California was hanging out in his room, bein himself, just chillin.
So one can understand how confuddled he'd be when Oregon burst into his room looking sick.
"Cali I need your help," Oregon said breathlessly while locking Californias bedroom door.
"With what?" California asked, slightly concerned. Oregon sat down on Californias bed and took a deep breath.
"I didn't know who to tell and... I figured you were my safest bet... Cali... I...," Oregon stuttered.
"You......?" California prodded. Oregon took a deep breath.
"Um... so... you're my favorite brother out of all my brothers and-,"
"Ok ok, no need to soften the blow. Plus, we both know Washington is your favorite," California joked. Oregon chuckled, wiping away tears. "What's wrong?" California asked gently, holding Oregons hand.
"...Washington is gay, right?" Oregon asked.
"Mhm,"
"...maybe I'll tell both of you...," Oregon said. California nodded and texted Washington. Within minutes, Washington was knocking at Californias door.
"Hey, is everything ok?" Washington asked upon being let in.
"Oregon says he needs to tell us something," California said. Oregon took a deep breath.
"And you two won't make fun of me," Oregon said, trying to look courageous. California and Washington shook their heads. "I-I.... I am.... non-binary!" Oregon announced. California nodded, and Washington immediately dug a non-binary pride pin out of his pocket.
"What? Do you keep those on you all the time?" California asked.
"I'm always prepared for another sibling to join the Lgbtq+ club," Washington said, handing California a gay pride pin. Oregon still looked a bit shaky, so California helped them sit back down.
"Aw, no need to look worried! C'mon, here's your pin," California said, pinning Oregons pride pin on their shirt. Oregon nodded, their breathing calming down and a smile growing on their face.
"Yeah... yeah... coming out is just intimidating... it's awkward too... because like.... It's kinda like pulling off a mask in front of people who've only ever seen the mask... they still know it's me, but the change still takes some getting used to," Oregon said. California nodded, and pulled Oregon in for a hug. Washington didn't join because touching people is yucky.
"Cali...?" Oregon said after a while.
"Mhm?"
"What are those pill bottles for?" Oregon asked, pointing at the pills in Californias slightly opened drawer in his nightstand. California got noticeably fidgety.
"Oh... so... y'know how I used to puke when I was really sick? So I can feel better?" California asked. Oregon nodded. "So... dad says that's bad for me... so I use laxatives instead now... they help me feel better...,"
"How can being on the toilet all day sh*tting out everything you eat possibly make you feel better?" Washington asked. California was silent for a moment.
"...I feel sick whenever I eat,"
"Cali, you barely eat-,"
"Because I don't feel good when I eat,"
"Ok but how do you feel exactly? Like, what do you mean by 'sick' and 'bad'?" Washington asked.
"I just feel bad. I don't know. I feel like I just did something I shouldn't have done and I need to get rid of it. And I need to do it to live so it's just... a viscous cycle," California said. Washington gave California an incredulous look.
"You're weird," Washington said.
"No, you're weird," Oregon spat playfully at Washington, before looking at California with concern. "You don't feel sick when you eat the things I bake," Oregon said. California nodded.
"I could never throw up something you baked Oregon... your foods just... it's different... maybe because you make it healthier," California said.
"Didn't you eat only salad yesterday at the party though? Did you throw that up?" Washington asked.
"I took the laxatives afterwards-,"
"Why?!?"
"Because I felt sick-,"
"It was a salad!" Washington exclaimed. "It barely had any dressing on it! You didn't eat the croutons! It was the healthiest thing you could've eaten at that whole party, and you STILL took a laxative for it?"
California looked down in embarrassment.
"I just didn't feel good...," California said softly. Oregon looked up at Washington.
"Leave him alone ok?" Oregon said, before wrapping an arm around California. "Let's go find dad... I think... maybe he should get you a doctors appointment. If you're feeling sick all the time....," Oregon said, their words trailing off. "This isn't good Cali, I'm worried about you," Oregon said softly. California gripped tightly onto Oregons hand, nodding gently. The three siblings walked together to quad 4, where they found Florida stumbling around.
"Florida! Hey!" California exclaimed, grabbing Floridas hand. "You have some orange juice on you? Or insulin? Did you just eat?" California asked.
"One question at a time, Cali," Oregon said, before looking up at Florida. "Did you just give yourself insulin?" Oregon asked. Florida nodded. "And do you need some sugar?" Oregon asked. Florida nodded again.
"Why aren't you in the infirmary? Or kitchen?" California asked.
"..... finding Texas," Florida said. Washington took a candy bar out of his pocket and handed it over to Florida.
"Didn't Delaware tell you to ask for help when-,"
"I'm fine, I'm almost an adult anyway... I was gonna have some sugar after finding Texas...," Florida spat, looking a bit better after getting a few bites into the candy.
"Florida, Texas wouldn't want you to be in a diabetic coma now would he?" Oregon asked. Florida blew out a breath, looking away.
"Why don't you just respond?" Washington asked.
"He doesn't have to talk if he doesn't want to," Oregon said.
"It's just weird-,"
"Stop saying everything you don't understand is weird," California spat.
"Oh, so it's ok for everyone else to call me weird for things they don't understand about me but when I do it it's bad?" Washington fired back. Oregon shook their head.
"Let's not fight, ok guys?" Oregon exclaimed. "We'll help you find Texas," Oregon said to Florida. Florida nodded, and the four of them went back to quad 3.
"Wait... weren't we gonna find dad?" Washington asked.
"It's fine, we can just do it later...," California said.
"Ok... but we have to get you help Cali... I just don't think what you're doing is healthy-,"
"I get it! I get it!"
"I'm just worried about you!" Oregon exclaimed. California sighed.
"It's not even that big of a deal...," California said softly.
Soon, the kids ran into Tennessee.
"Tennessee! Have you seen Texas?" California asked.
"Oh, sorry kids, I haven't... he might be with dad again today," Tennessee said. Florida shook his head no. "Why wouldn't he be?" Tennessee asked. Florida looked down and kicked the floor in front of him, which usually meant he didn't want to tell someone something out of respect for the other person whom he was referring to.
"Ok, well... are you doing ok Tennessee? You seem kinda off," California asked. Tennessee looked surprised, as if he never expected anyone to see right through his cheerful exterior.
"I... I guess I kinda miss teaching you guys things... heh, I know y'all are happy about all of the hard boring stuff in school to be over with but... I loved being able to teach y'all things...," Tennessee said, before cracking a smile. "Maybe I just like attention," Tennessee said.
"Well... if you'd like, you can hang out with us while we look for Texas," Oregon said. Tennessee smiled and nodded.
"Of course, I'll join," Tennessee said, looking happy to simply be invited.
The siblings continued to quad 3, where they went to Texas's room. However, he wasn't there.
"Jesus, where'd he run off to?" Tennessee asked. Florida grimaced, looking concerned.
"He's probably out shopping. I saw him drive off a little bit ago," Nevada called from the downstairs atrium.
"Great... will that poor boy ever take a break?" Tennessee said.
"He likes to do eeeeeeverything himself," California said, rolling his eyes. Tennessee sighed.
"Who knows, he could be out to see his father too," Tennessee said. Florida tried calling Texas, but it went to voicemail. They all shared a collective sigh, and decided to go find America, figuring he'd know if Texas was out grocery shopping or visiting Mexico.
However, when they found America, they also found something they thought was impossible...
Delaware was curled up in America's embrace on the floor, his tear-stained eyes wide opened and his breathing hysterical.
"Dela! Oh poor thing, is he ok?!" Tennessee exclaimed, rushing to his older brothers side. America looked like he was in Dad mode, only the slightest bit of fear pushing past his calm exterior.
"Call the ambulance, I think Dela is having a heart attack," America said.
(Next chapter will have so much angst and fluff. Literally a cavalcade of cuddles and comfort. FlamboyantBanana wanted the kiddos to give each other love and support and by golly gosh they are
Stay tuned)