Work Text:
Scene 1: The Nightmare
The sky outside was overcast, the heavy gray clouds reflecting the mood inside the old school bus. Aiden Clark sat near the back, slouched slightly in his seat, his head leaning against the cool window. His usually sharp eyes were dull, and his hand rested limply on his lap.
The bus was eerily quiet today. Normally, there would be the hum of conversations, the chatter of the other kids, and the occasional clang of something falling. But today? Today it was almost as if the world outside had slowed down. And Aiden? He could barely keep his eyes open.
“Hey, you alright?” Tyler’s voice pulled him from his haze. His tone was casual, but there was a hint of concern.
Aiden blinked, pushing himself upright slightly, but the sudden movement made his stomach churn. He grimaced, rubbing his forehead as a dull throb pulsed in his temples.
“Yeah,” he muttered, trying to sound like his usual self. "Just a little tired."
Tyler wasn’t convinced. “You don’t look fine,” he said bluntly, raising an eyebrow. “You’re all red and barely keeping your head up.”
“I’m fine,” Aiden muttered, his voice a bit hoarse. He didn’t want to admit how terrible he felt—how his body ached and his head felt like it might explode any second. He wanted to push through, but he could tell Tyler wasn’t buying it.
“Sure,” Tyler said, eyeing him skeptically. “If you say so.”
Aiden closed his eyes for a moment, trying to block out the dizziness that had begun to creep in. He hated being sick, hated the weakness, but even more than that, he hated the idea of someone else worrying about him. Tyler would probably call him out anyway, but Aiden didn’t want to make a scene.
Scene 2: The Rest of the Ride
By the time the bus reached school, Aiden’s condition had worsened. The bus stopped with a jolt, and as the doors opened, he tried to stand, only to stumble slightly. Tyler caught him before he could fall, his grip firm on Aiden’s arm.
“You good?” Tyler asked, clearly not buying Aiden’s earlier act.
“Yeah,” Aiden muttered, trying to shake off the dizziness, though it didn’t work. His vision blurred, and his head spun. “Just a little lightheaded.”
“You don’t look fine,” Tyler said, squinting at him. “Come on, I’m taking you to the nurse. You’re not going to class like this.”
“I’ll be fine,” Aiden protested, but Tyler wasn’t hearing it.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Tyler shot back. “Let’s go.”
Aiden didn’t resist, knowing there was no point in arguing anymore. He let Tyler guide him to the nurse’s office, the world around him feeling hazy and distant.
Scene 3: Nurse’s Office
The nurse quickly assessed his condition, muttering about how high his temperature was, and offered him a cold compress. Aiden barely had the energy to lift his head, feeling incredibly drained.
Tyler sat beside him, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He glanced at Aiden, his expression neutral. “I told you to slow down,” he said, but there was no real anger in his voice—just matter-of-fact.
Aiden winced as he shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. “I’m fine,” he muttered again, though the words felt empty even to him.
“You’re really not,” Tyler said, deadpan. “If you were, you’d be standing, not laying here looking like a zombie.”
Aiden didn’t respond. His head hurt too much, and the world felt like it was spinning slightly. Instead, he closed his eyes and let himself relax against the pillow, ignoring the soft buzz in his ears.
“You need to take it easy, man,” Tyler said after a moment, still watching him. “This isn’t just some ‘cold’ like you keep saying.”
Aiden didn’t answer. His thoughts were too fuzzy, and every time he opened his eyes, the world tilted slightly. He couldn’t focus on anything for too long, so instead, he just rested his eyes again.
Scene 4: Waiting it Out
The nurse left to get some medication, and Tyler stayed with Aiden, occasionally checking on him.
Aiden didn’t say much. His usual stubbornness was gone, replaced by a need to lie still and wait for the dizziness to pass. Tyler remained quiet too, but the silence between them was comfortable—no pressure, just the occasional glance.
Aiden glanced over at Tyler when he finally spoke up. “You should’ve said something earlier. You’re not invincible, you know.”
“I didn’t need to worry anyone,” Aiden muttered, still staring at the ceiling. “I’ll be fine. Just need to sleep it off.”
Tyler just stared at him for a long moment before leaning back in his chair. “Whatever you say. But next time, don’t make me drag you to the nurse’s office.”
Aiden chuckled weakly, his chest feeling tight. “Fine. No promises, though.”
Tyler didn’t respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched up in the faintest of smiles. “Idiot,” he muttered under his breath.
Aiden let his eyes drift shut again, the sound of Tyler’s voice oddly soothing amidst the dull throbbing in his head.
Scene 5: Rest
By the time the nurse returned with some medicine, Aiden felt too worn out to argue. He took the medicine, swallowed it with some water, and laid back again. Tyler had finally stopped commenting, leaving him to rest in silence.
Even though the fever still burned under his skin, he could feel his body relaxing slowly. There was no more fighting it. He’d rest. Maybe things would get better when he woke up.
But for now, he was glad to just close his eyes and let the world blur into sleep.
The End.