and yet he doesn't come to me first even though he knows I can help him. If I didn't know him better, I'd assume he only lies with the intention that it will eventually fail. He takes too many risks that he is too open about for that not to seem like the case. It's like he doesn't care that people are going to get hurt by him and or hating him. Perhaps it's the intention," Janus stood up from his seat and stepped away from the table. "Finish your milkshake. It's about time I got you back to that idiot."

Virgil blinked back in his general direction, a bit startled by the sudden topic change. He shook it off, not wanting to upset his friend and began chugging what remained of his milkshake, giving himself a brain freeze in the process. He winced and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he grabbed onto Ember's leash and slipped out of the booth.

"H-how long do you think it'll be until I find out?" Virgil asked nervously as he followed him out.

"You still want to know?"

"... Is it bad if I say I do?"

"... No… And if we're being honest? He won't last until midterms."

"That's sooner than I expected… You really think I'll know what he's hiding within two weeks time?" Virgil questioned.

"I know Remy and I know the network of people he speaks to and they speak to. Almost none of them are good at keeping their mouths shut," Janus replied bluntly, leading Virgil back to his car.

"I see," Virgil mumbled.

Somehow, despite the fact he so desperately wanted to know the truth of what Remy was hiding from him that had Remy so distraught, he also felt nervous. Remy said it wasn't his place to tell him. That meant it was something serious. Serious secrets weren't usually good. If it involved Roman, Logan, and Patton like it seemed to, he might be in for a world of hurt soon. He really wished Remy would just rip the bandaid off and tell him. It was far more painful to sit and wait for something bad to happen.

He let Ember hop up into the back bench of Janus's car before situating himself into the passenger seat. He kept his head down as Janus started the car and began pulling out, ready to drive Virgil back to his dorms.

"I didn't say any of that to upset or scare you," Janus explained sympathetically.

"I know. I'm just anxious. I really don't know what to think of any of this," Virgil frowned.

"Then don't think about it. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," Janus hummed.

"Do you… do you know what he's lying about?" Virgil asked hesitantly.

"I can't say I do," Janus replied curtly.

"But you can't say you don't either, can you?" Virgil added, picking up on Janus's ambiguous word choice.

"I respect Remy, no matter how I feel about the situation," Janus replied.

"I guess I can understand that. It's like Remy said when he told me. Some secrets are yours to share. Although that makes this at least a triple layer secret and that's complicated as all hell," Virgil complained.

Janus genuinely chuckled, his tone lifting back into a happier mood.

"Complicated is certainly one way to explain it," he replied.

Virgil relaxed back into his seat, still unsatisfied but at least glad the tense atmosphere was gone so he wouldn't be fretting during the entire short ride home.

Soon enough he was back at his dorms and unstrapping himself from his seat.

"Are you sure you'll be alright getting in by yourself, you don't want company?" Janus checked. "You know I trust you, but I also don't want you to have to fret at all."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I've pretty much memorized this place and Ember definitely knows the way. I'll be alright. Thanks for the milkshakes," Virgil smiled as he took hold of Ember's leash.

"Then, until we meet again Virgil," Janus nodded.

Virgil backed away from the car heading into the familiar building he currently called home. He counted each pace as he went nodding a quick and anxious greeting to the people behind the lobby desk who'd come to recognize him and tried to welcome him back as he passed. He took a breath of relief as he entered the quiet back hall heading back towards his room. His social meter was not full enough to deal with strangers.

"I'm seriously begging here. You've got to tell him."

Virgil paused for a moment as he went to open his door, hearing Remy angrily arguing with someone inside.

"If you know the situation then why aren't you doing something? I'm at my wits end here," Remy continued.

Virgil shouldn't be listening to this. He purposely fumbled with the handle more than he needed to, giving Remy a warning he was going to enter and that his conversation would no longer be private.

"Shoot Virgie is back. We'll talk more about this later, okay?" Remy growled annoyedly before hanging up on whoever he'd been calling as Virgil walked into the room. "Hey Vivi! How was hanging out with our little Jan?"

"It was pretty alright. Are you okay though? I didn't hear much but you know… The walls are thin so… I know you were arguing with someone," Virgil mumbled embarrassedly.

"Oh that? Well, it's nothing really. Remus is just asking me to keep a secret. Yeah, he kinda broke Janus's favorite mug and told me about it and told me to not tell Janus. But Janus always catches us in lies, you know? So, shhh, we don't need to bring it to Jan's ears alright?" Remy chuckled.

"Janus really was right," Virgil mused

"What?" Remy questioned with obvious concern.

"You tend to tell a bunch of uninvolved people when you have secrets," Virgil replied matter of factly as he walked across the room and released Ember from her uniform.

"That I do," Remy admitted with a cheeky grin.

Remy's smile slowly slipped away as he looked from his friend down to his phone where Virgil's mother's contact information was still glowing on the screen having popped up after he abruptly hung up on her.

"I have a bad habit of get people involved that shouldn't be."