The Carver Café [Edward/Jacob]

21

Jacob's barely awake the next day. It's like his body is fighting and losing its battle with sleep every time he opens his eyes. He'd almost tipped over into a plate of spaghetti that Leah slid in front of him for lunch. He's trying his best to be involved with his team, but all interest in being productive is replaced with the need to crawl into bed next, on top of, underneath Edward. He just wanted to be near him and unconscious. If he wasn't there, Jacob woke up every hour, looking around as if he hadn't checked the hour prior. 

When he had to step out, Quil would crawl into bed next to him with some faint apology about the amount of room that he's taking up now. Jacob gives him a look that tells him to shut the fuck up before wrapping himself around a pillow and closing his eyes. 

At around six o' clock on a Thursday, he can feel Quil's eyes boring into him. As soon as he's conscious, he can feel his eyes following him closely. He's not sure what's so interesting. Maybe he'd said something in his sleep. Either way, every move he makes is being monitored.  

He groans, signalling that he's about to join the living and slowly opens his eyes to see that Quil is still watching him, clearly not shying away from whatever he's studying.

"Have you just been sleeping this entire time?" Jacob freezes in his stretching, slowly lowering his arms and trying not to feel anxious about the question. Why did it matter? He's gone through these spells before where he's just really tired because he hadn't listened to his body. 

"I did some work earlier." He says meekly, trying not to seem as flustered as he was. He's been tired; he can't help it. It felt like all of energy has been zapped out of him. He's been eating regularly because Leah's been making him breakfast, lunch, and dinner and he crashes at 9:00 PM. The only thing that he wakes up for is bathroom breaks or the occasional stomach ache that left him clutching the toilet as he dry heaves.

"That's all?" He asked in a way that seems wary, eyebrows drawn up into his hairline. 

That's all? It'd taken him hours just to feel like sitting up. It was all he could handle for the time being. Plus, his team really did have this case under lock and key once they knew who they should be looking for. They didn't really need him right now.

"I ate breakfast and lunch." He mutters into his pillow, wanting to hide away from his cousin's scrutinizing gaze. 

"What about when Edward's home?" He's setting up for something. Some task that Jacob had missed that must've been sitting directly in his face. What could it be? Did Edward complain about his sleeping? Was there something they were supposed to be doing together?

"I've been tired." Jacob admits and watches as his cousin blinks a few times as if it's a really complicated concept to understand. He was just drained. 

"Okay." It wasn't a reassuring response. Despite his cousin backing down, he's looking at Jacob like he's seeing something in him for the first time.

Jacob's too tired to push the issue, pulling the pillow closer before clamping his eyes shut.

Mike makes an appearance. He vaguely remembers Mike entering his room. He's currently planted in his usual seat and he's animatedly discussing something with Quil. 

"Yeah, maybe they can have a play date." He says, mouth stretching into a grin that he seems to not be able to contain. 

"That'd be cute." Quil answers as he audibly flips through some magazine.

"So, is he alright or?" Mike mutters, Jacob assumes, gesturing in his general direction.

"Yeah, just fatigue." Quil responds casually.