=Nicole's POV=
(Friday, 2/23/2018-12:15 pm)
(Archian Island, Berk)
(Berkian Academy- Cafeteria)
So, I loved being with Hunter. I loved everything about having him as my boyfriend and I feel like I'm certain that I love him. Hunter is kind, caring, loving, generous, supportive, accepting, honest, a gentleman, and understanding. I feel the difference in love for family, and being in a relationship. Just as he promised, Hunter showed me what love for someone other than your parents was supposed to look and feel like, so I'm positive that I do love this man. I plan to tell him at our joint birthday party, which is being held on Friday, the second of March. It was two days after his, if it February reached the 29th this year, and a day after mine. I feel like knowing I love him back would make his night. Probably make mine too, we've officially been together for two months today. But Hunter had practice from 3 to 5 pm, and then I think he had a dinner to go to with his dad. This is why we celebrated our anniversary date and Valentine's Day on the 17th. I was convinced there was something up with Hunter other than his mother's impending death day anniversary in May, almost two months away now as it's the end of February and going into May in just six more days. As much as I cared and loved this man; I was worried something was wrong.
My proof was that Hunter knocked out again on Tuesday at random during the class we have before lunch. He blamed behind dehydrated and tired, and Nurse Allison confirmed that was likely the case since Hunter admitted to not eating breakfast, and I barely saw him touch his lunch that day. Hunter claimed that he didn't sleep well the night before and hadn't been feeling so hot. Hunter knocked out for about thirty seconds; he was caught by Fisher, but still went out. Not sure what happened because he took him to the nurse and then returned after saying Allison let him rest a bit. The next time I saw him was for last period where he said everything was fine, but I think he struck a deal with the nurse about not telling his dad because he insisted that his father already knew at the end of the day when we hung in the grass near the C-Hall classrooms. Shane had said he was going to call Spencer, but Hunter said not to worry about it and that he was informed. Still, it didn't seem right to me and was making me nervous. I really hoped he wasn't overworking himself between practices and working at Glenn's.
So here we are on Friday, the 23rd of February and it's the end of lunch hour. The bell would be ringing in fifteen minutes and Hunter didn't look that good. He barely ate even had his sandwich, or the other items in his lunch bag. All I saw was that he was drinking water and keeping his eyes closed.
"Babe? Are you okay?" I asked.
"Hm?" Hunter looked at me now and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You don't look like you're fine…You barely ate." I mentioned, not wanting to make him angry, but still show my concern.
"Not that hungry today, Milady. Don't worry. I'm saving it, and I'll snack later if my appetite returns." Hunter reassured.
"You better hope it doesn't make you pass out like Tuesday, Hunter…" Fisher sighed.
"Yeah, Coach Bludvist knows too because Nurse Allison told him to watch you during practice and make sure you drank plenty of water…" Shane reminded.
"Guys…I'm fine, okay?" Hunter remarked.
"Don't get mad because we care, Hunter. Seriously…You should eat something before practice starts, or sit it out. If you go down again, for any reason…I'm calling Uncle Spencer myself…" Shane warned.
"Butt out, would you? What happens to me is no concern of yours to be bothering my dad…" Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Oh, shut up, Hunter. You're my cousin! You're family. And I don't care what you told us Tuesday, I think you worked the nurse into not telling your dad about what happened because there's no way he'd just let you passing out twice at school slide!" Shane argued.
"He doesn't need to know because it's nothing to worry about." Hunter folded his arms over his chest. I wanted to help him, I really did, but I didn't know what to do here. Shane was actually right in all this, and the worst part, Hunter just admitted that he lied to us about his father knowing.
Shane glared at Hunter now. "Dude, you've passed out three times on school grounds. At practice after saying you were fine," Hunter went to say something. "Shut up and listen…At the end of that one day where maybe you didn't completely go out, but would have if you hadn't been caught by Bryan…" Hunter put a finger up to say something else. "And you knocked out on Tuesday in class…Even today, you don't look like you're here." He remarked.
"I'm tired…I work my ass of in case you've forgotten." Hunter huffed.
"Then quit your job, it's not like you don't have plenty of money saved up from literally your entire life…" Shane glared still.
"Okay you two…Getting kind'a heated…" Heather tried to break up the bickering cousins.
"Hunter, all I'm saying is that this isn't normal…And everyone agrees. Something is wrong with you, and you're keeping it to yourself…Just like your mom did," Shane said as Hunter almost tensed at the mention of his mother. "Are you trying to end up like her too?"
Now, Hunter's eyes narrowed to something I've never seen before. I've never seen Hunter get angry, but I knew the look was nothing but anger. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Shane?" Hunter asked in a cold tone. "And I suggest you choose those next set of words extremely carefully…" He warned.
Shane hesitated a moment, but sighed. "Hunter…Look, your mom said nothing was wrong too. She pushed it off as nothing until she passed out at work…And before she could see a doctor…She suddenly died. You've…Passed out three times…I…Don't want to see you die because you're too goddamn stubborn to let anyone help you just like her. Geeze, you really are your mother's son…You wanna end up dead like her too?"
My eyes widened, and I knew others had too because there were audible gasps at what Shane said to Hunter. The lunchroom was actually kind'a quiet, as in others heard it and now it had circulated to the rest of the room. "I can't even believe you would say that to me. So you know what…" Hunter got up from his seat. "Fuck you." Hunter never cursed, not in anger. Jokingly, sure. But never anger and directed at someone. Abandoning his food and drink on the table, only grabbing his backpack; Hunter stormed out of the cafeteria, going out of sight.
"Dude…Why'd you lay into him like that?" Travis asked.
"Yeah…We get the concern for Hunter, we're all worried about him…But I think you went too far…" Fisher said softly.
"Think? No, he absolutely went too far. Shane, come on! Why bring up his mom at all, and especially like that? It's nearly two months to the anniversary and it was who pointed it out that could be why he's distancing himself…" Ashley scolded.
"For all we know whatever is going on with him could be due to an emotional state, or stress…" I added. "I should go check on him…" I went to get up and clean mine and Hunter's areas.
"Oh my Gods! Someone get the nurse and tell her a student just passed out!" shouted someone from outside the cafeteria. My heart dropped in my stomach, and I really prayed that it wasn't Hunter. My friends and I nervously made our way to the doors and looked. Sure enough, it was Hunter laying on the floor out cold. Nurse Allison was already there, checking him over for breathing and pulse.
"Should we bring him to you, or call an ambulance?" Inquired an officer worker.
"We'll see what Principal Grimborn suggests." Nurse Allison stated.
"What happened here?" Came Principal Grimborn's voice, as he was seen rushing forward quickly.
"I was called by the secretary about a student passing out, and come to find it's Mr. Haddock again." Allison said. "He's been out for almost a minute and I don't see signs of waking up. The secretary said that he came out of the cafeteria like a bat out of hell; he started panting, cringing like he was in pain, put a hand to his head and then just dropped to the floor and has remained like this."
"Why do you say Mr. Haddock again?" Vincent wondered now.
"He passed out on Tuesday as well and brought in by one of his friends and another classmate after being out for thirty seconds." Allison explained.
"He also passed out a few weeks back during Basketball practice after being smacked in the chest with the ball. He said he was fine, took a few steps and dropped." Dimitri stated, walking up from the direction of the gymnasium.
"And he also nearly passed out not long ago outside after school standing with us. Your son caught him, and he didn't knock out, but almost did. Then stomped off when we said not to drive…" Ashley chimed in softly. If they were bringing up incidents, then all of them should be known and maybe it would force Hunter to get help.
Vincent sighed. "Let's move him out of the main walkway, the bell is about to ring. We'll phone his father and see what we should do…"
Ryder Grimborn, and Dimitri worked together to carefully move Hunter to Allison's office while Vincent dismissed others to get to class. The friends and I were forced to head off, and they'd have to get an update later. If anyone could, it would be Shane as Hunter's cousin.
. . .
=Normal POV=
(1:00 pm)
(Berkian Academy-Clinic)
Spencer Haddock arrived with Glenn within twenty minutes of the phone call that Hunter passed out at school and that Spencer was needed to come down to discuss a few things regarding Hunter. After reaching the school, and signing in as a visitor, Spencer and Glenn were led to the infirmary by Vincent.
"I still don't quite understand, Vincent…" Glenn stated.
"I'm afraid none of us do, and that is why it's so serious. I will explain when we reach the clinic…" Vincent said. Reaching the clinic, he knocked lightly and walked through the closed door with Spencer and Glenn in tow. "I've brought his father, and godfather. Where is Hunter?" He inquired.
"Using the restroom on the corner of A and D Hall. Mine in here is still broken." Allison mentioned.
"I have someone coming to repair that…In the meantime, I believe we need to address the situation with Hunter." Vincent informed, motioning for Glenn and Spencer to sit down.
"So what is all this about because he's been fine at home." Spencer asked.
"We feel Hunter needs to see his primary physician for a complete physical, Mr. Haddock. That's my recommendation as a heath care professional." Allison folded her hands on her desk. "There have been several instances where Hunter has just passed out on campus, and while there have been reasons that could explain a few, others have no reason." She continued.
"We know about one of them; it was a practice a few weeks back." Glenn mentioned.
"That is one with an explanation; he was hit hard in the chest with a basketball. It's reasonable to say that took the wind out of him, and made him dizzy or lightheaded." Allison nodded. "But there was another instance the following week after the final bell rang where Hunter was with his friends outside of C Hall that I was unaware of until today."
"Go on…" Spencer invited.
"I also wasn't aware of it until my son's girlfriend brought it up today when Hunter passed out after exiting the cafeteria. Ashley Hofferson, is my son Bryan's girlfriend, and she stated that Hunter was walking away from them to get to his jeep and that he just started to drop. Bryan backed this claim by saying Hunter was breathing heavy and holding his head. Now, Bryan caught him, so he didn't hit the ground or completely knock out, but I think that if he wasn't caught; he might have gone out and hit the ground pretty hard." Vincent explained. "Also that he argued he was fine afterward and insisted on driving home."
Spencer didn't like how any of this sounded, no did Glenn. It was concerning, and they wondered why they hadn't known about this previously. "And…Then there was today?" Spencer asked.
"There was today, but there was another fainting spell on Tuesday morning where he dropped in class; he was caught by Fisher Ingerman, then brought here with Fisher and another male classmate. I had him here with me until after lunch. According to Fisher, he was only unconscious about thirty seconds." Allison explained. "Hunter claimed he wasn't feeling well, dehydrated, and hadn't eaten breakfast. I accepted the reasoning, as I know it could be a cause. And today was that he seen exiting the cafeteria by the secretary who sits right there and can see anyone who comes into the building anyone leaving or entering the lunchroom through the main doors there. She stated that Hunter tore out of the cafeteria like a bat out of hell; he was cringing, breathing heavy, a hand on his head…But then he just hit the ground."
"And he was unconscious for almost two minutes before awakening here in the clinic with myself and Allison here. We were going to call an ambulance, but Shane Jorgenson mentioned that you should be informed first as Hunter admitted in the cafeteria before exiting that you hadn't been told of any of these fainting spells other than the one from practice." Vincent interjected.
"Why wasn't I called after the one on Tuesday?" Spencer asked.
"Hunter told me you were already aware of the situation, and there was no need to call you again. Had I known this was untrue, Mr. Haddock, I assure you that I would have informed you." Allison confessed firmly. Spencer sighed some.
"Just like his mother…" Glenn reminded his friend.
"Too much like her. I will ensure he sees his doctor sometime next week, you have my word." Spencer reassured just as Hunter came back into the room.
"Hi, Dad…Uncle Glenn…" Hunter greeted, knowing that they'd told his dad about today, and probably the other incidents too.
"Give your godfather the keys to the jeep so that he may drive it home. You will be coming with me so we can have a little chat about all this and why I'm just learning about it now." Spencer ordered calmly. Defeated and knowing there was no way to get out of it; Hunter located his keys in his backpack and handed them to Glenn.
Someone else entered the clinic. Hunter looked to see Devon there. "Hey, Hunt…So, not to add onto your already, probably bad news…But coach obviously doesn't want you coming to practice tonight and tomorrow's game. Not even benched, just stay home and rest. He says you're off practices and games until you're cleared by your doctor to be alright, but he can't risk you passing out." Devon informed.
"Great…" Hunter sighed.
"No working in the shop either. I won't have you knocking out while working the machinery." Glenn stated.
"Gee, just friggin chain me up in my bedroom why don't you? What happened wasn't the big of a deal. People pass out all the time for various reasons…" Hunter folded his arms over his chest.
"You're right, Hunter…But we don't know the reasons behind some of your spells. There's clearly more to this, and we need to know what's going on. It's dangerous for you to be passing out at random here at school, and then driving home. Not to mention, when I checked you both Tuesday and today while you were unconscious; you were running a slight fever." Allison remarked as she got up and touched his forehead. "You're still running one."
"You heard what your coach said, Hunter. No practices, no games. Glenn said no work, and it's going to tick you off…But until you see your doctor and I know what's causing this…No driving either." Spencer sighed.
"What?! Dad, come on! It's my car, you can't take it away!" Hunter argued.
"Your mother and I bought it for you, Hunter…You're on my insurance, it's registered to me with you as an underage driver, and you're still seventeen. So yes, I can. You've been choosing to be unsafe by driving after fainting spells, so you can use the time while we wait on results of your appointment that I will make when we leave here, to think about how to be safe on the road. This is not the first time either, your coach also had to call me after the spell in practice because you wanted to drive when you knew it wasn't safe to." Spencer told him firmly.
"Hunter, don't be this way…We're just worried about you." Glenn tried.
"I'm fine! Gods, why can't anyone listen to me when I say it!?" Hunter snapped angrily. "It was a couple little things, all of which had valid reasons. Just back off and leave me alone…"
"Hunter, passing out at random is nothing little, especially when it happens twice in the same week! And each time has been longer than the last." Allison pointed out. "Unless you know what's causing it, and not telling anyone; then what choice do we have to believe there is something wrong?"
"Son, listen to me…This is not to gang up on you, but we're concerned. I know it's not what you want to hear, but we though your mother was fine too…And then we lost her because it was pushed off as nothing big until she passed out at work…And it was only the once. You've passed out four times, granted if they have reasons or not…At least two of them don't have a reason. I've already lost her, Hunter…I don't want to lose you too." Spencer said gently.
"For all we know, lad, this could be genetic and whatever your mother had…You could too. We don't want to see you drop one day…And not wake back up." Glenn looked at Hunter now, softly and softly. Spencer also looked sad too.
"I do not want to hear it again today, thank you very much." Hunter remarked coldly. "Let's just friggin go and get this over with so I can maybe get back to my life, when it's in my control…" Hunter held his bag and stormed out of the clinic as Spencer and Glenn both just sighed heavily.
"What do ya think he meant by don't want to hear it again?" Glenn looked at Spencer.
"Not sure. I'll ask him in the car on the drive home…If he even speaks to me. I'll arrange for him to ride with Shane and Addilyn until he gets his car back…" Spencer stated.
"You most certainly will not!" Hunter popped back into the room, glaring. "I refuse to be anywhere near him for a while." He retorted.
"How else do you plan to get to school, son?" Spencer sighed.
"I'd rather walk than be in his presence until he apologizes for earlier, and actually means it. Also, he better not dare approach me after what he said in the cafeteria until I calm down or I swear to the Gods, family or not; I will deck him. Now, can we go, please? As I don't have practice or work…Or even a damn car to do anything for the night; I'm just gonna do my homework and go to sleep. Maybe wake up tomorrow and this will be a bad dream where maybe I'm not being punished for something I didn't do!" And with that, he marched off again to locate his father's car.
"Thank you for today," Spencer said to the others in the room before and Glenn exited the building once Spencer signed Hunter out for the rest of the day. Glenn went off to get Hiccup's jeep.
Spencer found Hunter sitting in the front seat, arms folded over his chest and looking very annoyed, so he decided to just leave Hunter alone for the ride back to their house. Hunter did let Nicole know that he was being sent home with his father, and Glenn was taking his jeep, and that the only reason he passed out was that he was furious with what Shane said and the emotional stress of how close the one year was. That's what Hunter chalked the incident earlier up to. He also asked if she or Fisher wouldn't mind getting his work from the final two classes of the day. He honestly did just want to take a shower and take a nap. Hunter knew that the passing out wasn't good, but he attributed things to stress and never resting. He supposed to make everyone happy and get back what was taken from him, and his freedom, he would see a doctor, and then it would go back to normal.
