Returning to school Monday morning brought a surprise to everyone when two of the usual trio wasnt present. "Hassleberry, where's Johan and Jim?" Hassleberry looked like he was in a deep funk as he sat down on the bus in front of Syrus who ran over to join him to see what was troubling the muscular teen.
"Johan kinda caught a bug…" Hassleberry relunctantly spoke up looking away from Chazz and Judai who shared a look with each other.
"You don't think…" Judai said in a hush voice to Chazz who carressed his jaw thinking. "Possiblity that he hid being sick so the three of us wouldnt worry over him while at the hot spring spa." Judai looked down at his shoes worriedly.
Hassleberry remembered yesterday.
"Hey pal did you enjoy your weekend with the guys?" Hassleberry asked Johan as he exited the car Aster had dropped him off in as the car pulled around the house and left.
Johan's eyes looked hazy and he stumbled geting on the deck and almost fell in the door way of the sliding glass entry way.
"Johan?? Whats wrong?" Jim rushes over and touched the bluenette whos forehead was burning up. "Shit we need to get you in some ice and pronto." Jim lifted the shorter male into his arms and got him in bed the boy still wearing the kimono garb he got from the hot spring.
"Ahh…" He panted heavily as Jim assessed Johan's needs over night as Hassleberry got ready for school the next day.
"You gonna stay here with him aren't ya?" Jim didn't have to look at the tanned male to give him his answer.
"I'll text you with updates on his condition." Was the last thing Jim told him before the brawny male headed to the bus stop.
Hassleberry sighed his shoulder slumping with worry and everyone took notice to the point Alexis gave Chazz a questionable look in which case he shook his head not knowing. Her lips pursed in a thin worry line as she sat down with her friends not wanting to be dragged into the conversation the two were having.
Judai was a blank slate trying to think of what he could've done to keep the poor sickly bluenette from having gotten sick. The only thing it pointed back to was him falling unconscious back at the hot spring. 'Is it possible he fell ill but never brought it up?'
Chazz bumped Judai out of his seat to get his attention. "Cmon Yuki." The brunette got out of his thoughts and got off the bus following his friends to the school. through the whole day the brunette couldnt focus, dread guilt and worry filled his very being. it was noticable by lunch time by his friends when the usually energetic male would run and get lunch.
"Damn dont get sick just cause Johan did. Go eat, Jud-chi." Stella jabbed at him before Yusuke dragged the brunette into the lunch line, not giving him any time to refuse the female brunette.
"H-Heyy! I'm not hungry Yusuke!"
"Shut up Poochy I'm paying." He gets them in line practically dragging Judai behind him as the brunette groaned inwardly. He knew he was in a mood he just rather not make anyone feel bad for him. Yusuke got them their lunches and paid for it before dragging Judai back to their group.
"Alright Poochy sit down and eat like a good boy." Yusuke remarked making the brunette glare up at the green haired slacker. "Why you calling him poochy?" Syrus dared to ask looking between the two as Judai hesitantly started eating his pizza.
Yusuke ruffled the top of Judai's hair making the brunette groan as he nearly made his normally messy bob of brown hair stick out everywhere. "Cause he looked like a kicked puppy when hes sad." Yusuke clarified making the whole group nod in agreement making Judai want to slam his face into the table for the comment.
Hassleberry checked his phone as he ate having recieved messages as early as 2nd period from Jim on Johan's condition
Jim: Clamy skin
2 hours later
Jim: Body shakes
Jim: got him to eat but his body is burning up.
Hassleberry: can we take him to the doctor?
Jim: and if he shifts while hes this sick? remember when you shifted over just having the flu?
Hassleberry: isnt this what he has?
Jim: no i think his body crashed from all the stress he put himself through lately..
Hassleberry put his phone down as worry creased his brow as he thought before looking at Judai who was being hand holded in a coversation between Chazz Blair and Judai the two sitting on either side of Syrus and Aster. Yusuke kept messing with Judai's hair as if he was comforting a dog which made Stella look annoyed from her spot next to Hassleberry.
'I just hope he feels better…' Hassleberry sighed worriedly as he ate his food.
Xxx
Monday eventually passed and Tuesday came. Wednesday was the day of the talent show and everyone was pretty nervous as the group started asking around seeing who was gonna sing what.
Suprisingly Yusuke was gonna be back up for everyone who needed some Guitar solos. Apparently him and his sister Aki were very talented musicians in their own right always playing together on the weekend.
"Wow Yuki also plays the guitar. And Syrus plays the violin. Oh Yuki you gonna play that song you and Syrus have been praticing?" Chazz pesters as the group talks in their english class.
"Yea it's already. I'm looking forward to singing it…" Judai perked up just a bit talking about music, Chazz and Syrus knew this was Judai's one weakness and one love that would get him out of any funk.
Syrus gets an idea and nudges Judai. "Hey let's skip getting on the bus and head to the arcade today and get a burger or something. The three of us like we used to." Chazz leaned back and smirked at the idea. The three of them hadn't hung out by themselves since they studied the day after the transfer students arrived.
"I'm in and I'm paying so stuff your wallets alright?" Chazz spoke up at Syrus's suggestion. Judai's face broke out in a soft smile. "Let's do it then."
Hassleberry smiled at them. "You guys have fun, I'm gonna go back home and make sure Jim hasn't collapsed from taking care of Johan."
Judai looked at Hassleberry. "I-if it's not too much trouble, can I come see him.." Hassleberry had to think it over carefully. Barely a minute later he mused. "I don't see a problem.. just be careful alright. Especially walking in the woods."
"I'll make sure he gets around the corner from your house." Chazz remembered the route to the house from when Jim drove them home after Judai collapsed at the treehouse.
"Thanks Chazz." Judai glanced at his black haired friend who went back to reading his book waving it off. Syrus chuckled covering his mouth so the sound barely came out.
Xxx
After school Hassleberry headed home via the bus having a conversation with Blair the whole way. Alexis spoke casually to the two. "Where's the others?" Blair and Hassleberry knew she meant Chazz and Jim.
"Jim's back home taking care of a sick Johan and Chazz, Judai and Syrus went into town to the arcade." Hassleberry raised a eye brow at the girl who just sat next to them her eyes downcasted as Blair noticed that Mindy and Jasmine weren't on the bus.
"Where's the girls?" Blair met her golden hazel eyes as Alexis looked at the two. She licked her lips before expressing herself. "They're… not happy about me trying to be friends with Chazz. They're still stuck in the ways that Bruce ran the school. They're kinda on Nikkola's side. I thought it was cruel what they put you and Stellar through, Blair…" Blair's brown eyes soften at her words before she reached over and squeezed the hand resting on her lap.
"You don't need friends like that Alexis. Your welcome to hang out with us tomorrow during the talent show. Some of the guys are going bold climbing up on that stage and showing everyone at this school how they really are." Her eyes shined as she talked about the event. Alexis's lips twitched into a small smile at the thought of it.
"Maybe I'll do it too." She smiled looking down into her lap. The bus eventually reached Hassleberry's stop an he gets off the bus waving bye to the girls as it drove away. He quickly gets into the woods and shifts leaving his bag in a knot hole nearby to retrieve later and dashed to the house with his clothes in his mouth.
He races around to the front door and gets in through the large doggy door before shifting behind the couch and getting his clothes back on.
"Jim? Hallar out." Hassleberry went down the hall and went immediately to Johan's room where a feverish Johan laid in bed under the blanket and Jim slightly passed out on the floor his hat having fallen off his dark hair from exhaustion.
"Alright pale get some rest. How's Johan doing?" Hassleberry came and pulled the blankets back and stepped back at the sight of a blue wolf panting in Johan's bed.
"Ah.,. Crap. Jim wake up partner! Johan shifted in his sickness!" Hassleberry shook the Aussie who grunted and sat up rubbing his face and eyes before looking at the mass of teal blue fur on the bed.
"Shit, Johan you picked a crappy week to do this.." Hassleberry groaned. He had wanted to see the Bluenette on that stage tomorrow at the Talent show, but at the rate he was looking, he doubt the boy would even get out of bed the next morning.
Jim shook his head and continued to check the werewolf out. "He's stable so far but I just hope everything breaks by tomorrow." They monitor him that late afternoon making sure he got hydrated and ate even while in his werewolf form, with Hassleberry throwing Jim in the bathroom saying he smelt of sick and to clean himself up cause they wouldn't have much time tomorrow.
Hassleberry being the ever forgetful but thoughtful idiot forgot Judai was coming by to check on Johan and it was too late to text him as Chazz's Mercedes driven by his driver was out front dropping the lad off still carrying his book bag.
"Shit I forgot! I was so panicked by Johan being a wolf in bed it slipped my mind! Johan please forgive me…" He grumbled under his breath as he goes outside to greet Judai.
"H-hey Judai, glad you could make it… Tho things are a little complicated at the moment." Hassleberry realized Judai had a Muffin basket which he sat on the kitchen counter.
"This is for you guys, cause I know you've been so swamped caring for Johan, I thought I would stay and help you guys out." Judai stripped his bag off and his jacket revealing the navy blue top turtle neck under his jacket along with his denim blue jeans.
"T-thanks for that Judai… B-but Johan's in no condition for visitors." Hassleberry urged as Judai walked passed him, Jim was still in the shower which left Johan's room unoccupied to stop the brunette. Judai felt a hand on his wrist.
"Judai please!" The brunette looked to his friend confused but Hassleberry's eyes were pleading as the two heard a pained whine coming from Johan's room, making Hassleberry push past Judai and rush into the room slamming the door in Judai's face.
"HASSLEBERRY!? IS JOHAN OKAY??" Judai demanded banging on the door, his adrenaline kicking in out of fright and fear. He didnt know if that was Johan making that sound or Jim but he was now trembling from his own fears.
Hassleberry checked on Johan but the wolf growled weakly. 'What is Judai doing here, Hassleberry?!' Hassleberry gave him a hard stare into his emerald green eyes. 'He asked to see you, how was I supposed to know you would be shifted by the time I came home!?' Hassleberry and Johan continued their mental arguement right up until Jim came out of the bathroom surprised to see Judai banging on the door.
"Hey, Judai. You here to see Johan right?" Judai nodded his brown locks bouncing. Jim sighed slightly, he was dressed down in a pair of flannel pj bottoms and a short sleeve grey top. He approached the door and knocked on it. "Hassleberry, open the damn door."
"J-jim I'm taking care of Johan..! H-he threw up..?" Hassleberry was making sad excuses now, he was slightly freaking out now mostly for Johan's sake but for the sake of their friendships.
He didnt want things to fall apart if Judai reacted badly to everything. Hassleberry looked at Johan who had his own fearful look in his eyes and was tensed to jump up and rush through the window any second to get away.
"Open this damn door now, Hassleberry." Jim gave no room to say no as the tanned male sending one last look to Johan opened the door revealing the two standing in the door way as Judai entered his eyes finally drawn to the bed where the teal furred werewolf laid on the bed green eyes peering back at his brown chocolate eyes.
Judai was lost in his own head. 'A wolf…? But Hassleberry said Johan….wait..' Judai put two and two together as he was 2 feet from the bed staring at the emerald green eyes on the bed.
His voice unwavering, unshaken but small spoke up. "Johan…?" His voice was filled with confusion as his brain tried to comprehend everything and nothing at all. His arms still at his side and his stance almost frozen in place.
Johan's brain running a mile a minute, his quick thinking told him either to stay and deal or run. Sadly he did the opposite and threw his wolf body through the window of the bedroom and vanished into the every growing night straight into the woods.
Judai dropped to his knees as confusion filled his head and the white noise covering his ears blurred what Jim and Hassleberry were saying to him. His brain was screaming random things as his thoughts screamed.
'GO AFTER HIM!' His body finally obeyed as it got back up and pushed past the two and dashed out the front door, grabbing his jacket as he ran off the porch. He made a beeline to the woods screaming at the top of his lung for the one he cherished the most. "JOHAN!!!!"
Please dont kill me for the cliffhanger cause the next chapter gets crazy along with flashbacks so enjoy you'll see soon