30 Day Writing Challenge // Ryllon [PART THREE]

Day 29: Sleep

this is actually a preview chapter of another story I have you're welcome

also it's gonna switch perspectives halfway through sorry. in the actual book, this will not only be longer but two separate chapters

I watch the time change over and over. From watching it go to 12:00 am, to 2:35, to 4:50. Then again. For another three nights, too. I haven't slept in four days. My eyes sting and my eyelids feel heavy, but I still can't sleep. I don't want to have another nightmare. I'm scared and paranoid and jumpy, and everything is scaring me.

"Ryan, are you sure you don't wanna go home?" Gabe asks carefully. He places a hand on my shoulder and I jump slightly, despite already knowing he was next to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I grab a cardboard box filled with picks, carrying them and stacking them. "I'm just a little tired, don't worry about it."

Gabe sends a concerning look, biting his bottom lip worriedly. My arms feel weak. He exits into the back room as Brendon walks out.

"Ryan, when was the last time you slept?" Brendon asks, noticing my paleness and dark eyes.

"Um... Wednesday night I think... Yeah... What day is it?" I ask, nearly mumbling. Brendon's eyes widen, but it takes me a moment to realize.

"What?"

"It's Monday. Fuck, dude, you need to sleep!" Brendon says. I just shrug.

He sighs and helps me put the picks away. I keep thinking of Dallon. He is always so calm. Maybe he doesn't sleep either, because I feel weirdly calm.

My hand is holding a small box, which is rested on the shelf, but I'm not moving. My vision alters between blurry and clear rapidly for about 5 seconds, in which I have to solve by blinking repeatedly.

It works for about 25 minutes, Brendon and I putting away items as I blink away my tiredness.

Then it doesn't go away.

Then I'm on the ground, two people shouting my name. I heard a loud crash, boxes of picks opening and scattering all over the floor.

I'm tired.

-Dallon-

"Dallon, someone's on the phone. They need you," Sarah says quietly, holding the phone. I take the phone and she begins to socialize with some customers, pop music playing in the background.

"Hello?" I say.

"Dallon? Hi, uh, this... It's Gabe, um..." He sounds panicked. I can hear someone else.

"Ryan, wake up, can you hear me?" A faint voice adds. Brendon.

"What's going on?" I ask, my heart sinking. My chest hurts like it did before when Ryan didn't tell me he was working late, or when he had that breakdown.

"He just collapsed and he isn't responding a-and we-" My eyes begin to sting. Something falls down my cheek. I'm crying? Why?

"Slow down, what... what happened?" I ask shakily, trying to take a deep breath. Sarah seems to notice my tears, as her eyes widen with worry.

"Ryan, he was... he was putting away some guitar picks and B-Brendon said he just f-fell to the ground and now he isn't responding? A-And he's uh, he is really pale and- can... shoot, okay, um, are- uh, are you able to come-"

"Um..." I look at Sarah. I mouth the words 'can I leave' and she nods hurriedly.

"I'll be there soon, is... is he like... breathing?" I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat. I don't feel okay.

"Uh..." Gabe pauses, "Yes, yes, he is."

"He hasn't slept in four days, he told me," Brendon says quietly in the background. He must've asked. Ryan is as bad as I am, pretending anything bad isn't a big deal, like sleep deprivation. But with no sleep and him refusing to eat more than usual, this is extremely bad.

"Good. Bring... uh... meet me in the parking lot. I'll be there as soon as possible." I hang up and grab my stuff from the back.

"Is everything okay?" Sarah asks.

"Uh, Not really, no. Ryan... Um, I'll tell you tomorrow, I gotta go." I rush out of Lush and run to my car, throwing stuff into the backseat.

As expected, the drive takes about 10 minutes. I see Brendon and Gabe talking and carefully looking at a very unaware and dazed, but awake Ryan. I pull over next to them and practically jump out of the car. I didn't realize that I wasn't buckled until I get out.

It takes Ryan a second to notice me.

"Dallon, why are you-"

"Never thought I'd say this, but oh my god, just shut up." I wrap my arms around him, holding him closely and a bit protectively. He does look pale. How did I not notice?

"Dal..." Ryan mumbles tiredly, hugging me weakly.

"We'll see you later. Take care," Gabe says quietly. I nod and the two leave to return to their jobs.

I pull away and look at Ryan. He places his hand on the side of my neck, confusion and worry flashing across his tired face.

"You're crying?" He asks quietly. I look down, shaking my head slightly. God, fuck, Ryan, stop worrying about me.

"Let's just go home," I say, turning around towards the car.

"Wait..." Ryan grabs my hand and stumbles forward. I turn around and he crashes into my chest, nearly passing out for a few seconds. He grips my shirt tightly as he whimpers weakly. I can feel my heart break a little bit.

"Ry..." I say sadly. It hurts me to see him like this. I quickly help him into the car, close the door, go around, get in, close my door, and look at Ryan. He looks almost lifeless. He hasn't eaten in a week, and he hasn't slept in four days?

Fuck it.

I pull out of the parking spot, and drive off. We near it, and Ryan finally seems to realize we are on the opposite side of where our apartment is.

"Wh-Why are... this isn't where we live..."

"We aren't going home," I say, choking back the tears. I don't know what to do. I can't help him.

"What?"

I pull into the parking space and help him out. He loses all of his strength. This is bad. Fuck, this is really bad.

I pick him up bridal style, carrying him inside. I can't fix him. I know I can't.

A few nurses and a doctor see me, I explain, and they immediately help me. Ryan tries to fight back as they take him away, and my heart breaks as our tear filled eyes meet. I mouth, "I'm sorry."

This is for his own good. It's just the hospital, it's just so he can recover, and then he can come back.

And yet the fear in his eyes burn in the back of my mind.