Damaged

Jack

Seven

I'm groggy when I finally wake up and I can still feel every punch from the night before. Was it even the night before. At this point I have no clue where I am or what day it is.

I open my eyes and realize I am in Meaghan's room. My mouth is dry from sleeping for so long and I can feel acid in the back of my thought. I try to sit up but I'm still too weak from everything that has happened to me recently. I am both emotionally and physically drained.

I look around the room and notice a glass of water on the night stand beside the bed. I use all my strength to reach over and drain the glass in one gulp. I'll need more of that as soon as possible.

I check my pockets and find my phone. I pull it out to a screen full of notifications. Stupid Facebook updates and tweets which I ignore as I open my messaging app. Dan left me a text that he would be staying with his grandma in the hospital. She had a heart attack but she was stable now and talking. He just wanted to spend time with her.

Meaghan was spending the night with Jess. I liked that girl. She kept Meg sane while Dan dealt with his insecurities which I appreciated. I knew there was more to that friendship then Dan knew but everyone needs their shoulder to lean on.

There was a shitload of messages from James.

Where are you?

Why are you doing this?

Are you straight?

Stop ignoring me.

Are you ok?

I need to know if I still have a boyfriend.

The shit went on and on. It got angrier and angrier as it went on so I shoot him a quick text that I am fine, I am gay, and as of this moment I was still his boyfriend unless he had broken it off while I slept.

He replies quickly that he needs to see me but away from his house. There was too much drama there right now and he needed to see me somewhere else.

I would question that last message more but at the moment my mind and body was too weak to have any new drama clouding it. My head was still pounding so aspirin was first and James second at this moment. I send him a quick message to keep him sane.

I need to eat and shower. I'm at Meg's now but we can meet at the playground in about an hour.

He replies that that would be fine and I leave my phone on the night stand and make my way to Meg's kitchen. I have been here often when her two moms weren't home so I knew my way around. I walked over to the fridge not noticing her mother Annabeth sitting there at the table doing a crossword.

She cleared her thought and I jumped.

"I see you are feeling good enough to make yourself at home."

I winced at the awkwardness but she just smiles and nodded for me to continue getting myself some food. I grabbed the milk and found some frosted flakes, a bowl and a spoon. I sat at the table beside her. I knew it was her who had taken care of me when I was out of it. I know Dan would have no clue what to do and Jess was a mess around blood.

"Thanks for everything you did for me."

"I was happy to help. I am glad you guys felt comfortable coming to me."

I wasn't good with parents. Really I was only good with Dan and Meaghan. And James of course. I never grasped how to have conversations with other people but Annabeth seemed nice so I tried to be at least civil with her.