Chapter Text
It is finally Saturday. Chris blinks awake and gets out of their bed as they usually do in the morning, at 4:00 AM for morning prayers. And Chris didn't exactly own a bed, it wasn't theirs, at least. They lived in a monastery, and for short, it wasn't the most amazing thing ever.
They were an employee. Chris could take a break and hang out somewhere else whenever they wanted, yet they still barely meet with their friends. It's not exactly that they didn't want to see them, it's mostly because they didn't have much of a choice. The monastery was the only place that gave Chris a place to live, and on weekends, they'd usually stay at some friends' house and do their actual job, such as helping people with broken equipment. Though as much as they liked having to fix things for people as their job, they didn't get much of a profit from that, so that's where the monastery comes in. And while it's somewhat necessary for living purposes, they would feel guilty on the weekends when they didn't pray as much as they would in the monastery. One time, Destiny tried talking to them about their situation, which they quickly denied, telling them all that "It's what the lord wants me to do." Which always came a bit exaggerated, but Chris was always like this.
Though the one who was bugged by this the most was Alex.
They'd always check up on them, ask if they're free and suggest if they could stay at their apartment, where Chris would usually accept the offer, but lately they’ve started to distance themselves from them, the whole group, from that matter.
Just a few hours after getting out of bed, getting something to eat and some coffee, Chris got a notification from his phone, a text from Alex:
Alex: Hi! If you're free today, would you like to hang out with me sometime?
They looked at Alex's message for a little too long, maybe, considering it. Chris would be lying if they said they haven't missed their hang outs, but at the same time, the prayers were important.. For them, at least.
You: At what hour?
Alex: I'm free anytime right now. I'd be much more better for me at 12:00 PM.
Alex: Just if you want, though
Chris paused his texting and looked around.
You: Sure, It's been a long time after all
You: I mean, I'm bored and I'd like to hang out with someone
You: Anyways
You: Where are we meeting anyway?
They cursed themselves mentally, their message sounded a little weird but they couldn't place their finger on what it would be.
Alex: I've thought, maybe, of a coffee shop? You've always looked like you needed a break.
You: Yeah yeah sure
You: I'll be there
Chris wrote almost too quickly. Their response possibly could've have came pretty rude, but they just wanted the conversation to end already, but the reason to why was a little strange. They've never hated Alex, quite the opposite actually, Chris never showed it, but they cared about them a lot. It's just that every time they so much as text them, Chris gets these weird feelings they can't quite explain, a feeling of attachment, and that they can put their guard down around them and feel safe.
But whatever, they had to start their morning prayers.
-
It was almost 3:00 AM, Alex was, finally, out of a really messy situation at the school they were working at, which wasn't even their fault in the first place. This week was just tiring in general.
First, on Monday, a fight had happened, and the two kids that fought were both heavily injured and (for some reason) had no choice but to stay beside each other in Alex's medical office. Which that, on its own, caused the two to fight even more. Tuesday was mostly decent, just had happened to get a slap from a mathematics teacher for accidentally spilling coffee on their shirt. Wednesday, condescension. Thursday is genuinely pathetic. And by Friday, they barely survived, but at least they're-
A buzzing sound catches Alex's attention, coming from their phone. Naomi's calling them. At this hour? Who would even call them right now? For an emergency maybe, they'd guess. But they digress, whatever it is, it's probably important.
"hello..?"
Oh, it's a video call.
"ALEXX!!! HII!!" Naomi's voice could be heard loudly, which startles Alex a little, but whatever. "Wait, are you Alex..?" They seem to be at Ben's house, from what they know, their hair is a little messy while their cheeks are burning.. Huh.
"Uhm. Yes, yes I am. How are you?"
"I don't really know, I- AUGH!" The camera tilts to the side, it seems that Naomi was hit by something. Oh, Someone actually. Ben seemed to have collapsed onto them. "GET OUTUH... I.." They pushed Ben to the side and stared as they just fell onto the ground.
"I- Oh my god! Are they okay?!" Alex said, their tone easily showing that they were absolutely distressed and concerned on whatever was happening, considering how little context they had. To be honest, they barely had any.
"Why did you call me?" Naomi stared blankly at the camera, unfazed by their best friend just on the floor in what seemed to be in a fatal position.
"I- YOU called me, and, aren't you.." Alex paused, they've noticed some bottles on some counters in the background of Naomi's video call. "Ohhh.."
"..whassap..????"
"Hey, Naomi, Behind you. How many of those did you and Ben have?" Naomi turned around confused, focused on the counter with the bottles of what seemed to be beer, then childishly counted on their fingers.
"..I.. I counted two." Naomi hiccuped.
"Yeah, that makes sense." Alex said before adjusting their own camera and putting it against something. "Naomi, you're drunk right now. By how many beers and the size of them, you're not too drunk, but, still kinda out of it."
Naomi seemed to fixate on something else at the end of Alex's sentence. Alex burrowed their brows and let out a sigh. Alex was good at being patient, I mean, they had to do that at school with the kids there. But right now? At that time?
"Okay, okay.. Look, Naomi, behind you. Go to that sink." There seemed to be a sink behind them, and, Ben lying down onto the floor right in front of it. Naomi got to it. "Now grab a cup please?" They looked around, and grabbed a bowl. "..Close enough"
"Do I put water in itt.. anduh.." Naomi trailed off, Alex nodded their head.
"Yes- Yes! And-"
"-AND AND.. W-wash my.. hand- hair? So like, in the bowl.. So we don't consume much water.. like.. in the uh.. Yeah YEAH YEAH!!" Naomi said it so confidently Alex was holding back their laughter.
"Just.. Put water in it-"
"Why is Ben on the floor??? Dude the floor's not edible... Or is it.."
"Oh GOD, DON'T FOCUS ON BEN.. Just, put water in the bowl." Alex said a little alerted, why were they even so invested in this weird situation?
"OKKAAYYY.." Finally, water, in a bowl rather than a cup, but it was fine.
"Okay, now drink it. Then just relax." Naomi finally seemed to do as said, then placed the bowl into the sink.
"Relax?? Could've.. just done that without youuuh..."
Alex seemed to chuckle at that. "You called me."
"Oh. I did.."
After some awkward silence passed, and more moments of Alex noticing Ben get off the ground then fall back down again, which was concerning, Naomi finally seemed to sober up.
"Naomi, you there?" Alex said, They seemed to flinch at that, and looked at the camera confused.
"..Alex? What's with.." They looked up at the counters, probably at the bottles and such. "Ohhh.. Drunk?" Alex nodded.
"Oh yeah, both you and Ben."
"Yeah I can tell. They're on the ground as were speaking." They let the phone down and seemed to place Ben somewhere on a couch. "Uhm, also thank you for that, sorry if.. OH GOD. 4 AM?? YEAH I'M SO SORRY MY MAN I'LL LET YA' SLEEP." Before Alex could say that it's nothing, because they were awake already anyways, Naomi had ended the call. Alex sighed. That was.. Something. Wait, 4 AM? Did they stay with them on the call for 1 hour? They looked at the clock, it was correct, 1 hour has passed. God, they really needed to get some much needed sleep. That being, approximately 2 hours in plus from how much they already had, which was barely enough. But its good, at least they've now woken up a bit less tired, and a couple of apologetic messages from Naomi.
Speaking of messages. Alex knew one particular person there on their contact list that usually woke up very early, and slept way too little for way too many days. Chris, their dearest friend.
I mean, dear, friend.
The two would talk a lot together, day or night, didn't really matter. It's just that Chris has been very obviously distant towards everyone, making Alex pretty anxious from time to time. They would have to admit that Chris starting to grow on them, maybe getting a little attached, but that's only because they wanted the best for their friend.
Not to mention, Alex they have noticed from time to time this odd sense of ease and comfort around them. While they should be the one to know things about diagnosis, they have noticed some weird similarities between the symptoms they were experiencing and a fever, but it was definitely not the same thing.
Alex glanced at their phone. Perhaps they should talk with them..
-
Chris never usually called an Uber, that is, up until now. They've talked with Destiny and Jamie to stay at their house for some hours, then go to the coffee shop Alex suggested. They didn't like talking to strangers face to face, didn't like talking to anyone that close actually, they didn't like how close people could get to them, the intimacy. They didn't like how much evil they could do, one could say they're paranoid, but aren't they right? The driver now could easily change their direction and kidnap them, or attack them, or even-
"Excuse me, we've arrived to your location." The Uber driver says, making Chris snap out of their thoughts. They look out the window, seeing an apartment, Jamie and Destiny's apartment. "Is the location correct?"
"Y-yeah." They let out, getting out of the car and entering the building.
Floor 3... Door 25.. There!
Chris knocks on the door and is met by Destiny opening it.
"Oh, Chris! I'm glad you could arrive. Please, come in." They said with way to much enthusiasm than Jamie, who looked to be behind them in the living room. Chris just silently nodded, looked at the time, 7:00 PM, and entered. Who knew hours could go on so fast.
At least that's how Chris thought right now, 4 hours later.
They were screwed. Hair all messy, sweating like crazy, somewhere in the bathroom.
"I- I can't- Why did I agree to come?! What's wrong with me?!" They semi-yelled to themselves while looking at themselves in the bathroom mirror, definitely having a soft of crisis about this whole "hang out". Again, it's been so long, how does Chris even know if they're the same Alex they knew? I mean, they text the same way they used to- But what if they're an impersonator of Alex? Why would they want to just meet right now out of the blue?? God- Sometimes their overthinking gets on their nerves, sometimes they just wished they could just not be able to notice it. But speaking of noticing it, some two other people certainly did hear Chris' concerning shouts coming from the bathroom.
Suddenly they've heard footsteps approach, before they could react, someone knocked and Destiny's could be heard, slightly muffled by the door separating the both of them. "Chrisss? You in there? Y'know, your self-pitying monologues would certainly, eventually get your spirits pretty low.."
"I- What do spirits have to do in this context?! I've got no spirits in me! The only spirits are the all the one's around me telling me how we'll all eventually suffer, and this life is the perfect home for all the chao-"
"Whatever." Jamie eventually opened the door to reveal a very overwhelmed someone, that was Chris right now.
"G-GAH?! DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT PRIVACY IS?" Chris almost yelled. Jamie rolled their eyes.
"It's my home, and also you could've just looked it." They step into the bathroom. "Now, why are you all pathetic in here??"
"I-I AIN'T." Chris replied almost too fast. Destiny stood awkwardly besides Jamie, as they eyed Chris. "I just.. Need to meet with someone." They spat.
"Alex?"
Chris went silent. Jamie sighed. "Okay if you're gonna be all 'boohoo' here, at least make it quick. I just cleaned the bathroom." They said as Destiny got out of the bathroom, while Jamie followed them, leaving the door wide open.
"OI! AND YOU, AT LEAST CLOSE THE DARN DOOR. DO YOU NOT HAVE A HOUSE TO YOUR DOOR?- I MEAN- DOOR TO YOUR HOUSE?!"
12:00 PM
Chris was in the backseat of Jamie's car, heading towards the coffee shop. Chris couldn't help themselves but fidget their hands, why were they even so anxious about? It's just a meet up, a hang out. Nothing else. They tried watching the window to distract themselves, which worked for a little while before Jamie started asking a question.
"What even happened there in the bathroom?" Chris slightly flinched.
"Pfft- Why would you wanna know?" They shrugged. All they gotten back from Jamie was silence, which was worse than an actual response, like they could see him without even looking behind. Chris sighed. "It's complicated."
"That doesn't clear up anything."
"Ehh whateva'! Look, we're here!" Chris hurried as Jamie stopped the car.
They watched as Chris opened the door to get out of the car. "Sure. Have fun on your date." Chris quickly closed the car door behind them and speedwalked to the coffee shop, entering.
"I swear, if this is some type of foul prank.." They looked around all the tables to notice a certain someone with a book in their face, and they do know one person who would engage in literature. Chris turns their head to look at the door they could easily just esc-
"Chris?"
Well, nevermind I guess.