Tenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[open call]
 . . . Hello?  Um.  Is this . . . Is this the right number?  This is Mayfield Elementary . . . ?

I'd, um.  I'd like to call in sick.  Lucas . . . Last name?  Ushiromiya.  . . . . . . . .  There isn't any -- A-Ah.  Lucas . . . Lucas Fawlin . . . Grade 7.  No, I just haven't been feeling well . . . Ah.  Mostly fever . . . . . . . . A hundred and um.  Three or four.  U-Up my . . . No.  No.  My mouth . . . A few days.  No.  I haven't seen the nurse . . . Um.  Not yet . . .  My parents . . . ?  They're not home.  And I . . . I don't want to bother them . . . I don't know.  I . . . I really don't think I can.  I don't . . . But I -- I know, but.  It's just . . .  I'm really not . . .

. . .

O-OK.  OK.  I'll try . . . I'm sorry for the trouble . . .

[Ten minutes after this call is made, an unsteady figure walks out the steps of 846 Goldberg, his face flushed and his eyes glossy.  Twenty minutes after that, the boy slowly begins to kneel to the sidewalk somewhere on the route to school, but fails to make it all the way before collapsing forward.  He does not get back up.]

((Feel free to make responses to the phone call or anytime that Lucas is spotted on the street, either after he faints or before.
EDIT: For continuity's sake, I'm going to refer to Margot as finding Lucas first if I make any reference to this simply because she had the first thread.  I wasn't expecting so many replies; thanks everyone!  He'll still remember everyone's kindness to him, though.))

Comments

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

I feel great, which is weird. [Of course feeling refreshed is weird to her, the idiot.]

What did you do?!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

W-Well . . . It has something to do with the way my psychic powers grow inside of me. I get sick and the fever lasts a few days, but it's never been so serious before. So I guess . . . this must be a very powerful new PSI.

[Lucas feels pretty great, too.]

It doesn't seem to be the same as Lifeup, I don't think, so I'll call it Refresh.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

[This is something she can understand, if only a little bit.]

How often do you use your powers? I mean, if someone from my world doesn't use their magic, it builds up until they explode. Sometimes literally.

And, what -- that's just a new spell or something? You just got sick and made a new spell?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

W-Wha -- That's terrible! Y-You practice regularly, right? . . . But it's not the same for me. The more I use it, the more it grows. It must've been because of everything that happened in Westport . . .

Um. That. I guess that's right. I'm sorry to worry you.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. And I mean, like, it's got to be a really long time. Months or something. That guy hadn't cast in a year, I don't know how he made it so long. [nonchalant shrug]

Look, I'm just glad you're okay, Lucas. You had me fucking worried for a second there.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have tried to go to school at all . . . If I'd just stayed in bed today, it would've all gone OK. And now I've made you late, too.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

Oh, whatever. It's not like the school here matters. When am I ever going to need to know this shit? [Smiles shakily, relieved, then reaches to pull him into a tight hug.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I-It could be useful if you have, um. Taxes where you come from. Maybe.

[Smile. Return hug. <3]

I want to make it up to you anyway. Do you, um. Like malts?

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

I won't have to worry about that for another year, assuming I'm back home by then.

[Awkward sort of hair ruffle.]

Er... Yeah. You really don't have to make it up to me, though.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It's OK. Mr. Netherlands said that's something that friends do here, so I want to do it for you.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

...Alright, then. Like I'm going to pass up a malt. But later. I want you going home and lying down and resting for the rest of today.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

B-But there isn't anything -- . . .

[He figured he'd worried Margot enough, though, after a few moments of silence.]

OK. I might get really bored, though.

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

I could... come read to you or sit with you or something.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's alright. I've taken enough of your time today . . .

[followyouthere.livejournal.com]

Alright, well... At least let me walk you back, yeah? Make sure you get there okay.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

That's fine. Thanks again.

[There really doesn't seem to be anything wrong with Lucas anymore. On the way back, he even jogs a little ahead as if to show Margot that he is Perfectly Fine.]