Hatchetfield.

Anemone

Paul groaned as the shrill sound of his alarm clock reached his ears. He had already pushed snooze once, and if he stayed in bed any longer he would be late to work.

He slowly sat up, his head was throbbing and his eyes protested against the light coming in from the windows. He really should stay home, but Mr. Davidson was expecting him to be at work today, and he still needed to work on his reports.

When Paul stood up, the world started spinning slightly, so he made his way into his bathroom and then swallowed some Dramamine. A nice hot shower will help, Paul told himself as he waited for the water to heat up. A shower and some coffee then I'll be good to go.

A nice shower was not the cure to whatever Paul had, but he already made up his mind, he was going into work.

Paul checked his watch, there wasn't any time to stop by Beanies, the office coffee would have to do.

By the time Paul finished his 6 minute walk from his apartment to the office all he really wanted was a glass of water and an Advil.

He pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside the lobby, showing his badge to the security guard, then he waited for the elevator.

If Paul was being honest, he didn't like the elevator music, it was a weird mix of jazz and hip hop, Mr. Davidson wanted it to be appealing to everyone, but it really just made the whole experience worse, when you're crammed into a metal box with too many people it just makes everything uncomfortable, really they should really just pick one-

"Hey Paul? You've been staring at your coffee for a while."

Paul looked up, "Huh? Oh, sorry Bill, I'm just tired, that's all." He took a sip of his coffee and grimaced, Beanies may have shitty coffee, but office coffee is down right disgusting.

Ted approached the two of them, holding an open yogurt container very clearly labeled 'Melissa'. "Let me guess, late night? Did you and Erica-"

"Shut up Ted! Also her name is Emma."

"Oh be quiet Ted, we all know you probably went home with some girl who's poor husband was waiting for her at home," Melisa piped up from across the room. "Is that my yogurt?"

"Oh, don't worry, her husband wasn't home."

"Moving on! Paul, Alice is in her school's production of Into The Woods, she's playing the bakers wife and it would really mean a lot to her if you could come to support her." Bill pulled out his phone, "it opens Friday, but I'm going Saturday to avoid her mother, do you think you could make it?"

Paul sighed, he was too tired to argue, "I'll think about it."

"Are you okay, Paul?" Melissa asked. "You don't look so good."

"Charlotte called in sick, there might be something going around the office," Bill said.

"Guys, I'm fine," Paul insisted. "Really, I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night." That was because he felt like shit last night, but they didn't need to know that.

As the day went on, it became more and more clear that Paul was not fine, but if anyone tried to bring it up to him he would just change the subject or ignore them and try to get his work done. It was when Paul almost fell asleep at his desk that Bill drew the line.

"Paul, go home! You can work on your reports there after you've taken some medicine and gotten some sleep, but you really shouldn't be here."

"Bill's right, we were considering putting some Nightquil in your coffee and leaving you in the janitors closet until it was time to go home," Melissa told him.

"I know how to tie a really good knot," Ted said. "You wouldn't be able to get out."

"Ted that's too much information, but we appreciate the sentiment. Mr. Davidson will understand, and you won't be able to get your work done tomorrow if you don't take care of yourself today," Melissa pointed out.

Paul began to protest, but his friends weren't going to put up with his bs anymore.

"I also already told Mr. Davidson that you were going home," Bill said sheepishly.

"Fine, I'll go, but only because I won't be able to get any work done here."

They smiled, knowing that they had won... until Paul coughed on Bill as he was walking out.