*Logan's POV*

While Anx and Roman's partial flirtatious insulting name war, my patience was wearing thin for both men.

"Can you for one millisecond please-"

Ping

My cellular device went off, silencing both myself and the other two in their obnoxious bickering war.

I picked up my phone gently, looking at the the message I received, though only three people occurred to me on who could text me, one of which was obvious and promised.

It was from Thomas.
And
It was a picture.

When I opened said picture and at the sight of Patton, my eyes widened, fathomed on how this came to.

He was beaten, and I could see dried blood. He looked horrendous.
And stuck in a basketball net, his arms pinned to his sides.

"Logan, what has happened? Do I need to slay anyone?" Roman asked, as he placed the crown that was on his chest onto his cranium, sitting up.

"I do believe you would want to after you see this, Roman." I said, flabbergasted, my mouth slightly agape.

"Logan, tell us what the héll happened to Patton." Anx demanded, as he shakily got up, managing to walk over here without majorly stumbling.

I rotated my device 180° around so that they could see it as well, and I watched their eyes portray that of confusion to that same flabbergasted state I was in.

"Who? What? Where? When? Why?? How???" Roman asked, as he snatched my phone from my grasp, taking a closer look at the picture.

"We need to go." Anx said, as he immediately ran out the door, stumbling up the stairs only slightly.

"Roman, we must go." I said, elevating myself up and trailing after Anx, grasping Roman's hand and dragging him along as he intensely gazed at my cellular device.

We were heading to the gymnasium, which we had mostly for meetings and other academic purposes, and also for show. Mrs. Vetal would let the basketball group practice occasionally, thought she would never fund for then to go play games.

I quite rapidly caught up to, and surpassed a stumbling Anx, as he brushed me off.

"Go, I'll catch up." Anx said, as he looked deep into my pupils.

"Affirmative." I said, as I continued forward, dragging a still shocked Roman along.

"May I retrieve my phone back?" I asked, as Roman handed me my phone back, as I released him from my constant tugging.

"Poor Patton." I heard Roman mumble under his breath, and I couldn't help but agree with him.

*Patton's POV*

I looked down at the whole team and Thomas, staring up at me, as one of the players scratched their heads.

"How in the blue blazes are we gonna get ya down, man?" One of them asked me.

"How did ya even get up there?" Another asked, confused.

"Who did this to ya, dude? Do I need to a dunk their face in?!" Someone else asked, agressively.

'I don't know, just please hurry!
It's uncomfortable up here.
It hurts.
I just wanna go home.
Someone get me down!'

I wanted to say all of these things and more, but I just kept a smile on my face, hiding behind my puns and jokes and laughter.

"I don't know, I'm a bit of a basket case there, but I'm just stuck like jam up here, hanging around, but you guys don't need to look so down and make a hoopla about it!" I said, trying my best to make light of this terrible situation, as I struggled still, feeling my arm bruise up worse the more I moved.

"Patton, discontinue squirming! You'll only agitate it further. How did this inconceivable event even occur" Logan said, walking in, as my smile got bigger, or at least, I tried to make it bigger.

"Well, you know, from up here, you look very Lo... gan." I said, smiling my fake smile.

"I detest your puns." Logan said, annoyed, as he sighed. "But that's for another day, I suppose." He continued.

"Great scot, Patton! You look terrible, awful, dreadful even? Who do I need to slay for you?!" Roman suddenly asked, as I chuckled.

"I guess my face got slammed, huh, Roman?" I asked, as I faked a laugh at my own pitiful joke. Roman gave me a look of pity, as I kept smiling.

"Oh my God, Patton." Anx said, gasping when he saw me up here and in this state.

"What's the ladder, Anx? Is it something on my face?" I joked, a small weak chuckle coming out of my bruised body.

Thomas jumped. "Of course!" He said, before he rushed out of the room, soon returning with a ladder and a blanket from the old custodians closet.

"Ok guys, grab this blanket and tug on the ends, pulling it as tight as you can. I'll grab Patton's feet and pull, and you guys will catch him." Thomas said, as I smiled, relieved I was finally getting down.

"On it!" Roman shouted, as he grabbed a corner.

Anx didn't say anything, as he grabbed one as well.

"Well thought out plan, Thomas." Logan said, as he grabbed the open corner.

"Sounds lit. Let's do this." The leader of the basketball team said, as he grabbed the final corner. Everyone else filled in around them.

Thomas scrambled up the ladder till I couldn't see him anymore.

"Patton, are you ready?" Thomas asked, and I felt him grab my foot.

"Yepper!" I said, and Thomas smiled, a bit of pity in his eyes.

"Alright.
One
Two
Three!!"

I felt my foot being tugged on, as I felt myself budge. I started to squirm, feeling heavy bruises and flashes if pain shooting up my sides and arms as I managed to get through, not feeling the net around me anymore.

I was falling, the wind rushing through my hair.

And I'm free
Free falling.

I was lighter than air.

Until I opened my eyes, and the blanket was too close, and I landed roughly.

I saw some people struggle to hold on to the blanket, as I fell, hitting the floor, but not as bad as I would have had if I just fallen by myself.

I sighed, sitting back, as I looked at the people who caught me, smiling.

"Thanks guys!" I said, cheerfully.

"Your ok!" Roman shouted, running over and hugging me tightly, making my sides hurt.

"I thought you died! I saw blood." Roman said, overreacting, as he sniffled, hugging me in a way where he buried his head in my shoulder.

Anx, unexpectedly, joined the hug as well, but more cautiously than Roman's bear hug.

I hugged them both back, a bit shocked when I felt Roman's chest heave as I heard quiet sobs into my back.

"Don't ever disappear on us again, or we're not friends anymore, you got it, Pat?" Anx said, agressively, but I knew he was just worried.

Wait.
He called me Pat.
He called me a nickname.

I smiled so brightly at this, I think the sun might need shades.

"Yea, ok Anx. I won't disappear." I said, soothingly, once my smile died down slightly.

"You had us all very concerned with your absence." Logan said, as he stood there, looking a bit awkward.

"I did?" I asked, as I rubbed circles into Roman's back gently as he cried quietly into my shoulders.

"Indubitably." Logan said, as he slowly and carefully, sat down and joined in, just barely making contact, but at least he was trying.

I smiled, lifting my hand to put on his shoulder, as I gave him a kind smile. "Thank you." I mouthed to him, and he nodded.

"Of course you did, Patton. I mean, what would we do without our number one fan?" Thomas said, joining the group hug on the floor.

I was speechless. I felt the tears prick my good eye at that, as I hugged them all tightly.

"Thank you guys for finding me." I said, as I relaxed in their embrace. 

I was happy, slowly dazing off in peace, the exhaustion I felt hitting me like a wave. I yawned, as I drifted off into a peaceful sleep, surrounded by the people I would call my friends.

I was deep in sleep before my phone buzzed in my pocket, the same people that got me into this mess in the first place texting me once more.

################################

Greetings!

So, school is starting back up, so posts will be sparce, but hey.
I gave you some fluff to make you feel better.

Enjoy!

Bye.
Love, duck.