The GATE Academy [Please read description]

Chapter 40: Revelation

"That was sick, dude!"

"Haha, for sure, did you see when I..."

"-... still on for later at the.."

"Did you want to grab something to eat before..."

Lunch had started, everybody was out socializing with each other and having a good time. I sat at a long lunch table with my friends, guys on one side, the girls on the other, and they all talked while I ate my alfredo fettuccine in silence. Ever since morning, I had just felt... Off. I felt nervous, my stomach knotting, and I couldn't place why. Everybody had already been asking why, but I just couldn't answer them with a sure response.

I stood up abruptly from the table and leaned on the edge, coughing profusely and violently. People around the area and my friends all looked to me, but Faith dropped down to my side and put my arm around her shoulder.

"What are guys looking at??" She said forcefully at the crowd of onlookers, who, in turn, went back to being as they were.

Faith lifted me up and rubbed my lower back, "Where does it hurt, Shizuo?"

Riku walked up besides us and put my other arm around his shoulders, "Here, I'll help."

"It's ok, Riku, I can get him," Faith said.

"No no, don't worry, I-"

"Stand back, Riku," I said, "I'll be fine, just tell Professor Volan that I won't be back for 6th period, please..."

I took my arm away from him and looked to Faith, "And you too, Faith. The bell is about to ring and I don't want you to be late to class..."

Faith scowled, "Don't tell me what to do, Shizuo. I can do what I want, and don't go acting all noble with me. You can't walk five steps on your own without falling over, so I'll be here to help you out. Deal? Good. Now move, pretty boy."

Pretty boy?...

I tried to roll my eyes, but a fit of coughs came over me. I was trying to fall to the ground, but Faith kept me up, standing.

Riku helped keep me up, but when he saw I could stand again, he looked at me and nodded.

"Be strong, Shizuo..." he said before leaving.

Why do I feel so bad?...

Faith continued the walk to the hospital wing in silence, occasionally telling off some other students when they stared at me and my weakened state.

"You don't have to help me, Faith, I'll b-"

"Just shut up, Shizuo. I'm taking you to the hospital wing right now and your whining isn't going to change anything," she shot, cutting me off.

The bell rang and there was a rush of students heading the other direction, besides a few students who were heading towards the hospital wing as well, except, they were going there for the medical classes, not treatment.

Faith looked down at me, "Don't worry about my class, I'll just get a pass from Professor Itara."

I looked up at Faith as she spoke, but returned my gaze down to the floor after. Of all people, she was the one to help. It had been 2 weeks since we had that awkward run-in and since then we hadn't talked in class, outside of class, no texting, but now, she decides to help me out.

We arrived at the infirmary with a few other students. I had never been inside of the hospital while a class took place, but being there then I saw that there a handful of desks pulled out to face a whiteboard with a dummy laying in a bed besides it. Professor Itara wasn't in the main room, so Faith led me to the back, where her office was.