Lavashipping Oneshots

Shattered Dreams

"How are you doing today, Cole?" Betty asks him as she fusses with a machine, her signature pencil tucked behind her ear. 

"Alright, I guess." he replies, which has pretty much been his response since last week, when he actually started feeling better for the first time in...well, ever.

"Nothin' special hurting? Anything different from last night?" The machine makes a beep she seems satisfied with, and she turns around to write something down on her clipboard. 

"Nah, not really. I mean, I have a headache, but its...y'know." he tells her.

"Got nothin' to do with anything else." she finishes for him. Suddenly, she faces him. "Cole, I wanted to tell you...you're a real trooper, you know that? Having all this happen," she gestures to the whole setup. "and still being so happy and just facing it all. Adapting, moving forward. You're so young⚊"

"⚊I'm not that young." he interjects. 

"24 is still young." she insists. "You've got such a big life ahead of you. I believe in you, Cole. You're strong, caring, thoughtful - everyone believes in you. Kai was just in here yesterday telling you how much he loves y⚊"

"Okaaaaaaaaaay, I think you can stop there, thank you very much. I already know you're listening in on our PRIVATE conversations." he says with emphasis on the word.

"Can't be helped. I have to do my job." she responds, shrugging.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." he looks out the tiny window to the left of his bed. Someday, he'll be able to go outside again, feel the sun on his back and grass beneath his feet. Colors other than hospital white and gray. Enjoy life more. Spend moments without a cord or tube coming out of his body. Feel normal again. 

Because nothing's been normal since that horrible day 4 months ago.

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That Horrible Day: 4 Months Ago 

"Hello? Earth to Cole!" someone snaps their fingers in front of his face. 

"Sorry, what?" he asks, glancing over and seeing it was Kai. He'd been feeling dizzy all day, falling in and out of focus. 

"I said, did you finish the social studies assignment?" he repeats. 

Cole facepalms. "Ugh, I completely forgot. I fell asleep as soon as I got home from school." he admits. He's never taken a midday nap - makes him feel lazy - but something about the last week or so has just been so tiring. 

"Uh, really? Naps were never your thing." Kai says suspiciously. "Whatever. You know it's due today, right?" 

"Yes, I know." he opens his binder quickly and frantically scribbles down answers to the unit review. 

"Here, copy mine." Kai tells him, shoving his own paper in front of Cole. 

"No, no, don't let me do that. I don't want to." he protests, but Kai is insistent. Finally he gives in, copying answers but being careful not to do it word-for-word. 

"Go to the movies on Friday? I've been wanting to see Deadpool and Wolverine." Kai asks him. 

"Absolutely. I could use a night out...as long as I don't fall asleep in the movie theater." he murmurs the last part. 

"What? You've never done that." Kai glances around to see if anyone's looking before lowering his voice. "You seem really tired lately. Are you...sick?" the last word is barely audible. Nobody ever wants to be sick in this college. People will avoid you like the plague for the rest of the year.