=== Be David Elizabeth Strider.

February 11th.

Congratulations, you have somehow managed to be the cool kid. Of course, you can't really be as cool as him even if you tried. The cool kid however, strode into the blue and white building quickly.

Your sunglasses firmly placed onto the bridge of your slightly freckled nose, hiding the crimson orbs that lurked behind. You were used to this walk, the outside of the institute was beautiful. The pavement's sides were covered in simple wild flowers. Almost weeds in a way, but nonetheless beautiful. To the left of the building was a huge oak tree, truly wonderful indeed.

However, the beauty of the building was none of your, Dave Strider's, main concern. No, you were forced to memorize a familiar walk. The main desk lady, a pretty lady with black hair that had a nice red tint to it, always waved you on wards. Forcing a sweet but pained smile with those red lips of hers. Her brown eyes painted with a background of red in a red polka a dot dress.

You never asked, but you presumed it was her favorite color. When she smiled, you'd smile back of course, even if it was a fake one. She knew it was a faked smile, of course she knew... How could you work as a receptionist for a hospital and be unable to see fake smiles?

You doubted she expected to see you give her a true smile while walking into a hospital. No, She wasn't that dumb.. Not at all.

Ah yes, after being motioned on by Aradia (you believe that's her name, you can't recall), you begin your walk by going to the left of her desk and down the wide hall way. Crimson eyes focusing on the floor's blue and white tiles. Counting them in your head. Sixty-two. Always sixty-two before reaching the wooden white painted door to the stair well.

Grabbing the cool circular handle, you'd start up the flight of stairs until you were out of breath and on floor four.

The rest of the journey was easy, opening the door to the hall. Looking at the creamy walls in blank thoughts. Not really paying attention as he passed nurses and sickly people as you reached the dreaded spot. Halting at the door as your eyes focused on the door's number. Thirteen.

You tilted your head down to focus on the patient. His hair was moped messily across his freckle sprayed face. His hair looked as through it was a bit unclean, which it most likely was. In your opinion, it looked cuter like that anyhow.

His glasses were off and on the side table to his left. His eyes closed tightly, as if not desiring sleep even if the dark rings under his eyes clearly showed he needed it. His body in a tiny ball hidden by the white blanket that laid over him. You sigh, running a hand through your own blonde fair head.

Yes, this was the mess of a guy you loved. No, Not a mess, just wounded. It wasn't his fault.. It never was..

He wasn't always like this, no.. You remember the day he broke into a coughing fit with blood mixed into it all. You remember him smiling at you, even as blood dripped blood. You remember his strained smile.. You remember your own face, completely losing your cool facade as it was replaced with horror.. Yes.. You remember.

Shaking your head swiftly, you decide to stalk silently to the chair that was placed beside his bed. It's comfortable, and in way a very nice spot to sit, the chair is a fluffy arm chair that slightly devours you. Deciding not to wake the ebony haired boy, you glance around the room.

The blue curtains were pulled over the window to black out the sun. The tv was mounted by the dresser that was in front of the patients bed. The walls were a light blue color, with a creamy floor color. You honestly thought the hospital used too much blue. But the raven haired boy said he loved the blue, so you loved it as well.

To the right by the window was where John's laptop laid, You used to stay up all the time talking to him through Pesterchum. Now, it seemed like it was years in the past. You bit your lip to devour your own sadness at the thought, growling a bit on your inside before attempting to distract yourself.

You glance to the slumbering guy before pulling out your phone. Bro knew where you were, he always did. It had become a daily accordance that you over the summer would get up early and head to the hospital. As tired and dreary as you were, you didn't care.

You sigh dully before turning your attention to the new vase of flowers beside his bed. Mr. Egbert barely had time to visit his son, due to his baking career and bills. But when he did, he'd bring flowers and cards with too many words for you to stomach.

You had met Mr. Egbert once, yes, you couldn't quite recall the date.. But who could? It was horrific and you couldn't stop crying (you deny that). The most you recalled about the guy was his hat, and the smell of cakes that perfumed him insanely.

It seemed like an eternity of useless thoughts before a pair of blue eyes blinked open drowsily. Slowly landing on you for a second, before giving way to a yawn as he rubbed his eyes.

"Dave?" The small voice asked, scratchy sounding, almost hoarse. You would offer to get him water, but it never helped him..

"Hey there, John." You cooed quietly with a weak smile. Eyeing his features and etching his features into your memory, everyday you did this..

"How long have you been there?" John asked meekly, grinning a buck-toothed grin at you. Oh god, how fucking adorable. You feel your cheeks heat at the thought, but choke it down as you are a Strider.

"Not long.." You decide, taping at your phone to check the time. 11:23.

"Ten minutes, maybe." You mutter, knowing it was way more than ten minutes. Like hell you'd let him know that.

"You could have woken me up!" John laughed as he wrapped the blanket around his fists and snuggled underneath it. Only his head was visible to your ember eyes.

"Nah, you need your sleep dude." You tell him as you watch his smile twitch into a small frown. It pains you to watch that happen, but you knew he was fine.

"I can sleep when you're not here, Dave." John muttered as he flashed a glare. Oh, a mad pouty John. Fuck. That's adorable too.

"But do you?" You fire back with a raise of a light eyebrow. John mutters a inaudible reply with a small groan as he ducks his head into the blanket.

"What is that? I can't hear you with all that blanket it in your face." You smirk as you watch the ebony head reappear, only to the bridge of his nose. Staring at you with those bright sky blue eyes. Those blue eyes, damn them. The bright baby blue eyes could go from pleading to anger and still be the cutest shit.

"Shut up Dave." John murmured as he simply stared at you, watching you as you stood and grabbed his glasses off the side table. Offering them to him as you watched him take them and set them on his face. Blinking those beloved blue eyes as they readjusted to the new improved sight.

"C'mon four eyes, lets get you some breakfast." You teased with a grin, watching him stick out his tongue at you as he flipped the blankets off himself. Sure, John was sickly, but he was strong. Stronger than you could of ever imagined.

"Sure thing sunglass wearing weirdo." John grinned at you as you feigned with your hand over your heart.

"Yeesh, call the doctors, I've been slain by a Egbert!" You whined as John laughed and punched your shoulder weakly. You smirk slyly before focusing onto his body, not in a sexual way, no.. Just realizing how small he had gotten. Sure, he was always smaller than you (especially since you're 6'1 and he's 5'4), but he seemed even smaller now in his hospital attire.

The gown flowed to his knees in a cascading way, the light blue color of it complimented his dark hair. Even if in your opinion, the gown showed a little too much of John's backside. (You blushed furiously when you first saw and had to escape to the bathroom to gather your wits.)

You held out your red material covered arm for him as he swung his feet to the side, slipping on some sandals.

"Right this way Milady." You tell him as he hooked his arm with yours, frowning as he glared at you. Light blush covering his freckles. Oh god.

"Why am I the lady?" He asked in a serious tone that made you laugh a bit.

"Because I'm your knight!" You informed him as you both began a slow pace to the elevators. You couldn't help but notice him shake his arm. You knew he didn't mean to.. But he did..

The walk was rather quiet as you stepped into the elevator with John beside you.

"I'm not too hungry.." He muttered, you fully knew this though. He always told you he skipped breakfast, and skipped eating it at your house too. He wasn't much of a morning eater, you suppose.

"I know." You say, offering a weary smile as you mashed the first floor button. Feeling the bright blue orbs fall on you. He grins at you as you return and take his arm again.

It's a quiet journey as the elevator halts on the first floor, and you go to the cafeteria. Watching John as he giggles and talks to the lunch ladies. You eye them from behind them, you know the fake feelings of joy they feel staring at John. It's easy to see the hidden hopelessness.. And it sickens you.

You had always been good at reading people, but now it was a cursed talent when in a hospital.

It.. was cursed..

"C'mon Dave!" He awakens you from your thoughts with his head tilted up at you. Bright blue eyes beaming into your soul as he stared and tugged at your sleeve. Fuck. So adorable.

You grin, "Yeah yeah." You mutter as the tiny ebony haired cutie drags you to a table where you sit beside him. Glancing at his food dully. It's nothing special, just a bowl of fruit loops, a carton of milk and- you stop as he throws a small box to you with a giggle. Fuck that's cute too.

You glance at he box dully before realizing its apple juice and laugh a little. Even though you feel sadness ebb at your gut.

"Aww, shit man. You remembered." You laugh as you clutch the small juice box, before jamming the straw into the box.

"How could I forget your favorite? I'm hurt Dave!" John laughed as he watched you with his perfect eyes. You shrug as you drink the nectar of the gods, no way in hell could you chug it. It's like a sin.

You watched John eat a few bites of his fruit loops before seeing his face become dull and bored. Clearly day dreaming, you decide quickly. "Yo John." You ask slowly before watching his eyes slowly turn to you.

"Yeah?" He answers slowly, raising a dark eyebrow.

"Are you gonna eat that or play with it?" You asked dully with a twitch of your lip as he stuck his tongue at you. Grabbing his tray and taking it to the lunch ladies again, stopping to talk as you yet again stand there idly. He did the most outrageous motions with his hands as he spoke to them. You couldn't quite hear, but you heard the ladies laugh with him as he turned away.

You watched this, of course, it reminded you of how much John spoke with his hands. It was cute, no doubt, and rather funny to watch him do. He eyed him from behind your sunglasses as he walked back to you. Hooking his arm with yours (you bent a bit at this, due to his height), leading you away to the elevator silently.

You forgot about your unfinished Apple Juice in the cafeteria. You never did that. You never remembered until days later..

"Hey Dave.." He said to you quietly as he stared at the elevator door. You glanced at him with a frown, his voice sounded sad,

"Yeah?"

"When can I see your eyes?" John muttered, shocking you as you laughed quietly, almost sheepishly as you avoid eye contact before looking back to his cute face.

"Over my dead body." You tell him sternly, twitching a grin as he offers a small smile.

"How about mine? That's sooner.." He whispered quietly... This makes your mind go blank, you want to yell.. To tell him he's wrong.. But what proof do you have to show him? Nothing.. And the doctors.. They.. Fuck them..

So you do what any heart broken teen would do, you simply kneel down to his height level and wrap your arms around him. Hearing him sob softly into your shoulder breaks you.. You give way to tears and have no voice left as you return the favor on his shoulder.

I'm so sorry, John. I'm sorry.. I can't protect you.. I'm sorry.