Jake woke up in the middle of the night to Rich coughing softly. He rubbed his eyes and looked across the room and into the darkness, just barely able to see the outline of Rich hunched over.

“Rich..” Jake groaned. “You okay?”

“I-I’m fine.” Rich said, shakily. He coughed again, before standing up. “I'm going to get some water.. my uh, head hurts.”

“Well, be safe.” Jake muttered, laying his head back down and falling asleep.

------

Jake frowned as he was shaken awake by Chloe.

“Wake up, asshat.” Chloe said, roughly moving him around. Jake sat up quickly and swatted her away, eyes still screwed shut.

“Hmnhnnh.” He mumbled, too tired to make actual words.

“Whatever. We're all going to get food at McDonalds. Bye.” Chloe sighed and walked out of the room. Jake popped his eyes open and changed his clothes quickly, not bothering to fix his bed hair. He rushed out of his room, catching up with Chloe quickly.

Chloe burst out laughing, making Brooke and Rich turn to see him. His hair was sticking up and his shirt was wrinkled, his shorts hanging slightly off his waist. He also wasn't wearing shoes.

Brooke started laughing as well, but Rich just frowned. Rich covered his mouth and turned away, coughing. He removed his hand and looked into it, curling it into a fist soon after.

“If you coughed up boogers, go wash your hand.” Chloe snorted.

Brooke nudged her. “Don't be rude. Rich, are you okay?”

Rich nodded, rubbing his eyes.

“You.. you should wash your hand, anyway…” Jake bit his lip, pulling on his shirt.

Rich shook his head. “I didn't cough up any.. boogers.” He looked in his hand. “I'll go wash it anyway.”

They all watched as Rich walked off.

“I.. I don't think he's okay.” Brooke clasped her hands together nervously.

“Do you think he's sick? I woke up at midnight to him hacking up fuck.” Jake crossed his arms.

“It's just a cough. Why do you guys care so much?” Chloe groaned, slouching down.

“Sorry, I just give a shit about my friends, unlike you.” Jake smiled sarcastically, and Chloe growled.

“Whatever. I'm going to get food.” Chloe turned and walked off. Brooke almost went after her, but stopped herself.

“Why is she always like this?” Brooke mumbled, looking down.

“I.. I don't know.” Jake fake laughed. “She's your best friend.”

Brooke stayed silent, lost in thought.

“So, do you think he's sick?” Jake frowned. “I can go check-”

Brooke cut him off, frantically waving her hands in his face. “N-no! No. I'll do it.” She put her hands down slowly. “I think I know what's wrong anyway.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “At least tell me what you think it is.”

Brooke shook her head quickly. “Uh, no. Nah. Bye.” She ran off in the direction Rich went quickly, leaving Jake alone.

“Well, at least I can go change now.” Jake shrugged, walking off.

------
Brooke walked into the bathroom, closing her eyes and hoping she wouldn't see what she thought she would. She could hear Rich coughing into a toilet. She walked inside, opening her eyes, screaming when she saw him coughing up blood and flowers.

“Brooke!” Rich gasped, covering his mouth and quickly flushing the toilet. He hacked up some more petals, letting them fall to the floor. “Shit…”

“No, no, no, no…” Brooke shook her head, getting on the ground and inspecting the bloody petals. “I knew it- but I thought this was fictional…”

Rich turned back to the toilet and coughed some more up, turning back to Brooke. “I'm fine. Don't worry. You can leave.”

Brooke shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “When did it start..?”

Rich stared at her for a second before sobbing and grabbing her into a hug. Brooke let him cry for a while, before speaking again. “When did it start?”

“T-today.” Rich coughed into Brooke's sweater, making her bite her lip and wipe it off. It left a stain, but that could be fixed.

“Who?” Brooke whispered, already knowing quite well who it was.

“Jake..” Rich covered his eyes and sobbed. Brooke rubbed his back and wiped her own tears away.

“Rich..” She started, but Rich shot his head up.

“Don't tell him! Please!” He said in between coughs.

“This can kill you, though..” Brooke looked away, getting really upset herself. Rich's eyes widened and he crawled back over to the toilet, puking up more blood and petals.

“I'm so fucked..” He curled into a ball, crying into his knees.

“No.. no.. it's okay.” Brooke rubbed his back again, in comforting circles this time.

“I'm just a gay idiot.” Rich shook his head. “I'm so dumb.”

Brooke sighed. “Rich.. no.. definitely not.”

Rich coughed a little more onto Brooke, making her wipe it off.

“Look.. why don't you go down to the nursing wing?” At Rich's terrified face she smiled. “I won't tell anyone. And I'll tell the nurses not to, as well.”

Rich nodded. “I.. uh.. thanks.”

Brooke nodded. “I'm gonna go back, so they don't get worried.”

“Yeah..” Rich nodded. “I'll just.. go when I'm ready.”

Brooke thought for a second. “Does seeing him make it act up..?”

Rich nodded. “Especially since he looked super..” He stopped himself.

“You can say it. I don't mind. I'm not judging.” Brooke grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

“..hot. He looked hot.” Rich whispered, looking at the ceiling.

“Atta boy.” Brooke smiled. “If.. if it helps, I'm pansexual.”

Rich smiled. “I'm bisexual.”

Their eyes connected for a second before they started laughing.

“Well, okay. I'll be going.” Brooke patted his shoulder and kissed his forehead (PLATONICALLY-) before standing up. “..bye. Be safe.” She waved before leaving the bathroom.

------

“There's blood on your sweater.” Jake frowned, pointing at the blotch on Brooke's shoulder. She covered it up, making Jake suspicious.

“I cut.. myself. Fell over.” Brooke cleared her throat, looking away.

“I.. don't think that's it.” Jake furrowed his brows.

“Leave me alone!” Brooke shouted, covering her mouth after. “Sorry! Sorry.”

Jake nodded. “Yeah, okay. Let's go find Chloe I guess. Is Rich coming?”

“Uh, no. He went back to sleep.” Brooke lied, sighing.

“Okay, well. I'm hungry.” Jake shrugged. “Let's go.”

Hey. Uh. Not as short as I thought but okay. Sorry this is kinda angsty ugh. It'll be pretty normal until it gets to that really angsty part- I mean- I'll stop spoiling now.