Shattered

3

The boys downstairs ran upstairs. Everyone looked at Benji, he was sobbing uncontrollably and shaking,

"What did you do?" Jake asked Rin, "

Don't look at me! I don't know!" Rin said defensively. Jake and Tyson looked at him angrily,

"Panic attack maybe?" Someone suggested,

"Benji, what's wrong?" Jake crouched next to Benji and put his hand on Benji's shoulder. Benji jumped and sobbed even more,

"What are we supposed to do?" Cal asked,

"We should probably remove Rin from this." Tyson walked Rin away from the scene,

"So he doesn't do well with touch." Jake thought out loud, "Yeah, so what?" Max asked,

"If nobody is going to do something then I'll do something." Cal walked over and bent down, he lightly tapped Benji's shoulder twice,

"Can you do that back?" Cal asked,

Cal grabbed Benji's hand and put it on his own knee, shakily Benji tapped Cal on his knee,

"Good." Cal said, "Can you do it again?", Cal taped him twice and Benji returned the tap. A few more times doing it back and forth. Benji's breathing calmed down and he started to stop shaking, "You ok?" Cal whispered. Without knowing who it was Benji snuggled up to Cal, he liked the warmth and he felt safe, he gripped Cal's Jakeet tightly. Benji blinked his eyes. Cal was blushing, Benji sat up and rubbed his eyes. Everyone was staring at him concerned.

"What are you looking at?" Benji asked, "Do you really not remember?" Tyson asked concerned Benji looked at Tyson and then at Cal, he quickly let go of him and stood up. "What are you doing?" Jake asked, Benji ran down the stairs and went to the bathroom.

Everyone looked confused, "What just happened?" Ria asked, "Great question." Max said. "Let's just finish practice." Jake said.

"I'll go check on Benji." Cal said,

"Ok, take Ty with you, just in case." Jake said,

Jake pushed Tyson towards Cal, "Huh? What do you want?" Tyson questioned,

"Go check on Benji with Cal."

"Wait, why me?" Tyson asked, but before he could get an answer Cal dragged him away. They crept in the bathroom and saw something weird, Benji black, soft hair laying out of a stall. "What the...." Tyson started to say but he trailed off, Cal and Tyson rushed over.

[Benji's POV]

Crap. They saw me freak out, what will they think?! I need to throw up, I feel fat. I rushed in, locked the door, and kneeled down at the toilet. Do I want to do this? I shoved two fingers down my throat, gaged, I pushed in deeper and proceeded to puke in the toilet. I wiped my mouth with my hand and struggled to stand up. The world was spinning, I tried to grab the nearest thing to me. The wall, I missed and fell to the ground. Crap. I'm so worthless. Oh no. Darkness consumed me. I heard muffled noises, I couldn't make out any real noises or voices. I shut my eyes and then silence was added to the darkness. Completely alone. Cold but hot. Happy but scared.

[End POV]

Cal kneeled next to Benji, Tyson kneeled on the other side of Benji. He pushed away Benji's hair out of his face. Tyson felt his head to see if had a fever,

"Oh my god! He is burning up!"

"Look, he's shivering!" Cal quickly took off his jacket and gently lifted Benji up and put it over him. "I'll go get help." Tyson ran out of the bathroom. It was complete silence in the bathroom, then Cal looked down at Benji. He realized that Benji was heavily breathing, Cal gently put his hand on Benji's chest. Benji was struggling to breath. "Oh crap." Cal whispered to himself, he gently lifted up Benji and held him close. Benji silently whimpered at him touching him, after a few seconds Benji relaxed but was still struggling to breath.

Tyson came back with Jake and Couch Jay, they kneeled down next to the two boys.

"He has a fever." Tyson said, feeling Benji's head again,

"He's also struggling to breath." Cal added,

"I see." Coach Jay mumbled, "We should bring him to the nurse."

The four of them walked out, Cal caring Benji bridle style. They walked out of the gym as quietly as they could so no one saw them. They rushed inside the school to the nurses office. Cal gently laid Benji down on a bed. Benji was starting to wake up but still groggy because of the fever,

"I'll call his mom, to pick him up."

"Ok, boys you can go back to practice, I'll stay here until she gets here."

"Ok, everyone come one." Jake walked out and the others followed. When they got back to the gym Cal realized he left his jacket with Benji, he shrugged it off and thought he probably asked for it the next time they talked.