Dawn of Fog and Glass

Chapter Twelve: Dawn of Fog and Glass

"Wait," Draco says. "So, you're saying you're not just a classmate of Orion? You're, like, close?"

I nod. "He's my best friend."

Draco beams, turning to Chantelle. "Chanty! She's Orion's best friend."

Chantelle laughs. "Orion isn't a celebrity, Draco. He's your brother." She frowns, putting a hand on his back to straighten it. "You really need to work on your posture, Draco."

Draco straightens under her touch, his back lengthening out by at least three inches. He scowls.

"Actually, Orion's the friend I was telling you about," I continue. "The only reason I figured out about the whole glass thing was because of him."

Draco's brows furrow. "Hold up. You mean the friend that fainted, who you caught with a glass trampoline? Why did Orion faint? Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he just... it happens sometimes. He's been diagnosed with anemia and dysautonomia of adolescence, which cause him to get tunnel vision when he stands up. If he doesn't address it and wait before walking, which he doesn't, he usually faints."

He doesn't look any less confused. "Anemia and dysauta-what?"

"Dysautonomia," I correct. "It's rare, especially with boys, even though one in three people our age gets symptoms. Basically, it means his autonomic system doesn't work properly. He gets brain fog and his body essentially starts to malfunction if he's been working his mind too hard in classes. His body temperature doesn't regulate, so he can't feel things that are either super hot or super cold, and he has to take supplements for his iron and blood pressure. I mean, he doesn't actually take them unless I make him. And trust me, I make him. He needs to exercise regularly and have a regular sleep schedule, and constantly drink water. If he does everything properly, he can get rid of it by the time he's a full adult. If not, he could have it for the rest of his life, and it only gets worse. I've heard of a case of a girl with really bad dysautonomia where she lost feeling in her legs and had to use a wheelchair." Seeing Draco's shocked face, I add, "That won't happen to Orion, though. As long as he does what he's supposed to, I'm confident he'll get rid of it."

That seems to comfort him a little. "When I see him again, I'm going to slap him."

I laugh. "Me too." I sure hope Hera remembered to check if he took his meds tonight.

"You said he does art? What kind of art?" Draco asks eagerly.

"Oh, he dabbles in a lot of styles, but he focuses mainly on portraits of people. Realism. He uses acrylic paint. He's made a lot of paintings of you, actually. Well, younger you."

Draco's cheeks flush red. "He's painted—Chantelle, Orion paints me!"

"I know, buddy. I can hear too."

"And he loves constellations. I mean, understandably, because you guys were named after them. He painted his entire side of his dorm room like a galaxy with a bunch of famous constellations, but the Orion and Draco constellations are in thicker lines using glow-in-the-dark paint. It's really pretty." I can almost see the wall now, glistening above me with the constellations glistening in the shadows.

Draco stands immediately, pulling me to my feet. "Come with me. Come with me right now. Look at my wall. Look at this. Look at the—"

"Draco, you're not making sense again," Chantelle calls.

He pulls me to his wardrobe and throws his body against the side, pushing it with a groan.

"We're not allowed to paint walls," he explains, shoving the wardrobe aside. "But I did the best I could."