Chapter Text
Virgil stared at the cabin towering over him, mortified. This was a place for confident teens ready to make friends and let loose, not anxious 16 year olds who survived school during the day with oversized headphones and had panic attacks over conversations that happened 3 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.
His parents had good intentions when they said they'd signed him up for this as a surprise, and a surprise it was. He didnt want to be here and the string of events leading to this moment gave Virgil a headache just thinking about.
A month ago, Virgil was dragged by his best friend's brother to a party someone was throwing to close off school and introduce summer. Virgil got a little too much liquid courage and kissed some guy he couldn't remember the name of for the life of him. Someone who was taking pictures accidentally caught it in the background and all those pictures ended up on the internet, forcing Virgil to finally come out when his parents saw it. They were supportive, which caught Virgil very off guard as they always made backhanded comments about queer people, but he wasn't complaining. He thought that was it, they knew now, they'd leave it alone.
Oh, he was so wrong.
2 weeks ago, his parents handed him a pamphlet for this place which they said would "be good for him" as if the fact places like this weren't cringey summer daycares for teenagers didn't matter to them at all. Still, they'd already put everything together and were so excited he didn't have the heart to tell them that as much as he appreciated the sentiment he'd rather lose his virginity to a 60 year old woman with 3 unidentified STDs.
So now, here he was, clutching his schedule and cabin key like a lifeline and shaking like a leaf. He was allowed to keep his phone, charger and headphones, but nothing else. Not that he really used his other electronics, he had a drawing tablet but typically preferred doing traditional art anyway and the counselors were more than happy to show him the arts and crafts cabin before his own. They had sketchbooks and pencils in a box in the corner away from the supplies they'd use for actual activities which he was allowed to take but his current sketchbook was only 1/4 full and they apparently got restocked at the end of each week so it didn't matter, he could get one at a later date. They also quickly directed him to the cabin for meals, explaining an official tour would be given the next day so everyone could unpack. Made sense. So once being taken to his cabin and taking a solid 5 minutes to try convince himself this was a nightmare he finally pushed the door open, jaw dropping almost immediately.
"Jan?"
At the mention of his nickname Janus looked up from his book and blinked.
Once. Then twice.
Yep.
Virgil was in fact standing in his cabin doorway.
The two stared at each other, Virgil too surprised by Janus to notice the stranger awkwardly trying to unpack in silence as to not interrupt whatever staring contest his new roommates were having.
"You said you were going to debate camp every year, but you've been here?"
Janus put his hands up, "I went to debate camp the year I told you I did. After that I just said 'camp' and never specified debate."
"....Wait does that mean-"
Suddenly the bathroom door burst open and Virgil's second long time friend entered, a towel being the only thing covering his modesty as he loudly sang into a hairbrush, very off key.
"Remus!"
The "singing" stopped and Virgil was picked off the ground into a crushing hug. "Hey Emo! You staying with us this summer?"
As he wheezed out a yes Virgil finally picked up on the third presence in the room. This was a stranger. To him at least, he was reading one of Janus' books, which Janus only allowed close friends to do so they must've bonded over the summers.
"Ah, right. Virgil, meet Logan, we share a cabin every year and started talking during our second one, he's a completely nerd and likes space and whatnot and he's socially awkward too, so you'll both get along great!"
He smirked at how both faces went a touch pink.
"See! You're already bonding over your inability to respond to teasing!"
"Like you're any better, Jan! Bet if Rem came in here right now you'd be word vomiting like shit!"
Janus went crimson and flipped Remus off, this ordeal made Logan laugh quietly before poorly covering it up by clearing his throat and turning his gaze back to the book in his hands as Remus put Virgil back down.
"So what are you doing here anyway? Thought you didn't want your parents knowing till you're 18?"
Virgil folded his arms, "Well thanks to a party 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 dragged me to. They found out."
Remus grinned, "But you gotta admit, the party was fun! I mean did you see when-"
"Not the point!"
"Well, I mean, you're here, meaning they didn't kick you out. That'd a good thing, right?"
Silence.
"Yeah...Guess it is."
After another moment of no one saying anything Remus suddenly jumped up, "Hey! How about we give Virgil the secret tour tomorrow!?"
Janus rolled his eyes, despite his clear intrigue, "It's not exactly staying secret for long If you yell. Though, I do think he'd like the spots."
"...Secret tour?"
Remus nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! Jan and I have been finding all these cool places to hang out, and one day we gave Logan a tour of them all! Now we call it the secret tour!"
That did sound nice, Virgil didn't exactly want to spend his time squished into a group of sweaty teens trying to navigate their way around after inevitably losing sight of the counselor.
"Why not."
"Fuck yeah!"
Virgil smiled a bit, maybe summer camp would be only mildly horrible.
"Lights out!"
The head counselor startled everyone, screaming into a megaphone so no one had an excuse they didn't hear the curfew announcement.
"How many kids ya think getting off in the bathrooms right now?' Remus giggled, not phased by the way Janus threw a pillow at him. They'd gotten ready for bed and were now laying in their bunk beds staring at nothing in particular.
"That's something I'd rather not think about, thanks."
"Oh c'mon! Everyone does it! No big deal!"
"Good night, Remus."
Virgil smiled a little, summer definitely wasn't going to be so mind numbingly torturous with these weirdos- and their third roommate was quiet and was clearly used to the shenanigans so maybe Janus was right, they could get along.
Either way, he was here, might as well make the most of it.