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"You should stand up to him. He might leave you alone and who knows, maybe I'll be there to help." She smiled innocently. Her mood seemed to have lifted since seeing Jeremy. And getting a good three second cry.
"Oh don't let Mari help, Kai… She'll have Jason stabbed and buried." Jeremy whined. He glanced at the snowflake wearily. But he was too tired to do anything about it.
//Hey, I'll be back later. I have work//
(Okay, got it)
“I would stand up to him if I was going to use my powers. Physical strength isn’t my strong point but if I use you know…” He gestured to the small snowflake before it disappeared, “I’d have a chance. But I don’t want to one, confirm rumours to people who don’t know it’s true, and two, make me a target for other people that isn’t Jason.” He shrugged, “I’ll take what Jason gives me until school is over, no big deal.”
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//Back!!//
“Oh. I don’t want them to think you’re bad. You’re a good person.” Xio said once again, glancing at Jeremy.
“So… you haven’t hurt anyone?” Jeremy asked slowly, eyeing Xio carefully. She shook her head furiously.
“Kai’s sweet. He’s a good kid and quite fun to hang out with.” She defended.
(What uuuup)
"I'm glad at least someone out of our entire school thinks that," Kyle rubbed at the back of his neck, looking at the ground. Why was his neck so hot?
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//Haha//
“Oh Thank goodness… I thought my friend was dating another sociopath. What are you, Xio? A masochist?” Jeremy teased as he managed to get himself to a seated position.
Xio’s face flushed. “I told you we’re not dating… and no! I happen to be a hopeless romantic! Not a masochist. I don’t enjoy pain.” Her voice rose and fell with such emotion. Her friend really brought out the brighter parts of her personality.
Kyle chuckled, "She's already proved to be a romantic. Maybe not a masochist, but she was willing to fight Jason and help me out if I ever decided to hurt him. Which isn't gonna happen but, I'd say she's on her way to becoming a sociopath." He teased
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“She is sociopathic.” Jeremy corrected, snickering. Xio folded her arms.
“Pfft. No, sociopaths act on a whim and are usually anger prone. I’m a psychopath. They plan stuff out.” She grinned crookedly. Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me! I’ve told you both this now you’re going to hear it again: I put the hot in psychotic! Minus the hot. I’m borderline decent.”
Kyle was going to make a comment about her actually being hot but was too distracted by how warm his hands were feeling. He didn't mention it, though because he didn't want to freak and stress Xio out. She didn't need that right now.
"He can roll his eyes if you want too," He said instead, standing from his chair, "I'm just going to the bathroom, be right back." He offered a strained smile before heading out the room to cool down somehow.
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Xio seemed a little taken aback but nodded softly, smiling at him. She looked back to Jeremy, her eyes wide and happy.
“Don’t have too much fun Kai.” She laughed softly. Jeremy grinned.
Kyle smiled over his shoulder before he was out of sight. The bathroom wasn't too far away so he quickly walked in and run his hands under the cold tap. He sighed splashed water onto his face, his neck but mainly his hands.
Was he catching his version of a cold? Were his powers leaving? Was this what it felt like to be normal?
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“So Xio. He’s totally your type. What are you up to?” Jeremy said with a sly grin.
“Nothing. He’s not interested and I’m just… a mess.” She sighed softly, resting her head on the bed. Jeremy ran his fingers through her hair.
“Everyone is a mess, Mari. Go for it if you like him.” He prompted. Jeremy himself had been in plenty of relationships. He did prefer males to females, however, finding them more attractive. Xio supported him. “Just do it.”
“That’s the thing. I don’t know if I like him yet or not. He’s cute, and hell I love a kid with glasses but I’m just confused at the moment. He’s a good friend.”
Kyle hung his head and braced his hands over the sink and groaned under his breath. He needed sleep, but he wanted to be there for Xio. Plus, he drove her here so he should drive her back.
"Kai? You okay buddy?"
Kai looked up, recognising the voice of his doctor and shook his head, "No, Doc, I'm not and I have no idea what's wrong with me this time… It's not… I haven't… you know… again… I'm just hot when I should be cold."
James checked his temperature and frowned, "I'm sure you're just coming down with you're strange version of a cold, Kai. Lots of rest but if it doesn't work out come back, okay?" The tall, brown haired man said, giving Kyle a small smile and the younger nodded.
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“Alright then, Xio. Be friends. But if you get another Marx character I’m literally going to kill him.” His voice was serious but Xiomara knew he was too big a softie to do that.
The two fell into an awkward silence. Xio glanced at his hands, noticing the IV in his hand and the stitches on his palm. “What did you do anyways? To end up in here?”
“Xio, I may or may not have cut myself.” He chuckled, showing her the stitches. He had six and the area around was purple and blotchy. “My von Wildebrand Disease broke down the stuff that lets my blood clot. So instead of it scabing over, it bled for like four hours and I lost too much blood. Still am losing a lot of blood. And apparently, I have internal bleeding in my intestines. It’s really no fun.”
"How have you been recently? In that head of yours?" James asked, tapping at Kai's forehead only to have his hand batted away.
"Been better. I made a friend though, so that's good. She's great." Kai smiled a little down at the floor, rubbing at his wrists a little bit.
"That's great!" James smiled, "Well, I need to get back, but call me if you need any advice, okay?" He raised an eyebrow and spoke seriously.
"I will." Kyle replied quietly before James hurried off. He sighed and rubbed at his face, his hands had cooled slightly from the water but everything else was still on fire. He composed himself before he headed back to Jeremy and Xio. He took a breath before walking back in.
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“Jeremy. Are you really going to be alright?” Xio asked softly. He smiled, petting her head.
“Yes I am. I will be in and out of the hospital but they said it’s nothing too big of a deal. Just have to make sure I’m getting enough iron.” He sighed softly, looking up as Kai entered. “Hey Kai.” He said with a sly grin. Xio’s head popped up and she smiled happily.
“Welcome back!” She laid her head back down, enjoying the feeling of having her hair played with.
“You two are ruining my ship…” Jeremy complained loudly. “Obviously Xio really likes you Kyle.” He teased.
Kai suddenly felt hotter, but he couldn't decide whether it was about Jeremy's comment or his weird cold. He shook his head with a small sigh, sitting back down in his seat and crossing his legs, "Nah, she'll get bored of me sooner or later."
He felt a small pang in his chest as he spoke, but he played his words off as a slight joke and kept smiling.
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“Oh geez you really don’t know Mari at all do you?” Jeremy shook his head. “She’s not one to give up on someone. You’re friends for life now. Even if she has to handcuff you to her.” Xio hit Jeremy, he laughed. “Careful! You’ll hit one of my IV’s.”
“I’m clingy but not that clingy. And Kai, I’m not going to get bored of you ever.” She gently placed her hand on his arm, eyes widening slightly. “Geez you’re warm.”
Kyle chuckled, "At least I know I won't die with no friends. And please, no handcuffs, it'll feel too much like prison." He rubbed at his neck somewhat awkwardly as he looked down at Xio's hand on his arm and he nodded slowly.
"Yeah. I… I think I'm coming down with my strange version of a cold only…" He placed his other hand on top of hers to show how he was burning up, "But I have no idea what's going on."
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“I’m not going to handcuff you.” She shook her head and giggled. Jeremy groaned. The both knew Xio had gotten them into a mess with handcuffs before.
“You’re burning up.” Xio murmured, staring at their hands. Suddenly she couldn’t tell if it was him or her getting hot. Jeremy watched with a smirk.
“Cuuute.” He called, earning a glare from Xio. He often did this. It wasn’t a one time thing. “What? You two just seem close.”
“We’ve known each other for two days, Jeremy,” He sighed, “When I was in the bathroom, my Doctor coincidently found me. He just said I needed rest and to call him if it didn’t go away and got worse.” Kyle murmured.
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“Two days?” Jeremy fell silent suddenly confused. Xio hid her face.
“You will call him right?” She asked after a moment, biting her lip. She hoped he would.
“If it gets worse, them yes, I’ll call him, don’t worry,” He reassured, giving Xio a small smile before turning to Jeremy, “Yeah. We bumped into each other in the cafeteria and she helped defend me so Jasón wouldn’t punch me in front of everybody and yeah… friendship bloomed.”
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“Good.” She stated firmly. If he wouldn’t call she would. She had done the same to her father and Jeremy.
“Sounds like Xio.” He murmured, looking at her with a soft smile. “She’s pretty out there for sure.”
"Yeah, she's like the complete opposite to me but," He shrugged, "Aren't opposites supposed to attract?" He raised a brow with a small smile.
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"They are. I mean, she loves cats but I actually hate them" Jeremy shook his head. "I'm surprised we even got along after I found out she owned a cat. I wouldn't go to her house for weeks." Xio smiled softly to herself, watching Kai for a moment longer.
"I still have to lock him up. You're so mean to my Milo." She folded her arms across her body. A knock at the door caused her head to turn.
"Visiting time is over Jeremy. We have to do another transfusion." Said a soft-spoken nurse as she entered the room. She smiled warmly at the two visitors. Jeremy frowned deeply.
"Can I do that later? Xio finally came, Saige." The ill boy complained. The nurse nodded softly but persisted on them leaving.
“How about we come back and visit tomorrow after school?” Kai suggested, shrugging a shoulder, “We’ll go straight from there to here so we can have more time. I’ll even drive to school to make it easier.” Hopefully nothing would happen to his car but it was a risk he was willing to take to get Xio here quicker.
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Xio smiled brightly, nodding. "I don't want your car ruined though…" If she knew the kids at their school well enough, they'd destroy the beautiful black car. And all because they disliked someone different from them. It gave her anxiety if anything. "We'll be back Jeremy." She said suddenly, hurrying over to the bed to give her friend a hug. Jeremy laughed softly.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mari" He told her in a hushed voice. She smiled, waving at him. The nurse was starting to get impatient so she shooed the visitors out.
"He did seem fine. I'm glad he's ok." Xio said once out in the hallway.
Kyle nodded, slipping his sweaty hands into his pockets as they headed down the stairs and towards the exit of the hospital, “I told you, didn’t I?” He smiled at her, “I’m sure he’ll be out of hospital soon.”
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Xio nodded with a smile. She sighed and glanced at him. “How do you feel? Are you still hot?” She hesitantly lifted her hand to his forehead, pressing her palm against it.
Kyle nodded, taking her hand away from his forehead with his own. He was still burning up, but the cools ind that was blowing as they exited felt nice, “I’m fine. I’ll be okay.”
