The Emo School (A Fanfic)

Chapter 25

Cassie

After hours of playing, I've finished my food, and it's well past 10 o'clock, maybe closer to 11 pm.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'm officially scarred for life, but at the same time I want more. It's weird." Pete says.

"And this is how you intend to get to know your peers?" Mikey asks.

"Well, yeah, if I'm gonna make friends, they'd better be just as messed up as I am." I reply, laughing at Pete's comment.

"I see your logic." Mikey replies.

"I thoroughly enjoyed that. As always." Josh says, smiling. He has a look on his face that says he's satisfied. Yet, there's a hint of worry on his face. I can't help but wonder, yet I'd better not ask.

"I never want to play that again!" Patrick says, burying his face in his hands.

"But you're the doctor here - surely you've seen it all!" I reply.

"That's not a game a fourteen year-old should be playing." Mikey says.

"Hey! I'm almost fifteen! And I've been playing this game for more than a year! No point in stopping now!"

"That's very true." Mikey replies.

"Besides, I think this game is very educational! It teaches you all the stuff they don't teach you in school!" I say sassily.

"Watch it, Seinfeld! I'm the sass queen here!" Gerard says with even more sass.

"I'll let you off easy this time, junior, but next time-"

"Don't call me junior!" Gerard interrupts, imitating Indiana Jones.

"Alright, everybody clear out, Miss Sick here is up past her bedtime." Patrick says.

Everyone slowly gets up. There's a chorus of "goodnight"s, and then everyone leaves except Patrick and Mikey.

"I trust you can get her to bed alright?" Patrick says. "I mean, I would, but you're bigger."

"Yeah, I can get her there just fine." Mikey replies.

Patrick takes my temperature one last time, and, much to his delight, it has gone down significantly.

"I think the IV really helped. Here, since this one's empty, I'll pull it out and I'll be back with a new one." he says, peeling back the tape and pulling the needle out of my arm. "Get her upstairs, have her change into something a little more comfortable, and get her into bed. I'll be back with a new IV bag."

"Will do." Mikey says as Patrick leaves, shutting the door behind him. "Alright, Cassie, let's get you upstairs, shall we?" he says, picking me up and carrying me up the spiral stairs. He sets me down in a sitting position on my bed, and he rummages through my dresser, pulling out my Doctor Who pajama pants and a black camisole. He smirks. "Doctor Who, huh?

"Yeah, now face the wall, I don't need you looking while I change." I reply.

"Oooh, feisty!" he remarks, turning to face the wall. I quickly change.

I throw my t-shirt at his back when I'm done. "You can turn around now!"

He tosses my shirt in the hamper, and I do the same with my jeans and socks.

"That wasn't necessary." he says.

"Yes, it was!"

"No, it wasn't."

"You're no fun!" I pout.

"I can be fun if I want to." he states matter-of-factly.

"Oh really?" I reply sassily.

"You wanna see my fun side?"

"Try me."

Suddenly, he pounces on the bed and starts tickling me.

"Tickle fight!" he half-yells.

"Mikey, be gentle! She's sick!" a familiar voice exclaims.

"Now, you wanna talk about who's no fun?" Mikey says to me.

"Agreed. You're no fun, Patrick." I state.

"Maybe not, but being sick is also no fun, so the sooner we can get you better, the more fun it'll be. Now hold still, I've gotta give you this IV." Patrick replies.

I freak out the second I see the needle.

"Shh, Cassie, it's okay, I'm right here, sweetie. I'm right here. Just look at me." Mikey says, cuddling me in his arms.

Okay, well, I'm gonna be best friends with my counselor, thank you.

I look up at him, shaking and afraid, and he rubs my bare arm up and down with his hand, trying to calm me down. I feel the needle penetrate into my forearm, and I flinch, but it's over soon, and Patrick hangs up the IV bag on the light over my bed.

"Alright, Cassie, I'll be by to check on you tomorrow morning. Get some rest now, okay?" Patrick says, heading out the door and closing it behind him.

After a moment of silence, I speak up.

"So, I suppose you'll be heading out, too, then?" I ask Mikey.

"What? Leave you like this? No way! I'm staying right here." he says, pulling me even closer. "You just relax, lay back, and get some rest. I'll stay right here."

I put my head on my pillow and Mikey pulls the covers over the both of us, putting his head on another pillow on the other side of the bed.

"Mm, you have a comfy bed..." he says, reaching up and flicking the light switch (conveniently placed right above my bed) off, turning off all the lights in the house. "Maybe I should come here more often."

"Are you even allowed to-"

"Remember, this isn't a government-run school. So there really aren't any rules, and Pete doesn't care. But if you want me to get out, I will."

"No, no, you can stay if you want to."

"Mm. I think I will."

"You sure? I mean, most people don't wanna share a bed with fatty here-"

Mikey bolts up.

"Stop it!" he says, a little more harshly than I'd like. "Cassie, is this why you're so underweight? Because you don't see yourself for how beautiful you really are?" He pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me. I soon begin to feel sleepy, the sound of his heartbeat comforting me.

Before I drift off, I hear his deep voice resonate through his chest for the last time tonight:

"Cassie, you are a strong, beautiful young lady, and I love everything about you. Don't you ever forget that, and don't ever let anyone ever tell you any different. You're perfect just the way you are, and I wouldn't change a thing about you. Don't ever let anyone take the light behind your eyes."