Roman is not having a fun time.

School is normally not his favorite place to be. Scratch that, it is never his favorite place to be.

But the whole dampening cuffs made it worse. In contrary to what they were intended for, the inhibitors only increased the fights.

Just fights without any soulmate powers.

He was perfectly content with being part of his group of friends that released the information about what the school was allowing to happen to them.

His powers are a sore spot for him since it’s not pleasant to absorb people’s emotions, but they’ve always been there. It is his normal. For the government to want to talk away their powers and potentially soulmates, it is horrible. And to start with kids? How cruel can one be?

His soulmate, Jeremiah, is the sun of his life. He can’t imagine not having that intangible soulmate connection to him.

It’s like what Tharen says, there are these strings between them, keeping soulmates connected to one another.

What happens when you attempt to sever that string?

Roman doesn’t want to find out.

The entire school doesn’t either since a violent riot practically broke out when Lou posted the documents on her social media.

Someone shut down the power to the cuffs and he’ll was released at Lavender Cove High. He managed to avoid the fighting and find his friends.

Students became aggressive. Parents were outraged. No one is to come to school yet.

Except for Roman and his friends. And their parents.

How fun.

Principal Colan has figured out that they were all involved with…..acquiring the sensitive documents containing the cuffs’ true purpose. So now he has called them in for questioning or punishments. Roman isn’t sure which one yet.

He dreads the meeting. Not really because of the ramifications. He doesn’t regret it. People deserved to know.

Especially since the government didn’t know how it would affect him and his peers. They are children! And they were being used as guinea pigs!

What he does negatively anticipate is having both his parents in the same room. Since whenever that occurs, fighting ensues.

It’ll start cordial but spiral into jokes that aren’t jokes and bitterness that bleeds into each breath.

“What the hell were you thinking?” His dad demands.

“What your father means is to say is that why didn’t you come to us or an adult?” His mom amends, glaring at his dad.

Somehow they are soulmates. Roman could never really see it since for most of his life, they’ve been this way. His mom would tell him about the happiness they used to share. Now they are divorced and still fight all the time.

“I don’t need you changing my words. You do that enough with him.”

Roman hardly hears his father speak.

Disassociating is a skill he picked up on while young. It’s easier than listening to their arguments that usually revolve around him.

In the rare civil moments between his parents, he could let his mind go wild and imagine a life where Cal and Madge didn’t hate each other. That they were pleasant, happy individuals.

This is not one of those moments.

“Roman, are you even listening?” Madge asks.

“When you’re talking to me, let me know,” he says, his biting response making his parents wince.

Sometimes, they recognize their effect on him. In those moments, they at least appear guilty. Until it happens again.

“I just want to understand,” Cal tries again, this time much more calm. Roman appreciates the effort. Even if it’s just a little.

“We both do,” Madge adds.

Sighing, he does realize he owes them an explanation. She just wasn’t looking forward to giving it. His parents are….complicated. Neither of them see soulmates as this positive element in their lives. They would probably agree with soulmates being taken away. “We didn’t want this to be covered up somehow. If we told someone, the school could’ve been tipped off. They could try to discredit the information before it ever came out. Everyone deserves to know.”

“Did it have to be you?” Cal questions.

Roman shrugs. “Well we found the information, so yes.”

They reach the school’s lobby. At first he wonders why they are to meet in the lobby instead of Principal Colan’s office, but it is very obvious when he visualizes the amount of people for this gathering.

He sees that they are the last ones there. He feels himself gravitating towards Jeremiah and his mom.

Cross, Lou, Jones, Amelie, Liam and Zac are all present with their parents.

Ria and her father must have arrived just before Roman since they are just walking up to Jeremiah when Roman gets there.

After a second of surveying the room, both of Bell’s parents are there. With Tharen’s father there, it makes for an awkward experience. Roman can practically feel the uneasiness that Bell is feeling, and he isn’t even using his powers.

Weirdly enough, Cross isn’t next to Bell, he stays squarely with his parents. They are normally attached to the hip when they’re in close proximity. Roman can’t talk since he and Jeremiah are the same way. It’s like this magnetic draw.

“Why don’t we say hi to Bell,” Roman suggests, wanting to help his friend out. It isn’t that strange of a request since his parents have met hers before.

He doesn’t wait for their responses before going up to them. “Hi Bell. Hello Mr. And Mrs. Sweet.”

“Hi Roman,” Bell greets, a bit over zealously, shooting him a grateful smile.

Their parents make some polite small talk. Roman puts a hand on her shoulder, using his powers to take the edge of anxiety away. Bell is just beginning to relax when she tenses again, her body going rigid. Tharen and his dad approach their little makeshift group.

Bell’s mom also freezes when they come close, her eyes never leaving Arlo’s.

Roman decides to interrupt the tension. “Mom, Dad, this is Tharen and his dad, Arlo.“

“Cal,” his dad says, shaking Arlo’s hand. They all look to Roman’s mom, who doesn’t say anything.

His mom isn’t great in social situations. She tends to think that people look down on her for her failed soulmate marriage.

Once Roman nudges her, she finally speaks. “It’s nice to meet you. Madge,” his mom introduces herself.

“Well Cal, Madge, it’s wonderful to meet some of my son’s friends’ parents.”

Arlo isn’t how he imagined him to be. With how much of Bell’s stress revolves around him and her mom, Arlo kind of became this bigger than life person. Like to create such a big impact on her life, he had to be this crazy personality.

He’s just a normal guy.

“So why are you here? You weren’t part of this,” Roman questions, sidling up to Tharen. He gives a lazy shrug of his shoulders. “Well I helped with sharing to my Insta, so your principal thought I was in on it. I’m probably here to be thorough.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Bell whispers, joining the duo, her eyes not on them. They’re on Arlo….and Roman’s mom?

They are just speaking, which is normal since Wren doesn’t appear to want to interact with Arlo and Arlo doesn’t have a spouse there, but there’s something that is odd about it. They are standing closer together than two people who just met that should be slightly awkward around one another. They are speaking with such an ease.

An ease Roman has not seen ever with his mom and certainly not with his dad.

It actually has him dropping his jaw.

“Wow, my dad is full on flirting with your mom, bro,” Tharen says, pushing his shoulder in Roman’s. Roman barely acknowledges him through the shock of the current scene in front of them.

He always thought Madge had a physical repulsion to men. That Cal had jaded her from ever having a positive interaction with a guy.

Before he can dwell further in this confusing cave, Principal Colan finally makes an appearance.

“I’ve called you all here to discuss these children’s futures. Let’s begin.”

———

(I was going to post this yesterday but it was just one of those days. A rough day where it felt like nothing went right.)