Bryce
The next morning, I felt like I was hit by a freight train. I ached all over, my body felt heavy, my head was throbbing and on top of that, I felt no motivation to get out of bed.
I shut off my alarm but even then, I didn't get a moment's peace. Ben was trying to nudge me awake.
"Bryce," he called to me, "Wake up, you're going to be late for class."
"I don't feel like going," I strained to say as my throat was hurting just by talking, "Just let me sleep for a bit."
"Want me to get you anything when I come back?" he asked.
"Nuh-uh." was all I could say, but Ben didn't stop there.
"It'll be no trouble at all…"
"Dude," I managed to muster up enough strength to sit up and curse him out, "Leave me the fuck alone, man. I'm not in the fucking mood."
"Fine," he snapped back, "Sleep all day for all I care." He grabbed his bag and stormed out of the dorm.
I laid back down and not even a minute passed by and Techno was calling.
"Ugh, what?!"
"Bryce?" he asked on the other line, "You ok? Your voice sounds raspy."
"I feel like shit man." I told him.
"Want me to come by to check on you?"
"Nah man," I answered back, "I'm just going to lie down."
"Well, call me if you need anything, ok?"
"Fine." I hung up with him. I didn't know what was wrong with me but whatever it was it was making me feel worse.
I stood up to go to the bathroom and suddenly the room was spinning and I felt light headed. I don't know what happened after that except I woke up in the campus hospital a week later.
Ben
I was still upset with Bryce and his mood swings. I didn't know what his problem was this time and I decided to let him be.
I was halfway to my next class until I heard a familiar voice, "Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben," It was Techno, running towards me.
"Hey Techno," I answered, "What's up?"
"Hey," he responded, "Is Bryce ok?
"Why do you ask?"
"I called him regarding a question on last class's homework assignment and he sounded like he was sick."
The moment Techno uttered the word sick, I had a nagging feeling telling me to go back to the dorm.
"You mind if I come by after classes to check on him?" Techno asked me.
"Not at all," I answered, "You can come by whenever you want. He's your friend after all."
"Thanks, he replied, "Here, let's exchange numbers." He handed me his phone and I did the same.
"I'll call you if there's anything serious."
"Thanks, Ben," Techno said, "I'm off to class, see you later."
The moment Techno left for his class, I went back to the dorms, and called Lee.
"What's up, Handsome?" said Lee when he picked up the phone.
"Hey Lee," I replied, "I won't be in class today, something came up. Would you answer for me during role call?"
"Yeah, sure. Anything wrong?"
"I hope not but let me know what homework or assignments I need for today ok?"
"Anything for you, Bestie." said Lee.
I opened the door and my heart stopped beating when I saw Bryce lying on the floor, coughing and wheezing.
"Oh my God, Bryce!!" I rushed to his side and tried to pick him up off the floor. I touched him and he was burning up. I didn't know what else to do so I called 911.
He was rushed to the hospital and I sat there for what seemed like years in the waiting room. I answered all the questions I could and since I wasn't family, I wasn't allowed in. I had called Techno and informed him and he said he would be there when he could. I waited patiently for any update.
Finally, after several hours, a doctor came to see me.
"Are you the one who brought Mr Bryce Thomas here?" the doctor asked.
"Yes," I answered, "How is he? Is he ok?"
The doctor nodded and answered me, "He's stable for the time being. Seems he had a bad case of pneumonia, he's on antibiotics and we've brought his fever down but he's not out of the woods yet. We have him on a ventilator since his blood oxygen levels were very low."
"Oh my God," I said, "Could I see him?"
"Yes," he said, "This way."
I was taken to his room and he was there lying in the bed, still asleep. I sat there on the chair by his bed. I reached out to hold his hand. As he lay there hooked up to that ventilator, my heart went out to him. Days went by and I never left his side. Techno came to visit from time to time.
Once the ventilator came off, it was a relief to hear him breathe without difficulty. But he still didn't wake up.
My hopes went up when I was about to leave to go back to the dorm and shower and he pulled me back saying, "Don't go."
"Bryce?" I called to him, "Are you awake?"
His eyes were closed and his voice sounded like he was in a dream. "Don't leave me."
"I won't," I told him, "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
After a week, Techno came to visit and told me to go home and get some rest and a shower.
"How is he?" he asked.
"He still hasn't woken up yet."
Techno looked at me with a grin that looked suspicious.
"What's that grin for?" I asked him.
"You're a great guy, you know that?"
I fidget nervously, "Why do you say that?"
"You and Bryce have your issues, but despite that, you still went out of your way to take care of him."
"Well if I didn't do anything, he'd probably die in the dorm and he'd end up haunting me till I die."
We both laughed at the thought of Bryce's ghost trying to haunt me.
"Hey Techno," I said, "If by chance, Bryce wakes up and I'm not there, would you not tell him that I was there?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Please," I pleaded, "Just do me this one favor?"
"Ok," he said, "I will. Your secret is safe with me."
Bryce
I woke up in the hospital alone, wondering how I got here. Before I could come to any type of conclusion, Techno came in through the door. He told me that he brought me to the hospital when he found me on the floor in my dorm room. When I asked about Ben, he told me my roommate checked in on me once in a while.
I know my best friend, so I know when he is lying to me. Somehow I knew it was Ben who brought me here.
When Techno told me the story I found certain details missing and he was making excuses to divert me from discovering the truth, like the coach was calling him or he had to get some things for his mom or brother. I'm not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed that Ben didn't take care of me but that lasted for about five seconds since Techno can't lie to save his life.
Once I was discharged, I finally got the truth out of Techno by threatening to drown him when we go swimming in his pool. After the truth came out he kept telling me that I should be nice to Ben and I should thank him for saving my life.
I stopped by the Student Cafe and ordered food to bring home. I ran into Champ along the way.
"Hey Bryce," he said, "Heard you were in the hospital. You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"How are things with your roommate?" Champ asked.
The question made my heart ache. The more I thought about it, the worse I felt. "About the same," I answered, "Why do you ask?"
"You guys are always fighting according to Noah. What's his deal? Is he a snob or something?"
"He's nice," I answered, "He's so nice and I feel guilty for hating him."
"Then why do you hate him? Does he overstep your boundaries?"
"Sometimes, but that's not why I hate him.. Let's just say we have different beliefs."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Champ said, "My mama always said, differences aren't always a bad thing. Our differences are what makes us all unique and beautiful."
Champ's words kept playing in my mind all the way home. The ache in my heart was because he was right. Noah was right. Everyone but me was right. I hated Ben just because he's gay and nothing more. As much as I wanted to hold on to the belief that he was my enemy, he's shown me that he is not. I felt guilty for hating him when he showed me nothing but kindness. I opened the door to find Ben coming out of the shower and in that moment, my heart started to flutter.
"Oh," he said, "You're finally home."