Chapter Text
Wes looked across the room to where Cody was sitting.
It was twenty minutes into the lecture. Cody and him had long made the decision to be farther away from each other for their shared core classes. They talked too much and it lowered themselves in the eyes of their professors as well as their grades.
Not enough for a letter change but enough for them to be distressed.
Frankie had been able to take an exam to pass most of the core classes that Cody, Priscilla, and himself had to take. Along with the other roommate that Cody seemed to know way more than the rest. Tabitha, or Tabby, wasn’t from Griffin Rock, unlike the rest of them.
Although Cody seemed to be quite familiar with the girl. When Wes questioned him about this he just spewed something about his mysterious mentor. Frankie apparently knew what he was talking about but refused to share the information with the rest of them.
Wes turned his attention back to his friend that was across the room. Cody hadn’t been feeling that well last night, not that Wes had been home. He just heard it from Frankie who was still in their shared apartment.
The apartment had five beds and four bedrooms. Frankie needed room for all her science-y stuff that Wes could never wrap his head around. Cody had chosen the smallest room for himself. As a result no one wanted to share that room although the bed was a double bed. With that Wes was not allowed to share a room with the girls so he got the next smaller room with only a single bed.
So that had left Priscilla and Tabby having to share. Tabby hadn’t cared. Priscilla had put up a fuss initially because she didn’t want to share a room with the unfamiliar girl. But Priscilla seemed to see that Tabby wasn’t a danger to them and didn’t take up much space in their shared room.
The apartment was large. A four bedroom apartment was expensive, especially since it was so close to their college campus. If it was a dorm room then maybe their scholarships could have covered only a fraction but it wasn’t even a dorm.
They were freshmen for the first time leaving their homes that they had spent their entire lives—with the expectation of Priscilla– they had wanted their college experience to be as good as possible.
It was Frankie’s idea to get an apartment.
Cody’s father had paid for a small portion of the apartment along with Frankie’s father. Priscilla’s mom wasn’t that willing to chip in but she had decided to do so. Wes’ family did NOT chip in for the cost of the apartment due to the lack of easily spendable money.
But that caused a big gap of what was left for the rent of the apartment. The large reminder was paid by Cody’s, once again, mysterious mentor.
Wes shook his head squinting at his roommate. Trying to focus back on the professor and her words but his gaze kept on going towards his friend.
He was worried.
Cody caught Dr. Warren’s eye before gesturing for him to leave. She gave him a quick nod and he quickly sat up before leaving the class. All in accordance with the course syllabus.
Wes returned his focus back to Professor Warren’s lesson. As more and more time passed by without Cody returning, Wes got increasingly worried.
Dr Warren seemed to share his sentiment. She kept looking back at the door. Cody usually kept his breaks under ten minutes. While Cody had earned the privilege for his breaks to be fifteen minutes, he much preferred to keep them shorter.
Wes shifted in his seat as they transferred into independent work. Doing their assignment on the case files for the day. Cody still wasn’t back.
It had been thirty minutes. Far over the allowed time.
Dr Warren cleared her throat as she approached him, “Wes, I know you’re friends with Cody. This behavior is abnormal for him. I would like you to try and find him, preferably bringing him back. I will not be docking participation points for this.”
“Thank you professor,” Wes scrambled to his feet before leaving the room.
Wes made his way to the cafe that was attached to the building. It was one of the cafes that Priscilla and Cody favored. Along with the fact that it was a quiet place.
Wes opened the door and the barista looked up at him and smiled as the bell rang. It was the barista that they normally encountered at the cafe.
“Hello Wes,” she smiled, “How can I help you today? Do you want your normal order?”
“Sorry,” Wes replied, “I’m looking for Cody, have you seen him?”
The barista frowned, “I’m sorry, I haven’t.”
Wes forced on a smile, “It’s okay. See you some other time.”
Be left quickly making his way to the next place he could imagine Cody going. The closest gender neutral bathroom.
Wes did really understand why Cody preferred this bathroom since he was born and identifies as male, Cody had muttered something about it feeling safer.
Wes didn’t really understand that but he accepted it as an answer regardless.
The walk itself took about three minutes. From the class that they had left the walk would have been four minutes or five if the foot traffic was especially bad.
Another reason why Wes thought it was more effort than it was worth. The closest gendered bathroom was only a one and a half minute walk at worst.
Finally Wes arrived at his destination. He pulled open the door and looked around. Four out of the seven stalls were taken as a group of three gender ambiguous people stood outside by the sinks blocking the way.
Wes guessed one of them was a humanities major while the other two were most likely something like theater, band, or orchestra due to the short blue and medium length cherry red hair coloring. They were muttering something to each other and glancing at the entrance to the bathroom.
“Cody are you in here?” Wes called into the room, hoping for his friend to respond.
One of the people walked over to him. The one with the electric blue hair.
“Hello, does this Cody person have blonde hair? Wearing some sort of brown jacket with some sort of fluff on top? Green shirt?”
“Uh yes?” Wes hesitated.
“Oh well, Alley went to go find the school nurse.”
“And where is he now…?” Wes trailed off, “Is he okay?”
The person hesitated before the cherry red haired person started, “Well… he’s not GOOD. Another one of our group went with him to grab water with him.”
“Isn’t that a bad idea if you already send one of your friends to get the campus nurse?” Wes hesitated.
“It was Alley’s idea so I assume so.” Cherry hair replied, “She said he had to stay hydrated after all that…”
“After all what?” Wes asked, eyes sharpening.
“Well,” Electric Blue started again, “He was throwing up quite a bit… and Alley’s studying to be a nurse so she advised our friend to get water with him while she went to grab the campus nurse if she’s still on campus. As we already said.”
“And Alley knows him from one of their shared electives,” Cherry added.
“Which is?” Wes asked.
The two shrugged.
Wes sweatdropped.
Well that wasn’t helpful.
“Alley will be back soon,” Wes looked over at the person who he assumed was a humanities major.
While Cherry and Electric Blues’ genders were ambiguous, which was why he avoided using any pronouns at all. He didn’t want to offend them, he had found when it was ambiguous most people would be happier to be called neutral pronouns then straight up the wrong ones.
If Wes were in a gendered bathroom he could be more certain, but that wasn’t the case.
On the other side the humanities major’s gender seemed clearer than the other two.
The person had long strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes while wearing a pastel pink skirt and a Kirby jacket.
An interesting combo for sure.
So with all that Wes assumed that they were female. But for all he knew they could be a crossdresser but he doubted it.
“Let’s hope your friend is back by then,” they finished.
Electric blue looked at Wes again before looking back at the strawberry blonde women, “I still don’t quite understand how your parents decided Allegra was a good name for your sister while naming you Calliope. At least Calliope is a more normal name…”
Calliope shrugged, going back to her phone, “I don’t know what to tell you man.”
“Anyways,” Cherry turned their attention back to Wes, “Alley also sort of didn’t want your friend to be on the nasty bathroom floors.”
“They aren’t as nasty as you’re making them seem.” Electric Blue corrected.
Cherry rolled their eyes, “It’s not as repulsive as what Electric Blue says the boy bathroom was at her middle school. But it's still not good. Is that better?”
Electric Blue shrugged, “I don’t care.”
Calliope looked up from her phone again, “Wes was it?”
He nodded, uncomfortable, obviously not being included in this entirely new social group.
She nodded, “So our friend is bringing your friend back while Alley and the campus nurse are on their way. Anyone want to take bets on who will arrive first?”
Electric blue immediately jumped onto the conversation, “five dollars says Alley arrives first. She sets her mind on things and gets them done.”
“Nah,” Cherry rolled their eyes before gesturing to him, “The boy’s friend will get here first. Ten dollars.”
“What about you?” Calliope turned to him, clearly trying to involve him a little.
“I don’t want to bet on something that involves the health of my friend. Plus I’m not a person who likes gambling.” Wes huffed.
Calliope shrugged, “Fair enough.”
“Why aren’t you?” Wes asked.
Cherry rolled their eyes, “She’s not allowed to.”
“She’s always right!” Electric Blue complained, “It’s so unfair!”
“What sore losers,” Calliope cooed.
“So what years are you three in?” Wes asked, “I’m a freshman…”
“AWWW an itty-bitty freshman!” Cherry cooed.
Electric Blue snorted, “Like you can talk, college sophomore.”
“Watch it.” Cherry shot her a glare.
“Stop your insufferable flirting.” Calliope groaned.
“My friend?” Wes asked again.
“Yeah yeah, we know, we know,” Electric blue rolled her eyes. “We’re waiting here for both groups to arrive.”
The door swung open, “Oh thank goodness! You’re still here.”
Wes looked to the entrance of the bathroom again.
His eyes focused on the two people entering the bathroom. The first was a skinny, dark haired, brown eyed, probably boy and the next one was clearly being supported by the other. He was a blonde boy with dark colored eyes…
Wes’ eyes widened, “Cody?!”
He rushed over to his friend, “Are you okay?”
Cody gave a nod, swallowed, then finally spoke, “Went to get some water.”
Cherry looked at Calliope, “Where’s your sister?”
“I don’t have a tracking chip in here.” Calliope replied plainly.
“You kind of do, actually…” Electric Blue piped up, “You track her phone.”
“I’m not checking that. She said she’s on her way so she’s on her way.”
As the group carried on with their very clear social group bonding the dark haired boy awkwardly looked at him, “Can you take your friend from me?”
Cody rolled his eyes, “I can walk on my own.”
“Sure you can…” the dark haired boy trailed off, “But how about just in case you allow your friend to support you. Physically. Not saying that you can’t but when Alley and the nurse get here they’ll be more happy to see you on the bathroom floor.”
“I can stand.” Cody glared at the boy before turning his gaze to Wes, “You believe me, right? Wes?”
Wes shrugged, “I mean I don’t really want you on the bathroom floor just in case you can’t…”
“Traitor.” Cody muttered as the dark haired boy transferred him to be leaning his body weight on Wes.
The dark haired boy looked at the group of his friends, “Okay girlies and you,” he gestured to Cherry who glared at him. “I really need to get to my next class. I hope this thing goes well.”
He waved before exiting the room as Wes stared after him.
Wes leaned against the wall as Cody was very clearly leaning fully on him, “Cody, you're leaning on me.”
Cody hummed, closing his eyes and pressing his face into Wes’ shoulders/ "I'm cold.”
Wes frowned, raising his hand to Cody’s forehead. “Well you might feel that way but you actually feel really warm…”
Cody didn’t speak again. Just made a simple hum.
A few more minutes passed while the three friends talked and Cody was supported by Wes, himself.
Their savior, with short strawberry blonde hair and green eyes wearing black linen pants and a simple white T-shirt, followed by the nurse of their college campus.
A woman of short stature. Dark colored hair and eyes. She was wearing an outfit almost identical to the other person, The student who Wes assumed was this Alley person, the only difference was that both the shirt and pants were navy blue.
The nurse’s sharp eyes filtered through their little group before focusing on Cody.
She turned her attention to Wes after noticing he was supporting the boy, “You. You’re this boy’s friend right?”
Wes nodded, he shifted onto his left foot. The scrutinizing eyes of the older woman making him deeply uncomfortable.
Calliope walked up to her sister, “Alls, so glad you could join us.”
Alley rolled her eyes, “don’t you have a class to get to?”
Calliope froze.
“Shit.” She looked to the door, “you’re right!”
Electric Blue looked at her watch that Wes hadn’t noticed earlier, “oh no, wait I have a class to get to as well.”
Cherry shrugged, “I’ve been skipping.”
Alley shot her a glare, “Okay then you can go to the nurse’s office with us.”
The campus nurse walked up to Cody, “Young man, come with me to my office. I brought the golf cart with me.”
“Im okay…” Cody murmured.
Which convinced nobody. So the nurse took Cody from leaning on Wes to lean on her.
“Alley. I’d like you to come with us. You can practice taking vitals. And this,” she gestured to Wes, “boy can come with us as well.”
She turned her attention to the rest of the people, “to the rest of you. I insist you guys go to your classes.”
Cherry looked down and whined, “fine…”
Alley opened the door and held it open as everyone left. The Nurse and Alley got themselves and Cody onto the campus nurse’s golf cart.
Wes awkwardly joined them as Electric Blue and Cherry started walking to what he presumed was their classes. He doubted it for Cherry.
The ride was longer than Wes would have liked it. They arrived at the building that contained the campus nurse office without any fanfare.
Alley took the role of supporting Cody while the blonde complained that he could walk himself.
They paid these complaints no mind while Wes awkwardly trailed behind them.
The Campus Nurse helped Alley sit Cody down while Wes still just stood there.
Cody looked at the Nurse while she took his temperature, “Hey so I’m meant to be in psychology with Dr. Noelle Warren. She doesn’t like it when her students are gone for that long. I’ve already been gone for way more of the time I was allowed to be gone for. I’m fine.”
The Nurse put away the thermometer before looking at him, “No. I’ll send her an email. You are not going back to class.”
She looked at Wes, “I’m assuming Dr. Noelle asked you to come after him?”
Wes nodded.
She sighed, “Go get your guys’ stuff. I’ll be excusing both of you for psych class.”
Cody groaned, “I have two classes today. I’m fine.”
“Nope.” The campus Nurse said, like it was the end of the discussion. Any other argument wouldn’t change her mind.
Wes believed it too.
“Yeah..” Alley looked at Cody, “Those are some pretty bold words from someone who was just vomiting in a bathroom not even an hour ago. Plus you come from an emergency response background sooooo ....”
Cody didn’t say anything. Just glared at her before glaring at the floor.
The Campus Nurse sighed again—Like this interaction was growing tiring– looking at Alley “I’m going to have you take his vitals while I write it down. And he can go pick up his and his friend’s stuff.”
Cody moved to open his mouth to try and argue again but she cut him off, “and I’ll be messaging Dr. Noelle Warren to excuse your absences and find a way to make up the points for the day. Go.”
Wes didn’t know what to say so he just awkwardly pat Cody’s shoulders before slipping out the door, making his way back to the classroom.
The walk was uncomfortable, it felt quieter than the walk to the bathroom felt. There were less students. Maybe more classes started since then?
Wes didn’t know.
All he knew was he was missing a very hard class to make up work for and that one of his best friends was in the nurse’s office because he was sick and got sick during their class period.
Wes silently entered the classroom going to his desk to pack up his stuff first. He had assumed that he’d just have to bring Cody back and they could resume classes. He quietly packed his stuff into his backpack.
Next he moved on to Cody’s area. Wes could feel the eyes of his classmates’ gazes.
He looked over to his professor who was very focused on another student’s work. He looked back at his friend’s workspace.
Cody obviously hadn’t seen this coming either. Or he had been in too much of a rush to go to the bathroom to think about somewhat packing up.
On Cody’s desk was his computer.
Luckily shut.
It must have been the only thing he’d done before going to the bathroom. Everything else Cody uses in his class weren’t even in the containers he usually kept them in. His colored pens, black pen, white-out tape, a pencil, and for some reason a calculator along with his notebook and some loose leaf paper.
Wes dug around in Cody’s bag before finding what he was looking for.
It was a container just for Cody’s pens. Not his pencils, eraser, white-out tape. Just his pens.
Wes had asked Cody to explain it before and Cody had just said that it was his pen case.
Like that made sense. It made sense to Cody, and Frankie seemed to understand as well. Wes accepted it and moved on.
It wouldn’t have changed anything in their friendship anyways. It was just a strange habit that Wes had wanted to understand more.
Cody, unfortunately, had a lot of colored pens. Like he was trying to fill the pages of his notebooks for his classes with color. Cody had insisted that it was color coded but Wes had been too lost in the explanation so he had just nodded and said okay.
Wes moved to grab the more basic case for the rest of supplies. That was finished more quickly.
It didn’t require any sort of order. Cody preferred his pens to be in color order.
Rainbow order.
Wes hadn’t noticed but he heard Dr. Warren’s throat clear, “I see you did not bring Cody back?”
Wes shook his head, “No, We’re going back to our apartment. The campus nurse said that she’d email you later.”
The professor sighed, “Okay. Do you need any help?”
Wes shook his head, “No thank you miss. I can do it.”
“Okay. Be safe, you two, on your way home.” She looked back at him, “I have to go help your classmates with their assignment.”
Wes nodded, going back to packing up Cody’s bag. Slipping his computer and notebook into the bag and putting the two containers on top. Once she saw he really was okay their professor walked away.
Wes got up after zipping Cody’s bag.
Slinging it over his shoulder, as he had his own backpack on his back. He caught Dr. Warren’s eye, waiting for her to nod, before he left.
Wes arrived back at the campus nurse’s office where he saw that Cody was laying on one of the simple couch like beds that Cody and Frankie had both called ‘recovery couches’.
Alley had left was one of the first things that Wes noticed while the nurse was on her computer. Once she finished she sighed and turned in her chair to look at him.
“What is your relationship with him?” She asked plainly.
“I’m his roommate.” Wes answered, “We share an apartment with three other people.”
She hummed, “Do you have a car to drive him home with?”
Wes shook his head, “No one of our other roommates has it for the day.”
The nurse pinched her nose, “Can you get there on public transportation?”
Wes thought for a moment, “Not fully but we can get there from a ride app…?”
“That will have to work,” the college nurse groaned— clearly becoming more and more exhausted with this in the morning medical event—“I’m going to give your friend a mask to wear in the car.”
“Wait, is he contagious?” Wes asked nervously.
“I assume so. He’s throwing up and has a fever, so influenza fits the bill. However, it's not in my scope of practice to diagnose anything.”
The nurse disappeared into the back room bringing back a mask in a plastic wrap, “It’s a KF94 mask. I don’t expect you two to know what that means but you should really take him home. Make sure he gets rest and drinks water.”
Wes nodded, “Okay. Thank you.”
“I mean actual water too, if you can get him to drink juice as well that would be great,” The nurse hesitated for a minute before speaking again, “You and your roommates should try and make it so he isn’t alone for more than three hours. If he gets much worse I’d recommend you take him to the hospital. ”
“Do you think he’ll get worse?” Wes asked anxiously.
“Most college students recover at home. But there are certain symptoms where you stop waiting it out, and should smarten up and go to the hospital.”
The nurse thought for another minute, “I don’t know the likelihood of that but you should see it as a possibility. And since you college kids seem to like to push your bodies to the limit. If his fever worsens above 102℉ you should definitely give him fever reducer. Advil should do fine. If it gets over…. Lets say…” she paused, “104.6℉ you should one hundred percent go to the hospital. Just at 104℉ you should. If his fever persists longer than even four days while still having one on fever reducers you should bring him there too.”
“Is that all?” Wes asked, certain he should have taken notes. He was positive he wouldn’t remember all this.
“Yes.” She nodded, “I know I stated this but make sure he’s drinking water or juice. With all his vomiting he should be trying to stay hydrated.”
“Okay thanks for the help.” Wes said walking over to where Cody was lying down, “You awake?”
Cody hummed, “Yeah. A very tiny bit lightheaded though.”
“It’s time to go back to the apartment.” Wes patted his arm. Unable to reach his back.
Cody groaned, “You couldn’t convince her to let me do my classes?”
“Cody.” Wes looked at him as Cody weary opened his eyes, “I’m not on your side of you staying in class. I agree with the school nurse.”
“You’re both being overdramatic.” Cody complained as Wes helped him up.
“Say that to the student nurse and her friends that were hearing you throw up in the campus bathroom and decided to get the nurse. Also those are some words coming from the guy who can’t walk on his own two feet.”
“Why is everyone against me?” Cody whined.
Wes helped Cody walk to a bench covered in shade. Provided by a tree as he put out a request for someone to take their ride request.
“Its because you’re wrong.”
“I’m not!” Cody argued, “I said I’m fine!”
“Full offense but Cody,” Wes paused, “But even in high school you had a habit of saying you were fine when you clearly weren’t.”
“Did not.” Cody said stubbornly.
“Do you want examples?” Wes asked
“Yes, because it's never happened.” Cody replied.
“Okay so there was that time where you were pushed down the stairs in an act of bullying and you said you were fine as blood dribbled out your nose as Frankie and I dragged you to the nurse.”
“I was fine!” Cody exclaimed.
“Your sister brought you to the island clinic and you had a concussion.” Wes deadpanned.
“I was fine. It wasn’t that bad.” Cody said, certain he was correct.
“Dani sure didn’t think so. You couldn’t even tolerate the TV screen.” Wes groaned, “You threw up. That wasn’t fine.”
“Well. I’m fine now.” Cody said confidently, “Nothing is wrong with me now.”
“I’m not certain of that.” Wes groaned, tired of this conversation.
“Hey!” Cody glared at him as he put on the mask that Wes handed him.
Wes looked at his phone, “Our car is here.”
“Finally.” Cody inhaled and exhaled carefully squeezing his eyes, “But still unnecessary.”
“Sure…” Wes said sarcastically.
Cody tried to stop leaning on him as much and tripped, most likely misplaced a step, Wes grabbed him and pulled him back up and opened the car’s door pushing Cody into the car before crawling in after him.
“Where are you two going?” The driver asked and Wes rattled off the address of their apartment building.
After a few minutes Cody had apparently had enough and flopped onto Wes’s shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Believing me now?” Wes asked, pointedly.
“No. You’re still wrong.” Cody slurred, pressing his face into Wes’ shoulder.
“What’s wrong with your friend?” The driver asked, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.
“He’s sick.” Wes replied.
As Cody said at the same time, “Nothing.”
Wes could see the driver rolling his eyes, “Yeah, yeah, just don’t throw up in my car.”
“Mmfine…” Cody spoke, wrapping his arms around Wes, pressing harder into his shoulders.
“Are you lying?” Wes asked.
Cody breathed deeply, “No.”
Wes was not convinced.
Wes looked up to meet the driver’s eyes through the rearview mirror, “How about being careful just in case?”
The driver nodded, “Okay.”
They spent most of the time in silence with Cody dozing off and Wes not far off.
Wes knew it was a bad idea. Cody’s mentor had definitely scared Cody by telling him a bunch of stories about reasons why he should be observant in places where he wasn’t fully safe. Wes had gotten a similar lecture from his parents but less anecdotes from people they knew.
But they had decent reasons to be sleepy, tired, and not with the universe!
As much as he was denying it, Cody was sick and they had both woken up early for this class.
Wes barely heard the sound of the driver swearing before he hit the breaks suddenly. It caused the car to swerve and Wes was suddenly very awake as Cody pulled himself into Wes tighter as another hand quickly moved to press against his mouth.
Wes felt Cody heave against him and he quickly pulled Cody closer to him.
Preparing for Cody to throw up but he didn’t to Wes’ surprise.
“Sorry Boys,” the driver said out of breath, “Someone ran a red light.”
“It’s okay,” Wes replied shakily.
“I hope your friend didn’t throw up from that?”
“He didn’t.” Wes replied slowly.
The driver sighed in relief, “That’s good. That’s a pain to get cleaned up.”
Wes sighed as they started moving again. Cody loosened his arms around Wes and removed his hand from his mouth, clearly awake now.
Soon after the driver drove into the parking area for their apartment complex and the driver asked, “where do you want me to park?”
“Here’s fine.” Wes spoke the words he’s spoken so many times before.
“Okay.” The driver pulled in to let them out, “I have children of my own. Make sure your friend drinks water.”
Wes nodded helping Cody out of the car, “Okay, thank you. Have a nice day.”
Wes fished the apartment card out of his pocket as they got to the gate. He swiped it against the reader and the lock clicked signaling he could now open it.
So he did just that making sure the gate locked behind him. It was a strict policy for the apartment complex.
If someone got in on their card that wasn’t meant to be there then that would be a fine to them.
And if they broke something? The fine would be way higher.
But that wasn’t the problem.
The current problem was… stairs.
Wes looked up at the horrible stairs.
He doubted that he could fully help Cody up the stairs.
Cody leaned onto him, “Too bad the elevator broke last week..”
“Don’t remind me.” Wes groaned, “How are we going to get up the stairs?”
“Well I mean…” Cody trailed off, exhaustion still present while the sleepiness was gone from the car.
“If you’re going to say you can walk, then I swear–” Wes started.
“I can!” Cody cut him off.
“Okay, yeah,” Wes snorted.
“I totally can.”
“We’ll see, I guess..” Wes groaned, “Because climbing up stairs is hard enough as it is. I won’t be able to take most of your body weight like I’m doing now.”
“I’m not leaning that much on you..” Cody trailed off, before realizing he indeed was.
Wes took another look at his friend. He was pale however his face was flushed, either from the embarrassment or the fever.
Or maybe both.
Cody swallowed heavily and leaned against Wes. Hard. Shutting his eyes.
“Not convincing, Cody.” Wes pointed out.
“Shut up.” Cody groaned, “I’m preparing myself.”
“That’s still the opposite of convincing because if you’re preparing yourself that isn’t good.” Wes tapped Cody’s forehead.
Cody swatted his hand away before standing slowly.
It was shaky as hell but he was standing and grinning like he was proving him wrong. Wes rolled his eyes and started up the stairs.
He could hear Cody’s footsteps very clearly. That was rather unusually for his friend by itself.
Cody had learned how to make his footsteps decently quiet even while running. Which meant he probably wasn’t using the energy to make them quiet. Although Cody always complained that his footsteps were still louder than the three people who had taught him to make them quiet. It was still much quieter than Wes could ever manage to get his to be.
Wes glanced behind him while continuing up the stairs to make sure Cody wasn’t about to pass out and fall down the stairs.
Cody was breathing heavily and he was clutching the stair railing tight enough that his hands seemed white. Luckily seemed to return to their more normal color when he removed them, which Wes’ in-progress-medical-training told him at least Cody’s blood flow was okay.
Cody was also doing the thing where he uses both hands to go on the railing. Rather than his normal ‘no railing’ he did when he went up stairs.
Once Wes finished going up the flight of stairs for their apartment, removing their card out of his pocket. Where he put it when he was done with it at the gate. They had a key as well in case the cards stopped working but that hadn’t happened yet.
Wes personally didn’t keep his key on him, but he knew Cody’s was buried at the bottom of his bag and Frankie was in a similar, yet more organized, boat.
Wes didn’t know about the other two, however.
He looked back again at Cody who seemed to have, once finished going up the stairs, collapsed. He was kneeling, with his head and arms against the wall. He had taken off the mask the nurse had given him as well.
Wes raised his eyebrow, “Wonderful job convincing me, Cody. And I still have both of our bags.”
Cody reached for the railing again and forced himself up, “I’m fine. Just a bit out of breath!”
“Again.” Wes rolled his eyes, swiping the key card as Cody slowly walked over to their door. “Not convincing because I’ve seen you run up a much longer flight of stairs.”
Wes opened the door and grabbed Cody’s arm, pulling him in.
“I never said I wasn’t sick!” Cody said, “I said I was fine. And I am!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Wes was done with this conversation, “I know you think that, but we’re home now.”
Cody grumbled.
“Why are you two home already?” A voice called to them.
Frankie.
“Wes is being dramatic again.” Cody called back, “He thinks I’m too sick to be in class.”
“Did you forget?” Frankie sighed, “”I told you, you were too sick and you shouldn’t go last night. It’s not just Wes’ opinion.”
Cody shoved Wes’ arm off him as they turned the corner to actually be in the kitchen of their apartment.
Frankie was all dressed in a white t-shirt, jeans, and a white lab coat. She had her laptop out and a bunch of pieces of paper spread out on the kitchen table.
Why was she not in her room at her desk? Wes didn’t know, however he assumed it was due to the large amount of space.
“Goodness, Codes.” Frankie looked up, “You look far worse than last night.”
“Wow.” Cody grumbled, “So much encouragement.”
“You should lie down, Cody.” Frankie said, seemingly looking more closely at Cody. Likely noticing more things than Wes, she was more observant than him after all. Something that was proven time after time.
Wes felt like he wouldn't measure up to the two with their observance capabilities, however that wasn’t the current focus of the moment.
“Yeah. You should probably have a shower before though…” Wes added, “I don’t know for sure but no bathroom floor can be clean.”
“Bathroom floor?” Frankie asked, eyes sharpening.
“He was throwing up.” Wes stated.
“Again?” Frankie looked at Cody, “I’m guessing you are still fighting to go to class?”
“It wasn’t that bad!”
“You concerned a group of five entire people in that bathroom. You worried both the driver and Dr. Warren.” Wes deadpanned.
“Fine…” Cody grumbled walking towards his room.
“Put on some pajamas!” Wes called after him as he disappeared into his room.
As soon as Cody walked from his room to the bathroom and the shower turned on Frankie quickly got up and held onto Wes’ shoulders.
“Okay. What in the thermodynamic entropy happened? He looks substantially worse than last night.”
“Okay, so,” Wes paused, “We were in class. Dr. Warren’s class.”
“Isn’t her class…” Frankie hesitated, "critical to miss?”
“It’s not good in any way term of the word,” Wes replied, “But I think she’ll understand. Especially since the campus nurse said she’d send an email to her.”
“That’s good at least,” Frankie sighed in relief, “Anything else?”
“Well, Dr. Warren sent me out to go find him after he passed his personally allowed time by about five minutes. I found him in the bathroom. The gender neutral one he likes to use. Still don’t quite understand why he uses that one…”
“It's for the feeling of increased safety.” Frankie said. Repeating the explanation Cody had given him.
“Yeah that didn’t make sense the first time and it still doesn’t. But whatever,” Wes carried on, “So then I found out that someone got concerned and went to get the nurse and someone else went to bring him some water. And it was really awkward because I didn’t know them…”
“Then?” Frankie asked, patience diminishing in her tone.
“Well then, eventually, Cody came back and the nurse took us to her office when she arrived. The nurse took Cody’s temperature and sent me to grab our stuff.” Wes continued with the tale that had just happened, “Then we got into a car. He almost threw up. And now we’re here.”
“What in the lasting continuum…” Frankie sighed, “I’m guessing that he tried to pretend he was fine?”
Wes nodded, “The campus nurse said we shouldn’t leave him alone for more than three hours.”
Frankie groaned, “I’ll need to get to class in about an hour… when Priscilla and Tabby get home later tonight we should address how we should schedule this. I know for a fact there are some classes we can’t miss, along with work for some of us… When is your next class?”
“Ten at night.” Wes groaned, “Also it’s less of a class and more mandatory hours..”
“Got it…” Frankie sighed, “We’ll have to come up with it before then. Now excuse me, I have to work on this assignment.”
Wes headed to his room to change his clothes. The stress caused him to sweat more than he’d like plus he was out of the house. He heard the shower stop and a few more minutes passed before the bathroom door opened and Cody’s bedroom door closed.
Wes waited a few minutes before walking over and knocking on the door, waiting a few minutes, before deciding to enter anyways.
Cody was curled up in the fetal position with the large towel he uses wrapped around his body.
“Cody,” Wes said, “Why are you just in a towel? That’s kind of pathetic and not convincing that you are ‘fine’... Do you need help?”
“No…” Cody trailed off, “I can.. do ‘t… jus’ needa moment…”
“Can I brush your hair at least?”
Cody nodded slowly.
Wes went to grab the hair brush he knew Cody used and carefully brushed his friend’s lovely blonde hair.
“There!” Wes smiled finishing brushing Cody’s hair.
“Thank you..” Cody strained, “Ima change. Then Ima sleep..”
“You do that…” Wes replied softly.
Wes left the room to go work on his own assignments, hoping that this would end well with no lasting damage and of course in a short window of time.