AN: Hey guys... sorry for the suuuuuuuper long wait for this chapter. I got an internship with the theatre department at my school, so I've been busy with costumes and shows. We have only a few more chapters left to go for this one! Leave me a review if ya like and share with anyone who you think might enjoy reading! -AR


They sat in the still silence of morning for a moment, both still waking before Dave cleared his throat again, turned to look up at her.

"So… so how're ya feelin'?" I mean, can you move ok? Any headaches?"

She furrowed her brow and turned her gaze from his gesturing hands to slowly begin testing her limbs. Jade turned and looked at her fingers, flexing and wiggling them out, gently rotating her arms outward. Her movements were slow and methodic, as she didn't want to bring on a dizzy spell from jerky movements.

"I think I'm okay… I only have a headache… But, I think that is because I'm still a little tired."

Jade looked up from her arms to the blonde, his face held an expression of calm relief.

"Ok. Cool."

A rumble filled the room, the noise originating from Jade's stomach. She blushed, embarrassed.

"Someone sounds hungry." He spoke in monotone, smirking a bit.

"Haha… yeah."

She brushed her hair back as Dave stood up from his butterfly chair, groaning a bit as he stretched upward.

"Alllllllllright." He spoke turning to her. "Let's get some shitty breakfast for ya."

"Oh jeez… I really can eat back at my dorm…you don't have to-"

"Nah it's cool. I don't want your stomach screaming bloody murder on our way over there, besides," he shrugged, "I'm hungry myself."

She sighed, relenting to his insistence that she wasn't inconveniencing him (more than she already was) and slid her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet touched the hardwood floor, and she shifted her weight onto them, pushing against the mattress to lift herself up. She stood, wobbling a bit and took a tentative step forward. Her effort back fired as the rush of blood to her legs caused her head to reel, and she felt herself fall backward onto the bed again, sitting hard. She heard Dave move forward to catch her, as she groaned and put her head in her hands. She swallowed down the wave of nausea that threatened her empty stomach as she held herself together as her ears rung.

"Shit..."

She mumbled into her hands, taking deep breaths. She rubbed her temples for a moment as her world settled then looked up from her feet. Dave stood there, tentatively leaning forward to help her with concern on his face. She smiled slightly.

"So… I guess I'm not quite 100% yet."

"Looks like it."

She scowled, determined to get up. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her hands to the bed and pushed herself up again, leaning on the bedpost. She stood again, willing her head to cooperate. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an out stretched hand offered to her.

"I don't think falling all over the place is helping-"

She took his hand, interrupting him. He gripped her other arm and held her steady as she shut her eyes against another wave of dizziness. She stood still, leaning against him for a few moments before muttering.

"Ok."

She shuffled forward as he led her out of the room to the main section of the apartment. Their feet padded against the cold floor, his socked and hers bare. Dave moved from walking backwards in front of her, to beside her, matching her steps, and giving her his arm to lean on. They had almost made it out of the narrow hallway when her stomach lurched.

"Urgh!"

"Ja-?"

She cut him off by twisting away, hand covering her mouth. Jade convulsed, struggling against the rising feeling of sick. She didn't risk saying anything to Dave; if she opened her mouth she would be sick. He cringed as she lurched forward again.

"Shit!"

Dave cursed, and rushed her along the hallway. A slight relief surged through Jade when he flicked on the bathroom light. She lurched from Dave's arms and collapsed in front of the toilet, gripping the seat tightly as her stomach gave way. The sickening smell of vomit filled her nostrils as she regurgitated bile and the contents of her stomach into the bowl. Amidst her retching she felt Dave move to behind her and hold her hair back. Misery flooded her mind as her stomach gave another lurch, dry heaving. She felt awful, physically sick, head spinning. Bringing a shaky hand up from its tight grip on the toilet, she flushed the receptacle, ridding the small room of most of the awful smell. She remained, kneeling by the toilet, and her hair fell back down on her back.

"Jade. Are you… done?"

His tentative question hit her hard with guilt. He had to deal with all of this crap. But in her defense- she rationalized- he was the one who brought her home. She nodded.

"Y-yeah…"

She heard him shift behind her.

"Ok… I'll leave you to wash up and stuff, unless-"

"I'm fine."

She winced at her sharp reply.

"I can take care of cleaning myself up…thank you Dave."

"Do you still want me to make breakfast..?"

She paused for a moment, then looked up at him from beneath her bangs.

"Yeah… "

He looked a little pale to her, probably it was the smell of throw-up affecting him. He gave a tight smile.

"Alright… I'll make…" he waved his hands haphazardly. "- something... while you get sorted."

She gave a small smile, "Thanks Dave… sorry."

With his hand on the door knob, he gave a slight smirk.

"Don't apologize Jade... just get cleaned up and feelin' less shitty, ok?"

The door closed and she sat, staring at the white rectangle. Eventually, she moved to stand and get herself together; her shaking hands turning on the sink faucet.