SEVEN
Space
It was the first time in months that Elias had to call in sick.
And he wasn't even the one that was sick.
It was Mars, who had caught a stomach virus. She was laying on the sofa, looking miserable with a trash can on the floor beside her. He gently stroked her hair, frowning when she groaned, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Get some rest," he told her, cupping her cheek. She was really, really warm. "I'll turn on the TV. I'll be right here, okay? So, don't worry. I know it sucks right now."
"How long is it gonna last?" she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow. Elias pulled his hand away.
"It varies. Sometimes it'll last one day, other times a week."
"No!" Mars cried, then cut herself off with a dry heave. Elias quickly lifted the trash can, but she shook her head, pressing her fist against her mouth. "I don't like this."
"I know you don't." He draped a blanket over her and turned on the fan above. "Do you need anything?"
"...Ice."
Elias couldn't help but reveal a small, amused smile. Whenever she was sick, she always just wanted to chew on ice. He nodded and got up, heading to the kitchen to fill up a glass. As he pressed the dispenser, his phone vibrated on the counter.
He found a familiar name on his screen. One he didn't really expect to see, but then again, this was the first time they didn't see each other every single work day.
Roman -
Gale said you were sick? Are you okay?
Elias -
It's not me that's sick, it's Mars. She caught a virus so I stayed home to take care of her. Thanks for checking in
Roman -
No problem (: Is there anything you need? I can help
Elias paused. He hadn't expected that. For him to ask if he needed any help. Elias had been doing this alone for years.
Before he responded, Elias brought the glass to Mars, pressing it against her cheek. She glared at him, but sat up to tip some of the pieces into her mouth. She crunched with the most miserable look on her face.
"I know you don't feel like eating," Elias said slowly. "But you'll have to. And drink a lot of water. Don't be afraid to throw up either. It'll help get it out of your system."
"I don't wanna eat," she whined. "It's gonna make me feel worse."
"You have to get something in your system, Mars," Elias told her, brows furrowed in concern. "Just dry foods. You can take it slow. No rush. Alright?"
She just nodded, a gloomy look on her face. As she took out her anger on ice cubes, Elias pulled out his phone to reply to Roman.
Elias -
That'd actually be really nice (: Thank you. Do you think you could pick some stuff up for me? I'll pay you back
Roman -
Of course, what is it?
Elias -
I'll send you a list! You still have my address?
Roman -
Yep (: I'll tell you when I'm on my way
Elias -
Thank you again
He set his phone down after sending the list. He looked at Mars, who was staring at the show playing on the television with a dull look. If he didn't know any better, he would've assumed she was depressed or something. That would've been far more concerning than the virus.
"I have a friend coming by in a bit. He's getting some stuff for you," Elias explained. She glanced at him.
"He? I thought Ms. Gale was your only friend."
Elias closed his eyes briefly. After reminding himself she was barely a teenager, he said, "Aren't you sick? How do you still have an attitude? Anyway, no..." I guess she's not. Roman is considered a friend, isn't he? "I know more than one person."
"Is he nice?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Does he work with you?"
Elias smiled a little. "No, he doesn't. But he does drop by every morning."
"To talk to you?"
Elias blinked. "Uh, partially. He likes the food. And coffee."
Mars laid back down and pulled the blanket over her shoulders, eyelids drooping. The exhaustion from throwing up all morning was catching up to her. "He really likes you then."
"Well, yes... We're friends."
"Mm." She yawned, and Elias lowered the volume on the TV.
"Go to sleep," he said quietly. "I'll be right here the whole time."
"'Kay."
He sat on the other end of the sofa and watched whatever was playing. It was some show for kids. Mars probably hated it, but it was decent background noise. Once she woke up, he'd let her choose whatever she wanted.
Elias had to keep himself from dozing off. He didn't want to be asleep in case something happened. The amount of horror stories he'd heard about people choking on their own vomit when asleep was terrifying. He wasn't going to risk jack shit.
So, he switched between flipping through channels and playing a game on his phone out of pure boredom. He felt indescribable relief when he finally got the text from Roman saying he was on his way, that feeling intensifying when he told him he was pulling into the neighborhood.
He got up to meet him. He stood on the front porch, perking up when he saw Roman's car pulling over to park by the curb. Elias made his way over, smiling at Roman when he got out. "You need help bringing things in?"
Roman glanced at the backseat. "It's not much..."
"That's fine. I'll take them." Roman opened the door and watched as Elias slipped the bags over his arms. He started walking back to the front door, then stopped when he realized Roman wasn't following.
Elias gave him a curious look. "Are you not coming in?"
Roman looked surprised. "I, uh... I didn't know you wanted me to."
"Do you have somewhere to be?"
"No..."
"Then come on."
"Ah, okay." Roman locked his doors then followed Elias inside, hands inside his pockets. He seemed nervous, which confused Elias. He had been inside the house before.
Elias set the bags down on the counter. "You can sit down," he told him, gesturing toward the stools. "I'll be right back."
Roman nodded. Elias slipped back into the living room to check on Mars. She had rolled over onto her side, but she was still fast asleep. He pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. Still warm, which shouldn't be surprising. It was instinct to check.
He moved her cup of ice within arms reach, adjusted the trash can, then returned to Roman in the kitchen. He looked up when he came back, eyes following his movements as he started to unpack everything.
"Is she okay?" Roman asked quietly.
"Not really," Elias admitted. "But she'll get better soon. It's just gonna be a rough few days."
"You're a good dad," Roman said, and when Elias looked at him, his expression was both serious and soft, somehow.
Elias huffed out a laugh. "I'm just doing what any parent would do."
"That's not true," Roman stated, resting his arms on the counter and leaning forward the slightest bit. "There are some parents out there who wouldn't care this much. It's good that you do."
Elias watched him for a moment. Then, "I guess I should say I'm doing what any parent should do. Right?"
"Yeah."
Elias knew that all too well, experiencing the heartbreak that came with a parent not loving their child properly. He wondered if Roman went through the same.
He was trying his best to be better than his parents. It was a relief seeing someone acknowledge that.
Elias finished putting everything away, then took out his wallet. Roman immediately stopped him by placing a hand over his. "Don't," he said. "I'm doing this because I want to help. You don't have to pay me back."
"You're really annoying, you know that?"
Roman shrugged his broad shoulders. Elias sighed and put his wallet away, sitting down across from him. He tried to catch his gaze, but he was looking down at his hands. "Do you have any plans today?" Elias asked. He wanted to make conversation. He liked talking to him. Even if it was about something minuscule like the weather.
"No. I don't have work today, so..."
"What, your only plans are your job? You sound like me."
Roman rolled his eyes. Elias grinned. "Did you just roll your eyes?"
"No."
"Liar."
Roman's lips curled into what Elias considered a smile, a really small one, like he was trying to hold it back. "I wanna know more about you," Elias said suddenly. Roman's smile faded, and he looked confused. Truthfully, he was surprising himself, too.
"Why?"
"I consider you a friend. Why wouldn't I want to know more?"
"I don't know." Roman started fiddling with his fingers again. It seemed like a nervous habit, but not a bad one, thankfully. "There's... nothing really interesting I can think of."
"You act like this is a test," Elias mused. "What's your favorite color? Mine is blue."
Roman quirked a brow. "What are we? In elementary?"
"Ah, so you're sassy," Elias said, resting his chin on the heel of his hand. "Sarcasm looks funny on you. Now tell me your favorite color."
"Uh, gray?"
"Kinda dull, but I guess it pairs well with blue," Elias said, lips twitching. "Do you like cats?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I've realized I don't get along with people who hate cats, so."
"You're lively when you're not working," Roman commented.
Elias frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You always seem so cold at work," Roman explained, resting his head on his folded arms. Elias copied him. "You make jokes and all that, but you feel unapproachable. Right now you don't."
"Hm."
"Sorry if I â "
"Dad?"
Elias immediately got up. "What is it?" he questioned, crouching down in front of the sofa Mars was laying on. She had tears in her eyes. It made his heart clench painfully.
"I don't feel good. At all."
"I know," Elias whispered. "It really, really sucks. But it'll pass. I promise you'll feel better soon."
"Can I have a hug?"
"Of course." He sat down beside her and let Mars slide over to curl up against his side, knees pulled up to her chest. He rubbed her back, then looked up when he caught movement in the background.
Roman awkwardly stood in the entryway, holding up a box of crackers when Elias noticed him. He held back a laugh and reached out. Roman walked over, placing it in his hand, then quickly stepping back as if he'd been burned.
"You can sit down," Elias told him.
Mars lifted her head, then looked to where Elias had his gaze settled. "Is he your friend you were talking about?" she mumbled.
"Mhm. His name is Roman."
Mars exhaled, dropping her head back down. "That's a cool name. Not as cool as mine though."
Elias chuckled. "Yep, no name is as cool as yours."
"I chose it myself."
"Yeah. That's why it's the coolest."
Mars looked like she was about to fall asleep again, but Elias couldn't have that just yet, so he gently lifted her head. "You gotta eat something," he told her. "Just a little bit. And then you can go back to sleep."
She sighed, looking absolutely done with life. Elias would've looked the same if he was in her position. "Fine..."
She pulled away and ripped open a packet, nibbling on the crackers like some little animal. He smiled in amusement and ruffled her hair, then glanced at Roman, who looked painfully awkward sitting there, looking anywhere but them.
"If you need to go, or you want to, you can," Elias commented. Roman finally looked at him, a startled look on his face.
"Uh, I â Should I leave? Do you want me to leave?"
Not really. I like the company. "I don't mind. I just want you to be comfortable. You don't look like you are."
Roman rubbed the side of his neck. "Sorry. I just â I don't know. And uh, I don't mind either. It's up to you."
Elias watched him for a moment, then averted his gaze down to Mars. "I'll be right back," he said, getting to his feet and gesturing for Roman to follow. He did, and they ended up back in the same spots they were in before Mars called for him.
"You can say why you're uncomfortable now," Elias mused. Roman's tan cheeks had a red tinge to them.
"I feel like I'm... intruding? I guess."
"You're not," Elias replied honestly. "I enjoy your company. If I didn't, I wouldn't have invited you inside."
"Ah, still..."
"Look," Elias said, straightening up with a soft sigh. "I told you my thoughts. If you still feel too uncomfortable to stay, then you can leave. It's okay. Alright?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Elias got up and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm gonna go back out there. You can stay here and make up your mind. I won't be upset by any decision you make. Your comfort is more important."
Roman just nodded. Elias' eyes lingered on him, then he let go and joined Mars back in the living room. She was laying on her side, switching between taking small bites of the crackers and taking sips of the melting ice. She hadn't thrown up in a while, which was good. He wanted it to stay that way. He got queasy very easily.
A couple minutes later, Elias heard the front door open, then close. What followed was the sound of a car starting up, and despite Elias saying he wouldn't have been upset with any decision he made...
His chest ached more than he thought it would.
___
A/N: good morning cadets this is a cry for help ðð»
does anyone . know any good sites/yt channels/literally anything that makes learning statistics easier bc i just got a 6/100 on a quiz ððð»if i don't pass this class i will not be able to graduate haha
my teacher is â¨terribleâ¨and i need help . does anyone know anything that is better at teaching than this guy
i am treating my author's note like yahoo answers GOODBYE i told u this was a cry for help