Work Text:
12 PM.
Skip lay in their hospital bed, scrolling on their phone like that could help anything. A few days in the hospital seemed bad but it really wasn't.
They got distracted from their phone at the sound of the door opening. A nurse stood in the doorway.
“You have a visitor,” she said, opening the door to let whoever was visiting in.
They felt sick at who it was.
Jeremy Heere.
The nurse stepped aside to let him in, and as soon as he did she closed the door and left.
He stood there, fidgeting near the doorway before they spoke up.
“Well look who the cat dragged in,” they said sourly.
“Hello to you too,” he said back. He walked over and took the seat next to their bed.
“Why are you here?” They asked, crossing their arms. He was the reason this happened, seeing him was the last thing they needed.
“I-I heard what happened. I wanted to just… check up on you.” He fidgeted in his seat.
“You have no reason. We aren't friends,” they said, barely disguising their anger.
“It's just the good thing to do.”
“Not when the person hates you,” they said, glaring at him.
“I think it still is, even if you hate me,” he said. They rolled their eyes.
Silence began stretching between them. Skip wanted nothing more than for Jeremy to leave. Jeremy glanced at the door before speaking again.
“How did it even happen?” he asked, looking at them directly.
“I-it was an accident.” They looked down at their blanket. “I was cutting a potato and my hand slipped, I tried to grab the knife and it…” they trailed off. Jeremy just nodded.
“Nobody else really knows,” he said.
“How did you figure it out?” They asked, staring suspiciously.
“Your parents told me,” he muttered. Seeing the look they gave him he explained more. “T-they think we're still friends.”
Skip groaned and laid back down.
“I can tell them we're not anymo–”
“No!” They sat up quickly and winced. “Don't tell them.”
“Why?”
“Because! They get all worried about me and constantly pester me and that's not what I need right now!”
Jeremy went quiet as they stopped talking. It was probably for the better, they didn't need to have a breakdown in the hospital… that they were in because of a breakdown.
“Hey.” They glared at him. “What's that on your wrist?” He reached out to see but they snatched their wrist away.
“It's nothing.” They snapped
“But–”
“I think visiting hours are over, Jeremy Heere.”
He hung his head and stood up, making his way to the door.
“Get better soon,” he mumbled as he left.
They laid back in their hospital bed as the door closed. They stared at the marks on their wrist, guilt washing over them. It was just a few more days, that's all it was till they could leave and be back home.
Well…
As close as they could get, at least.