Chapter One-Hundred and Eight

John pressed his hands to the wall inside of the shower stall, letting the water wash over his body as he fought the craving for a high. He could hear Cooper and Tyler talking about his battle with meth, gasping as a sharp pain shot through his stomach.

Tyler pulled the curtain back to check on his friend, noticing the signs of his stomach pains left from his battle. "Are they back?" He asked, reaching into the shower to shut the water off and hand him a towel.

John nodded, taking the towel and drying himself off. "Yeah…"

Tyler waited until John wrapped the towel around his hips, before touching his stomach to see if it was a muscle thing, or something that needed medical attention. "God… it's been three weeks since the last one. What triggered them?"

John winced as Tyler pressed on a sore spot, gripping his shoulder to let him know that was where it hurt.

Tyler shook his head, helping John over to the lockers to sit down until the spasm stopped. "Stress?"

John groaned wrapping his arms around his stomach as he doubled over in pain.

Cooper watched John as he tucked his head between his legs, seeing for the first-time what John went through to pay for his choice to use. "All of this because of your parents?" He asked, stepping back as John's moans of pain grew louder.

Tyler looked up at the kid, pulling a bottle of turmeric from his locker and pouring a little of the yellow spice into a tiny bowl and adding water to make a paste. "Here." He forced John to sit up straight, pushing his back into the lockers as he spooned the paste into his mouth with his fingers. "That usually helps."

Cooper looked at the floor as he noticed the pain behind John's eyes, realizing that if he didn't try to get out of his father's house soon… he might end up in the same position. "Is there something I can do?" He asked, as John's body started to tremble.

Tyler pointed to the door, knowing that John was in the beginnings of a seizure. "Watch the door and don't let anyone in. And no matter what, don't leave your post." He slid John off of the bench, making him lay on his back on the floor as he cradled his head in his lap.

Cooper nodded, remembering the action from the news and knowing exactly what it meant. He turned on his heal, listening as the seizure began. He could hear John's body seizing and Tyler's voice speaking to him as he tried to sooth him. He jumped as a redheaded girl walked into the locker room, trying to stop her from entering like he'd been told. "You can't go in there." He stated, blocking her path.

She looked him up and down, pushing passed him to find John. "I'm looking for John." She dropped her purse as she saw John's convulsing body, rushing to his side. "Go watch the other door." She ordered, taking John's head from Tyler as she went about her method of stopping the seizures. "Sugar… John… come on baby… snap out of it." She pressed her thumbs to his temples, her heart aching until the last few jerks and twitches of the attack faded and let his body go completely still. "There you go…" She smiled, kissing his head as his chest heaved with each breath. "Slow it down, Sugar. Breathe in…" She took a slow breath, smiling as he copied her. "Breathe out." She pressed her hand to his chest, holding it there until all the air had left his lungs. "Again."

John took another deep breath, lifting his hand to rest it over Claire's hand above his heart. "Love… you." He croaked, flinching as the bell went off for their next set of classes.

Claire kissed him, helping him to stand and letting him get dressed. "I love you too." She smiled, picking up her bag before she left the locker room.