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Kris knows the telltale signs of getting sick. They woke up that morning with a scratch in their throat and a tickle in their nose. Ah, fuck.
They sat up slowly in bed and felt their head pound. Today is going to suck. There’s absolutely no way their mom is even going to consider letting them stay home today. Every other senior in the world gets to skip as much school as they want, Kris doesn’t get why this is the one thing Toriel won’t let up on.
Kris groans and tumbles out of bed, notbothering to do any of their morning rituals. The school can handle them with unbrushed hair and slept-in sweater pajamas for one day,and if they can’t, that’s not just not Kris’ problem.
When they hit the kitchen they noticed their mom already left for work that morning. Looks like they’re walking. Great. If only they couldget out of showing up to school today. Ms. Alphys would call home for anyone who is absent, and with Kris, she wouldn’t even needto pick up the phone.
Kris sluggishly drags themself to school, feeling their congested face droop with snot as they walk. By the time Kris makes it through the front doors their sweater sleeve is noticeably moist with snot. Just great.
They make it to their classroom and drop down heavily into their seat, forehead immediately making contact with their desk. Maybe theycan get in a Power Nap before the bell rings. Itwouldn’t help much but it would be nice regardless.
“Kris!”
Well there goes that plan. Kris doesn’t lift their head, maybe if they pretend to sleep they’ll get left alone.
Of course, it’s Susie. “When’s the last time you got to school this early?” She jokes, plopping her tush down on the bare part of Kris’s desk.
Kris groans as their nose drips into their lap. Gross.
“He-lloooo?” She musses their hair, causes more snot to shake loose. Kris sits up only tohave some control over the gravity, soggy sweater sleeves race to cover their leaky nose.
“What?” They croak miserably, lamely smearing their snot around. “Guh…”
Susie’s demeanor immediately shifts, looking alert. “Whoa, gross,” she starts, “I mean, uh, sorry— you feeling okay? You look kind of… terrible.”
“I feel terrible.” Kris responds bluntly.
“No kidding… you look paler than your mom.s coat.” She sounds worried. Kris feels their heart swell painfully. “And puffy.” Susie adds.
Kris wordlessly flips her off, dropping their head back onto the desk.
“Hey!” Susie grabs Kris by the forehead and drags their head back up. “That means you should go home, numb-nuts!”
“I cand’t,” they explain, “Mom’ll get mad.”
Susie’s face scrunches in a mixture of frustration and confusion. “The hell? No she won’t! She’d want you to rest!”
“Susie..,” Kris trails.
“What?”
Kris takes a breath to speak but their irritated nose has had enough. Betrayed by their body, a violent sneeze erupts from Kris’ open and uncovered mouth. “hhA’TSHEIU!”
Susie lets go of Kris’ head and throws herself off the desk. “Augh, sick!”
“Yes.” Kris retorts dryly.
“Well,” Susie looks softer, “did that at least help?”
Kris’s itchy nose scrunches on their face and they reach up to cover this time, getting overstimulated by just how soggy their sleeve is. It’s really no help at this point, it’ll probably only make them more raw and irritated, but they can’t just not cover, especially not at school. “ihhh…”
Susie grabs Jockington’s binder from his desk and holds it over her face like a shield.
“Ihh… heh… HUH’TSCHOO!” Kris sneezes into their elbow and feels a wave of irritation wash over their sinuses. “HAH’CHOO, HIT’TSIU, hah— hu’SHOO!”
“Bless you—“ Susie gets cut off by Ms. Alphys, who must’ve come in when they weren’t looking.
“—Kris!” She pads over quickly to Kris’ desk with a blue slip. “Take this to the nurse, please.” Ms. Alphys is quick to swipe their backpack from under their desk and hand it to Susie. “Susie, if you’d walk them to the office, I’ll let their mother know.”
“You got it Ms. A” Susie slings Kris’ pack over her shoulder and grabs Kris by the scruff of their sweater. “C’mon, you.”
“hheh’SHIEUUU!” Kris sneezes.
“Yeah, gross.”