I parked the car in my usual spot near Stu's house and made my way over to where I could easily…somewhat easily anyway, climb up and crawl in through his window like I'd been doing for the past couple months.

I scoffed about halfway up, as I looked up and noticed it was already open.

And he calls himself a horror movie fan.

I just shook my head and climbed the rest of the way up, making a point of slamming it shut loud enough for him to hear it when I got in.

The bedroom was empty and his door was open, so I wandered down the hall and started to call out to him.

"Stu? Stuuu?!"

I turned to look as his voice came from the bathroom.

"Billy?" He managed to choke out. "Is that you?"

"And you're damn lucky too." I scoffed. "You left your window open again. Anyone could've just waltzed right in here."

"You said you were on your way." He tried to defend, followed by what I presumed to be puking.

I decided to let it slide as I got more concerned. "You okay in there?"

"I told you you cut me too deep, babe." he whined. "I think there's something wrong with me."

Yeah, that you're still on this. I had half a mind to say.

"I swear, you're such a baby sometimes." I retorted instead, which in turn triggered one of the last things that Sidney had shouted at me to ring sharp through my head again.

"…YOU PANSY-ASSED MAMA'S BOY!"

I did my best to just shake it off and calm myself down before I gently opened the bathroom door to let myself in when I realized he seemed to be quietly sobbing now.

"Look, I'm sorry. Alright?" I sighed. "Are you okay?"

He looked up at me from the corner of the bathroom, where he'd been sitting, as he brought his hand to his mouth with a gulp

like he was trying not to vomit again.

"I don't know, man." He just shrugged.

I sat down next to him and put a supportive arm around him. "I am sorry. You know that, right?"

He nodded.

"….and you're right. I'll admit, I did get carried away back there…but it's not like we had much of a choice, right? I mean, they wouldn't have believed it as well otherwise.

He nodded. "I know…"

"And you know…" I suggested. " if you're really that concerned, I'll go with you if you wanna see a doctor and get that rechecked. Would that make you feel better?"

"Yeah, probably." He sniffled.

"Good." I said with a little smirk, as I kissed his forehead. I stood up and took his hand in mine to help him steady himself back up on his feet.

He moved his hand up to my shoulder, trying to keep his balance.

"You okay?" Stupid question at this point, and I realized it as soon as I asked it.

He nodded. "Just a little woozy still."

I returned a more sympathetic nod. "Maybe you should go lie down then."

"Yeah, maybe I should." He agreed. "Will you stay here with me? My parents won't be home for a while."

"Of course I will." Like I would leave him here in this condition. I walked him over to his bed.

"…if you're feeling better later on, I'm taking you out tonight. To make up for things. My treat."

His face seemed to light up a little at that. "Really?"

I nodded. "How does dinner and a movie sound?"

He gagged a little at the mention of food.

"…hopefully a little better by then." He chuckled nervously.

"Sorry." I chuckled back.

"I know you meant well." He glanced over to the window that was now shut. "….sorry about the window."

"Don't even worry about it." I reassured him. "You know I was just worried."

"Sometimes you worry too much." He muttered.

"What was that?" I was trying not to snicker.

"Nothing."

I rolled my eyes as I got myself comfortable next to him. "Riiiight."