Feeling Faint (BxB)

Chapter 17

Jay's P. O. V.
I open my eyes blearily as fingers run up and down my arm. I turn my head to find Ben smiling gently at me. "Hey sleepy head. Let's get inside and I'll draw you a bath to warm up."

I nod tiredly and stretch as Ben turns to the backseat and pulls out a pair of crutches.

I look at him incredulously. "What did you do?"

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Oh... I sprained my ankle pretty badly. Don't worry about it." He turns to open the car door, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him.

I open my mouth to speak but a wave of dizziness overtakes me and I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for it to pass.

"Jay?" I open my eyes and the swimming feeling slowly fades, replaced with a vision of Ben's currently seaweed green eyes. I snap myself out of a trance-like state when another shiver runs through my body.

"Jay?" Ben asks again, putting a hand on my shoulder and searching my eyes.

"Sorry... Sorry. I forgot what I was going to say." "Are you alright though?" He asks.

"Just dizzy." I say, blinking a few times. "Stay here, I'll come around." He tells me. I open my mouth to protest but he's already ventured into the freezing rain.

He opens my car door and I stand slowly. "Now we'll both be soaked." I comment. He chuckles. "Oh well. I'll just change clothes."

Thunder rumbles in the distance and Ben tenses up. "Let's go inside." I rush in with Ben crutching along beside me.

We open up the apartment and he shakes his head, sending water droplets flying everywhere. "You look like a dog." I tell him and laugh. "Maybe I am one." He grins and winks at me. "Go in my room and find some clothes while I start a bath for you. Try the top dresser drawer; there should be some hoodies and pajama pants there." He tells me.

I hesitate. "Are you sure you don't want any help?" He waves me away. "I didn't die, I just sprained my ankle. I'll sit on the side of the tub if it makes you happy." I nod and wander down the hall to find clothes.

As I dig through the drawer everything starts to really set in. My hands lie still as I realize... my family has disowned me. There's no one to turn back to now. I've only got my friends.

Ben's P. O. V.
I fill up the bath and try to ignore the thunder that's getting louder and closer. The adrenaline of worry for Jay has ceased, but a tension of anxiety is rooting itself in my bones.

I take a deep breath and crutch to my room to check on Jay. I peek around the door frame to find him standing listlessly in front of the open dresser drawer.

"Jay, the bath is ready." I say gently. He seems to snap out of a stupor and grabs a hoodie and pants. "Right. Sorry, I'm coming." He says distractedly.

I keep a watchful eye on him as he heads to the bathroom. I can tell something's wrong, but he's not ready to talk yet.

I go to the kitchen and start up the coffee maker, even though it's nearly supper time. A clap of thunder booms closer than before and makes my body freeze up. I try to shake it off and continue making my coffee.

The coffee maker beeps and I flinch. I pour a cup and lean against the counter.

I try to avoid looking outside but my eyes seem to be drawn to the window. The rain from the dark sky slaps the window and I suddenly feel very alone, even though logic tells me Jay is just down the hall.

Jay's P. O. V.
I go through the motions of washing myself and pull on Ben's clothes to warm up. The sound of my pounding head echoes through my ears as my dizziness fades in and out.