Sick (Peterick AU)

I've Never Been This Scared

Ah, my friends. This is where the story really kicks in. Have fun ;)

•L9B•
~~~

"He's getting worse..."

"Well, way to point out the obvious there."

"What are we going to do?"

"Whatever we can. We can't put this off forever. He's going to find out sooner or later."

"I know, I know. I just don't want to upset him."

"Do what you want. I can't stop you, but Pete..."

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."

*****
Earlier

"I guess I'm done here for now," Ryan breaks me out of my little bubble after finishing whatever it is he does with those monitors in my room. He scratches his beard a bit before he speaks again. "How are you holding up, bud?"

"I could be better," I huff out, my throat sore and raw from the other day. "Really tired." I begin to yawn, but stifle it easily by taking a few small breaths. I swallow, and my ears pop.

"Get some rest," Ryan looks at me in fake annoyance, teasing me already. "Your last attack really took a toll on you."

"I can tell," I roll my eyes, causing Ryan to chuckle. To be honest, Ryan has me kind of worried. For the past few days he's been seeming really... Tentative, around me. He's not as blunt and teasing as he usually is.

"Ryan," I say just before he gets to the door. He turns almost immediately and looks at me with wide eyes as if
I'd just screamed in pain or something. I raise an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

Ryan nods curtly. "Yeah, of course." I think that his lie might have actually been sort of believable, if weren't for the "of course" at the end. He's lying for my sake, mostly. He's also lying for himself; trying to convince himself that he is.

There's a reason for the 'I' in lie.

Ryan walks out of the door, turning the lights off as he goes. It is now entirely dark in my room, save for the faint street lights bouncing off of my bed due to the uncovered window on my left.

He has left me to nod off every few minutes only to be awoken by noises from the other side of my window. I've experienced this feeling many times before, yet it's still one of the most annoying things ever, even though I can never do anything about it.

I huff in a mix of exasperation and exhaustion. I feel like I'm gonna hurl. It smells like Pepto Bismol in here. Not only is that new and unwelcome, its disgusting.

I hear my door open. I sigh, and keep my eyes closed, thinking its Ryan coming back to pick up something he forgot, or re-check my medical records or something. Ryan doesn't walk that quietly though, his footsteps boom.