Two Player Game

~Chapter Twenty-Seven~

"I hate myself right now." he spits, trying to get the taste of stomach acid out of his mouth.

"I know buddy.."

"how can you stand this? God, I gotta call my mom..." Jared hands him his phone. He rests his head on the toilet seat and dials for his mom. She picks up.

"Yes, hello?"

"Hey, mom." his voice is scratchy, hoarse from all the throwing up.

"Evan? Are you okay?"

"Um, not really. I'm - I'm sick. Getting sick. Vomiting. I'm in good hands, I'm at Jared's, I just... Wanted you to know."

"Oh, okay. Well that's good you've got Jared. If there's anything else you need just give me a call. Is Mr. Kleinman there too?" Jared looks away.

"Uh... No, I don't think so."

"Well, make sure you get rest. That's the most important part." Evan slips his hand into Jared's comfortingly. Evan is the only person who knows about his parents. That's how much he trusts him.

".... You're wonderful, Jared. You're incredible, Insanely Cool, remarkably handsome - don't let him get you down when you are so amazing."

"Then why did he leave?" He's sounds so weak. He's like this whenever he talks about his dad.

"Because he couldn't see it, Jared. He didn't try to see it. But I do."

"He knew that I needed him.." he sounds like he's on the verge of crying.

"Shhhhhh, it's okay, Jared. You've made it this far without him. Surely that means you're so strong. You don't need him now. You're going to college! You're getting out of here! You don't need him now." Jared stares at the bathroom floor.

"I still don't get it. Why did he leave? He didn't even come to my graduation. Or my 18th birthday."

"... I don't know." Jared lays his head on Evans shoulder. Evan strokes his hand with his thumb.

"You're too amazing to be treated like that and I wish you hadn't been. You deserve the world, Jared Kleinman, hear me?"

"Mhm.." Evan opens his mouth again but has to turn and cough something up. Right. He's sick. Jared looks at him quickly and feels his head.

"Pretty nasty." He cares about Evan than he does about himself.

"I'm ejecting everything from my digestive tract, and I hate it." Jared hands him his water.

"This'll help."

"If I can keep even this water down I'll be amazed." he takes a few sips. Jared continues to comfort him. They eventually move to being snuggled on the couch together, Evan wrapped up in several blankets and somehow still shivering. Jared's making sure he's still got the rag on his head.

"I think I'm dying."

"You're overreacting."

"That's exactly what some people hear before they die."

"You're not gonna die from a Fever."

"I can if it gets over 104°. My body will overheat and I'll hallucinate and I could potentially die."

"Oh shush. I took your temp. It's gonna take a lot to get you to 104."

"Stiiiiiiilllll."

"You're not dyin'. Not on my watch."

"Okay..." Jared's phone buzzes.

M: [Yo yo. Skype me, I wanna talk about something. something SUPER important and SUPER top secret]

Ja: [Is it too top secret for this sick child?]

M: [Sick child can hear, it's not too top secret for him. But it is too top secret for Jeremy]

Ja: [Give me a sec]

"Evan, stay here." He runs upstairs to get his computer and skypes Michael.