Title: Anytime
Fandom: Boy Meets World
Genre: Drama
Summary: Jack gets sick during his senior year at Pennbrook University. Eric is acting differently. Fanfic based on Jack and Eric's friendship.
Disclaimer: All rights reserved...I don't own any of these characters!
Jack Hunter awoke to the sound of his obnoxious alarm clock blaring loudly on his bedside table. He peeked at the time on the clock, which read 7 in the morning and rolled away from it with a groan.
"It's way too early." He whined, hoping that the shrill screeches coming from his possessed alarm clock would stop on its own. All of two minutes later, he mustered up his courage to stumble out of bed and silence the bane of his existence.
He happily noted that the room was once again filled with silence. 'Well, as silent as it will ever be,' Jack thought amused as his unfocused gaze fell on his roommate, Eric Matthews.
Eric was sleeping blissfully unaware across the room snoring really loud. Jack still marveled that his roommate could sleep through anything, even through the screeches of his demon alarm clock. He frowned as he realized something had been bothering Eric lately. He had been strangely distant and quiet which had worried Jack. He made a mental note to talk to Eric later in the day when he was more awake.
He turned his attention back to his alarm clock which sat on the night stand innocently, bathed in the morning sunshine and glared.
"When I get my paycheck I'm going to replace you." He grinned at the alarm clock and crossed the length of the bedroom, into the bathroom hoping a shower would wake him enough to get through his morning classes at Pennbrook University.
He gathered his books which were spread on the kitchen table and shoved them unceremoniously into his bag. He dully noted that Rachel, his other roommate and ex-girlfriend, had already left without him. He was surprised that he found this more than a little irritating.
"We both have Feeney's morning class...but no, she just couldn't wait five more minutes...annoying early bird that she is." Jack grumbled as he searched the kitchen table for his research paper that was due in Mr. Feeney's class that day.
As he searched he became light headed and gripped the counter for support. Jack rubbed at his eyes, waiting for the feeling to pass and his eyes fell on his research paper. He sighed in relief, and triumphantly pulled it from the top of a stack of papers and hurried out the door.
Five minutes before English class began, Jack slumped exhaustedly into a seat beside Rachel who was drinking coffee and reading over her research paper.
"Morning Jack," Rachel chirped.
"Morning," Jack grumbled as he grudgingly noted that Rachel with caffeine was never a good thing.
The red-head finished looking over her English paper and turned her full attention to Jack. She grinned devilishly at him and poked him hard in the ribs.
"I guess someone pulled an all-nighter again. When will you learn to listen to what I tell you? If you'd do your work ahead of time you wouldn't look like you're about to drop dead right now...or murder me." Rachel laughed good naturedly and slapped him on the back. Jack glared at her arm as if he'd like nothing better than to break it.
Rachel seemed oblivious to his glare and continued her one-sided conversation. "Seriously though, you're looking pale. What have I told you? You need to..."
Jack never found out exactly what he needed to do as he tuned his friend out and let his mind wander to more interesting things...like watching that new show on TV, or volunteering to get experimented on with Eric. Luckily for Jack, Rachel seemed to carry on an entire conversation without any real interaction required of him at all.
After a few minutes passed, the classroom began to fill with students who chattered loudly across the room to each other.
Jack turned his attention back to Rachel who was still talking rapidly. "And so Jack, if you follow those 12 steps you won't feel rundown in the morning and you'll have more energy throughout the day." When Rachel took a big gulp of air, Jack realized that she had said her entire speech in one breath.
"Rachel I forbid you to have caffeine ever again," Jack said exasperatedly.
"Boy, you really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Ok though, I'll make a deal with you. I'll stop drinking coffee if you start finishing your assignments in advance. No more of starting a project the day before it's due...besides you're such a grouch the following day. I'd be doing our friends a favor." Rachel laughed at Jack's indignant expression.
Before he could retort, Mr. Feeney began class and the students handed their papers forward. Several times throughout the lecture, Rachel had to jab her elbow into Jack's side when he began to nod off.
Thankful when class was over, Jack followed Rachel out of the classroom and into the narrow halls of Pennbrook University, which were packed with students talking amiably with friends and goofing around.
"Jack, maybe you should go to the health center? You look like you're coming down with something." Rachel frowned at her good friend and roommate who was starting to look shaky. Jack tiredly ran a hand through his hair. He had hoped that he wouldn't have felt so exhausted after class.
"I'll be ok Rach, I'm just really tired. You're right; I should have listened to you." Jack said in a strained voice. He could tell it was going to be one of those days. They made there way quietly to the student union where they would usually meet the gang after morning class.
When they arrived, they found most of their friends engaged in a story being told, loudly, by a very animated Cory. Topanga just amused her husband by nodding in all the right places; she had apparently heard the story many times before. Shawn and Angela sat together on one of the lounge couches holding hands and hanging on Cory's every word, and Eric was sitting surprisingly quiet with his nose buried in a text book. Although maybe not so surprising as Eric had been acting off lately, Jack mused.
"Hey guys!" Rachel beamed.
Angela made room for her friend on the couch and smiled. "Hey girl, how'd that paper go for Feeney?"
"It went good, I think! Of course Jack on the other hand..." Corey's ramblings were forgotten as Rachel continued her story. Jack didn't hear what he was "on the other hand" as he flopped down on the couch next to his best friend Eric.
Jack winced at the bright rays of sunshine that were filtering through the windows and doors of the student lounge. He felt a headache coming on, and leaned his head back on the couch with a sigh.
"Hey man," Eric said not looking up from his book.
"Morning Eric," Jack mumbled disinterestedly. Eric continued to read and Jack drifted off into a light sleep.
"We're going to get breakfast, you guys want to come?" Eric and Jack were both startled by Topanga's presence standing over them. Eric looked up from his book and smiled.
"Sure. What about you Jack?" It was then that Eric really looked at his best friend who was looking worse now then he did this morning.
"No thanks. I think I'm just going to lay here until my next class."
Eric frowned at him. 'Jack would never pass up food unless there was something seriously wrong,' Eric thought. "Actually, I think I'll hang out here with Jack for a bit. See you."
"See you guys later." Shawn waved as the group minus Eric and Jack departed.
Eric closed his book and turned his full attention to his roommate who had closed his eyes. He didn't like how pale Jack looked.
"So, you stay up all night again buddy?" Eric inquired in a soft voice. If Jack was feeling a little better he would have questioned how serious Eric sounded as opposed to his usual self. 'Now would be a great time to ask him what's wrong,' Jack thought.
"Yeah I did." Jack muttered instead.
"That sucks man. How about I go get us some food?" Eric said trying to be helpful.
"Thanks Eric, but I'm just too tired to eat." Jack put his hands to his forehead and tried to soothe some of the pressure that was building. If Jack had been his normal observant self he would have caught the concern reflected in Eric's brown eyes.
Eric gently pulled his hands away from his face and put his own hand to Jack's forehead. He was instantly alarmed by the heat radiating from it.
"Jack you're burning up. I'll take you back to the apartment. Looks like you're going to have the rest of the day off buddy." Eric said in a rush.
Without waiting for Jack's reply, Eric hauled him up by his arms from the couch. The sudden movement made Jack dizzy and he felt his entire world spinning. He stumbled, but Eric gripped him tightly. Jack groaned into Eric's shoulder at the sharp movements and tried to regain his balance.
"Take it easy, buddy. Are you dizzy?" Eric asked surprised. Jack nodded shakily from Eric's shoulder. "Ok, we'll take this slow." Eric said soothingly as he wrapped his arms more securely around his best friend.
TBC...
Author's note: This is my first fanfic that I've ever posted! I made a few mistakes when I originally posted this story, so hopefully I edited this correctly. Sorry for any confusion!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed it!
gpotter- I didn't mean to give the impression that this story would be slash. Don't worry, it won't be! It's based on Jack/Eric's friendship.