Sick

It's the fourth time today. This is the fourth time Pick has called Rome today and he hasn't picked up once. He'd texted him earlier in the morning that he couldn't pick him up for university today but had gotten no reply. The first time he didn't pick up, it was odd but Pick shrugged it off.

Maybe he's busy.

The second time Rome didn't pick up, he started feeling a bit annoyed but still it didn't dwell on his mind much.

It should be fine that's he missed a call or two.

The third time, there was a sort of impatience as he waited for the boy on the other line to pick up and when he didn't, there was a gnawing feeling at the back of his mind.

Did he fucking pass out somewhere?

Shaking the dark thought out of his head, Pick chugged the rest of his drink before leaving for his next class. Throughout the whole time, Pick kept glancing at his phone to see if the younger would call back or even text him. His little glances and fidgeting were beginning to distract Porsche. It was about half an hour into the lesson when he couldn't take it anymore and snapped his head towards Pick with a harsh whisper, "What is it?"

Pick froze then, surprised, before turning to his best friend with a confused expression, "What are you talking about?" Porsche rolled his eyes before fixing him a glare, "You've been fidgeting and staring at your phone. You either tell me what's wrong or you stop. I need to concentrate dammit."

"Excuse me," the firm sound from their lecturer startled them both into silence. It took about a few more minutes of the lecturer continuing with the lesson before Pick whispered, "Rome hasn't been picking up."

Surprised that his friend was being honest, Porsche refrained from making fun of him and gave him a confused look, "Why? What did you do?"

Pick looked offended for a moment as he replied, "What makes you think I did anything?"

Porsche rolled his eyes then, "Because I know what an asshole you can be. Besides, he's the one not answering you. If he did something, you wouldn't be worried."

Porsche had meant most of it as a playful jab to his friend's cold demeanor, but for a split second, there was an unreadable emotion that passed through his eyes before something more familiar, annoyance, replaced it. "Are you going to help me or just keep jabbing at me?" Pick whispered out through gritted teeth.

Porsche sighed before pulling out his phone and then, hidden from view of the lecturer, he texted Emma. "There. I asked Emma. Now, we wait and please let me focus," Porsche answered back. The lesson continued and now more aware of his actions, Pick stopped fidgeting and seemed to actually be focusing on the professor.

Minutes passed, and it honestly felt like hours to Pick, before Porsche's phone vibrated. Pick glanced at it as his friend picked it up and opened the new text that entered. There was a frown on his face and Pick felt his heart race when Porsche lifted his head to look at him.

Porsche leaned closer so he could show Pick the text and Pick felt his heart skip a beat when he read it.

- Rome said he didn't feel too well. He said he would text P'Pick though? -

Shit.

All the dark thoughts earlier bombarded Pick's mind.

Shit shit shit. Did he actually pass out? Why else wouldn't he text me?

Pick didn't know what to do. He wanted to just pack up and leave right now but it would be inappropriate. He momentarily froze when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked at Porsche then as he spoke, "Pick, calm down. I'm sure he's fine or else Emma would be freaking out too. Maybe he fell asleep and forgot to text you. Think about it."