Heat Waves

Copacetic

Chapter Twelve - 

"Please Bin, at least -" he pressed delete before the voicemail ended, his frown deepening. The car lurched over a pothole jostling him against the door, Chan laughing mumbling a cute oops aimed in his direction.

"I was kinda hoping we would arrive alive today."

"Come on," Chan chuckled, teeth flashing from behind red lips grinning widely. "My driving is not that bad."

"Define bad."

"Ouch." Chris joked pressing a hand against his chest as if he had been stabbed.

"Wait," Changbin made a comical face pointing to the passing scenery. "Aren't you over retirement age? Should you even be driving in the first place?"

"Yeah, yeah, try to do something nice for the kids, and this is how they repay me." Changbin smirked, leaning over to squeeze Chan's forearm playfully, the elder smiling at the gesture. 

Typically, they took public transportation to school, rarely utilizing Chan's car, but with Changbin's injury it quickly became clear how difficult navigating the morning commute would be. Chris had enthusiastically suggested carpooling for the next two weeks until the omega could begin weight bearing on his leg forgoing the crutches. Something he was already looking forward to, hating the limited mobility. 

Minho was unable to ride with them due to his early morning class with Professor Cheong, and Changbin still refused to see Hyunjin meaning it was just them. He didn't mind being alone with Chan, afterall, the other's demeanor was calming just as much as his scent was keeping the omega's panic to a minimum when he diligently tended to him through the night. He flushed at the memories, embarrassed that his best friend had to assist him from bathing to getting dressed already feeling like a chore. 

It would have been easier if it was Hyunjin, better even, but he still felt angry. He wasn't sure why he was harboring resentment against the beta. Despite leaving him to suffer in the cold rain, he had done nothing wrong, yet Changbin remained unchanged. In fact, a part of him even blamed Hyunjin for everything that had transpired with Felix. From the alpha helping him to the medical building, to the fight between them at the hospital. If he had come in the first place, if Hyunjin had set his petty grievances aside, then none of it would have happened, not even Changbin's ACL tear. He had been deep into his thoughts and hadn't noticed Chan park the car and exit until the alpha was opening the passenger door.

"Woah!" he cried out surprised, blinking up at his best friend in confusion.

"We survived!" Chan cheered laughing as he helped him stand gently placing the crutches beneath his arms. Changbin struggled for a few moments at the first few steps, the sticks slipping on the stones beneath his feet until he managed to get the hang of it.

"I hate these..." he mumbled Chris falling into step beside him carrying both their backpacks.

"Don't worry, two weeks will fly by." The omega shrugged side eyeing Chan, a new frown taking shape.

"I can carry my bag, hyung, I'm not completely useless."

"No worries! I like the extra weight." He made a show of hoisting the bags over his head and Changbin glanced around a half smirk of judgment on his face.

"Careful or you'll end up like me." Before Chan could respond, Bin's phone rang, vibrating fiercely in his back pocket. He made no move to answer assuming it was Hyunjin. Chris's gaze shifted between the omega's scowl and the pocket of his jeans, a sigh escaping his lips.

"Binnie-"

"Don't start. I don't want a lecture."

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but you were mad at him for ignoring you and now you're doing the same."