Fragile Hearts [DANGEROUS FELLOWS]

⚠️FORTY-ONE: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, FLU?⚠️

By the time you had come back to the dining room, the only ones there were your friends and the woman and her child, who were sitting off in the corner.

"What took so long?" Zion asked when you went over to their table, looking bored. "Whatever happened to a couple minutes?"

"Sorry," you apologized, trying your best to look disinterested. "He was going on and on telling me about how it wasn't him and that I had to believe him."

"Ah, was he?" Lawrence asked with a smile, and something about it gave you the feeling he saw right through your lie.

You shook it off, pulling out a chair but not yet taking a seat.

"So what should we do?" you asked. The "investigation" was pretty much over, and that had been occupying most of your time recently

"I was thinking about visiting Eugene in the infirmary," Lawrence said thoughtfully. "Must be lonely."

Eugene. You paled, gripping the back of the chair to keep yourself from losing your balance. If what Felix had said was true, did that mean the doctors were in with the government?

Could they be experimenting on Eugene?

"I'm sure he's fine," Harry assured you. "They're doctors. He's in good hands."

"His biggest worry is probably what flavor juice box he wants," Jay joked.

A sharp, scraping sound suddenly pierced the air, making everyone go quiet. Hailey had pushed her chair back and was standing up, looking defiant.

"I'm not going anywhere near him," she said. "He might be c-contagious."

"A little cold wouldn't kill you," Lawrence assured.

A little cold? Your face went even paler, and now you were sure you would pass out.

"What's wrong, (Y/n)?" Harry asked. "You don't look so good."

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but I went to see Eugene yesterday," you admit.

"So that's where you ran off to," Lawrence realized, breaking into a smile. "I was wondering."

"I think it would be better if you just heard it from the nurse," you said, feeling too strange about telling them. "It's hard to explain."

"Is it bad?" Sue spoke up with a surprised look. You realized she hadn't said anything to anybody up until now.

"It's hard to explain," you said again, picking at a splinter on the back of the chair.

Lawrence gave you a questioning look, but he didn't press you on it. Instead he stood up, gesturing for the others to do the same.

"It'll be fine, Hailey," Sue coaxed, putting a hand on her arm.

Hailey didn't say anything, her face going white.

All of you headed for the infirmary, and your heart was racing. How would they react to it? And would they be upset you hadn't told them before?

When you reached the spotless front doors, the woman at the entrance looked surprised. "Who are you all coming to visit?" she asked.

"Eugene," Lawrence told her. "Kind of short, blonde hair-"

"And stubborn as hell," Zion finished.