Unconditional

What have I done?!

That evening, when they returned to hostel, Dec was feeling worse. He was sneezing throughout the bike ride and Ant feels concerned and worried.

Dec walks straight to the bed and flops on it heavily. Ant really wanted to wake him up and ask him to get changed or to take the tablets. But he didn't. He just stared at him realising the pickle he is in. You really should stop caring! It's easy. Just turn around and forget he is here! Yup, that will do...

Instead he found himself walking to Dec's bed and slowly waking him up

Ant: "Declan?"

Dec: "I am fine Go'way!"

Ant: "Take some tablets before you sleep or-"

Dec: "Leave me alone Anth..."

Ant takes in a deep breath at that

Ant: "Should I call Mary?"

Dec grunts at that and grumpily sits up. He then takes the strip of pills from his bag.

Dec: "You kept it here"

Ant: "No"

Dec: "Of course you will will say that . You are too proud to admit it!"

Ant: "I am proud? What was that with Andrew today? Do you have a death wish or something?"

Dec: "Why do you care if I live or die?"

Ant: "I don't! But I do care about the fights happening in my team"

Dec: "So I am not in your team?! Andrew can do anything to me and you will just-"

Ant: "He won't! Not when Robbie and Gary-"

Dec: "Oh yeah, the ones who actually wanted me dead will help me now?"

Ant's stare turns deadly: "They care about you!"

Dec: "And you? Oh yeah, I forgot. You no longer care about me and would rather watch Andrew beat me up that utter a word against him because you wish I was dead and-"

Ant: "That's enough! Don't try and be over smart with me Declan, all I asked you was to take your tablets and if you can't do even that without picking up an argument, then -"

He takes the stripes and throws in out of the window

Ant: "There. There is no use with them anymore! And don't you think I will exempt you from the play if you fall sick!"

With that, Ant moves back to his bed and puts his headphones on. Dec felt anger and despair choking him. All he wanted was Ant to acknowledge that he cares for Dec but by the look of things it's only getting worse.

During the dinner time, Mary came with the food and straight caught the tension in the room.

Mary: "Not another fight? Ant, did he take his tablets?"

Ant: "I am not his watchdog!"

Mary frowns at that "What happened between you two?"

Dec: "He suddenly realised that I am not worth caring for"

Ant: "Oh, fuck off Declan! I did ask you to take the tablets, if not your stubborn attitude-"

Dec: "So you agree that you care-"

Ant: "Thanks for the food Mary, I will have it later"

He walks out of the room and Mary sees Dec's bottom lip quivering. She realises that it's not their usual Cat - Dog fight.