Chapter Eight: Tension, Revenge, And A Little Bit Of Fun

Rex

"Nate?" I asked quietly. After asking me a million questions that I didn't know the answers to, they finally let me in to see him.

"Get out!" he yelled.

"Chill out Nate!" I said loudly. "I just saved your friggen life! What did you take?" I asked him, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I don't want you in here," he said through gritted teeth.

"Fine. If you're going to be that way, then I'll leave. So much for helping you," I said, standing up and crossing my arms. I started off toward the door but he stopped me.

"Wait. Where's Thomas?" he asked me.

"I don't know. I tried calling him and he didn't pick up. Sorry kid," I murmured before leaving the room and the hospital altogether.

I dug around in my pockets, coming up with my cell phone, a lighter, seven dollars, and my school ID. Sighing, I walked down to the drug store that I knew was around the corner. I bought a pack of cigarettes, luckily without being carded and lit one up.

Inhaling deeply, I instantly felt loads better. Of course, as soon as I find Thomas, he'll want about half the pack. Where is he anyway? I called his cell; no answer. I even called his room. So he's not at school.

Nate's one fucked up little kid, but I never thought he'd do shit like this. And he can't even say thank you.

Marco

I woke up the next morning, completely refreshed. After running from Andrew and Rory's room last night, I went straight to sleep. Rex and Jesse were finished, and Rex was long gone.

"Good morning sunshine," I said to Jesse as I pulled open the blinds.

"Fucker," he replied, pulling his blanket over his head.

"Oh it's like that is it?" I asked. I went into the bathroom to get a quick shower. When I was done, I threw a towel around my waist and went back into our room. Jesse was still sleeping, the blinds were back down, and the blanket was still over his head.

Without a word, I climbed on top of him, pulling the blanket down. I ran a hand through his ultra short hair. He opened one eye and smiled up at me. But he didn't get up. He's gonna get it.

I squeezed my hair out all over his face.

"You jerk!" he said, quickly sitting up and knocking me over.

"Oops!" I said, laughing as I realized my towel came off. Jesse turned his head in embarrassment. "What's wrong? You've never seen one before?" I joked. I fixed my towel before getting up. "You've got ten minutes and then I'm leaving without you."

I walked over to my closet, pulling out my uniform necessities. It was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen, but I had to wear it. I got my boxers on before pulling the towel off. Black pants, white button-up shirt (with short sleeves mind you), dark blue blazer with the school insignia on it and matching socks (oh, yes), and to top it all off, my black and blue striped tie, and black shoes. I looked like a walking bruise, only hotter.

Jesse finally went into the bathroom. I heard him turn the shower on and waited a minute or two until I went in. I couldn't wait for him to get out to fix my hair. Then I'd be late for breakfast.

"Make it quick!" I said, peeking in the shower curtain as I walked by. I didn't see anything, but oh well. Maybe later.

Andrew

I woke up and rubbed my eyes. Pulling Alex's picture out from under my pillow, I kissed it before setting it up on my desk.

I looked in the mirror as I passed by it. Ew, I look like shit. Rory's right; I need to get better makeup. My eyeliner was all smudged on my face. Wait, I'm pissed at Rory. I cried myself to sleep last night. I was usually okay if I didn't think about Alex too much, but now that Marco knows…ugh. He might want to talk about it or something. I just don't like that.

I hopped in the shower, fixed my makeup, and dressed in my uniform. Looking at the clock, I realized that I was already ten minutes late for breakfast. I always wake Rory up in the morning so he's not late too, but Iwon't today. He can miss it for all I care.

Walking out of the room, I made sure to slam the door behind me.

And there he was. Marco. Waiting for me with that Jesse kid.

"I can't talk, I said. I'm late for breakfast." Instead of acknowledging what I said and walking away, he turned to Jesse.

"I'll meet you at our table okay?"

I tried walking faster to get away from Marco.

"Wait up Andrew. I don't understand why you're so mad!" he shouted, catching up almost instantly. He placed a hand on my arm. I pulled away and stopped walking, turning to look in his eyes.

"You went through my shit!" I said. "Why would you do that? It's none of your business."

"I didn't go through anything. I was waiting for you. I was there to see you!" he argued.

"Didn't look like it. You were getting pretty close with my brother," I sneered.

"Oh, so that's really it! We were talking about a sad subject, he started to cry, and I was trying to be sympathetic," he tried to explain.

"Whatever Marco. All I know is that I do not want to talk to you right now." I stormed off in the opposite direction of the dining hall before he could say anything else.

Nate

I lay in the hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. I didn't mean to do it. I didn't mean to take so many pills. Stomach pumps are not my friend.

It took me over an hour to convince the doctor that it was an accident; not a suicide attempt. I told him that I just forgot I took my medication in the morning, and took more at night.

Still, they took it away from me. The emergency room doctor called my doctor in New York and asked him about it. They talked for quite awhile, and the doctor returned saying that he had to take it away so I didn't get addicted to it. Yeah, right. Like I'd even do that.

It just hurts so bad. And I can't get medicine anymore.

I'm being monitored for another day to make sure that I'm okay.

Where's Thomas? I thought for sure that he'd visit me. Maybe I'm just not worth it.

Rory

"Can I talk to you?" I asked Marco as I approached his table. I was twenty minutes late for breakfast, so I figured I'd just eat an apple or something.

"Sure. I'll be right back," he told Jesse. For some reason, none of his other friends were there at all.

"Where is everybody?" I asked him as we walked out into the hallway.

"I have no clue. Nate and Rex weren't in their room, and neither were Lindsey and Thomas. Anyway, what's up?" he asked.

"Have you talked to Andrew today?" I asked him. He snorted.

"Barely. He was being a real jerk. He said he's mad that I went through his stuff. He wouldn't even let me explain!" he complained. "I think it's really because of how we were when he walked in last night."

"Probably. He usually wakes me up every morning, but this morning, when I already would have been late, he slammed the door and left. Then at breakfast, he got up and went to a different table when I sat down with him and Remy. He's never been like this before. He really likes you," I added. I saw Marco perk up a bit, but then he frowned in concentration.

"Well, if he liked me so much then he would let me explain. You know what, screw him. Do you want to make him a little jealous?" he asked me. I was hesitant at first, but then I figured I would.

"That would probably be fun," I smiled. "Besides, he deserves a taste of his own medicine."

"Okay then, why don't we start by having you come sit at my table," he said, grabbing my hand and dragging me back into the dining hall.

We didn't make it as far as his table though. Andrew was walking out just as we were walking in. We both glared at him and I got closer to Marco. He returned the glare before walking off in a huff.

"Looks like it's working," I stated happily.

Lindsey

"I can't believe you!" I yelled at Thomas.

"What took you so fucking long?" he growled. We walked out of the police station, into the bright sunlight.

"I had to get the money first idiot! Not to mention, I don't know my way around this stupid city. I was drinking a beer and then you were gone. What did you do to get arrested anyway?" I asked, squinting.

"I punched some kid. I wasn't gonna let him hit me and just not do anything," he said, scowling.

"I can't believe you," I said.

"You already said that Linds."

"Whatever. Let's just get back to school. We've only missed breakfast. If we're lucky, we can make it back by second period," I told him, walking toward the bus station.

"Why go back? We might as well skip the day. Wait, I got like ten messages here," he said, putting his cell phone up to his ear.

"What is it?" I asked. He waved me away and turned his back so he could hear better.

"Fuck, we gotta go to the hospital," he said, turning in the opposite direction.

"Why? Who's there that we need to see?" I asked him.

"Nate."

Thomas

What did he do? I swear I'll kill him if he's been taking those pills again. I spend the night in jail and then get out only to hear frantic messages on my voice mail from Rex. About how he found Nate on the floor. And Nate's been asking for me. And where the hell was I? The messages go on until Rex gets so pissed that he just keeps calling and hanging up.

"I'm on my way," I said into the phone as he called for the millionth time. I slammed my phone shut and started to run, with Lindsey not too far behind.

Finally, we rounded the corner to see it standing there. I've been here too many times for this kid. I saw Rex leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I dunno," he shrugged. "They wouldn't tell me anything because he didn't want me to know. He needs you," he said, looking at me seriously.

"Why don't you and Lindsey take the bus back to school? I'll be there when I can," I told them. They turned to go, and I yelled after them. "Hey! I want half that pack when I get back!" Rex gave me the finger but I shook it off. I went inside the hospital, feeling that familiar old chill.

"I'm looking for Nathan Harwood," I said to the woman sitting at the front desk.

"Are you family?" she asked without looking up. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Yeah, I'm his brother," I lied.

She started typing something into the computer without asking for my name or proof of identification.

"Room 309," she said.

"Thanks." I went straight to the elevators and pushed the button five times. Damn, it's going so slow.

As soon as the doors to one of them opened, I ran inside and pushed the number three. Some old guy with an IV pole attached to his arm yelled for me to hold the elevator, but I just couldn't. Sorry dude, wait for the next one.

305, 307, 309 There! I stopped and went right in the room.

"Nate?" I whispered. It was dark in the room. I made my way to the bed and sat down in the chair next to it.

"I knew you'd come," he said back, his voice hoarse. I tried not to cry as I looked at him, hooked up to a few machines. He looked so weak and defeated. His hair was a mess and his cheeks were tear stained.

"What'd you do?" I asked, choking back tears. Yeah, I do cry…I'm only human.

"I'm so sorry Thomas," he whispered, fresh tears spilling over. "I didn't mean to, I swear I didn't."

"This is it Nate. No more of this shit. I'm not gonna end up next to you lying in a hospital bed again."

Marco

I sat in my math class, not paying attention. I was doodling all over my notebook, completely bored. I learned all this crap last year.

"Oh, class, we have a new student!" Mrs. Langley shouted excitedly. I continued to ignore her, until she said something really interesting. "Everyone, this is Craig Manning. He's from Canada!"

My head snapped up at the name. And there he was. Holy shit! Someone I actually know. Besides my eight other friends, of course. What I meant was someone from Toronto!

Craig stood there sheepishly until he spotted me. He rushed right over and plopped into the empty desk next to me.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

"I'll tell you later," he said, grinning.

"Okay class, settle down," the teacher said even though no one was even talking but us. "Let's get back to work," she said, continuing with her boring monologue about imaginary numbers.

Craig

I can't believe I did it. I actually came here to Marco's school. Well, it's my school too now. It took a lot of convincing for Joey to let me come. But since he has that new girlfriend at home, he didn't really mind too much.

I sat through one boring math class, and finally the bell rang. Marco and I walked out in the hallway together.

"Are you really staying?" he asked as soon as we got away from the crowds of people.

"Of course," I told him.

"But…why? This place isn't that great," he said.

"I was just getting really sick of DCS. Ashley's gone, and Manny won't even look at me. She's with Jimmy now. Jimmy, can you believe that?" I said.

"Whoa. That's really strange. What else is going on around there?" he asked, interested.

"Ellie's been hanging around with Jay and Alex. Spinner's with Emma…um…obviously Jimmy and Hazel broke up since he's with Manny now. Oh and Hazel is interested in this new kid Peter. Get this: he's Hatzilakos' son!" I told him, listing all the couples I could think of.

"What about Paige?" he asked me.

"She's not with anyone right now. And just as bitchy as ever," I said.

"Hold on a sec," he said. I could hear his cell phone vibrating in his pocket. He read a text message and frowned. "Feel like skipping the rest of the day?" he asked me. "My friend Nate's in the hospital and I'm gonna go visit him."

"Sure, why not?" I followed him as he led me off the school grounds.

Jesse

Great. Of course Marco didn't show up for our poetry class. Damn him. Rex isn't answering his phone either. I haven't seen him since last night when he left my room.

"Hey," I said to Andrew as I walked up to him. "Do you know where Marco is?"

"Probably off screwing around with Rory," he said in an annoyed tone.

"What?" I asked. My heart fluttered. Okay, so I have a boyfriend, but I think I'm falling in love with Marco. Little things, like the way he wakes me up in the morning, make me like him more and more every day.

"Yep. I guess they're an item now."

I turned and walked away as slow as I possibly could. I walked right out of the classroom, completely unnoticed by the teacher. I just kept walking until I got back to my room. Then I flopped down on my bed and cried.

Marco

"Nate, what happened?" I asked him. He wanted to talk to me alone, so I introduced Craig to Thomas and they were sitting out in the hallway together.

"Don't worry about it. I just got sick. Could you do me a favor though?" he asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Will you follow Rex? And find out what he's been doing?"

I stared at him without answering. Then I sighed, and looked down at the floor.

"If you won't do it for me, will you at least do it for Jesse?"

A/N: Okay, so things are obviously different back at DCS, I wanted my couples to be in there the way I like them. I just couldn't completely forget about everyone back there. Jimmy, Spinner, and a few other people might visit Marco in the future. Anyone surprised that Craig is the new student? And who do you like Marco better with: Andrew, Rory, or Jesse? I already know who he's gonna be with at the end, but let me know, and I'll write more stuff about who you pick. Do you think Marco's gonna follow Rex? This is my longest chapter that I've written so far. I have to warn you all that at times, I may get a bit graphic in here…I do a little bit in the next chapter so be warned! Because of the graphic-ness, I've changed the rating to M.