Where Have You Been?
[Memory, Junior Year, October]
Lyn checked his wristwatch impatiently. While Brad wasn’t the poster boy for punctuality, he had never let him wait for so long. He needed to get to the library and, since Brad had insisted that setting a foot in that place might give him a terrible disease of an unknown origin or name, Lyn had agreed to wait here, in the quad. It was getting cold surprisingly fast and, foolishly, Lyn had thought that the light sweater he was wearing would be enough to keep the chilly October evening at bay.
Now, he had quite the dilemma. Since he had waited for half an hour already, if he just left, he might miss Brad by a hairsbreadth. Later, it would be even colder and he’d have to make a run for his dorm so he didn’t freeze on his way back and catch a cold.
As if to confirm what he’d been thinking, a sneeze tickled his nose. Great. Because Fall had come early this year and his mom’s house was irregularly heated, Lyn had woken up several times with a sore throat that had thus far given in quickly after drinking something warm. That was before coming back to school. The last thing he needed was to get sick.
Brad was an annoying ass, making him wait like this, out in the cold. Lyn huffed in annoyance. It was his fault for not grabbing his coat on the way out only because it was a bit too large and didn’t drape well on his bony shoulders.
Clearly, Brad wasn’t coming. Lyn checked his phone again. His last text was still unread. Just great. Was Brad hooking up and he couldn’t be bothered to check his phone? Now this had been a half hour wasted for nothing.
Lyn covered his mouth as an unpleasant fit of dry coughing shook his body. He quickly reached for a tissue in his pocket and pressed it against his nose. He really, but really didn’t need this. Later, he’d make sure to give Brad an earful about not letting friends wait like schmucks while getting it on.
“That sounded nasty.”
Lyn groaned and turned toward the speaker. “Alexander, really, get off my case. I’ve already told you twice today that it’s nothing serious.”
Alexander stood right in front of him, barring the way. Unlike Lyn, he was sensibly dressed, wearing a leather jacket over his expensive sweater.
“And how do you know that?” Alexander asked, leaning forward. “Are you a doctor?”
Lyn rubbed his hands together. They were so cold he felt like he was about to breach any rule of etiquette and just stick them inside Alexander’s jacket to warm them against the demon’s fiery heart.
“You’re not a doctor, either. Yet,” he said defensively. “Wait,” he added, narrowing his eyes, “is this your roundabout way of telling me you need a lab rat?”
Alexander grinned. “You’d make a perfect lab rat. I need the practice. You’re sick. I’d say it’s a match made in heaven.”
“Hell, more like,” Lyn murmured. He coughed again and covered his mouth quickly. Taking a step back, he issued his final warning. “If you believe I’m sick, you should keep your distance. I might give it to you.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the library. I need to study.”
Lyn yelped as Alexander seized him by the elbow and made him turn around as if he were a chick being dragged away by a hellhound that had just grabbed its skinny wing. “If you have come down with something because of your terrible lack of self-care, you cannot be among people. You need rest, hydration, and more rest. And wear a scarf from now on. You’re not invincible.”
“When did I say I was invincible?” Lyn protested. Alexander’s hand was warm on his arm. It made him shiver for some reason.
“You don’t need to say it. It’s all in your attitude. Come on, let’s get you into bed. Is your roommate around?”
“No. He’s not coming back until Friday.”
“Good. I’ll use his bed.”
“What? Why?”
“Obviously, because I am forced to keep you under strict supervision.”
“Are you training to become a doctor or a mother hen? I really don’t need this. And I have to study,” Lyn complained.
“You’ll study after you get some proper rest. This doesn’t look too serious, but your poor attitude might lead to unnecessary complications.”
“I know what to do. I’ll just take some medicine,” Lyn said brightly.
“Only what I’m going to give you.”
“I’m not sure I can trust you,” Lyn said. “What if you give me cyanide?”
“One, I am not in possession of any sort of poison. Second, if I wanted to become a mortician, then you’d have cause to worry.”
“Wow, you got my joke. I want to celebrate. Gin and tonic?”
“Ginger and honey,” Alexander replied. “Taken as tea.”
“Well, I suppose it’s better than a suppository,” Lyn shot back. He threw Alexander a horrified look. “No, no, I take that back. You didn’t hear me say anything. No, Alexander, I know that look. That’s why you’re a demon and you’re at home in hell. Please, spare me the humiliation if you can’t spare me the torture.”
“But it is a great method of delivery,” Alexander said with a cheeky smile.
“No, please, don’t put anything up my butt,” Lyn begged.
“What does he want to put up your butt?” Brad stood right in front of them, preventing them from continuing on their way.
“I’m sick, stay away from me,” Lyn warned him quickly.
Brad cocked his head. “You don’t look that sick to me.”
Lyn only then remembered he needed to be angry at Brad. “I’ve waited for you for half an hour.”
“So? Chill,” Brad replied, shrugging his shoulders. He, too, was dressed appropriately for the weather.
“Where have you been?” Lyn asked. He was becoming slightly dizzy, and his head was starting to hurt.
“Do I have to report everything I do to you now?” Brad was pissed, and Lyn wasn’t sure he hadn’t already been before being questioned as to his whereabouts. “Whatever, if you want to play doctor with His Majesty instead of hanging out with me, don’t let me get in the way.”
“You are the one getting in the way,” Alexander replied in like manner.
Was Alexander pissed, too? What was going on? Lyn shook his head, and that simple movement made him wobble for a moment. Alexander quickly tucked him under his arm, while Brad took a step forward.
“Fuck me, you are sick,” Brad expressed his disbelief about having been wrong.
“As he was saying,” Alexander insisted. “Now, Bradley, allow me to get the patient to his room.”
“Okay, but I’m coming with you.”
“There’s no need,” Alexander replied.
“If Brad wants to come--” Lyn started.
“You might get him sick, too.”
“What about you?” Brad asked Alexander. “What? He can’t get you sick?”
“I am the one who is planning on being a doctor. I know how to protect myself. Bradley, make sure Lyn’s professors learn of his condition tomorrow and collect all the study materials he will need to catch up after his recovery. He will need to spend the next two days in bed.”
“Okay,” Brad said slowly. “I’ll do that. But you’re not putting anything up his butt, right? I understand his concern now. Like, dude, come on, that was a cry for help.”
“Only if absolutely necessary,” Alexander reassured Brad in a tone that didn’t sound reassuring at all.
Lyn groaned. He’d protest more, but he did feel weak. He’d have to let Alexander take charge, and he’d most likely regret this decision. But what could he do? It was pretty nice that he knew a doctor, under the circumstances. A future doctor, but still.
“Wait,” he said, reaching for his bag. “These are for you.” He shoved the printed papers at Brad’s chest hard. “It’s what you asked for.” Lyn was starting to think that if law didn’t work out for him, he could always switch to a career in finance, given how much research he did on his best friend’s behalf.
“Wow, you’re quick, Lyn,” Brad said with a smile. “A lifesaver, like usual.”
Lyn had to force himself to smile back.
“Here,” Brad said, shimmying out of his warm jacket. While still holding the papers, he wrapped Lyn in it, pushing Alexander’s arm out of the way.
The demon didn’t protest. He only stared curiously at the scene in front of him as if there were two lab rats now performing for his entertainment. No, entertainment wasn’t the correct word. He was the mad scientist, ready to use cutting tools and equally cutting wit for the sake of the experiment.
“Do as His Majesty says and stay in bed. I’ll drop by later.”
“Don’t,” Lyn said, feeling stupidly happy to be able to disappear inside Brad’s large jacket. “Alexander is right. I don’t want to give you whatever bug I have.”
“You two still need food and other stuff, right? I’ll be your errand boy. What do you say, Your Majesty?”
“You are correct, Bradley. I’ll send you a list later.”
Lyn didn’t protest as Alexander took him away. He did stare over his shoulder at Brad, however. He was standing there, wearing only his sweatshirt, looking after them. Too bad Lyn couldn’t see his eyes.
Someone walked up to Brad and touched his shoulder. Lyn frowned and squinted, but it was no use. It was a guy, but Lyn had no idea who he was. It looked like the stranger was on pretty friendly terms with Brad, because he threw one arm over Brad’s shoulders and their heads moved close together for a moment. The soft sound of shared laughter reached Lyn, but Brad and his new friend were already walking away.
“Who was that with Brad just now?” he asked Alexander.
Alexander didn’t look over his shoulder. “I have no idea. Stop dallying, Mr. Patient. I have big plans for you.”
“No, really. Just look. Ah, damn it, they’re gone.”
“Bradley has many acquaintances. If I were to keep track of everyone he knows, I’d have to consider working for campus administration.”
“You are so insufferable.”
“And you should care more about your health than about the people Bradley hangs out with when he’s not with you.”
For some reason, that stung. Alexander could see through him so easily it wasn’t even funny. Or fair.
“I wasn’t jealous,” he said.
“You were, but it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry; Bradley will never give up on being friends with you. At least for as long as you shoulder his entire academic endeavor while he gets to do what he calls ‘all the fun stuff’.”
“Thanks, Alexander. Nicely done. I don’t remember anyone else calling me a pushover the way you do.”
“You are,” Alexander said matter-of-factly. “I’m only stating the obvious. For the record, my jacket would fit you better.”
Lyn rolled his eyes, although they were watering and it brought on another sneeze he quickly stifled with the tissue in his hand. “You didn’t offer yours, though.”
“Indeed. Well-played, Bradley,” Alexander said in a bored yet pissy tone, as if their common friend was still near enough to hear him.
Lyn pinched the bridge of his nose. He already felt too sick to care about Alexander’s funks. The demon was right about one thing. Lyn was dreaming of getting into his bed and lying in it for hours.
TBC
Thank you for reading!
@Derek - Lyn did come out, indeed, and you remember correctly - only that Brad behaves like that didn't happen... and Lyn, as always, plays along. As for the barbs between Brad and Alexander, you're not off the mark at all.
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