7 7-Extra Large Order of Truth (1/2)
It's been three weeks since Zayne and I kissed, and every couple days since and every weekend we've hung out. Arriana has been great covering for me, she's spent a lot of time actually studying to cover for me leaving the house. While Tempe and Caira don't like her being M.I.A, Zayne and I certainly appreciate her efforts. Zayne and I had gone to Dallas over the weekend and at a shop in one of the malls he found a cute pink granite phone case and a book of 100+ recipes of cakes you can make in a coffee mug, he put that and some face masks and candy in a basket for Arriana to thank her for everything she's done since the first day of school, to thank her for being there for us.
Physics is boring as hell but it got easier when Zayne finally shook his cold, I was lucky I didn't catch it. That would have raised suspicion seeing as no one else in school got sick.
I'm sitting waiting for him to come into class when my phone buzzes.
I'm gonna be late. Not feeling too hot, could be a bit so don't panic when I'm not there
I stare at my phone for a minute, he couldn't be getting sick again could he? I type a reply as the bell rings.
Your always hot ;)
Where are you?
Mr. Roe comes in and starts taking attendance, Zayne's name is high on the list given his last name starts with a D.
”Anyone seen him today?” Mr. Roe looks at us all, especially me, over the top of his glasses.
”He probably had a fairy convention to go to, had to poison the minds of sleeping children,” Conrad mutters to his friends sending them all into a laugh fest.
They shut down when Mr. Roe took off his glasses.
”I saw him in the halls, he's probably in the bathroom or something,” I say with a shrug as Mr. Roe looks back at the paper, marking him tardy I assume.
My phone buzzes.
In the bathroom by the office, I'm fine really. Just out of it today, take notes for me
After half of class goes by, and he's still not here, I text him to make sure he's not hurt. No response.
”Mr. Roe?” I watch him as he turns from the blackboard, stunned that someone interrupted him, I'll get it for that later, ”Can I go to the bathroom?”
He nods his head to the door and I leave. Once out of sight of the door I dart to the bathroom he said he was in.
I go in and it's so quiet, I don't see anyone or any feet under the doors, but I see a backpack covered in pins for Linkin Park, Neon Trees, Disney and more just like Zayne's. I text him to see if the backpack buzzes. When it does I knock gently on the door.
”Zayne?” I whisper gently, ”What's going on, are you ok?”
I hear some movement and see feet drop onto the floor, he unlocks the stall door and steps out with his bag.
”I'm fine,” but he really isn't, he looks pale and sick, his hair is a mess and his hands shake, ”I didn't sleep well, I must have fallen asleep in here.”
”Zayne you can barely stand up, what's going on?”
”Nothing!” He snaps and smacks my hand away when I try to steady him.
He starts to stumble the way most do why they get light headed. I catch him and sit him down against the wall.
”Zayne, I won't ask again. What's going on? Don't make me call your mom.”
”Just tired and a little hungry I guess, I couldn't sleep and when I missed my alarm I skipped breakfast.”
This is a lot more than one bad night's sleep and one missed meal. My mind goes back to that first night at his place, when his mom asked if he would eat some dinner.
”Zayne, are you eating? Did you have dinner last night or anything?”
”Yeah a little, I was busy with...” he gets tense and stops to think for a second, ”With homework. You know how these teachers can be sometimes.”
”Tell me the truth.”
His eyes meet mine, the bags under his eyes are so deep it hurts to see. Looking at him now, I see how weak he is and how thin.
”I didn't eat yesterday. I couldn't,” he looks at the wall, avoiding eye contact with me.
I sit down in front of him, I run my hand through my hair in exasperation, ”What the fuck Zayne? When did you last eat?”
”Day before last I think.”
”Why aren't you eating? Zayne you look like hell, and this is just on the outside, what do you think this is doing to your insides?”
He smiles weakly, ”Wouldn't you love to know about my insides.”
”Zayne!”
”Josh,” he puts his hand on my cheek, ”I'll be ok, I promise. I'll have a big lunch ok? Maybe tonight we can go to the park and you can bring something to eat.”
I take his hand and pull him into a hug, not squeezing hard, out of fear of breaking him.
”I swear to god if you don't eat tonight...”