Cracked Up

Connor

I wake up to see a pretty, blonde with wide blue eyes hovering over me.

"You're awake, thank god. Connor-"

I clear my throat. "I know, Tess."

"Miss Tess."

I roll my eyes. "Tess, I think I've been to the clinic enough to call you by first name."

Tess shakes her head. "Connor, you shouldn't be proud of being here constantly. You know your condition is worsening-"

"I know."

"Have do tried what I suggested?"

Like a broken record, I repeat what I always say when she asks this: "Nothing stops a spaz."

Tess rolls her eyes and then helps me sit up. "Bloody-"

I make a tsk sound, which stops Tess. "No cussing at the children."

Tess rolls her eyes another time. "You hardly classify as a child."

I slap a fake smile on my face. "Thank."

"Thank? No 's'?"

"No 's'."

"Weirdo."

---
Breathing. On my neck, again. This time, there are pastels on the art supply table. Again, the outreaching hand, the long, thin fingers, so pale I could make out the blue veins.

This time, it's reaching for a stub, not like the rest, who are after sharp pieces. The stub is light green. I pick it up and press it into the palm of the hand. It wraps around the stub and then retreats. I pick out a light peach and pastel blues and greens.

I walk back to my sketchbook and begin. This time, an image is locked into my head. I sketch against black paper, and when I'm finished, I sit back and crack my spine. I then smile at my masterpiece.

Then a hand. On my shoulder.

I turn and accidentally meet with transparent eyes. I shift my gaze immediately to his nose.

"Hey." I say.

"Connor, I'm sorry that I didn't take you to the clinic yesterday. Some other guy-"

I sigh, already knowing who took me. "Was he a tall jock that called me Connie?"

Ace looked taken aback, almost. "Yeah, actually."

"That's Seth. He's my ex." I say sheepishly.

Ace looks annoyed. "You dated that guy? He didn't even respect your pronouns."

"I know, I know. That's why I broke up with him. And because he's a cheating bastard."

Ace frowns. "Truly a bastard, in every sense of the word."

"There's only one sense."

"Multiple, actually. One is that they're a fucking dick. Another is an ignorant asshole."

"Same thing to me."

Ace frowns deeper. "Then apparently you've only had to deal with one type of bastard."