Dylan had to stay in Urgent care for a little over 4 hours. The doctors recommended a CT scan to ensure the concussion wasn't severe, and Dylan's internal and external wounds were deduced to only be minor. He received some basic treatment but was let go after some additional tests. He'd been sent into the waiting room with a small piece of paper in hand, a short list of recovery recommendations written down on it. He'd noticed Markus in the waiting room, and was slightly surprised that he'd waited the whole time. Markus was slouched back in a chair, reading some college's medical magazine.

Before Dylan could get Markus' attention, his own was diverted by the reception, "Oh, Mr. Echevarria, would you like to pay upfront, or do you have an address for the bill to be sent to?" She asked, fingers clacking rapidly on her keyboard, her eyes still glued to the computer. Dylan blinked at her, slowly responding, "Um…I don't, uh… have money on me…or like, insurance, I think…" he murmured, his voice still groggily as he was pretty exhausted.

"Oh, ok! Please give me your address then. You should expect the bill in about 3 to 7 weeks," She barely nodded at him while she spoke, grabbing her mouse and giving her rapid-fire typing a rest. Dylan tried to match her pace and give her his address as quickly as possible, which was not that quick, before heading over to Markus. Markus noticed Dylan by this point and had put down the magazine, standing up as Dylan approached him. Dylan didn't even try to engage in small talk, grabbing Markus' arm and leading him out of the urgent care and to the car.

Markus didn't object in the slightest and quietly got in the car. Dylan fumbled slightly with his seatbelt, clearing his throat before asking Markus, "Do you remember my address, or…do you, like...need it again?" Markus had already opened the navigation on the dashboard, "No, I got it, don't worry," he hesitated slightly before adding on, "What…so what took so long? Like… 4 hours for a CT scan?" he chuckled tiredly, shifting awkwardly back into his seat as there was a sizeable pause after he spoke. Dylan began to chew on his inner lip, deliberating whether he should share. He decided he didn't really care, "Blood mutation, fun stuff. They had to like…," his voice had started to get rough as he spoke, so he cleared his throat and continued, "...make sure I didn't get a brain aneurysm… which-...which I didn't. I don't have an aneurysm, so… yeah."

Yet another quiet car ride ensued as Markus, again, drove Dylan home. Dylan had found the silence quite funny, but his head was still throbbing far too painfully for him to really be able to process 'funny.' Upon showing up at his house, Dylan silently exited the car. He almost shut the car door before taking a moment and rifling around in his pocket. He stuck his head back in the car and handed Markus his phone, "Put your number in my contacts... No, actually, wait. I lied. Hold on..." He muttered, opening up the Instant Message social media app instead and handing the phone back to Markus. Markus took the phone hesitantly, put his IM user into Dylan's phone, and quietly handing it back. Dylan put his phone back in his pocket, avoiding eye contact with Markus before saying, "Thanks...," and shutting the car door. 

It was around 3:40 when Dylan got home, far earlier than he'd come home in months. Astra was still out at work, and Iris was still at school, so he gladly headed up to his room and immediately passed out on his bed. Fully clothed. No blanket.

Dylan woke up hours later, rubbing his eyes and checking his phone. 10:02. A 7-hour nap. Beautiful. He decided to camp out in his room until Astra and Iris went to bed. He knew that the school had probably called home about his absence, and he did not have the energy to explain the ordeal to either of them. He decided to go to his desk and see if his friends were up. Maybe they wanted to watch a movie.

He'd already had a lot of unchecked notifications from them but decided to see what his friend Reyes had sent him first.

Sys. ~ New message!

~

yesterday - 5:36 pm

~

radi0r0ade: wanna play frantic fanfic

radi0r0ade: pls

radi0r0ade: pls

radi0r0ade: psl

radi0r0ade: dylan

radi0r0ade: my comrade

radi0r0ade: do not ghost me

radi0r0ade: time sensitive

radi0r0ade: you enrage me

radi0r0ade: I know where you live

radi0r0ade: no no even worse

radi0r0ade: MARINA knows

radi0r0ade: feel fear, my friend

radi0r0ade: we will tag team this kidnapping

radi0r0ade: bring you back to the fucking shed

radi0r0ade: force you to listen to hyper pop

radi0r0ade: 24/7!!!

radi0r0ade: ok whatever ur dead

~

today - 10:29 am

~

radi0r0ade: hey fucker

radi0r0ade: guess who just got transferred to sycamore

radi0r0ade: god when you're alive again you're gonna fucking freak out

radi0r0ade: you can thank marina for that one too

radi0r0ade: you can thank her by playing frantic fanfic with us…

radi0r0ade: oh or 8-ball

radi0r0ade: but frantic fanfic is preferred

radi0r0ade: oh wait nvm she just said that she'd rather you play doki doki

radi0r0ade: like bro she really wants you to play it

radi0r0ade: probably so you guys can geek out about it

radi0r0ade: rakwfjksdbfksn ok get back to me when you can pookie xoxo call me if you can

~

today - 10:05 pm

~

dyln..darko: you fucking what

radi0r0ade: he lives!!

dyln..darko: wait for fucking when

dyln..darko: like next year or next semester

radi0r0ade: god dude you're gonna flip your shit

dyln..darko: next semester??

radi0r0ade: i'm already in

radi0r0ade: high priority cargo right here

radi0r0ade: they were basically BEGGING me to transfer

radi0r0ade: "Oh Reyes!~ We need your beautiful biceps and massive neurons to save our failing students like that fucking emo kid who skips every fucking day!~"

radi0r0ade: but yeah they're still working out some of the credit transfers and all that cool stuff

dyln..darko: ok fuck you

dyln..darko: i barely skip

radi0r0ade: suuuure

dyln..darko: like ever

dyln..darko: no fuck you i'm serious

dyln..darko: shit but like damn I can show you around if you want

radi0r0ade: i mean sure but like Marina kinda already gave me the gist

radi0r0ade: we have all the same classes too heehee

radi0r0ade: well mostly, she has digital electronics and i have comp graphics

dyln..darko: thoughts on the plants?

radi0r0ade: bro.

radi0r0ade: oh my fucking god

radi0r0ade: i thought you were exaggerating

radi0r0ade: like literally every hall

radi0r0ade: plants in every. damn. room.

dyln..darko: ikr???

radi0r0ade: like wow

radi0r0ade: the poor fucking custodians though

radi0r0ade: jesus

dyln..darko: oh no dude thats all taken care of by the gardening and ecology classes

radi0r0ade: no fucking way

dyln..darko: you seen the roof?

radi0r0ade: we're allowed up there?!?!!?

dyln..darko: hell, are we

dyln..darko: you're gonna love it omfg

dyln..darko: anyways im gonna ditch now i got a concussion from my fuckin demonic beast fighting or whatever the fuck you called it

radi0r0ade: FUCKIGN WHAT??!??#

Sys. ~ USER;[dyln..darko] offline

Dylan was tempted to check in on other people, specifically Marina, but he didn't feel like chatting. He decided to check and see what she sent him and if she had any more information on Reyes' transfer.

Sys. ~ New message!

~

yesterday - 5:36 pm

~

saltwatersnow: Emergency

saltwatersnow: Emergency

saltwatersnow: Help

saltwatersnow: Help

saltwatersnow: Help me

saltwatersnow: Slut

saltwatersnow: Fuck u

~

today - 11:15 am

~

saltwatersnow: You owe me big time

saltwatersnow: Buy the Doki Doki DLC

saltwatersnow: Please

saltwatersnow: You'll love it i swear

saltwatersnow: Take a break from your illegal emulators

saltwatersnow: Please just TRYYYY some modern things

saltwatersnow: You're like a nostalgic millennial

saltwatersnow: Already in your old man phase…

saltwatersnow: I can already hear it!!!

saltwatersnow: Old man Dylan's gonna be crying like

saltwatersnow: the warrrrr boy the waaarrrrr grrrruhhh get my ear cream boyyyyyy

saltwatersnow: Thats gonna be you

saltwatersnow: But with your fucking old ass video games

saltwatersnow: Pov Dylan as soon as he turns 30

saltwatersnow: https://youtu.be/2dF-u8gYQxQ

saltwatersnow: You better watch the video

saltwatersnow: Top-quality cinematography

saltwatersnow: That's the shit that makes you go fuckin bananas right

saltwatersnow: UGHHHHH ok its boring talking to nobody now bye

Sys. ~ USER;[saltwatersnow] offline

Dylan sighed, rubbing his temples to alleviate his worsening headache. He turned his computer off. Enough digital chatting for today. He wanted to head out to the barn but was sure he'd pass Markus' house on the way there. No WAY he'd even risk the possibility of being a narcoleptic damsel in distress in front of him again. He only began to realize that his stomach was churning loudly, as he'd forgotten to eat. He went downstairs and got some food. It was his lucky day too. Astra and Iris had checked out early, but there was leftover Gazpacho. The leftovers wouldn't be very filling, so he got 3 untoasted bagels to go with it. He finished his meal in under five minutes, absolutely inhaling the food in front of him.

After cleaning his dishes, he felt stumped about what to do. He was tempted to go outside and take some photos, peaking outside the window to see what the moon phase was tonight. It was only a waxing gibbous, so he wasn't too intrigued. He ended up returning to his computer, pulling up his emulator to play the original silent hill game. He wanted something nostalgic. He felt he needed to turn his brain off for a while.

Before he knew it, the clock struck 12. It wasn't like he was a stranger to staying up late, but his concussed brain and paranoid tendencies wouldn't mix too well with prolonged horror game exposure AND late-night creeps, so he ended up back where he started; Awake, physically disabled, and at a complete and utter loss for an appropriate, entertaining activity to occupy his time.

Dylan was suddenly struck with a thought, pulling up IM on his computer and checking his friends list. Lo and behold, Markus' user was added. 'marrrkus_1212.' What a great way to kill some time.

Sys. ~ New message!

~

today - 12:12 am

~

dyln..darko: sup

dyln..darko: oh fuck 12:12 am

dyln..darko: like your username

dyln..darko: hahaha

dyln..darko: oh god i really hope your up or this is super fucking embarassing

Sys. ~ USER;[marrrkus_1212] online

marrrkus_1212: Oh hi Dylan!

marrrkus_1212: Oh shit did you plan the 1212 thing?!

dyln..darko: oh what no

dyln..darko: silly coincidence

dyln..darko: or like fate or something

dyln..darko: like a sign from god or whatever

dyln..darko: idfk man im not religious

dyln..darko: no offense if you are

dyln..darko: or full offense

dyln..darko: whatever anyways

marrrkus_1212: You type really fast

dyln..darko: sorry im just like hella spazzy rn

dyln..darko: brain operating at a mile an hour

marrrkus_1212: Isn't that really slow though? :0

dyln..darko: shut up

dyln..darko: ok maybe

dyln..darko: no yeah you're right but like

dyln..darko: admitting defeat is for nerds

marrrkus_1212: LOL

marrrkus_1212: You feeling any better?

dyln..darko: fuuuck no

dyln..darko: out over here

dyln..darko: fucking dying i guess

dyln..darko: took a fuckin

dyln..darko: 7 hour nap or whatever

marrrkus_1212: Oh! :1

dyln..darko: don't judge me please

dyln..darko: im already fuckin autistic

dyln..darko: then gods like

dyln..darko: BOOM

dyln..darko: more fuckin brain shit

marrrkus_1212: Oh you're autistic?

dyln..darko: what was my general unnerving vibe not enough

marrrkus_1212: I mean you just seem kind of tired to me

dyln..darko: what do i need to carry a sign with all my special interests slapped on like some kind of geeky hermit

marrrkus_1212: Wait sorry that made it sound like I'm denying you're autistic

dyln..darko: it did?

marrrkus_1212: I'm not trying to deny it sorry I just didn't want to assume anything but thats cool that you're autistic!

dyln..darko: it is

dyln..darko: very cool

dyln..darko: i look at early 2000s shit and i go fucking haywire

marrrkus_1212: Like tv shows or movies?

dyln..darko: mostly videogames to be honest

dyln..darko: horror shit

dyln..darko: tbh i just like all older movies in general

dyln..darko: anything that was made more then 15 years ago man

dyln..darko: i go ham

marrrkus_1212: Haha like interview with a vampire I'm guessing :p

dyln..darko: I FUCKGN

dyln..darko: i love interview with a vampire

dyln..darko: so much

dyln..darko: i want to be brad pitt so bad so i can kiss tom cruise and adopt kirsten dunst

dyln..darko: we dont talk about the brad pitt and kirsten dunst kiss scene.

marrrkus_1212: LOL YEAH

dyln..darko: but besides that

dyln..darko: beautiful movie

marrrkus_1212: Have you read the book?

dyln..darko: not much of a reader tbh

marrrkus_1212: Noooo but the book's so good! D:

marrrkus_1212: The wording is so beautiful, like honestly if you liked the movie then the book's gonna blow you away

dyln..darko: ehhh idk

dyln..darko: it sounds good but like idk reading just feels like a chore

marrrkus_1212: Mannnn alright fine fair enough

marrrkus_1212: You should really go to sleep though!

marrrkus_1212: Like honestly even if your not tired it'll be good for your concussion :1

dyln..darko: i mean yeah your probably right

dyln..darko: but like ugfdfjsbjkn i dont wanna

marrrkus_1212: Okkk well either way I gotta do homework and get ready for bed

marrrkus_1212: So sorry but I'll be heading out now :(

dyln..darko: mannnnn

dyln..darko: nah its all good i probably should clean up or whatever

dyln..darko: ttyl?

marrrkus_1212: Ofc Anytime!

dyln..darko: alr gnn

marrrkus_1212: Gnnn :3

Sys. ~ USER;[marrrkus_1212] offline

Sys. ~ USER;[dyln..darko] offline