A New World

ANW CHAPTER 18 "Do you need a hug now?"

ANW CHAPTER 18 "Do you need a hug now?"

It's morning. Levi wakes up. He slowly opens his eyes. Levi is laying on his side, he looks behind him to see if Adrian is awake. Adrian is asleep. Levi gets out of bed. He puts on his winter coat and gets out of the building. It's really cold outside. It has been freezing last night. Levi sits down. He makes himself small and rubs his hands against each other. Then he takes a cigarette package out of his jacket. He lights a cigarette and puts it against his lips. He blows some smoke out. He sits there for a while until Jason comes out of the building. Jason yawns and widely stretches his arms. Jason notices Levi sitting. He looks confused.
Jason: Why are you already awake?
Levi: I wake up early.
Levi puts the cigarette against his lips again.
Jason: You smoke?
Levi: Yeah...
Jason smiles and sits down next to him.
Jason: Can I borrow one?
Levi hands him one and then a lighter. Jason lights it. His hands are shaking, but Jason ignored it and looks very pleased.
Jason: Thanks. You seem like a nice guy.
Levi just looks in front of him with no expression. Jason looks at Levi's blind eye.
Jason: I don't want to be rude, but can I ask you how your eye got blind?
Levi: Someone stabbed me.
Jason: In your eye?
Jason looks shocked. Levi nods.
Jason: That must have hurt like a son of a bitch. Who did it?
Levi: Someone of my group.
Jason: Jeez. You must be happy to be here. Although you have to leave today. To be honest I'd be fine with you staying here. I could really use your cigarettes.
Jason laughs at his own joke. Levi just looks expressionless at Jason. Jason's then looks disappointed away.
Jason: Not much of a humorous person are you?
Levi: No.
Jason decides to pay more attention to his cigarette. They sit there in the cold. After a while Adrian comes out of the building.
Jason: Good morning sir.
Jason makes a salute move with his hand. Adrian rolls his eyes.
Adrian: You smoke Levi?
Levi: Yes.
Adrian: But your sixteen.
Levi: So?
Levi just keeps smoking. Jason chuckles at Levi's reaction. Adrian looks annoyed.
Adrian: Whatever.
Jason: What are we doing today boss?
Adrian: Don't call me that, and not much.
Jason chuckles at Adrian's annoyance.
Adrian: Why are you in such a good mood?
Jason's smile slowly disappears. Adrian looks confused. He goes back inside to grab some breakfast.
Jason yells: Hey grab some breakfast for me too!
Levi gets startled because of Jason's yelling. Ryan and Chris come out of the building. Ryan moves his injured arm in circles.
Ryan: My arm is so sore. Probably because we fixed the fence yesterday.
Chris: Has your wound healed yet?
Ryan takes of his coat and pulls up his sleeve to see the wound. There are bruises around the wound.
Chris: Oh god it's all purple and stuff. Nasty.
Chris looks at it with a disgusted face. Ryan looks like he's in pain.
Chris: Are you okay?
Ryan: Yeah, I'm fine. I'll let Candice check it out.
They see on their left Jason and Levi watching them silently while smoking. Chris looks annoyed.
Chris: What are you two looking at?
Jason: You guys.
Chris: Why?
Jason: I don't know to be honest, you two are not that interesting.
Chris sighs.
Chris: You're fucking annoying.
Chris goes to his right and sits against the other wall. Ryan looks to his left and his right, hesitating on what side he should sit. Chris looks unbelievable at him. Ryan then sits with Chris. Chris looks suspicious at Ryan. 
Adrian walks out of the building with some bread, some slices of meat and a few plastic plates. Adrian walks over to the table while talking.
Adrian: I'll lay everything on the table. I think this will be the last morning of eating outside. It's getting too cold.
Jason doesn't listen to what Adrian is saying and just walks to the table to get food. Jason takes four slices of meat.
Adrian: Jason, why do you have to take so many? We all need to eat from that.
Jason sighs and lays one slice back. Adrian rolls his eyes and also gets some food. Ryan and Chris get food too. Levi looks doubting if he should get it, but eventually does get it. Adrian sits next to Jason.
Jason: So does he have to go today?
Adrian: I mean he does. Candice wants him to stay.
Jason: And why can't he?
Adrian: Because we can't trust him.
Jason: Why not?
Adrian: Because he could be lying.
Jason: Yes he could, but he could also be telling the truth. And then you'd throw some sixteen year old boy out alone.
Adrian sighs: This is going to be the same story as with Ryan, Ruby, Katy and Chris isn't it?
Jason: Yeah...
Adrian: Wait why do you even want him to stay?
Jason: Less work to do. He is good at fighting so maybe we can learn some things from him.
Adrian: I guess that isn't such a bad idea.
Jason: And he has cigarettes.
Adrian: Really Jason, really?
Jason: Yes. What? You smoke too.
Adrian: Smoked.
Jason: We both know that isn't true.
Adrian: At least I don't do it everyday.
Levi sits with them. Adrian and Jason both go quiet. They all eat. Eventually Zayn comes out. His eyes are barely open and his skin is a little pale. He sits down next to Adrian, Jason at Levi. They look all confused at Zayn.
Adrian: Good morning.
Zayn: Good...morning...
Adrian: There is some food on the table.
Zayn talks really slow and a little unclear.
Zayn: I'm not...hungry.
Adrian: Okay... Is Alex still in bed?
Zayn: I don't, I don't know.
Jason: What do you mean you don't know? Was she sleeping when you woke up?
Zayn: Don't remember.
Adrian looks a little worried at Jason and Jason just looks confused.
Adrian: Zayn are you feeling alright? You don't look so good.
Zayn: I'm fine.
Adrian and Jason make eye contact. Jason lifts his shoulders up, showing he doesn't know what's wrong either. They eat. Ryan and Chris walk into the building without saying anything. Adrian stands up and looks at Jason, Levi and Zayn.
Adrian: Could you three maybe carry the table inside the building?
Jason sighs: Alright...
Jason stands up, then Levi and then Zayn. Adrian walks into the building. Jason stands on one of the short sides of the table. Zayn and Levi stand on the two long sides. They lift it up and walk towards the building. Zayn finds it hard to walk straight and pushes the table forwards and backwards.
Jason: What are you doing Zayn? You're going to drop the table.
Zayn then let's go of the table, and the table almost falls. Jason and Levi put the table down. Jason looks angry.
Jason: What the hell?!
Zayn passes out and falls backwards on the grass. Jason's eyes turn big and he runs towards Zayn.
Jason: Fuck!
Zayn is unconscious. Jason tries to come closer, but Zayn's whole body starts shaking. Levi just stands there looking shocked. Jason looks terrified.
Jason: Candice!
Adrian stands in the doorway and sees Zayn lying on the ground shaking. He goes inside and goes into Candice's and Jessie's room. They are both asleep. He shakes Candice awake.
Adrian: Candice! You need to come outside.
Candice wakes up slowly, but her eyes open up faster because of Jason yelling her name. She gets out the room and runs outside. Zayn is there shaking. Candice reacts fast.
Candice: He is having a seizure. What happened?
Candice kneels down by the back of Zayn. She rolls him onto his side.
Jason: I don't know.
Adrian: He was talking difficulty this morning.
Candice: Get Alex.
Jason runs now into the building. He goes into Alex's room.
Jason: Alex wake up!
Alex opens her eyes and sit straight. She sees beside her that Zayn's bed is empty and that Jason is standing in the doorway.
Jason: You need to come outside, now.
Jason and Alex both walk out of the building. Alex sees Zayn laying on the ground. He has stopped shaking. Candice is still holding him on his side.
Candice: Alex, does Zayn have any medical conditions or has been using any medication that you know about.
Alex looks still flustered at Zayn's body. A tear rolls down her cheek.
Candice: Alex! This is important!
Alex turns to Candice.
Alex: He has...he has monophobia. He takes Xanax, but I think he might took more then he should lately. Do you think he overdosed?
Candice: Yeah, that could be the cause.
Candice stands up.
Candice: Adrian. Put him in his room.
Adrian does as she says, he signals to Jason that he should help. Adrian puts one of Zayn's arms around his neck and Jason the other one. They bring him inside into his room. Alex and Candice follow them.
Candice: What is monophobia?
Alex: Fear of being alone. He said he goes crazy whenever he is alone. But his medicine helps him. I noticed has been taking a lot. He just told me that he had stress.
They run into Alex's and Zayn's room. Alex sits onto her bed. Candice sits next to Zayn and holds his wrists to check his heartbeat. Adrian stand still not knowing what to do.
Candice: His heart rate is slow.
Alex: Is there anything you can do?
Candice: If it's a overdose we just got to wait until his pills stop working.
Alex looks hopeless at Zayn. Tears drop from her face. She quickly wipes them away. Jason gets out of the room. He goes back outside. He sees Levi standing frozen in the middle of the grass. He looks a little overwhelmed.
Jason: Are you alright?
Levi looks at Jason and nods. Jason walks over to the table.
Jason: Can you give me a hand with this?
Levi helps Jason carry the table inside. Tyler, Ruby, Katy, Ryan and Chris have come out of their room and look at Jason and Levi. They probably heard them making a lot of noise. Tyler yawns.
Tyler: What the hell is going on?
Jason knows Levi isn't going to talk, so decides to explain it himself.
Jason: Zayn is not doing very good. He passed out and had a seizure.
Ruby: Wait what? Why?
Jason: He might have overdosed on pills.
Ruby: Shit that's fucked up.
Chris: Did he, do it on purpose?
Ryan looks angry at Chris. Jason looks at Chris confused.
Jason: I don't fucking know.
Katy looks really sad.
Jason: Everyone just go and eat breakfast.
Tyler, Ruby, Katy, Ryan and Chris walk outside. Levi looks at Jason.
Levi: Are you okay?
Jason looks surprised.
Jason: Yeah, I'm fine.
Jason grabs a plate and puts some bread with meat on it. Then also walks outside. Levi follows him. Jason then hands Tyler the plate. Tyler looks up at Jason. Tyler talks in a sarcastic way.
Tyler: Thanks.
Jason ignores his tone.
Jason: You're welcome.
Jason sits down.
Ruby: Why didn't you grab me some food Jason?
Ruby smiles.
Jason: I thought you can handle it yourself.
Jason smiles back. Tyler looks weirdly at Jason. Ryan looks weirdly at Ruby.
Ruby: Well, yeah, but it's still nice to do.
Jason sighs.
Jason: Alright.
Jason stands up.
Ryan: Ey bring me some food too.
Chris: For me too.
Jason rolls his eyes. He gets inside and grabs a bag with the bread, he grabs some plates and some meat. He walks outside and lays it in the middle of the circle the group is sitting.
Jason: Here y'all have your food.
Jason sits down. Ruby rolls her eyes.
Ruby: Thank you for your effort.
Jason: You're welcome.
He looks at Tyler. Tyler is taking small bites. Adrian walks out of the building.
Katy: How is Zayn doing?
Adrian: Still unconscious...
Adrian sits with them. They all talk to each other, except for Levi, Adrian and Katy who are quiet. Katy is lost in her thoughts. Adrian looks at Katy.
Adrian: Are you okay?
Katy: Yeah, I'm fine.
Adrian: You just seem a little down.
Katy just slightly smiles. Adrian looks concerned.
Adrian: Are you sure-
Katy: I'm fine Adrian.
Katy stands up and goes inside. The others don't even notice that she left. Only Levi notices. Adrian notices Levi watching him.
Adrian: I heard you're good at fighting. Could you maybe, teach us how to fight?
Levi: Maybe, but I can't teach that in one day.
Levi talks with no expression. Adrian laughs.
Adrian: You want to stay here, don't you?
Levi nods.
Adrian: I'll discuss it with the others. If you give one lesson.
Levi nods.
Levi: Okay.
Adrian: You seem like a good guy Levi.
Levi: Thank you.
Levi says with a flat voice and then takes another bite from his sandwich.