I don’t even want to think about what stupid nicknames they would've come up with…

The lesson is about to start and I’m currently sitting next to the door of the classroom, cause I obviously can’t climb the stairs to my usual place. Great barier-free planning. Very inclusive, gotta say.

When the teacher enters, he only tells me to go to my place. When I tell him that I can’t climb the stairs, he says I either go up there or I have to leave the room. It’s one of the only classes I don’t have together with Damian, so he can’t help.

That much for sharing all of our curses, I fucking knew it!

I look up at the other students helplessly, pleading for help but they just smirk and ignore me. 

“Oh, and todays lesson will be asked in the next test, so you shouldn’t miss it.”, the teacher says. 

I feel tears welling up in my eyes. The whole class is laughing as I glide out of the chair and crawl over the dirty floor over to the stairs. 

I still can’t lift my legs or arms, but I lock my chin on one of the stairs, pulling myself up in a sitting position, turning around before positioning my elbows on the stairs, pushing my butt on step after step.

Fucking humiliating. Imma get back at those fucked up shitheads, and that's a freaking promise.

I’m covered in sweat and my whole body aches when I arrive at the last row, I glide over the floor, nearly arriving at my place when suddenly a hot beverage splashes on the lower half of my body. I scream in pain, unable to move or change out of the wet clothes. 

“Oops, I’m so sorry.” the guy from gym says. What a c*nt!

“Leave my classroom! Immediately!”, the teacher shouts. It takes a moment for me to realize he’s talking to me. 

I can’t move, everything hurts and I feel utterly humiliated. 

Disbelieving, I fight hart to hold back my tears, when suddenly someone grabs me roughly at my injured legs and arms, carrying me out of the classroom and throwing me outside the door. 

Shouldn’t that be illegal? 

My wheelchair quickly follows, hitting me against the head and squeezing my body.

I’m afraid, too exhausted to even shout for help and scared that the teacher might hear me. I’m lying on my left leg and my right arm is twisted. 

I feel something wet on my head, slowly realizing it is blood. My blood. And not just a little bit, but way too much to be healthy.

I feel my consciousness fading, the second time in the last three days.

When I wake up again, I’m in the hospital. It smells weird and everything’s white or gray. It reminds me of home. I feel dizzy, still sleepy and slowly pass out again.

The next time I wake up someone is sitting beside me in a gray-blue chair, reading a book. I can hear the rustling of the pages every now and then, the slow breathing. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone. Even if we aren’t speaking and I have no clue who it is…

I wake up again. My throat is dry, I remember what got me here. 

I’m anxious. How could something like that even happen? Why did no one help me?

Who found me and brought me here, I wonder?

My breath fastens, my hands feel clammy and my chest feels heavy, somehow tight. I know these indicators.

I have to remember that now there is someone who likes me. Who needs me. I can’t break down now. I can’t hurt them with my behavior, I have to be strong.

My friends will help me. Everything will be alright.

Someone knocks at the door. I want to answer, but no words come out. 

After a few seconds, a doctor enters. 

“Do you feel alright? Does it hurt somewhere?”, she asks. 

I want to answer, really, but I stay silent. “Do you want something to drink?” 

I nod my head slowly, indicating yes. She takes a glass of water, slowly lifting the head part of the bed and holding it to my lips. I drink greedily, feeling slightly better. I take a look around the room. It’s empty except for me and the woman, seems like the mysterious person from before left.

“Ah, the boy left for a few minutes.”, the doc says. I tilt my head carefully. 

What boy is she talking about? 

The only boy I recently interacted with is Damian, but we don’t know each other that well. I mean, we planned to move in together… maybe he wondered why I didn’t show up to our classes? Wait. He left shortly, does that mean he’ll be coming back?

I look at the female, rising my brows. “Uh… I think his name was Damian… Brooks? He left to buy himself some food. Your boyfriend should be back any minute now.” 

So it’s like that. Wait. Boyfriend? I definitely have to ask him about that one.

As if on cue the door opens again, revealing Damian.

“I’ll be leaving now. Call me if something happens or even if you only feel a little strange. Your injuries are very severe, listen to your body, alright?”, she says. “Dinner will arrive soon. You’ll have to stay here for about a week at least, so make yourself comfortable.”

She leaves, closing the door behind her.

Damian walks over to me. “Want something?”, he asks, holding a sandwich in front of my face. I raise my brows, taking a bite. “Boyfriend?”, I wonder, smirking at him.

He blushes deeply. Oh man, how much I missed that. And it’s probably only been a few hours. He shuffles his feet. “I-I had to say that, okay? If I weren’t part of your family or your boyfriend they would have told me to leave. I also had to tell her that we moved in together recently to persuade her.”

“So you don’t wanna be my boyfriend?”, I say quietly, pretending to be sad. “I-It’s alright, I shouldn’t have thought anything else.” I smile at him sadly, blushing softly.

“Hey! I never said I didn’t want to be your boyfriend, it’s just… You’re messing with me again, aren’t you?”, he groans.

I laugh, twisting my face and start coughing.

“Are you alright?!”, he says worriedly, touching my face. His cold hand on my forehead feels like heaven… I guess I’m burning up.

He seems to come to the same conclusion, quickly calling for the doctor.

Half an hour later I feel so much better while Damian seems to be really worn out. I make space on the relatively big hospital bed, signaling for him to lie down.

He yawns, slipping under the blanket and cuddling against me cautiously. I chuckle, kissing his forehead. “Sleep tight.”, I murmur into his ear, causing him to flush crimson again. 

Seems like I got myself a hot temporary boyfriend. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

I grin, waiting for the doctors evening visit.

She only raises a brown as she sees us cuddling and tells me to watch out because I’m still injured. She gives me some pain meds and wishes me a good night. She also shows me the button I have to press should my condition worsen.

I wave at her and snuggle against Damian after she left. He feels warm. I smile. I really could get used to this.