"Truth or dare?"

Virgil looked up in surprise at the unfamiliar voice.

All he saw was an unfamiliar face.

This wasn't exactly surprising, seeing as he only knew two people at the sleepover: Logan, his smart friend, and Patton, his friendly friend.

It was Patton's birthday, and when he invited Virgil, Virgil happily accepted. What he didn't expect was the entire class (well, only the boys. Patton had tried to get the girls, but his parents told him to wait a few years) to be there. It made sense, seeing as Patton was friends with everyone.

When Virgil got there, he hid in the corner, only emerging for snacks, presents, and cake.

It was almost bedtime. He'd changed into his pajamas, and had his sleeping bag rolled out, still in his corner.

He was trying so hard to be happy for his best friend, but Patton was so busy that he barely had any time to talk to Virgil.

Virgil was all alone. He'd been forgotten, and he'd curled in on himself to hide the tears and loneliness.

Now though, there was a strange boy there, one Virgil had only seen a few times in his second grade class.

All he remembered was that this kid was rather loud.

He wanted to hide deeper in his sleeping bag, away from whatever this kid was going to do. It wasn't that he hated the kid, but...

Virgil knew from experience, that whatever this kid wanted from him wouldn't be good, even if it was just talking.

The kid smiled. His warm brown eyes eased Virgil's fear just a bit.

They were so... pretty. Someone with those eyes couldn't be mean.

Virgil tried to match the smile on the boy's face, but he simply wasn't happy.

The kid tried again, a bit impatient.

"Truth or dare?"

In reality, Virgil didn't want to answer either. The dares could get him in trouble, and he didn't want any embarrassing questions.

"Um... truth?"

The kid smiled.

"Are you happy?"

Virgil didn't want to lie. His teacher, Mr. Thomas (Patton tried to invite him as well, but again, his parents said no) said that lying was wrong, and he shouldn't do it.

Instead, he just shook his head.

"Aww, why are you not happy?"

Virgil couldn't find the words. Instead, he just pointed at Patton, who was chatting with a few other boys. He then pointed at himself, and looked down, trying to keep the tears from falling.

The kid moved, but Virgil couldn't see what he did.

"Can I... can I hug you?"

Virgil was really surprised. He wanted to say no, but he really did need a hug.

Warm arms wrapped around him at his nod, and Virgil let himself hug the boy back.

"I'm Roman. What's your name?"

Virgil swallowed, trying to clear the hoarseness out of his voice.

"I'm Virgil."

"Well, it's your turn! You get to ask me truth or dare!"

Virgil felt a smile form.

"Truth or dare?"

That was the day it all started. They became quick friends, and were inseparable.

Once, many years later, they had another sleepover.

They played Truth or Dare as a group, and Virgil actually was happy.

Virgil realized he actually liked Roman. He was too scared to admit it, though.

In high school, they had another sleepover, just Roman and Virgil.

"Truth or dare?"

Virgil grinned up at his friend from his sleeping bag.

"Dare."

He'd got more courageous after Roman had promised to only do dares that he himself would do.

Roman seemed almost... disappointed, but quickly smiled.

"I dare you to... smile!"

Virgil almost inadvertently smiled. It was adorable.

"Truth or dare?"

Roman thought for a second, and then smiled.

"Truth!"

He seemed almost expectant, which made Virgil a little scared. He asked the question he always wanted to ask, the one that never left his mind.

"Do you have a crush on anyone?"

Roman froze and turned red.

"Um..."

Virgil beamed, but it was only half-hearted. He knew Roman didn't like him.

The smile just turned sad. Roman would never like him.

Roman looked up, saw Virgil's face, and almost cried.

"Yes. I do like someone. Truth or dare?"

Virgil tried to fore the words out of his tightened throat, barely keeping the tears down.

"Truth."

Roman smiled, but was worried.

"Do you like someone?"

Virgil turned red, as tears forced their way up.

"I suppose it doesn't matter either way."

Roman wanted to... well, he wasn't sure quite what he wanted to do.

"Truth or dare?"

Roman picked truth.

"Do you... Do you... Do you like a girl?"

Roman actually gagged. He wasn't sure how Virgil would react, but that was a hard no.

"Definitely not."

Virgil almost smiled over his pain.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to... smile!"

Virgil tried, he really did. It was just too hard. He just shook his head as the tears spilled over.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Virgil figured it was all or nothing. If Roman was going to break his heart, it might as well be now.

"Who do you like?"

Roman turned fire-engine red.

"Um..."

Virgil hung his head again, giving up hope.

"Well, the boy I like... he's amazing. He has the brightest smile, and the prettiest eyes. He doesn't sing often, but when he does, it's the best sound in all the lands! He wears dark colors, he refuses to sit on chairs, and his sense of humor is dazzling. He's pale, his favorite color is purple, and he means everything to me. He's... you, Virge."

Virgil looked up, shocked.

Roman was red, staring at the ground.

Virgil smiled slowly, still in shock.

Roman liked... him?

Roman looked up, and turned somehow more red at Virgil's face.

"I know you don't like me, but-"

"You gotta say truth or dare, Roman. It's your turn!"

Roman blinked at him.

"Uh... truth or dare?"

Virgil smiled. "Truth."

"Do you... like me back?"

"Yes. Truth or dare?"

Roman had to take a second to process it.

"Dare."

"I dare you to kiss me."

Roman accepted the dare.

The years passed. They stayed together, through everything.

They were doing fine for most of it, but Virgil's anxiety kept getting worse, and he often wouldn't talk to Roman for fear of hurting him.

Every day, Roman would text him.

"Truth or dare?"

Virgil smiled at the familiar message.

He knew what Roman would say, what Roman always said.

He picked 'Dare'.

"I dare you to smile."

Every day.

When Virgil picked Truth, it was 'Are you happy?'

It never mattered what state Virgil was in, that message always brightened his day.

When he said he wasn't happy, Roman would send him love.

When he said he was happy, Roman would send him love.

Every day.

The years passed.

They grew, got married, had kids.

Those kids had kids.

Virgil stopped answering the texts, but as the days dragged on, Roman always texted him that same 'Truth or dare'.

Virgil never answered again.

Roman still asked, every day.

One day, Roman could no longer type.

On their gravestones, the words said "I dare you to smile."