Hollow | BxBxBxB

-16- Eventful Morning

The next morning went by quite quickly for Connor, he managed his breakfast with limited pain. He still struggled really badly with it but managed to complete the full portion. Afterwards he'd sat in the communal area with Riccardo and tried learning Italian, it hadn't gone well. Connor couldn't pronounce anything Italian and Riccardo continuously teased him for it.

He'd also managed to have a quick word with Alex about what had happened, Alex had apologised profusely saying how he didn't think before he spoke, Connor had completely understood not thinking anything else of it, as far as he was concerned it was in the past now. There was no point holding a grudge against Alex for it.

By the time he and Riccardo had finished reciting Italian phrases with not much success lunch had rolled around, it had snuck up fast on Connor. He felt anxiety filling his stomach as he followed Riccardo into the dining room, Alex and Liam were somehow already in there, maybe they'd help to set up or something?

Connor sat down in his normal place staring intently at the sandwich in front of him, it was a simple cheese sandwich, then some salad on the side. Doctor Mercury had explained to him before that once he was on full portions he'd have 4 sandwiches rather than 2, more salad, and a packet of crisps.

Sighing Connor picked up the first sandwich, his hand was shaking as he held it the soft bread cold against his fingers. Glancing around the table he could see the doctor was already tucking into his meal, Riccardo was just pouring himself a drink, Liam was also munching on a sandwich, and Alex was glancing around the room as well, though his pale green eyes looked wider than normal, Connor paid this no attention as he took the first bite of his sandwich.

It was tough to chew but Connor persevered eventually swallowing the load, sighing he stared down at the rest of sandwich tears beginning to fill his eyes, this was so many calories, and it would change to double this if he started finishing it.

"Stop! Help! Get it away!" Alex suddenly yelled from across the table his voice splitting through the comfortable silence that had enveloped the room. Connor shot his head up staring at Alex, the blonde was whipping his head around like a turret looking absolutely terrified.

Doctor Mercury immediately shot into action standing up and rushing to Alex's side. He gripped Alex's hand in his own just like he'd done with Connor to ground the blonde, Alex was still shooting his head around wildly, he was shaking in fear as whatever he was seeing danced around him.

"Get rid of them, tell them to stop!" Alex shouted again putting his head in the table and beginning to sob, unexpectedly Liam then took his other hand squeezing it gently.

Connor glanced at Riccardo unsure if he should be doing anything to help or not, Riccardo however didn't look to phased, he had stopped eating but was still just watching Alex pity evident in his sympathetic stare, but no sign of worry whatsoever.

"Is he okay?" Connor whispered as Alex continued to sob occasionally begging someone to go away and stop following him.

Riccardo turned to Connor a calm smile emerging onto his gorgeous features, Connor couldn't shake his crush on Riccardo at all, the boy was literally perfect. "He'll be okay, this happens sometimes" Riccardo explained quietly before his gaze shifted back to Alex.

"Alex, just take a deep breath, they aren't real, you know they aren't real" Doctor Mercury told him soothingly, he still had Alex's hand in his own, Liam was also still clutching Alex's other hand tracing circles on his palm softly. His gaze was stony focused on the issue at hand.

"I hate them!" Alex shot back through the tears. "Why won't they leave me alone? Am I that desirable?" He joked clearly trying to mask his fear with humour, from what Connor had observed this was his usual coping strategy.