USER: Hi

USER: Are you gpt4?

USER: HiIs this well written: With flecks of gold scattered across his green eyes , he flashed a smiled that captured the essence of summer. His tanned complexion shone against the daylight , the waves lapping at his bare ankles as he stood amidst the breeze. His lips, chapped and coated with the salt of the ocean air , seemed irresistible . Reaching out gingerly, she traced a finger along the outline of his youthful grin, leaning in closer, and gazing deep into his mischievous stare. She ran her free hand across the tender spot where his skin met his earlobe , sweeping her tongue against his bottom lip.

USER: IsHow about this revision ? It only amounted to one, and it would always--in his chlorophyll-soaked corneas, tears fed on his urgent panic. Starting over after the repetitive act of violation, he threw up with a violent heave, the primal urge rising in his liver. Bile stained his teeth, and the following retches were acidic, lashing the roof of his mouth with enraged fury. It could never stop: his body rejected the substance over and over; he was hanging by a thread. His eyes scanned the horizon with desperate energy before his lids slid back down, and he was wracked with a violent shiver of resistance. Then, as the urge overcame him yet again, a voice pierced through the sky, a lifeline in his isolation and utter agony. "Can you hear me? Don't try and answer, just blink twice." As he fought to drag his eyelids upward, the pain, like a coiling wire, constricted his blood flow in brutal retaliation. "Make it stop--No, I mustn't," he choked out. He fought the deep surge of corrosion, like a negative battery melting into a metal cylinder, as his throat tightened. It was just one time. Only ever one; if he expelled the drug from his intestines, it would amount to zero. He was at the end of a long night, his vision raw from never resting his eyes, the blood vessels all but ruptured and torn. The ingested substance had been a sinister mistake, and if he threw up twice, the contraband would be purged from his system; he battled to hold it inside. As Liam writhed in the dying sunlight, his skin erupted in feverish bumps, a crawling sensation exploring the surface of his skin. A shiver of depraved invasion jolted down his spine as he screamed through his clenched teeth in despair. The nausea rose again, claiming his entire being, but his heart continued to pulse, counting away the seconds. "Help me--No. No," he pled through his locking jaw as he fought another potent wave. The instinctive reaction of his body gripped every fiber as he felt his fight dwindling. He sank his teeth into his gag, screaming against the material bound across his tongue, taunting his strength and resilience. Then, in one dreaded motion, the inevitable rise built within him, futile to resistance. His eyes widened with panic as his gag soon became saturated with the vile substance, leaving a bitter sting as he struggled against it; the retches that followed heaved through his chest. Liam collapsed into the unforgiving embrace of the concrete, his ravaged body welcoming the end with resignation. "Shit," he lamented in terror, mumbling in heartbroken defeat, "Twice... now it's too late." In a mixture of pure shock and trauma, his eyelids slid closed with exhaustion. After his ongoing efforts and endless torment, he failed to hold down the implanted substance, and it was over. But the voice persisted, causing Liam to force his eyes open, gritting his teeth in determination. "No, I'm still here; you just had an intense vomiting episode--hang tight," the voice reassured. Liam shook his head in disbelief, protesting, the fear tugging at his psyche like a fishing line as he cursed at his helplessness. "No, you can't help--" As Liam fought to refocus his gaze, a pair of deep hazel eyes locked onto his own with concern. "My name's Ryan. I just woke up an hour ago; that sound was me dragging my bones over here. I've got you." Liam flinched as his gag was torn from his mouth, and he gasped for fresh air, the invasive atmosphere embalming him with perspiration. "Oh, God, I threw up the contraband--those bastards will kill me like a dog. Or worse-" Liam's eyes enlarged with realization as he spoke, running a hand through his gritted hair. . "I'll be, well written:you saw right? ..." Liam's voice was filled with sickened resignation, his resolve seeping from his pores and evaporating into the arid atmosphere. Ryan clamped his hand down over Liam's kneecap in a firm gesture of shared solidarity. "I saw everything they did to you, yeah. And I'm still here alright?. Not about to abandon you now..." Liam, reaching up and gripping Ryan's arm firmly, smiled against the warm twilight rays of daylight that clung to his flesh. "I'm sorry you had to see all this... how long's it been?" Ryan responded with a gun-metal hollowness, his words smoked out by his steady exhale. "Four weeks. Damed long enough for anyone..." Liam wrapped his arm around Ryan's shoulder, hoisting himself from the ground into a slouch, bracing his other arm behind himself. "Oh, God, it's been a whole month... How did I think it was only days?" Ryan only whispered in reply, his voice thick with acknowledgment. "Yeah." The drugs in his vision burned with a harsh cruelty, and Liam shook his head to regain some clarity. "I don't even remember how I got here." Ryan outstretched his lean, muscular arm and hauled Liam to his feet with an exhaustive grunt, wrapping an arm around his chest in support of his weight. "I can explain to you exactly how, but it's not safe here. Later. Just try to walk with me; you look like hell, but you made it through that so I'm thinking you can limp outta here."Ryan's kneecaps bore the bloodstains of his agonising journey across the gravelled concrete , he had limp that almost matched Liam's broken stride. The air was unrelenting in its suctioning nature, stripping the moisture from their skin as they navigated the bare footpath, no roads or buildings in sight--a concrete ladder of deception that went on for hours, tracking their heavy footsteps. Liam, with his gaze fixated on the maze of concrete, pondered the elapse of time. "How many times did they--" Ryan's complexion, draining of color, almost revealed a two-digit number. "Eleven times. They assaulted you eleven times. And then you threw up four times on top of that. And they just kept on--" With flecks of gold scattered across his green eyes , he flashed a smileda haunted expression in his eyes, Liam whispered hoarsely into the still air, his voice heavy with confusion. "How am I alive? You're telling me I went through that captured the essence of summer. His tanned complexion shone against the daylight , the waves lapping at his bare ankles as he stood amidst the breeze. His lips, chapped and coated with the salt of the ocean air , seemed irresistible . Reaching out gingerly, she traced a finger along the outline of his youthful grin, leaning in closer, and gazing deep into his mischievous stare. She ran her free hand across the tender spot where his skin met his earlobe , sweeping her tongue against his bottom lip.four entire times? I should be dead, not ... " Ryan exhaled a long, steady breath as he hoisted Liam up a notch higher. "They shoved electrolytes down your throat, which was grim as all hell to see. It's not as if it helped you hold down water; they practically killed you. But you're still alive, freaking hell, man. You're a god or something I swear." Ryan clapped Liam over the shoulder in a shared triumph, as Liam offered a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm a badass, but what's your place in all this? You're not a plant, so what were you doing back there?"

USER: How aboutCould this revisionbe a published work ? It only amounted to one, and it would always--in his chlorophyll-soaked corneas, tears fed on his urgent panic. Starting over after the repetitive act of violation, he threw up with a violent heave, the primal urge rising in his liver. Bile stained his teeth, and the following retches were acidic, lashing the roof of his mouth with enraged fury. It could never stop: his body rejected the substance over and over; he was hanging by a thread. His eyes scanned the horizon with desperate energy before his lids slid back down, and he was wracked with a violent shiver of resistance. Then, as the urge overcame him yet again, a voice pierced through the sky, a lifeline in his isolation and utter agony. "Can you hear me? Don't try and answer, just blink twice." As he fought to drag his eyelids upward, the pain, like a coiling wire, constricted his blood flow in brutal retaliation. "Make it stop--No, I mustn't," he choked out.thought. He fought the deep surge of corrosion, like a negative battery melting into a metal cylinder, as his throat tightened. It was just one time. Only ever one; if he expelled the drug from his intestines, it would amount to zero. He was at the end of a long night, his vision raw from never resting his eyes, the blood vessels all but ruptured and torn. The ingested substance had been a sinister mistake, and if he threw up twice, the contraband would be purged from his system; he battled to hold it inside. As Liam writhed in the dying sunlight, his skin erupted in feverish bumps, a crawling sensation exploring the surface of his skin. A shiver of depraved invasion jolted down his spine as he screamed through his clenched teeth in despair. The nausea rose again, claiming his entire being, but his heart continued to pulse, counting away the seconds. "Help me--No. No," he pled through his locking jaw as he fought another potent wave. The instinctive reaction of his body gripped every fiber as he felt his fight dwindling. He sank his teeth into his gag, screaming against the material bound across his tongue, taunting his strength and resilience. Then, in one dreaded motion, the inevitable rise built within him, futile to resistance. His eyes widened with panic as his gag soon became saturated with the vile substance, leaving a bitter sting as he struggled against it; the retches that followed heaved through his chest. Liam collapsed into the unforgiving embrace of the concrete, his ravaged body welcoming the end with resignation. "Shit," he lamented in terror, mumbling in heartbroken defeat, "Twice... now it's too late." In a mixture of pure shock and trauma, his eyelids slid closed with exhaustion. After his ongoing efforts and endless torment, he failed to hold down the implanted substance, and it was over. But the voice persisted, causing Liam to force his eyes open, gritting his teeth in determination. "No, I'm still here; you just had an intense vomiting episode--hang tight," the voice reassured.insisted. Liam shook his head in disbelief, protesting, the fear tugging at his psyche like a fishing line as he cursed at his helplessness. "No, you can't help--" As Liam fought to refocus his gaze, a pair of deep hazel eyes locked onto his own with concern. "My name's Ryan. I just woke up an hour ago; that sound was me dragging my bonesI've been trying to crawl over here. I've got you." Liam flinched as his gag was torn from his mouth, and he gasped for fresh air, the invasive atmosphere embalming him with perspiration. "Oh, God, I threw up the contraband--thosemerchandise--those bastards will killexterminate me like a dog. Or worse-" Liam's eyes enlarged with realization as he spoke, running a hand through his gritted hair. . "I'll be, welldog who needs out of his misery. And that's if I'm lucky. They are likely to... well, I assume you saw right? ..."everything..." Liam's voice was filled with sickened resignation, his resolve seeping from his pores and evaporating into the arid atmosphere. Ryan clamped his hand down over Liam's kneecap in a firm gesture of shared solidarity. "I sawwatched everything they did to you, yeah.yes. And I'm still here alright?. Nothere. I'm not about to abandon you now..." Liam, reaching up and gripping Ryan's arm firmly, smiled against the warm twilight rays of daylight that clung to his flesh. "I'm sorry you had to see all of this... and how long'slong has it been?" Ryan responded with a gun-metal hollowness, his words smoked out by his steady exhale. "Four weeks. Damed long enough for anyone..." Liam wrapped his arm around Ryan's shoulder, hoisting himself from the ground into a slouch, bracing his other arm behind himself. "Oh, God, it's been a whole month... How did I thinkonly assume it was only days?" Ryan only whispered in reply, his voice thick with acknowledgment. "Yeah." The drugs in his vision burned with a harsh cruelty, and Liam shook his head to regain some clarity. "I don't even remember how I got here." Ryan outstretched his lean, muscular arm and hauled Liam to his feet with an exhaustive grunt, wrapping an arm around his chest in support of his weight. "I can explain to you exactly how, but it's not safe here. Later. Just try to walk with me; you look like hell, but you made it through that so I'm thinking youwe can limp outta here."Ryan's kneecaps bore the bloodstains of his agonising journey across the gravelled concrete , he had limp that almost matched Liam's broken stride.get out of here." The air was unrelenting in its suctioning nature, stripping the moisture from their skin as they navigated the bare footpath, no roads or buildings in sight--a concrete ladder of deception that went on for hours, tracking their heavy footsteps. Liam, with his gaze fixated on the maze of concrete, pondered the elapse of time. "How many times did they--" Ryan's complexion, draining of color, almost revealed a two-digit number. "Eleven times. They assaulted you eleven times. And then youYou threw up four times on top of that.times, Liam, as well. And they just kept on--" With a haunted expression in his eyes, Liam whispered hoarsely into the still air, his voice heavy with confusion. "How the hell am I alive? You're telling meFour times... I went through that four entire times? I should be dead, not ... "ought to have died long before this..." Ryan exhaled a long, steady breath as he hoisted Liam up a notchlittle higher. "They shoved electrolytes down your throat, which was grim as all hell to see.to watch. It's not as iflike it helped you hold down water; they practically killed you. But you're still alive, freaking hell, man. You're a god or something I swear."alive." Ryan heartily clapped Liam over the shoulder in a shared triumph, as Liam offered a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm a badass, but what's your place in all this?this anyway? You're not a plant, so what were you doing back there?"

USER: CouldIs this be a published work ?professional: It only amounted to one, and it would always--in his chlorophyll-soakedfatigue-soaked corneas, tearsgrief fed on his urgent panic. Starting over after the repetitive act of violation, he threw up withpsyche. Suddenly, he was overcome by a violent heave, thea primal urge rising in his liver. Bile stained his teeth, and the following retches were acidic, lashing the roof of his mouth with enraged fury. It could never stop: his body rejected the substance over and over; he was hanging by a thread.thread of sanity. "Not again. Please no-" Liam clenched his teeth, the crucial moment upon him; he had to keep the substance down, or the consequences would be dire. His eyes scanned the horizon with desperate energydesperation before his lids slid back down,closed, and he was wracked with a violent shivershivers of resistance. Then, as the urge to be sick overcame him yet again,him, a voice pierced through the sky,his fog of despair, a lifeline in his isolation and utter agony.amidst his struggle. "Can you hear me? Don'tme?" the rough, concerned tone asked as Liam writhed against the concrete, groaning in agony. "Don't try and answer,to answer that, just blink twice."twice. Take it slow." As he fought to drag his eyelids upward, the pain, like a coiling wire, constricted his blood flow in brutal retaliation. "Make it stop--No,stop-No I mustn't," he thought. He fought the deep surge of corrosion, likemustn't lose it," he choked. It he expelled the violating drug from his intestines, his efforts to amount to zero. Square one. In horror, the rising of the illicit substance wasn't unlike a negative battery melting into a metal cylinder,cylinder as his throat tightened. It was just one time. Only ever one; if he expelled the drug from his intestines, it would amount to zero. He was at the end of a long night, his vision raw from never resting his eyes, the blood vessels all but ruptured and torn. The ingested substance had been a sinister mistake, and if he threw up twice, the contraband would be purged from his system; he battled to hold it inside. As Liam writhed in the dying sunlight, his skin erupted in feverish bumps, a crawling sensation exploring the surface of his skin. A shiver of depraved invasion jolted down his spine as he screamed through his clenched teeth in despair. The nausea rose again, claiming his entire being, but his heart continued to pulse, counting away the seconds. "Help me--No. No," he pled through his locking jaw as he fought another potent wave. The instinctive reaction of his body gripped every fiber as he felt his fight dwindling. He sank his teeth into his gag, screaming against the material bound across his tongue, taunting his strength and resilience. Then, in one dreaded motion, the inevitable rise built within him, futile to resistance. His eyes widened with panic as his gag soon became saturated with the vile substance, leaving a bitter sting as he struggled against it; the retches that followed heaved through his chest. Liam collapsed into the unforgiving embrace of the concrete, his ravaged body welcoming the end with resignation. "Shit," he lamented in terror, mumbling in heartbroken defeat, "Twice... now it's too late." In a mixture of pure shock and trauma, his eyelids slid closed with exhaustion. After his ongoing efforts and endless torment, he failed to hold down the implanted substance, and it was over. But the voice persisted, causing Liam to force his eyes open, gritting his teeth in determination. "No, I'm still here; you just had an intense vomiting episode--hang tight," the voice insisted. Liam shook his head in disbelief, protesting, the fear tugging at his psyche like a fishing line as he cursed at his helplessness. "No, you can't help--" As Liam fought to refocus his gaze, a pair of deep hazel eyes locked onto his own with concern. "My name's Ryan. I just woke up an hour ago; I've been trying to crawl over here. I've got you." Liam flinched as his gag was torn from his mouth, and he gasped for fresh air, the invasive atmosphere embalming him with perspiration. "Oh, God, I threw up the merchandise--those bastards will exterminate me like a dog who needs out of his misery. And that's if I'm lucky. They are likely to... well, I assume you saw everything..." Liam's voice was filled with sickened resignation, his resolve seeping from his pores and evaporating into the arid atmosphere. Ryan clamped his hand down over Liam's kneecap in a firm gesture of shared solidarity. "I watched everything they did to you, yes. And I'm still here. I'm not about to abandon you now..." Liam, reaching up and gripping Ryan's arm firmly, smiled against the warm twilight rays of daylight that clung to his flesh. "I'm sorry you had to see all of this... and how long has it been?" Ryan responded with a gun-metal hollowness, his words smoked out by his steady exhale. "Four weeks. Damed long enough for anyone..." Liam wrapped his arm around Ryan's shoulder, hoisting himself from the ground into a slouch, bracing his other arm behind himself. "Oh, God, it's been a whole month... How did I only assume it was days?" Ryan only whispered in reply, his voice thick with acknowledgment. "Yeah." The drugs in his vision burned with a harsh cruelty, and Liam shook his head to regain some clarity. "I don't remember how I got here." Ryan outstretched his lean, muscular arm and hauled Liam to his feet with an exhaustive grunt, wrapping an arm around his chest in support of his weight. "I can explain to you exactly how, but it's not safe here. Later. Just try to walk with me; you look like hell, but we can get out of here." The air was unrelenting in its suctioning nature, stripping the moisture from their skin as they navigated the bare footpath, no roads or buildings in sight--a concrete ladder of deception that went on for hours, tracking their heavy footsteps. Liam, with his gaze fixated on the maze of concrete, pondered the elapse of time. "How many times did they--" Ryan's complexion, draining of color, almost revealed a two-digit number. "Eleven times. They assaulted you eleven times. You threw up four times, Liam, as well. And they just kept on--" With a haunted expression in his eyes, Liam whispered hoarsely into the still air, his voice heavy with confusion. "How the hell am I alive? Four times... I ought to have died long before this..." Ryan exhaled a long, steady breath as he hoisted Liam up a little higher. "They shoved electrolytes down your throat, which was grim to watch. It's not like it helped you hold down water; they practically killed you. But you're still alive." Ryan heartily clapped Liam over the shoulder in a shared triumph, as Liam offered a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm a badass, but what's your place in all this anyway? You're not a plant, so what were you doing back there?"

USER: Is this professional: It only amounted to one, and it would always--in his fatigue-soaked corneas, grief fed on his psyche. Suddenly, he was overcome by a violent heave, a primal urge rising in his liver. Bile stained his teeth, andAnalyse the following retches were acidic, lashing the roofcompellingness of his mouth with fury. It could never stop: his body rejected the substance over and over; he was hanging by a thread of sanity. "Not again. Please no-" Liam clenched his teeth, the crucial moment upon him; he had to keep the substance down, or the consequences would be dire. His eyes scanned the horizon with desperation before his lids slid closed, and he was wracked with shivers of resistance. Then, as the urge to be sick overcame him, a voice pierced through his fog of despair, a lifeline amidst his struggle. "Can you hear me?" the rough, concerned tone asked as Liam writhed against the concrete, groaning in agony. "Don't try to answer that, just blink twice. Take it slow." As he fought to drag his eyelids upward, the pain, like a coiling wire, constricted his blood flow in brutal retaliation. "Make it stop-No I mustn't lose it," he choked. It he expelled the violating drug from his intestines, his efforts to amount to zero. Square one. In horror, the rising of the illicit substance wasn't unlike a negative battery melting into a metal cylinder as his throat tightened. He was at the end of a long night,my plot

USER: Analyse the compellingness of my plotV

USER: VIs this plausible? "Do you want someone to talk to about it? Or we could just sit here and do nothing , just whatever you want.." Flynn offered, propping himself against his elbows in the sand dune behind him. "I got the whole day before my mates will come by to surf ." Skye gazed out at the glare of the ocean , then look back at Flynn with a spark in her eye. "How about you teach me to surf? I just need a distraction right now and this would be perfect" . Flynn's laughter seemed to embody the daylight hitting the water as he beamed in amusement. "I think I can manage that. I'll share my board ..but are you sure you're up for it" Shy nudged him in the ribs , winding him momentarily. "Yeah , that's if you are."

USER: Is this plausible? "Do you want someone toa realistic piece? Mason sighed in frustration, balling another pair of grass-stained socks into his fist. His duffel bag was overflowing with various jerseys and underwear, his only ticket to safe night on a cracked linoleum floor. The soulless yellow lights of the laundromat had become a companion in the night, with the hum of a washing machine spinning in his brain. Just as he had flung his locker door closed , and eased himself down onto his bag, wresting with the haphazard zipper, Victor flew around the corner. "Hey Mace , I can't stop and talk to about it? Or we, have to train the guys and drive through bloody traffic to get there" . He spoke in a blurred rush of distraction as he grabbed a shirt from his locker. "Yo Vic, hello to you too..." Mason sighed again, his exasperation growing at the lack of greeting. "Sorry Mace, know , Ivy League commitments, I just , it never slows up. See you later." Mason didn't even look up from his overstuffed problem, the duffels teeth caught on a jersey sleeve, jarring the zip. "Ah hell , this is all so -". Exhaling in defeat Mason slammed his back against a random lock and started a phrase that wouldn't reach any ears but his own . "hey VIC , could I crash your place tonight-" . Victors eyes sailed past Mason's in a frenzied blur. "Gotta go buddy, stay safe , have fun out there , catch you later" And with that Victor was gone, tugging his shirt over his back as he rounded the corner at lightning speed. "Yeah, that guy really needs to slow down ." Mason was alone again, gazing down in despondency at his laundry and his subsequent evening of drifting . As he resigned himself to the realities of his night, Ethan came sauntering round the corner, noticing Mason's presence, he stopped and offered a hand. "Mason? You need help with that? " Mason gazed up from his bag, relieved at the sound of acknowledgment. "Hey Eth, yeah if you could just sit here and do nothing ,hold that end down while I zip this sanded thing up" Ethan's eyes were sunken , as he held down the fabric as Mason yanked the zipper closed. "Thanks man, so what's up?" . Ethan , sinking down onto the uneven duffel bag , shrugged with exhaustion. "Not much, was needing to talk to Vic but , can't chase that guy down these days" Mason sighed yet again, concern passing through his stare . "Yeah I worry about him sometimes . He'll have an aneurism yet." Ethan laughed , fatigued showing in in lack-lustre demeanour . "He means well , Mace , but yeah he bites off more than he can chew , then spits it all over ya" Mason grinned back , shaking his head with agreement. "Yeah , poor ol' Victory boy . Anyway , I need to ask you a favour " Ethan rested his head on his fist , seemingly unfazed by the prospect . "Sure , hit me. " Mason paused in hesitation, glaring into the light just whatever you want.." Flynn offered, propping himself against his elbows in the sand dune behind him.above Ethan's head as he framed the predicament, not even having a starting point . "I got the whole day before my mates will come by to surf ." Skye gazed out at the glare of the ocean , then look back at Flynn with a spark in her eye. "How about you teach me to surf? I just need a distraction right now and this would be perfect" . Flynn's laughter seemed to embody the daylight hitting the water as he beamed in amusement. "I thinkknow you have treatments , probably tonight yeah?" . Ethan ran an exhausted hand through his hair and nodded "Yeah, I'm doing a four hour stint , not looking forward to it, why?" . Mason leaned in closer , meeting Ethan's tired eyes "any chance I can manage that.crash at your place , I'll sharehave a decent meal ready when you get back , I'm trying to avoid my board ..but are you sure you're uproommate because , well it's complicated-" Ethan stared back , his gaze softened with understanding. "It's fine .we could both use the food . I'll see you around nine ?" Mason , still musing the weight of the bag and his hunger levels , nodded amicably. "It's a plan Eth, I can throw together a mean plate of nachos, maybe a few mission style burritos. Your stomach will love me " . Ethan's laugh was filled with amusement, as he laced one of Mason's bag handles through his knuckles . "Oh , I'll be looking forward to that bro, you can do wicked things with tortilla chips .. and hospital food is garbage . Thanks , and don't hesitate to stay at mine whenever ." Mason rose and hauled the remaining strap off the floor groaning as he alleviated Ethan of the other . "This thing must contain every piece of clothing I own, I'll have to do some laundry at your's first , then I'll show your hot plate who's boss ." Ethan stepped backwards, his lean frame unbalanced by the sudden removal of the weight from his grip . "I really need to get back into training.." Mason's palm came down on Ethan's shoulder with a centred thump. "Well, you look like hell at the moment but, maybe you could talk to your doc about it later huh? I know Vic misses you as corner, he's been whooping Logan's ass a little too hard out of frustration." Laughing in response , Ethan shook his head "yeah , he's not about to accept the loss of my razor sharp skills huh?" They both stared at Mason's loaded shoulder , a silent moment of shared memories encompassing them. "Yeah, we all want you back out there , Ethan. But for it" Shy nudged him in the ribs , winding him momentarily. "Yeah , that's if you are."now , let me at least lend your sofa a nice imprint of my ass ". Ethan , snorting in approval, clapped Mason over the back as they staggered out of the locker room and went their seperate ways .

USER: Is this a realistic piece?plausible? Mason sighed in frustration, balling another pair of grass-stained socks into his fist. His duffel bag was overflowing with various jerseys and underwear, his only ticket to safe night on a cracked linoleum floor. The soulless yellow lights of the laundromat had become a companion in the night, with the hum of a washing machine spinning in his brain. Just as he had flung his locker door closed , and eased himself down onto his bag, wresting with the haphazard zipper, Victor flew around the corner. "Hey Mace , I can't stop and talk , have to train the guys and drive through bloody traffic to get there" . He spoke in a blurred rush of distraction as he grabbed a shirt from his locker. "Yo Vic, hello to you too..." Mason sighed again, his exasperation growing at the lack of greeting. "Sorry Mace, know , Ivy League commitments, I just , it never slows up. See you later." Mason didn't even look up from his overstuffed problem, the duffels teeth caught on a jersey sleeve, jarring the zip. "Ah hell , this is all so -". Exhaling in defeat Mason slammed his back against a random lock and started a phrase that wouldn't reach any ears but his own . "hey VIC , could I crash your place tonight-" . Victors eyes sailed past Mason's in a frenzied blur. "Gotta go buddy, stay safe , have fun out there , catch you later" And with that Victor was gone, tugging his shirt over his back as he rounded the corner at lightning speed. "Yeah, that guy really needs to slow down ." Mason was alone again, gazing down in despondency at his laundry and his subsequent evening of drifting . As he resigned himself to the realities of his night, Ethan came sauntering round the corner, noticing Mason's presence, he stopped and offered a hand. "Mason? You need help with that? " Mason gazed up from his bag, relieved at the sound of acknowledgment. "Hey Eth, yeah if you could just hold that end down while I zip this sanded thing up" Ethan's eyes were sunken , as he held down the fabric as Mason yanked the zipper closed. "Thanks man, so what's up?" . Ethan , sinking down onto the uneven duffel bag , shrugged with exhaustion. "Not much, was needing to talk to Vic but , can't chase that guy down these days" Mason sighed yet again, concern passing through his stare . "Yeah I worry about him sometimes . He'll have an aneurism yet." Ethan laughed , fatigued showing in in lack-lustre demeanour . "He means well , Mace , but yeah he bites off more than he can chew , then spits it all over ya" Mason grinned back , shaking his head with agreement. "Yeah , poor ol' Victory boy . Anyway , I need to ask you a favour " Ethan rested his head on his fist , seemingly unfazed by the prospect . "Sure , hit me. " Mason paused in hesitation, glaring into the light just above Ethan's head as he framed the predicament, not even having a starting point . "I know you have treatments , probably tonight yeah?" . Ethan ran an exhausted hand through his hair and nodded "Yeah, I'm doing a four hour stint , not looking forward to it, why?" . Mason leaned in closer , meeting Ethan's tired eyes "any chance I can crash at your place , I'll have a decent meal ready when you get back , I'm trying to avoid my roommate because , well it's complicated-" Ethan stared back , his gaze softened with understanding. "It's fine .we could both use the food . I'll see you around nine ?" Mason , still musing the weight of the bag and his hunger levels , nodded amicably. "It's a plan Eth, I can throw together a mean plate of nachos, maybe a few mission style burritos. Your stomach will love me " . Ethan's laugh was filled with amusement, as he laced one of Mason's bag handles through his knuckles . "Oh , I'll be looking forward to that bro, you can do wicked things with tortilla chips .. and hospital food is garbage . Thanks , and don't hesitate to stay at mine whenever ." Mason rose and hauled the remaining strap off the floor groaning as he alleviated Ethan of the other . "This thing must contain every piece of clothing I own, I'll have to do some laundry at your's first , then I'll show your hot plate who's boss ." Ethan stepped backwards, his lean frame unbalanced by the sudden removal of the weight from his grip . "I really need to get back into training.." Mason's palm came down on Ethan's shoulder with a centred thump. "Well, you look like hell at the moment but, maybe you could talk to your doc about it later huh? I know Vic misses you as corner, he's been whooping Logan's ass a little too hard out of frustration." Laughing in response , Ethan shook his head "yeah , he's not about to accept the loss of my razor sharp skills huh?" They both stared at Mason's loaded shoulder , a silent moment of shared memories encompassing them. "Yeah, we all want you back out there , Ethan. But for now , let me at least lend your sofa a nice imprint of my ass ". Ethan , snorting in approval, clapped Mason over the back as they staggered out of the locker room and went their seperate ways .

USER: IsHas the author of this plausible?piece achieved something challenging? The crimson line seared across the horizon, suffocating the air as Ethan's voice tore through his clenched jaw in a guttural , incoherent plea for mercy. His rasping voice tore through the atmosphere with fury, his breathing punctuated with violent gasps as he growled in despair. His convulsing chest wrought another agonising scream from his throat as he gritted his teeth, the force overwhelming him. As his jaw locked with an involuntary wrenching , he felt his teeth grinding together , disjointed in his crooked bite. Then as the acrid, metallic tang of blood coursed across his tongue , he yelled into his own mouth for relief . Victor's calm, yet urgent voice cut through his blinding assault of incarceration , pulling him back into focus . "Ethan, I need you to concentrate on breathing. Help's on the way . Hang in there for me." With Victor at his side, he struggled for his next breath, his airways consumed by a fiery hell. With his nostrils flaring in protest, he fought for his lungs cooperation , dragging in a stuttering breath , his lungs seemingly bound together with sandpaper. "Ethan , slow down again , now breathe in. You can do it " Victor's voice instructed from somewhere above him, and Ethan battled the constraints of his throat as it closed in on him , the world fading away in an airless haze. Victor yelled out in panic, as Ethan's moments without respiration rushed by, flagging down his fellow teammate from across the field . "Mason, get the oxygen , his pulse is strong, but he's foaming at the mouth!" . As voices fluctuated in and out of his awareness, Ethan felt the cold rush of adrenaline scathing his eyes as oxygen rushed through his chest. "Ethan, deep breaths, stay with me." Mason's voice sent shocks of relief to his shattered core , Victors firm grasp on his shoulder reassuring him as he resisted the urge to convulse. "Please-" he pleaded with no one in particular, opening his eyes a sliver to see the front of Victor's grass-stained jersey by his side . "Oh God Vic I'm on the field?" The faint smell of the tailgate smoke razed through his senses as he registered the impact of the football to his skull moments earlier. "Yeah Eth, you took one hell of a hit to the head, but just concentrate on the breathing, an ambulance is almost here." Victor replied, his voice even as he anchored Ethan's ribcage with his palm. The veins in Victor's arms glistened with perspiration as he interlocked his forearm around Ethan's torso , bracing him in close proximity to support his weight as he spasmed . "I've got you Eth, Mason and I will stay with you until help arrives , they mentioned a transfusion because you're losing blood . Hang tight. " The strain, clear in his tone , caused Victor to adjust his position so Ethan's body could lay securely in his lap. In response , Ethan's shoulder relaxed and his head lolled to the side , scintillating grains of static smattering across his vision as his eyes grew heavy. The next moment, sirens pierced through Ethan's ears, causing him to groan in the deafening whirlwind as his body was lifted from the ground and everything tilted on an axis , ebbing away from reach. Three months had passed , and Ethan gazed out at the angry bloodied orange horizon from the edge of his hospital bed, another day casting its shadow on his features. A constellation of pulsing stars flickered behind his eyes as he closed them for a moment, his eyelids red-rimmed from his tears. An intravenous catheter served as a stark reminder of his desolate new existence . Despite the images that flashed through his mind like a haunting slideshow of his former freedom, the very presence of the medical incision made his stomach churn. And upon the return of his urge to retch , he placed his hands either side of his head. Not even a breath escaped him before there was a yet another intrusive thought plagued his battered psyche, taunting him. Before he could even reflect on his isolation, his phone rang from his pocket. Not thinking twice, he unlocked the screen and swiped the caller onto speakerphone . Mason's familiar tone filled the frigid air with a palpable warmth. "Hey Ethan , how are you holding up , you have had us all worried , man." Ethan's guilt rose in his stomach , his fingers unsteady as he fumbled with a loose thread on his sleeve, searching for equilibrium . "I've been struggling with it, just trying to process the consequences y'know?". Mason's voice carried a serious inflection as he spoke. "Well, I can stop by tomorrow if you need to talk in person , It's alright Eth, whatever you need ..." . Ethan sighed in frustration, balling another pair of grass-stained socks into his fist. His, gratitude salving his frayed nerves. "Thanks Mace, I need to speak with you in private, and I appreciate you taking the time ." Unfazed by the effort , Mason's reply was like an ice pack on an open wound . "It's no trouble , I have your back, just like always , no matter what , that ain't changing anytime soon, take care of yourself alright?" . Ethan's unsteady sigh flooded his thoughts as he ended the call , alone again in the clinical , bleached linen of the room. Then as he recovered from the effort of speaking , he hauled himself from the stringent bedsheets and reached for his duffel bag , unearthing his jeans and wrangling them over his legs . Pulling on his Nike air forces , left foot first, his head throbbed with an imperceptible feeling of weakness. All he could do was overflowing with various jerseys and underwear, his only ticket to safe nightcurse under his breath at his deficient new body, unrecognisable and covered in bruises. Free from his entombing hospital gown , he found solace in his own clothing, the worn fabric holding a sense of his identity . His hands dug deeper into his pockets , an absentminded gesture as he searched for a lighter that was no longer there. A nauseating feeling edged over his fingertips as he grasped at the open air, splaying his fingers in desperation, the urge to occupy his hands growing overwhelming. Eventually the unyielding hum of beeping machines and footsteps in the stretching corridors embraced him in slumber, despite his rigid standing position . His spine sought purchase from the wall as he lapsed into a vertical dream, his arms folded across his chest, unable to relax. As his mind drifted to weeks earlier , he was embalmed in the saccharine, yet bitter smell of the highway, dancing in his memories, the essence of summer warming his chest. Like a soft sheen of nostalgia against his skin, the faint July air lingered in his aching body, the feel of a steering wheel secure under his hands. Transported back to the last road trip he had taken with Victor and Mason, leaning out of his Volkswagen Cambriolet, laughing into the mild air of twilight, his muscles finally eased. A smile played on a cracked linoleum floor.his pale lips, the breeze sighing in his chestnut hair, and the sunlight warming his khaki green eyes. Victor shot a glance of exasperation at Mason from the backseat, frustrated and tearing at the jerky packet. "Hey Mace, what's with you and garbage gas station food . I let you pack the provisions and you bring plastic ." Pelting the unopened wrapper at Mason's earlobe , he elicited a defensive laugh . "Hey , who's a hangry princess , huh? Calm down Vic, we'll feed you pasta and wine later , and give you a bubble bath so your cuticles don't fall out " . Victor sighed with dramatic sarcasm. "How does that even make sense ?" "And I can't even with this song, change the station already, Mace, before my skull caves in" Ethan rolled his eyes at the banter , this eyes fixated on the road "or you could both shut it , driver picks the music anyway. Shotgun gambles with his life if he doesn't shut up. Backseat doesn't exist because he doesn't have to see how stupid he looks in the rear view " he snorted in amusement, flicking the station over to a metal song, with guttural screaming and sighing with satisfaction. "This is so much better than listening to either of you" . "Hey Ethan, you can't drive, you indicated left" . Victor's voice teased from behind, and was met with Mason's howl along to the radio's soul destroying drone . "And you can't sing , shut it Mace" .. The soulless yellow lights of the laundromatshared, lighthearted camaraderie ignited a sense of hope that hazed out into sudden , harsh flashbacks to the field , of the nanosecond where his focus had become a companion in the night, with the hum of a washing machine spinning in his brain. Just as he had flung his locker door closed , and easedslipped, the impact of the ball to his temple , sending his body to the ground. And the scorn of the crowd as he failed to defend the goal, his name being hurled at him in rage and disappointment . The heat of suffocation came rushing through his mind, as Ethan threw his head backwards , his internal screams reverberating through his chest, awakening himself in a clammy sweat. Finding himself against the wall , his back stiff from inertia, he groaned and ran a weary hand over his shoulder. As he registered his surroundings , he slid his hands into his pockets, trudging back over to his bed and then sinking onto the edge. The disconcerting insomnia gnawed at him as he wrapped his arms tightly around his torso and awaited the impending dusk in silence. Ethan's frail chest wracked with erratic coughs as he waited in the parking lot, leaning against the pale azure paintwork of the Cambriolet's gleaming bonnet . Seeing Mason pull up in a beaten down Cadillac sent a wave of relief down his spine, the anticipation masticating his nerves. "Hey, Ethan, you still up for that walk?" Mason asked as he approached, wearing his usual lopsided smirk , overlapsed with a more concerned expression underneath. "Yeah, I'm sure up to it, I just need to be somewhere private, yknow. Away from the bloody dismal place in there" . As Mason took in Ethan's haggard eyes, with their sallow lack of light, he draped a solid arms over his shoulder , joining him against the Cabriolet's bonnet. "What's going on, you don't look well , but I imagine you feel worse in there huh?" . Ethan's slackened nod replied for him, as he gazed upward at the eerie glow of the streetlight, icing his gaze with a distant film. "Mace, I don't even know who I am anymore, honestly I feel so lost " Ethan confessed. Mason , stretching his arm further across Ethan's sunken shoulders , looked up into the street light and sighed. "It's tough , i understand that , but I'm listening , take your time , let's just walk , it's still warm out". Mason reassured him, with patience and empathy in his response. As their footsteps ambled along in sync , they soon came to a bench, deep amber leaves rustling around their ankles as Mason helped ease Ethan down onto his bag, wresting with the haphazard zipper, Victor flewthe wooden seat. He slid down beside him and waited for Ethan to continue , as he gazed at his boots with avoidance. "I have something important to tell you , and you won't like it" Ethan's voice turned flat and emotionless as he spoke in one breath, scuffing his boots into the asphalt. "The transfusion had some complications, and I sustained serious damage to my kidneys. It's why I look like this , Mason". Leaves stirred around the corner. "Hey Mace ,both their feet as Mason leaned forward on his elbows, his gaze filled with sympathy, yet his voice maintained its laid back inflection . I appreciate you opening up to me about this Ethan, and you can stop if you need to. It's peaceful out here and still early. We could go back to the Cabriolet if you miss her already?" A weary smile crept across Ethan's lips , reaching his hollow eyes and warming them with a haunted longing . "Nah I'm feeling worn out , I think I'll stick around here and recover a bit. I can't stop and talk , have to train the guys and drive through bloody traffic to get there" . He spoke in a blurred rush of distraction as he grabbed a shirt from his locker. "Yo Vic, hello to you too..." Mason sighed again, his exasperation growing at the lack of greeting. "Sorry Mace, know , Ivy League commitments, I just , it never slows up. See you later." Mason didn't even look up from his overstuffed problem, the duffels teeth caught on a jersey sleeve, jarring the zip. "Ah hell , this is all so -". Exhaling in defeat Mason slammed hisher anyway , but we had some good times in that car... " Mason, letting Ethan sink down against his arm , and leaned back against a random lock and started a phrasethe bench in reassured Ethan in response "And you'll drive her again , Eth, you know we'll face this together , alright?" As Ethan nodded in silence, the revelation of the diagnosis crawled through Mason's skin, turning his complexion pale as he ran a hand over his face. "You just get some rest for now , I'll take you back to the hospital later tonight." A tranquil moment enveloped them both, as Ethan let his exhausted body fall away into a twilight slumber. With Ethan's sleeping frame against his arm, Mason rested his head in his free hand , disorientation paralysing his trembling knuckles . His eyes strayed off into the foreground, as he felt Ethan stir , his rattled constitution seized with coughing. "Hey, are you alright Eth?" Mason asked, continuing to drape his arm securely around Ethan's shoulder, supporting his upright return from unconsciousness. Ethan's hoarse rasp cut through the milky dusk , as he regained composure, straightening up and yawning . "Yeah, i need medication though, I apologise for passing out on you , Mace, I'm just tired , I haven't been sleeping since I found out..." His eyes , falling back to the comfort of his boots, glistened with tears. Mason interjected , as he gave Ethan a gentle nudge in the ribs ."C'mon, I don't have to spend the night alone in my dorm , watching YouTube and wasting my life,I can hang around till they kick me out . " Pausing and smirking with fatigue Ethan replied lifting his eyes from his clean white boots to meet his friends unwavering stare. "Thanks man, but what are you gonna do in a hospital ward..." . Mason's eye brows raised in mock defence as he threw his hands skyward . "I'll wear the spacesuit like everyone else, get all scrubbed up. No seriously , they'll probably just swab me and I'm in. Then I can annoy you with my problems, about dumb stuff like girls and exams and how I got another parking ticket for backing into a dumpster. And also, I brought food , if those cardboard meals are the reason you look so hungry..". Ethan folded his arms across his chest as he slouched, concealing the growl of his stomach consuming itself. "I'm not all that wouldn't reach any earshungry, but his own . "hey VIC , could I crash your place tonight-" . Victors eyes sailed past Mason's in a frenzied blur. "Gotta go buddy, stay safe ,yeah, I wanna hear about all the trouble you have fun out there , catch you later"already caused .." The air settled over their bodies as they both shot each other inadvertent grins of misbehaviour. "I'll bet I won't hear the end of latest antics you and Vic have pulled . Well, Vic would be the instigator and you just play along..." " And with that Victor was gone, tugging his shirt over his back as he rounded the corner at lightning speed. "Yeah, that guy really needs to slow down ."I won't even ask what Carter has been doing." Mason was alone again, gazing down in despondency at his laundry and his subsequent evening of drifting . As he resigned himself to the realities of his night, Ethan came sauntering round the corner, noticing Mason's presence, he stopped and offered a hand. "Mason? You need help with that? " Mason gazed up from his bag, relieved at the sound of acknowledgment. "Hey Eth, yeah if you could just hold that end down while I zip this sanded thing up"witnessed the light dancing across Ethan's eyes were sunken , as he held down the fabric asas he had recognised before, the heartening animation of Ethan's grained , haggard voice carrying its familiar lustre and joy showing him a glimpse of the friend he knew just weeks ago. His voice lowering, Mason yanked the zipper closed.dropped his eyes for a moment, taking a long pause as Ethan went silent alongside him. The conversation phased out into a mellow blanket of solace and ease , neither of them moving from the wooden bench that absorbed all their uncertainty of the unknown, placating their fears in its rigid form. "Thanks man, so what's up?" .for tonight , Mace, it's not like I have my folks anymore , or people lining up round the block to see if I'm still breathing" . "Don't apologise , Eth, I get it. If anyone does you know it's me.." . "Yeah , Mace, true that. Ah , look at us" . Ethan's gaze , averting contact, was filled with trepidation, and acknowledgment of how little remained . "Mason, they wouldn't even care if you slept in the corridor , if it's safer than the alternative, you should , alright?." Mason , staring blankly ahead , shrugged in disbelief but didn't flinch at the prospect, his biceps stiffening as he gripped the bench tighter , before swinging an arm over Ethan's shoulder and hoisting him upwards. "Yeah, I won't pass it up, let's get you back for all the observations they probably need to do on you huh?" Ethan , sinking down onto the uneven duffel bag , shrugged with exhaustion. "Not much,sighed , but didn't respond as he let Mason lead him to the Cadillac, his gait dragging with the propensity to collapse at any moment . "Man I just got tired all of a sudden " . "It's OK , Eth, I got you, man" .......... Several weeks later : Victor gazed at Ethan intently , registering the gravity as he leaned in closer from his recline against his unopened locker, whispering in a low tone . "So the transfusion was needing to talk to Vic but , can't chasea failed match, and that guy down these days" Mason sighed yet again, concern passing through his stareled to ..". As his eyes filled with detachment , Ethan nodded , his voice rough with a bitter tinge that he bit back as he spoke . "Yeah I worry about him sometimes . He'll have an aneurism yet." Ethan laughed , fatigued showing in in lack-lustre demeanour . "He means well , Mace , but yeah he bites off more than he can chew , then spits.. my kidneys just never recovered. The head injury caused ...all of this." His voice, broken by the rasp in his throat , shook as a humourless laugh escaped him. " One lousy second and it all changed , I messed up the game , and I nearly bled out." His fingers, hovering at his temple , followed his voice as it trailed into silence , laying cold against the afternoon sunlight. Victor sank down even further against his locker , his voice chasing a faint whisper . "Thanks for trusting me with this , Eth." With a fistful of hair clutched amongst his knuckles, Ethan inhaled as his voice tore to shreds. But you kept me alive out there, when I needed help to breathe. When I was convulsing , and my jaw locked , I thought I'd die , Vic" Ethan gazed out into open space , not quite forming his next sentence, as it bled into the spaces between the streams of light that painted his features with shadows . "And maybe I really should have . . ". His bitter sigh , followed by the distant sound of a stray football rolling down the empty hallway, settled icily in the air. At first , neither of them shifted from their position , the unease slicing through the placating sunshine and leaving a sharp chill in its wake . Then, as if unthawing from his thoughts , Victor feathered his grip in his dark hair , tilting backwards against the wall, a dazed expression overtaking his pupils. "Wait , Ethan , I had no idea you felt this way ..". Gazing at Ethan with a disoriented expression, he maintained distance , seeking purchase from the locker-lined wall behind him, disengaging his eyes. As he did so, the accosting white light of the ceiling barred his irises with an imperceptible glow. "When I nearly lost you out on the field , your head in my lap, it broke me. Please don't talk like that, Eth". Victor glanced away in devastation , his voice trembling as it dissipated and he hung his head in a resigned silence . Ethan , failing to elevate his stare from where it had fallen to the floor, said nothing, as if words had no literal meaning any longer. The disconcerting thud of the football coming to a stop in the hall caused Ethan to embrace his knees tighter, numbed by the silence of its absence. Finally , as the shock of his own admission melted into regret , the metal walled room seemed to encompass him in despair. "I apologise for laying this on you Vic, I know it's a lot ..." Victor leaned forward with a protective instinct, wrapping his arm around Ethan's shoulder as he pulled him inwards . As their shoulders touched , Victor's open palm landed with a solid thump on Ethan's back, expressing both camaraderie and a silent promise of support. "It's a lot but, don't you dare think you're alone, Eth, you just take care of yourself, alright? Sure your health has changed but you're the guy who drove me out of town when I needed an escape that time . " Ethan's nod of disagreement spoke volumes as he sank to the ground , his spine dragging to the locker room floor as he balanced his head between his knees. "But it's easy enough for you to tell me to take care of this broken body , not sure it's worth saving these days...." .The fabric of his jeans muffled his voice as he took refuge behind his slanted thighs, though Victor honed in on every word , his gaze piercing into Ethan's as he crouched down at his side. " You must be going through hell right now , but if I'm honest, that night you drove me into oblivion in your Volkswagen changed my life , I had to stop living in your backseat . Had to get the apartment . Had to find a new corner when you went down on the field the following summer and , Logan is solid but.. he's not you Ethan. You're still my best friend, the one who saved my ass. "Through a haze of disillusionment, Ethan's vision blurred with scathing tears he blinked away. "But I'm a shadow of who I used to be , Vic. I don't know who I am anymore . Am I still that same guy.. I'm not quite so sure ". Victor's shoulders draped over ya" Mason grinnedthe bench behind him , his eyes confronting the harsh fluorescent lighting as he lamented lost freedoms. Not invading Ethan's stare into the distance, his gaze danced with the gleam from the sallow light above. The haunting months he'd spent in that car seemed all too close, yet all too far away. "Of course you are Ethan , and I won't let you forget it. I know it's hard , but you're not alone in that . And you're still that escape driving bad-ass." Not moving from the ground as he closed his eyes , Ethan evaded Victor in hesitation, his shoulders slumping with uncertainty . "Yeah , I did drive you away from that bastard..." Ethan's shoulders tensed with conflict as he gripped his worn jeans in frustration. In no state for heroics, his breath hitched as he addressed the wall in front of him . "But anyone would have done the same . You weren't safe that night-It was nothing. I had to protect you , and I'd do it again. " Ethan, choking back , shaking his head with agreement. "Yeah , poor ol' Victory boy . Anyway , I need to ask you a favour "tears in defiance, interred his reddened eyes into his jeans for a moment, reeling in confusion , his vision scathing with the heat of his retinas . Victor's unwavering stare gently argued with Ethan's deflection , causing Ethan rested his head on his fist , seemingly unfazed by the prospect . "Sure , hit me. " Mason paused in hesitation, glaringto gaze upwards in acknowledgment of his friends silent gratitude . Ethan's hand , massaging reassurance into the light just above Ethan's head as he framed the predicament, not even having a starting point . "Ihis neck as he continued, kept him from collapsing as he met Victors waiting stare . "And yeah, I'd drive you to Diego again if I could . You know you have treatments , probably tonight yeah?" .it. ". Ethan ran an exhausted handhis hands through his disheveled hair and nodded "Yeah, I'm doing a four hour stint , not looking forward to it, why?" . Mason leaned in closer , meeting Ethan's tiredas his chest lightened for a fleeting moment , his gaze falling away as he sighed into his lap. Victor closed his weathered hazel eyes "any chance I can crash at your place , I'll have a decent meal ready when you get back , I'm trying to avoid my roommate because , well it's complicated-"before opening them again , blinking away exhaustion. "I do Ethan stared back , his gaze softened with understanding. "It's fine .we could both use the food . I'll see you around nine ?" Mason , still musing the weight of the bag and his hunger levels , nodded amicably. "It's a plan Eth, I can throw together a mean plate of nachos, maybe a few mission style burritos. Your stomach will love me " . Ethan's laugh was filled with amusement, as he laced one of Mason's bag handles through his knuckles . "Oh ,, and that's why I'll be looking forward to that bro, you can do wicked things with tortilla chips .. and hospital food is garbage . Thanks , and don't hesitate to stay at mine whenever ." Mason rose and hauled the remaining strap off the floor groaning as he alleviateddamned if we sit alone in here all afternoon. C'mon. We'll come through this together. I never once did what anyone would do, I kept you breathing because I had no other choice." Victor then took a moment to clear his gravelled throat, and helped Ethan of the other . "This thing must contain every piece of clothing I own, I'll have to do some laundry at your's first , then I'll show your hot plate who's boss ." Ethan stepped backwards, his lean frame unbalanced by the sudden removal of the weight fromto his feet , easing him into an unaided stance. Grabbing his bag and heading for the door , he released his grip . "I really need to get back into training.." Mason's palm came down on Ethan's shoulder with a centred thump. "Well,and sent him a wordless nod which Ethan returned, along with a crooked smirk. As he let Ethan find balance and stretch his rigid legs, Victor hoisted his bag higher over his shoulder . "I have to run the team through drills, but I'll see you tonight, whenever Mace gets his ass together and drives you over to mine. " Ethan hoisted his own duffel bag over his frame , gathering his shattered bearings as he followed behind, the mild November sun caressing his face as he avoided the field , heading for the parking lot. "Yeah, later Vic, kick their asses , bro" . As Victor's figure broke into a wearied jog and headed towards his teammates, Ethan released a heavy sigh and staggered across the parking lot to a bus shelter , preparing himself for the brief ride back to the hospital to receive treatment . His cannulated arm burned from his invasive dialysis procedures, which he now dread. His fingers ran along his hairline, tracing the scar from his ruptured laceration, and he cursed under his breath, poised to spit . Maybe it was self indulgent, he shrugged as his hatred flew from his mouth , caring little for the bitter taste as his bus rattled into view. Only eight minutes had passed and he was already death warming up, shaking his head at the way his body betrayed him . How it never endured more than a few hours out for a spin before careening into a ditch. He hailed the cold headlights and stumbled onto the bus, sinking an against the cracked, lime green cushion of the seat, watching his reflection in the passing scenery. As trees flew by in his devoid stare , his hands turned out his lighter free pockets in habitual dismay. All blurring into each other, the impeccable kept houses and pavements only served as a temporary backdrop of his walks home after practice. The stench of perspiration in the late afternoon clouding his head as his light jog pumped fresh air into his lungs . His arms wrapped around his chest , as he sought warmth in the air condoned evening . Before he could fall asleep , the bus lurched to a halt , depositing him at his destination. Or so he thought, as a familiar silhouette boarded the bus and swung down into the seat behind him. "Mason? Bro how've you been?" . Ethan bumped Mason's fist in greeting , as Mason wore his infallible trademark smile, lopsided but that night masking concern. "Ethan? What's up? You don't look too good, you on your way to a dialysis stint? " . Ethan , nodding without the strength to deny it, slung an arm over the back of his seat , his darkened eyes filtering some light from the fluorescent marquee flashing the next destinations of the route. "Hospital's three more stops , I was on my way to meet this friend of a friend but , I think we need to catch up , Ethan." Mason absorbed Ethan's angular features, and hollowed eye sockets with unease and surprise, that he laced with his causal demeanour. "Yeah, if you have four hours, I'll just be strapped in a bed.. having this impure blood cleaned" Ethan muttered with a dark chuckle, more to himself than anyone else. A moment later, he slapped his fist over the stop button, groaning at the traction of the bus grinding to a halt . Jolted forward, Mason haphazardly pulled himself out of his seat and slid his hands into his pockets . "I'll give you some hours , buddy, you look like hellyou could use the company in there". As the two friends upheld each other, stumbling into the street, Ethan scaled the hospital with his reluctant eyes, and glanced at the moment but,Mason before shivering in his thin jacket. "Are you sure you want to see this.." Mason offered a deep shrug, smiling with an unfazed warmth. "I don't care about trivial crap like blood. Or swab tests. Bring on the cardboard cafeteria food , I bet the pizza is half decent tonight" . Mason delivered a swift nudge to Ethan's ribs as he laughed in spite of his depleted mental state. "God, it's good to see you , Mace. I was only thinking about that trip upstate , last night. Those were some good times" "Hell yeah, and those won't be the last of 'em" Mason ambled along the sidewalk , ramming his arm against Ethan's in jest , but also with an air of genuine honesty. "Oh cmon , I can't drive the Cabriolet anymore, I miss her..." Ethan confessed as he trudged toward the hospital elevator, with Mason following behind. "And you'll drive her again.. where is she anyway?". Ethan's hand flew instinctively to his back pocket and he turned out the key to the ignition, and flipped it around his thumb, the jangle soothing him. "Rooftop, some nights when I can't sleep , I rest on her bonnet and just .. ah it's stupid, wishful thinking I suppose." . Mason , raising his eyebrows , his blue eyes sparkling , protested . "Nah , you're gonna drive that car again , man , I'll see to it that you do, alright? I already told you months ago didn't I ? Now let's go get that artificial kidney into you huh?" . The sobering jolt of the elevator arriving at the renal floor caused Ethan to groan. "Ah yeah, I'm actually feeling like garbage and I need this session badly." Mason gently clasped a hand over Ethan's shoulder, "I know this is your fourth week, and you're looking a lot worse than we caught up last Friday . How are you holding up ?" . His face full of concern, Mason slid into a waiting room chair and shed his jacket , settling in beside a bed as Ethan dragged off his shirt, revealing his access line. "It's been .. hard Mace, I feel like I've lost so much in what? Seven measly days.. this month has just evaporated..." Mason , resting his chin on his knuckles , leant forward in the harsh lighting, his own fatigue showing in indentations under his eyes. "I know, I apologise for disappearing after that night at Vic's place. I had a few weeks worth of rent I couldn't pay.. I don't want to bore you with my problems though.." Mason's stiffened hands were gripping the chair as he released a low whistle of disdain. Ethan lay back as a nurse plugged in his lines and punched numbers idly into his machine and then drew his curtain to leave him and Mason to themselves , the steading thrumming of the dialysis unit blanketing them both in a stark routine. "Yeah, I worry about you Mace, get some rest while you're here if you need it. " The atmosphere in the room was suffocating as Ethan's dialysis session began, the rhythmic sound of the machine providing a backdrop to their conversation. Mason's concern lingered, and he sighed, "It means a lot , Ethan, I might get some rest here a bit later if I can . Life's been a rollercoaster lately, but I'm here for you too. We'll figure this out together." A comfortable silence passed between them before Ethan sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "Thanks Mace, for coming here , for being so blase about this mundane crap. I saw Victor earlier , you'd better get the Cadillac revved up later, he wants both our assess over there later tonight. Probably for an actual, grease laden pizza and mindless video gaming Not that it's ever just a game with him". Mason's grin responded with appreciation. "Ah , always the big brother looking out for us , gotta love him. Poor guy.." Ethan's smile , almost reaching his lifeless eyes , ended the lilt of their conversation as he drifted off , with Mason observing Ethan's slumber in silence as he closed his own eyes , an ability to sleep anywhere claiming him. As soon as the calm of sleep had subdued his posture against the wall, his eyes snapped open , blaring with accusation as he scanned the room. "Who's there...Don't touch me " he snarled into the reverberation of his own chest, startling himself into full consciousness. His panicked expression came to rest upon Ethan's sleeping outline, mildly relieved by the familiar rising and falling of his friends outline in the moonlight. Mason's forearms gripped his chair with force as the shocks of terror finally stilled and his adrenaline fuelled pulse crashed against his veins . He released a steady breath into his clasped hands , warming himself up from the cold sweat he was covered in. "God , Mace, pull yourself together ..." he whispered, unheard as he measured Ethan's wakefulness and deemed him good as dead as he readjusted his eyes to the dim lit room. "Don't fall asleep this time " came his own warning as he snaked his arms around his chest in a self berating motion. It had only been half an hour before he felt the insidious lure of sleep tugging at the edges of his psyche yet again, and he coughed roughly , a twinge of guilt coursing through him as he cased Ethan to flutter open his eyes . "Hell , my session is nearly done, I haven't slept like this is forever" he noticed , his sunken eyes bearing a restored shine. "I told you last time Mace, it's the only thing this place is any good for, maximum security level protection. " The vibrancy in his blue eyes, refreshed like a refilled glass of water , gleamed mischievous thoughts. "Already scheming huh? " Ethan's stab wasn't far off as Mason raised his hands and stretched his elbows behind his head, leaning on the wall . "I think we could take a walk to the rooftop, find the Cabriolet and see what this bad boy here can do" . Ethan's face , mirroring Mason' with unidentified edge , flashed with a worn pleasure. "I'm so damned tired but , I could use some air " . And in no mood to wait, Mason snatched up the keys from Ethan's pocket, the vivid life in his irises an irresistible force to reckon with: ""c'mon Eth, I think we both need a little time outside." Their footsteps fell in sync as Mason matched his strides with Ethan's slowed lugging of his waterlogged limbs, revealing his post treatment determination. As they reached the exit to the upper car park , Ethan paused and whispered only just coherently "do you sometimes feel like , none of this is really worth the pain. As if maybe you could talk to your doc about, the good stuff is so scarce that you feel you're going crazy?" Mason , surprised, exhaled his response through his contemplation. "I ask myself that from time to time, but i think ultimately, we're just lucky to have whatever we do, this right here , it later huh? I know Vic misses you as corner, he's been whooping Logan's ass a little too hard out of frustration." Laughing in response ,matters" . Ethan shook his head "yeah , he's not about to accept the loss of my razor sharp skills huh?" They both stared at Mason's loaded shoulder , a silent moment of shared memories encompassing them. "Yeah, we all want you back out there , Ethan. But, for now , let me at least lend your sofa a nice imprint of my ass ". Ethan , snorting in approval, clapped Mason over the back as they staggered out of the locker room and went their seperate ways .the first time that evening, managed a smile that touched upon his dark pupils with an emanating glow.

USER: Has the author of this piece achieved something challenging?Victor glanced out across the field, the sizzling heat blanching the concrete under the bleachers. Another afternoon of training was wrapping up around him, with random teammates clapping him over the shoulder as they jogged past. His tendons ached with fatigue, and he attempted to ease the strain in his neck by stretching it wearily to the side. "So tired of all this," he muttered, despite the sense of fulfillment pulsing through his veins. It never quite seemed enough. Removing the residual sweat from his face with the hem of his jersey, he wrenched at the corner and dragged it across his brow. As he craned his neck, his taut abs caught the afternoon sunshine, and he was assaulted by a barrage of wolf whistles. "Yo, Vic, you've been benching, eh?" one male voice called out to him from across the field. "She ain't gonna call you back, but I will!" another jibed in good humour. "As if I'd have the time for that, my life is so stressful I could just about--" Victor lamented, his attention suddenly swallowed by a passing silhouette, a female figure with a perfect, core-of-an apple shape. His stare glassed over as Lara sent him a smile from behind her dark bangs, her olive complexion glowing in the orange light as she came into view . Her light green eyes lingered just a moment too long and his stomach shot him a jolt of wonderment as he smiled back. "Yeah, that's what we don't have time for , Vic " he mumbled under his breath, well out of her earshot as she elapsed him like a polarising eclipse as he ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, shaking his head. Her pristine white teeth, full lips and the echoes of her laughter interweaved through the blaring whistle of his coach. His legs screamed with lactic acid from running drills , and he found relief in the cooling breeze that brushed against his perspiration. In the quiet reprieve of the emptying arena, his thoughts flashed to his profoundly emptier shoe-box apartment. His hand, running along a faded imprint across his back, sent him chills . It was when his time was idle , his fingers would explore all the old wounds and he stopped himself; steeling his grip on his forearm. The crimson line searedimpending evening promised him a decent meal , a sound night of sleep and insurmountable volumes of pay-per-view. Yet he felt exhausted as his mind flirted with the prospect of abandon. A night of rampant corruption, of revelry, and flames of his inexhaustible youth. That's when he felt a presence at his shoulder , and he lift his gaze. "Lara? How long have you been standing there?" he asked, broken from his distraction. "Not long, you look stressed out, is everything okay?" Her soft lilt fell on his ears , rendering him speechless . "Oh yeah. Just , life of a quarterback, y'know how hard it is being in demand right?" "Cheerleading coach and head cheerleader in an institution like this, yeah I think I might have a slight idea." Her laugh washed over him as his mind was soothed by its smoothness. "I have to get back out there , but I just wanted to say hey." Leaning forward, she pressed an open palm against his shoulder, leaving a slip of paper fluttering into his lap as she walked away. "Hey , to you too" he called out , in disorientation, fishing the scrap of paper from his lap. His fingers toyed with edge of the paper, and he slipped it into his pocket with resignation There was no answer as she disappeared into the haze of twilight that shimmered across the horizon, suffocating the air as Ethan'sfield . "What have we got ourselves into , huh?" . He grinned ruefully at the setting sun , with her number under his fingers as they returned to the crumpled paper and traced the digits with temptation . He sighed into the unfolding night as he rose from the bleachers and made his way toward the parking lot. After a long few hours spent in traffic , Victor curtailed the escalating effect of gridlock on his nerves by fiddling with the radio. Song after song, he surfed the channels , sifting through droning ballads and unrelated classics that remanded him vaguely of childhood. Unresolved, he switched the station off entirely, strumming a fabricated tune on his jeans , and humming in agitation. "C'mon" he willed the stagnant vehicles with an offset jaw, scratching at his shoulder blade and realigning his neck . His mind was transported to an afternoon , one he never recalled often , and its vivid presence made him flinch. The sun had been a waning backdrop as he'd stood crying on a green lawn, plastic spade in hand. A sandpit laid under his bare feet, and a familiar voice torethundered through his clenched jaw in a guttural , incoherent plea for mercy. His rasping voice tore through the atmosphere with fury, his breathing punctuated with violent gasps as he growled in despair. His convulsing chest wrought another agonising scream from his throat as he gritted his teeth, the force overwhelming him. As his jaw locked with an involuntary wrenching , he felt his teethhim, grinding together , disjointed in his crooked bite. Then as the acrid, metallic tang of blood coursed across his tongue , he yelled into his own mouth for reliefhim to a halt . Victor's calm, yet urgent voice cut through his blinding assault of incarceration , pulling him back into focus . "Ethan, I need you to concentrate on breathing. Help's on the way . Hang in there for me." With Victor at his side, he struggled for his next breath, his airways consumed by a fiery hell. With his nostrils flaring in protest, he fought for his lungs cooperation , dragging in a stuttering breath , his lungs seemingly bound together with sandpaper. "Ethan , slowTears streamed down again , now breathe in. You can do it " Victor's voice instructed from somewherehis face , each one a grave mistake. "You have until the count of three to stop crying-" Looming above him, and Ethan battled the constraints of his throat as it closed in on him , the world fading away in an airless haze.his fate was closing in. " One...I'm not playing Victor yelled out in panic, as Ethan's moments without respiration rushed by, flagging down his fellow teammate...Two-" . Suddenly the blare of a horn sent sobering reality coursing through him as his eyes flew open and he slammed the accelerator, his memory entrenching itself in the dark corners of his subconscious as he drove in silence.The shadows of the highway painted themselves across his features in a haunting reflection of his solitude. Eventually he swung the leather wheel into its neutral position, unjamming the keys from across the field . "Mason, get the oxygen , his pulse is strong, but he's foaming at the mouth!" . As voices fluctuated in and out of his awareness, Ethan felt the cold rush of adrenaline scathing his eyes as oxygen rushed through his chest. "Ethan, deep breaths, stay with me." Mason's voice sent shocks of relief to his shattered core , Victors firm grasp on his shoulder reassuring him as he resisted the urge to convulse. "Please-" he pleaded with no one in particular, opening his eyes a sliver to see the front of Victor's grass-stained jersey by his side . "Oh God Vic I'm on the field?" The faint smell of the tailgate smoke razed through his senses as he registered the impact of the football to his skull moments earlier. "Yeah Eth, you took one hell of a hit to the head, but just concentrate on the breathing, an ambulance is almost here." Victor replied, his voice even as he anchored Ethan's ribcage with his palm. The veins in Victor's arms glistened with perspiration as he interlocked his forearm around Ethan's torso , bracing him in close proximity to support his weight as he spasmed . "I've got you Eth, Mason and I will stay with you until help arrives , they mentioned a transfusion because you're losing blood . Hang tight. " The strain, clear in his tone , caused Victor to adjust his position so Ethan's body could lay securely in his lap. In response , Ethan's shoulder relaxed and his head lolled to the side , scintillating grains of static smattering across his vision as his eyes grew heavy. The next moment, sirens pierced through Ethan's ears, causing him to groan in the deafening whirlwind as his body was lifted from the ground and everything tilted on an axis , ebbing away from reach. Three months had passed , and Ethan gazed out at the angry bloodied orange horizon from the edge of his hospital bed, another day casting its shadow on his features. A constellation of pulsing stars flickered behind his eyes as he closed them for a moment, his eyelids red-rimmed from his tears. An intravenous catheter served as a stark reminder of his desolate new existence . Despite the images that flashed through his mind like a haunting slideshow of his former freedom, the very presence of the medical incision made his stomach churn. And upon the return of his urge to retch , he placed his hands either side of his head. Not even a breath escaped him before there was a yet another intrusive thought plagued his battered psyche, taunting him. Before he could even reflect on his isolation, his phone rang from his pocket. Not thinking twice, he unlocked the screen and swiped the caller onto speakerphone . Mason's familiar tone filled the frigid air with a palpable warmth. "Hey Ethan , how are you holding up , you have had us all worried , man." Ethan's guilt rose in his stomach , his fingers unsteady as he fumbled with a loose thread on his sleeve, searching for equilibrium . "I've been struggling with it, just trying to process the consequences y'know?". Mason's voice carried a serious inflection as he spoke. "Well, I can stop by tomorrow if you need to talk in person , It's alright Eth, whatever you need ..." . Ethan sighed , gratitude salving his frayed nerves. "Thanks Mace, I need to speak with you in private, and I appreciate you taking the time ." Unfazed by the effort , Mason's reply was like an ice pack on an open wound . "It's no trouble , I have your back, just like always , no matter what , that ain't changing anytime soon, take care of yourself alright?" . Ethan's unsteady sigh flooded his thoughts as he ended the call , alone again in the clinical , bleached linen of the room. Then as he recovered from the effort of speaking , he hauled himself from the stringent bedsheets and reached for his duffel bag , unearthing his jeans and wrangling them over his legs . Pulling on his Nike air forces , left foot first, his head throbbed with an imperceptible feeling of weakness. All he could do was curse under his breath at his deficient new body, unrecognisable and covered in bruises. Free from his entombing hospital gown , he found solace in his own clothing, the worn fabric holding a sense of his identitythe ignition . His hands dug deeper into his pockets , an absentminded gesture as he searched for a lighter thatlong journey was no longer there. A nauseating feeling edged over his fingertips as he grasped at the open air, splaying his fingers in desperation, the urge to occupy his hands growing overwhelming. Eventually the unyielding hum of beeping machines and footsteps in the stretching corridors embraced him in slumber, despite his rigid standing position . His spine sought purchase from the wall as he lapsed into a vertical dream, his arms folded across his chest, unable to relax. As his mind drifted to weeks earlier , he was embalmed in the saccharine, yet bitter smell of the highway, dancing in his memories, the essence of summer warming his chest. Like a soft sheen of nostalgia against his skin, the faint July air lingered in his aching body, the feel of a steering wheel secure under his hands. Transported back to the last road trip he had taken with Victor and Mason, leaning out of his Volkswagen Cambriolet, laughing into the mild air of twilight, his muscles finally eased. A smile played on his pale lips, the breeze sighing in his chestnut hair, and the sunlight warming his khaki green eyes. Victor shot a glance of exasperation at Mason from the backseat, frustrated and tearing at the jerky packet. "Hey Mace, what's with you and garbage gas station food . I let you pack the provisions and you bring plastic ." Pelting the unopened wrapper at Mason's earlobe , he elicited a defensive laugh . "Hey , who's a hangry princess , huh? Calm down Vic, we'll feed you pasta and wine later , and give you a bubble bath so your cuticles don't fall out " . Victor sighed with dramatic sarcasm. "How does that even make sense ?" "And I can't even with this song, change the station already, Mace, before my skull caves in" Ethan rolled his eyes at the banter , this eyes fixated on the road "or you could both shut it , driver picks the music anyway. Shotgun gambles with his life if he doesn't shut up. Backseat doesn't exist because he doesn't have to see how stupid he looks in the rear view " he snorted in amusement, flicking the station over to a metal song, with guttural screaming and sighing with satisfaction. "This is so much better than listening to either of you" . "Hey Ethan, you can't drive, you indicated left" . Victor's voice teased from behind, and was met with Mason's howl along to the radio's soul destroying drone . "And you can't sing , shut it Mace" .. The shared, lighthearted camaraderie ignited a sense of hope that hazed out into sudden , harsh flashbacks to the field , of the nanosecond where his focus had slipped, the impact of the ball to his temple , sending his body to the ground. And the scorn of the crowd as he failed to defend the goal, his name being hurled at him in rage and disappointment . The heat of suffocation came rushing through his mind, as Ethan threw his head backwards , his internal screams reverberating through his chest, awakening himself in a clammy sweat. Finding himself against the wall , his back stiff from inertia, he groaned and ran a weary hand over his shoulder. As he registered his surroundings , he slid his hands into his pockets, trudging back over to his bed and then sinking onto the edge. The disconcerting insomnia gnawed at him as he wrapped his arms tightly around his torso and awaited the impending dusk in silence. Ethan's frail chest wracked with erratic coughs as he waited in the parking lot, leaning against the pale azure paintwork of the Cambriolet's gleaming bonnet . Seeing Mason pull up in a beaten down Cadillac sent a wave of relief down his spine, the anticipation masticating his nerves. "Hey, Ethan, you still up for that walk?" Mason asked as he approached, wearing his usual lopsided smirk , overlapsed with a more concerned expression underneath. "Yeah, I'm sure up to it, I just need to be somewhere private, yknow. Away from the bloody dismal place in there" . As Mason took in Ethan's haggard eyes, with their sallow lack of light, he draped a solid arms over his shoulder , joining him against the Cabriolet's bonnet. "What's going on, you don't look well , but I imagine you feel worse in there huh?" . Ethan's slackened nod replied for him, as he gazed upward at the eerie glow of the streetlight, icing his gaze with a distant film. "Mace, I don't even know who I am anymore, honestly I feel so lost " Ethan confessed. Mason , stretching his arm further across Ethan's sunken shoulders , looked up into the street light and sighed. "It's tough , i understand that , but I'm listening , take your time , let's just walk , it's still warm out". Mason reassured him, with patience and empathy in his response. As their footsteps ambled along in sync , they soon came to a bench, deep amber leaves rustling around their ankles as Mason helped ease Ethan down onto the wooden seat. He slid down beside him and waited for Ethan to continue , as he gazed at his boots with avoidance. "I have something important to tell you , and you won't like it" Ethan's voice turned flat and emotionless as he spoke in one breath, scuffing his boots into the asphalt. "The transfusion had some complications, and I sustained serious damage to my kidneys. It's why I look like this , Mason". Leaves stirred around both their feet as Mason leaned forward on his elbows, his gaze filled with sympathy, yet his voice maintained its laid back inflection . I appreciate you opening up to me about this Ethan, and you can stop if you need to. It's peaceful out here and still early. We could go back to the Cabriolet if you miss her already?" A weary smile crept across Ethan's lips , reaching his hollow eyes and warming them with a haunted longing . "Nah I'm feeling worn out , I think I'll stick around here and recover a bit. I can't drive her anyway , but we had some good times in that car... " Mason, letting Ethan sink down against his arm , and leaned back against the bench in reassured Ethan in response "And you'll drive her again , Eth, you know we'll face this together , alright?" As Ethan nodded in silence, the revelation of the diagnosis crawled through Mason's skin, turning his complexion pale as he ran a hand over his face. "You just get some rest for now , I'll take you back to the hospital later tonight." A tranquil moment enveloped them both, as Ethan let his exhausted body fall away into a twilight slumber. With Ethan's sleeping frame against his arm, Mason rested his head in his free hand , disorientation paralysing his trembling knuckles . His eyes strayed off into the foreground, as he felt Ethan stir , his rattled constitution seized with coughing. "Hey, are you alright Eth?" Mason asked, continuing to drape his arm securely around Ethan's shoulder, supporting his upright return from unconsciousness. Ethan's hoarse rasp cut through the milky dusk , as he regained composure, straightening up and yawning . "Yeah, i need medication though, I apologise for passing out on you , Mace, I'm just tired , I haven't been sleeping since I found out..." His eyes , falling back to the comfort of his boots, glistened with tears. Mason interjected , as he gave Ethan a gentle nudge in the ribs ."C'mon, I don't have to spend the night alone in my dorm , watching YouTube and wasting my life,I can hang around till they kick me out . " Pausing and smirking with fatigue Ethan replied lifting his eyes from his clean white boots to meet his friends unwavering stare. "Thanks man, but what are you gonna do in a hospital ward..." . Mason's eye brows raised in mock defence as he threw his hands skyward . "I'll wear the spacesuit like everyone else, get all scrubbed up. No seriously , they'll probably just swab me and I'm in. Then I can annoy you with my problems, about dumb stuff like girls and exams and how I got another parking ticket for backing into a dumpster. And also, I brought food , if those cardboard meals are the reason you look so hungry..". Ethan folded his arms across his chest as he slouched, concealing the growl of his stomach consuming itself. "I'm not all that hungry, but yeah, I wanna hear about all the trouble you have already caused .." The air settled over their bodies as they both shot each other inadvertent grins of misbehaviour. "I'll bet I won't hear the end of latest antics you and Vic have pulled . Well, Vic would be the instigator and you just play along..." " And I won't even ask what Carter has been doing." Mason witnessed the light dancing across Ethan's eyes as he had recognised before, the heartening animation of Ethan's grained , haggard voice carrying its familiar lustre and joy showing him a glimpse of the friend he knew just weeks ago. His voice lowering, Mason dropped his eyes for a moment, taking a long pause as Ethan went silent alongside him. The conversation phased out into a mellow blanket of solace and ease , neither of them moving from the wooden bench that absorbed all their uncertainty of the unknown, placating their fears in its rigid form. "Thanks for tonight , Mace, it's not like I have my folks anymore , or people lining up round the block to see if I'm still breathing" . "Don't apologise , Eth, I get it. If anyone does you know it's me.." . "Yeah , Mace, true that. Ah , look at us" . Ethan's gaze , averting contact, was filled with trepidation, and acknowledgment of how little remained . "Mason, they wouldn't even care if you slept in the corridor , if it's safer than the alternative, you should , alright?." Mason , staring blankly ahead , shrugged in disbelief but didn't flinch at the prospect, his biceps stiffening as he gripped the bench tighter , before swinging an arm over Ethan's shoulder and hoisting him upwards. "Yeah, I won't pass it up, let's get you back for all the observations they probably need to do on you huh?" Ethan sighed , but didn't respond as he let Mason lead him to the Cadillac, his gait dragging with the propensity to collapse at any moment . "Man I just got tired all of a sudden " . "It's OK , Eth, I got you, man" .......... Several weeks later : Victor gazed at Ethan intently , registering the gravity as he leaned in closer from his recline against his unopened locker, whispering in a low tone . "So the transfusion was a failed match, and that led to ..". As his eyes filled with detachment , Ethan nodded , his voice rough with a bitter tinge that he bit back as he spoke . "Yeah .. my kidneys just never recovered. The head injury caused ...all of this." His voice, broken by the rasp in his throat , shook as a humourless laugh escaped him. " One lousy second and it all changed , I messed up the game , and I nearly bled out." His fingers, hovering at his temple , followed his voice as it trailed into silence , laying cold against the afternoon sunlight. Victor sank down even further against his locker , his voice chasing a faint whisper . "Thanks for trusting me with this , Eth." With a fistful of hair clutched amongst his knuckles, Ethan inhaled as his voice tore to shreds. But you kept me alive out there, when I needed help to breathe. When I was convulsing , and my jaw locked , I thought I'd die , Vic" Ethan gazed out into open space , not quite forming his next sentence, as it bled into the spaces between the streams of light that painted his features with shadows . "And maybe I really should have . . ". His bitter sigh , followed by the distant sound of a stray football rolling down the empty hallway, settled icily in the air. At first , neither of them shifted from their position , the unease slicing through the placating sunshine and leaving a sharp chill in its wake . Then, as if unthawing from his thoughts , Victor feathered his grip in his dark hair , tilting backwards against the wall, a dazed expression overtaking his pupils. "Wait , Ethan , I had no idea you felt this way ..". Gazing at Ethan with a disoriented expression, he maintained distance , seeking purchase from the locker-lined wall behind him, disengaging his eyes. As he did so, the accosting white light of the ceiling barred his irises with an imperceptible glow. "When I nearly lost you out on the field , your head in my lap, it broke me. Please don't talk like that, Eth". Victor glanced away in devastation , his voice trembling as it dissipated and he hung his head in a resigned silence . Ethan , failing to elevate his stare from where it had fallen to the floor, said nothing, as if words had no literal meaning any longer. The disconcerting thud of the football coming to a stop in the hall caused Ethan to embrace his knees tighter, numbed by the silence of its absence. Finally , as the shock of his own admission melted into regret , the metal walled room seemed to encompass him in despair. "I apologise for laying this on you Vic, I know it's a lot ..." Victor leaned forward with a protective instinct, wrapping his arm around Ethan's shoulder as he pulled him inwards . As their shoulders touched , Victor's open palm landed with a solid thump on Ethan's back, expressing both camaraderie and a silent promise of support. "It's a lot but, don't you dare think you're alone, Eth, you just take care of yourself, alright? Sure your health has changed but you're the guy who drove me out of town when I needed an escape that time . " Ethan's nod of disagreement spoke volumes as he sank to the ground , his spine dragging to the locker room floor as he balanced his head between his knees. "But it's easy enough for you to tell me to take care of this broken body , not sure it's worth saving these days...." .The fabric of his jeans muffled his voice as he took refuge behind his slanted thighs, though Victor honed in on every word , his gaze piercing into Ethan's as he crouched down at his side. " You must be going through hell right now , but if I'm honest, that night you drove me into oblivion in your Volkswagen changed my life , I had to stop living in your backseat . Had to get the apartment . Had to find a new corner when you went down on the field the following summer and , Logan is solid but.. he's not you Ethan. You're still my best friend, the one who saved my ass. "Through a haze of disillusionment, Ethan's vision blurred with scathing tears he blinked away. "But I'm a shadow of who I used to be , Vic. I don't know who I am anymore . Am I still that same guy.. I'm not quite so sure ". Victor's shoulders draped over the bench behind him , his eyes confronting the harsh fluorescent lighting as he lamented lost freedoms. Not invading Ethan's stare into the distance, his gaze danced with the gleam from the sallow light above. The haunting months he'd spent in that car seemed all too close, yet all too far away. "Of course you are Ethan , and I won't let you forget it. I know it's hard , but you're not alone in that . And you're still that escape driving bad-ass." Not moving from the ground as he closed his eyes , Ethan evaded Victor in hesitation, his shoulders slumping with uncertainty . "Yeah , I did drive you away from that bastard..." Ethan's shoulders tensed with conflict as he gripped his worn jeans in frustration. In no state for heroics, his breath hitched as he addressed the wall in front of him . "But anyone would have done the same . You weren't safe that night-It was nothing. I had to protect you , and I'd do it again. " Ethan, choking back tears in defiance, interred his reddened eyes into his jeans for a moment, reeling in confusion , his vision scathing with the heat of his retinas . Victor's unwavering stare gently argued with Ethan's deflection , causing Ethan to gaze upwards in acknowledgment of his friends silent gratitude . Ethan's hand , massaging reassurance into his neck as he continued, kept him from collapsing as he met Victors waiting stare . "And yeah, I'd drive you to Diego again if I could . You know it. ". Ethan ran his hands through his disheveled hair as his chest lightened for a fleeting moment , his gaze falling away as he sighed into his lap. Victor closed his weathered hazel eyes before opening them again , blinking away exhaustion. "I do Ethan , and that's why I'll be damned if we sit alone in here all afternoon. C'mon. We'll come through this together. I never once did what anyone would do, I kept you breathing because I had no other choice." Victor then took a moment to clear his gravelled throat, and helped Ethan to his feet , easing him into an unaided stance. Grabbing his bag and heading for the door , he released his grip on Ethan's shoulder and sent him a wordless nod which Ethan returned, along with a crooked smirk. As he let Ethan find balance and stretch his rigid legs, Victor hoisted his bag higher over his shoulder . "I have to run the team through drills, but I'll see you tonight, whenever Mace gets his ass together and drives you over to mine. " Ethan hoisted his own duffel bag over his frame , gathering his shattered bearings as he followed behind, the mild November sun caressing his face as he avoided the field , heading for the parking lot. "Yeah, later Vic, kick their asses , bro" . As Victor's figure broke into a wearied jog and headed towards his teammates, Ethan released a heavy sigh and staggered across the parking lot to a bus shelter , preparing himself for the brief ride back to the hospital to receive treatment . His cannulated arm burned from his invasive dialysis procedures, which he now dread. His fingers ran along his hairline, tracing the scar from his ruptured laceration, and he cursed under his breath, poised to spit . Maybe it was self indulgent, he shrugged as his hatred flew from his mouth , caring little for the bitter taste as his bus rattled into view. Only eight minutes had passed and he was already death warming up, shaking his head at the way his body betrayed him . How it never endured more than a few hours out for a spin before careening into a ditch. He hailed the cold headlights and stumbled onto the bus, sinking an against the cracked, lime green cushion of the seat, watching his reflection in the passing scenery. As trees flew by in his devoid stare , his hands turned out his lighter free pockets in habitual dismay. All blurring into each other, the impeccable kept houses and pavements only served as a temporary backdrop of his walks home after practice. The stench of perspiration in the late afternoon clouding his head as his light jog pumped fresh air into his lungs . His arms wrapped around his chest , as he sought warmth in the air condoned evening . Before he could fall asleep , the bus lurched to a halt , depositing him at his destination. Or so he thought, as a familiar silhouette boarded the bus and swung down into the seat behind him. "Mason? Bro how've you been?" . Ethan bumped Mason's fist in greeting , as Mason wore his infallible trademark smile, lopsided but that night masking concern. "Ethan? What's up? You don't look too good, you on your way to a dialysis stint? " . Ethan , nodding without the strength to deny it, slung an arm over the back of his seat , his darkened eyes filtering some light from the fluorescent marquee flashing the next destinations of the route. "Hospital's three more stops , I was on my way to meet this friend of a friend but , I think we need to catch up , Ethan." Mason absorbed Ethan's angular features, and hollowed eye sockets with unease and surprise, that he laced with his causal demeanour. "Yeah, if you have four hours, I'll just be strapped in a bed.. having this impure blood cleaned" Ethan muttered with a dark chuckle, more to himself than anyone else. A moment later, he slapped his fist over the stop button, groaning at the traction of the bus grinding to a halt . Jolted forward, Mason haphazardly pulled himself out of his seat and slid his hands into his pockets . "I'll give you some hours , buddy, you look like you could use the company in there". As the two friends upheld each other, stumbling into the street, Ethan scaled the hospital with his reluctant eyes, and glanced at Mason before shivering in his thin jacket. "Are you sure you want to see this.." Mason offered a deep shrug, smiling with an unfazed warmth. "I don't care about trivial crap like blood. Or swab tests. Bring on the cardboard cafeteria food , I bet the pizza is half decent tonight" . Mason delivered a swift nudge to Ethan's ribs as he laughed in spite of his depleted mental state. "God, it's good to see you , Mace. I was only thinking about that trip upstate , last night. Those were some good times" "Hell yeah, and those won't be the last of 'em" Mason ambled along the sidewalk , ramming his arm against Ethan's in jest , but also with an air of genuine honesty. "Oh cmon , I can't drive the Cabriolet anymore, I miss her..." Ethan confessed as he trudged toward the hospital elevator, with Mason following behind. "And you'll drive her again.. where is she anyway?". Ethan's hand flew instinctively to his back pocket and he turned out the key to the ignition, and flipped it around his thumb, the jangle soothing him. "Rooftop, some nights when I can't sleep , I rest on her bonnet and just .. ah it's stupid, wishful thinking I suppose." . Mason , raising his eyebrows , his blue eyes sparkling , protested . "Nah , you're gonna drive that car again , man , I'll see to it that you do, alright? I already told you months ago didn't I ? Now let's go get that artificial kidney into you huh?" . The sobering jolt of the elevator arriving at the renal floor caused Ethan to groan. "Ah yeah, I'm actually feeling like garbage and I need this session badly." Mason gently clasped a hand over Ethan's shoulder, "I know this is your fourth week, and you're looking a lot worse than we caught up last Friday . How are you holding up ?" . His face full of concern, Mason slid into a waiting room chair and shed his jacket , settling in beside a bed as Ethan dragged off his shirt, revealing his access line. "It's been .. hard Mace, I feel like I've lost so much in what? Seven measly days.. this month has just evaporated..." Mason , resting his chin on his knuckles , leant forward in the harsh lighting, his own fatigue showing in indentations under his eyes. "I know, I apologise for disappearing after that night at Vic's place. I had a few weeks worth of rent I couldn't pay.. I don't want to bore you with my problems though.." Mason's stiffened hands were gripping the chair as he released a low whistle of disdain. Ethan lay back as a nurse plugged in his lines and punched numbers idly into his machine and then drew his curtain to leave him and Mason to themselves , the steading thrumming of the dialysis unit blanketing them both in a stark routine. "Yeah, I worry about you Mace, get some rest while you're here if you need it. " The atmosphere in the room was suffocating as Ethan's dialysis session began, the rhythmic sound of the machine providing a backdrop to their conversation. Mason's concern lingered, and he sighed, "It means a lot , Ethan, I might get some rest here a bit later if I can . Life's been a rollercoaster lately, but I'm here for you too. We'll figure this out together." A comfortable silence passed between them before Ethan sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "Thanks Mace, for coming here , for being so blase about this mundane crap. I saw Victor earlier , you'd better get the Cadillac revved up later, he wants both our assess over there later tonight. Probably for an actual, grease laden pizza and mindless video gaming Not that it's ever just a game with him". Mason's grin responded with appreciation. "Ah , always the big brother looking out for us , gotta love him. Poor guy.." Ethan's smile , almost reaching his lifeless eyes , ended the lilt of their conversation as he drifted off , with Mason observing Ethan's slumber in silence as he closed his own eyes , an ability to sleep anywhere claiming him. As soon as the calm of sleep had subdued his posture against the wall, his eyes snapped open , blaring with accusation as he scanned the room. "Who's there...Don't touch me " he snarled into the reverberation of his own chest, startling himself into full consciousness. His panicked expression came to rest upon Ethan's sleeping outline, mildly relieved by the familiar rising and falling of his friends outline in the moonlight. Mason's forearms gripped his chair with force as the shocks of terror finally stilled and his adrenaline fuelled pulse crashed against his veins . He released a steady breath into his clasped hands , warming himself up from the cold sweat he was covered in. "God , Mace, pull yourself together ..." he whispered, unheard as he measured Ethan's wakefulness and deemed him good as dead as he readjusted his eyes to the dim lit room. "Don't fall asleep this time " came his own warning as he snaked his arms around his chest in a self berating motion. It had only been half an hour before he felt the insidious lure of sleep tugging at the edges of his psyche yet again, and he coughed roughly , a twinge of guilt coursing through him as he cased Ethan to flutter open his eyes . "Hell , my session is nearly done, I haven't slept like this is forever" he noticed , his sunken eyes bearing a restored shine. "I told you last time Mace, it's the only thing this place is any good for, maximum security level protection. " The vibrancy in his blue eyes, refreshed like a refilled glass of water , gleamed mischievous thoughts. "Already scheming huh? " Ethan's stab wasn't far off as Mason raised his hands and stretched his elbows behind his head, leaning on the wall . "I think we could take a walk to the rooftop, find the Cabriolet and see what this bad boy here can do" . Ethan's face , mirroring Mason' with unidentified edge , flashed with a worn pleasure. "I'm so damned tired but , I could use some air " . And in no mood to wait, Mason snatched up the keys from Ethan's pocket, the vivid life in his irises an irresistible force to reckon with: ""c'mon Eth, I think we both need a little time outside." Their footsteps fell in sync as Mason matched his strides with Ethan's slowed lugging of his waterlogged limbs, revealing his post treatment determination. As they reached the exit to the upper car park , Ethan paused and whispered only just coherently "do you sometimes feel like , none of this is really worth the pain. As if maybe , the good stuff is so scarce that you feel you're going crazy?" Mason , surprised, exhaled his responsebeginning as he encountered the stairs to his second floor apartment, , lethargy mocking him every step he endured. He fell onto his couch it misery, not paying the idiot box one iota of attention. Flashes of his friends, his studies , and lukewarm food, passed through his contemplation. "I ask myself that from time to time, but i think ultimately, we're just lucky to have whatever we do, this right here , it matters"thoughts. And the occasional splice of Lara's embodiment of perfection made his void stomach flip. He then fell in an encompassing sleep, his entire psyche drowned in the salvation of dreamless peace . Ethan , for the first time that evening, managed a smile that touched upon his dark pupils with an emanating glow.

USER: Ok an experiment : Victor glanced out across the field, the sizzling heat blanching the concrete under the bleachers. Another afternoon of training was wrapping up around him, with random teammates clapping him over the shoulder as they jogged past. His tendons ached with fatigue, and he attempted to ease the strain in his neck by stretching it wearily to the side. "So tired of all this," he muttered, despite the sense of fulfillment pulsing, twirling his fork through his veins. It never quite seemed enough. Removing the residual sweat from his face with the hem of his jersey, he wrenched at the corner and dragged it across his brow. As he craned his neck, his taut abs caught the afternoon sunshine, and he was assaulted by a barrage of wolf whistles. "Yo, Vic, you've been benching, eh?" one male voice called out to him from across the field. "She ain't gonna call you back, but I will!" another jibed in good humour. "As if I'd have the time for that, my life is so stressful I could just about--" Victor lamented, his attention suddenly swallowed by a passing silhouette, a female figure with a perfect, core-of-an apple shape. His stare glassed over as Lara sent him a smile from behind her dark bangs, her olive complexion glowing in the orange light as she came into view . Her light greena saturated noodle, suppressed his urge to tackle the mouthful, his eyes lingered just a moment too long and his stomach shot him a jolt of wonderment as he smiled back. "Yeah, that's what we don't have time for , Vic " he mumbled under his breath, well out of her earshot as she elapsed him like a polarising eclipse as he ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, shaking his head. Her pristine white teeth, fullresting on her lips and the echoes of her laughter interweaved through the blaring whistle of his coach. His legs screamed with lactic acid from running drills , and he found relief in the cooling breeze that brushed against his perspiration. In the quiet reprieve of the emptying arena, his thoughts flashed to his profoundly emptier shoe-box apartment. His hand, running along a faded imprint across his back, sent him chills . It was when his time was idle , his fingers would explore all the old wounds and he stopped himself; steeling his grip on his forearm. The impending evening promised him a decent meal , a sound night of sleep and insurmountable volumes of pay-per-view. Yet he felt exhausted as his mind flirted with the prospect of abandon. A night of rampant corruption, of revelry, and flames of his inexhaustible youth. That's when he felt a presence at his shoulder , and he lift his gaze. "Lara? How long have you been standing there?" he asked, broken from his distraction. "Not long, you look stressed out, is everything okay?" Her soft lilt fell on his ears , rendering him speechless . "Oh yeah. Just , life of a quarterback, y'know how hard it is being in demand right?" "Cheerleading coach and head cheerleader in an institution like this, yeah I think I might have a slight idea." Her laugh washed over him as his mind was soothed by its smoothness. "I have to get back out there , but I just wanted to say hey." Leaning forward, she pressed an open palm against his shoulder, leaving a slip of paper fluttering into his lapdistracting enough , as she walked away. "Hey , tochewed with a delicacy and yet a hunger he admired somehow. "I guess things just got tough when the incident with Ethan- well you too" he calledknow what happened to the guy -" . Lara swallowed and swiped her napkin across her glossed lips, nodding in empathy. "Yeah, I can't imagine what you went through , Victor , to almost lose someone close , I imagine it's difficult. But it's one thing I admire about you." "Yeah? Really... I ...Guess I'd never thought of it that way. He stopped breathing for a solid five , the longest minutes of my life . It was... a lot. " Victor nudged the sesame sauce pooling around the pieces of chicken on his plate, her compliment harder to digest than his food. "You're a genuine type of guy, and I respect that, you're a quarterback and everyone looks up to you , but from where I sit, there's so much more , and I want to be the one lucky enough to share it. " Her words made his breath come a little faster as he finally found interest in his food , out ,of better avenue for escape , he dug in. "Well, from where I sit , I just feel lucky to be seen by someone so beautiful , and you know I don't talk for my health." Victor held her gaze with intense meaning, the light of the bar playing on his irises . She laughed, reaching out to hold his elbow for a brief moment, and he glanced at her hand , his breath slowing. " How about we get some air? A walk around campus ? " he offered , returning his gaze to her softened smile. As they crossed the quad , peppered with students passing here and there , he savoured the crisp air in disorientation, fishing the scrap of paper from his lap. His fingers toyed with edge of the paper, and he slippedhis lungs. Her constant stream of harmonious chatter conveyed her nervousness, again tugging at his pulse. It was a pleasant sound against his own trepidation, and he wasn't about to interrupt her, it into his pocket with resignation There was no answer as she disappeared into the haze of twilight that shimmered across the field . "What have we got ourselves into , huh?" . He grinned ruefully at the setting sun , with her number under his fingers as they returned to the crumpled paper and traced the digits with temptation . He sighed into the unfolding night as he rose from the bleachers and made his way toward the parking lot. After a long few hours spent in traffic , Victor curtailed the escalating effect of gridlock on his nerves by fiddling with the radio. Song after song, he surfed the channels , sifting through droning ballads and unrelated classics that remandedtoo arresting for him vaguely of childhood. Unresolved, he switched the station off entirely, strumming a fabricated tune on his jeans , and humming in agitation. "C'mon" he willed the stagnant vehicles with an offset jaw, scratching at his shoulder blade and realigning his neck . His mind was transported to an afternoon , one he never recalled often , and its vivid presence made him flinch. The sun had been a waning backdrop as he'd stood crying on a green lawn, plastic spade in hand. A sandpit laid under his bare feet, and a familiar voice thundered through him, grinding him to a halt . Tears streamed down his face , each one a grave mistake. "You have until the count of three to stop crying-" Looming above him, his fate was closing in. " One...I'm not playing Victor ...Two-" . Suddenly the blare of a horn sent sobering reality coursing through him as his eyes flew open and he slammed the accelerator, his memory entrenching itself in the dark corners of his subconscious as he drove in silence.The shadows of the highway painted themselves across his features in a haunting reflection of his solitude. Eventually he swung the leather wheel into its neutral position, unjamming the keys from the ignition . His long journey was over , but only just beginning as he encountered the stairs to his second floor apartment, , lethargy mocking him every step he endured. He fell onto his couch it misery, not paying the idiot box one iota of attention. Flashes of his friends, his studies , and lukewarm food, passed through his thoughts. And the occasional splice of Lara's embodiment of perfection made his void stomach flip. He then fell in an encompassing sleep, his entire psyche drowned in the salvation of dreamless peace .to do so.

USER: "Yeah, that's what we don't have time for , Vic " he mumbled under his breath, well out of her earshot as she elapsed him like a polarising eclipse as he ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, shaking his head. Her pristine white teeth, full lips and the echoes of her laughter interweaved through the blaring whistle of his coach. His legs screamed with lactic acid from running drills , and he found relief in the cooling breeze that brushed against his perspiration. In the quiet reprieve of the emptying arena, his thoughts flashed to his profoundly emptier shoe-box apartment. His hand, running along a faded imprint across his back, sent him chills . It was when his time was idle , his fingers would explore all the old wounds and he stopped himself; steeling his grip on his forearm. The impending evening promised him a decent meal , a sound night of sleep and insurmountable volumes of pay-per-view. Yet he felt exhausted as his mind flirted with the prospect of abandon. A night of rampant corruption, of revelry, and flames of his inexhaustible youth. That's when he felt a presence at his shoulder , and he lift his gaze. "Lara? How long have you been standing there?" he asked, broken from his distraction. "Not long, you look stressed out, is everything okay?" Her soft lilt fell on his ears , rendering him speechless . "Oh yeah. Just , life of a quarterback, y'know how hard it is being in demand right?" "Cheerleading coach and head cheerleader in an institution like this, yeah I think I might have a slight idea." Her laugh washed over him as his mind was soothed by its smoothness. "I have to get back out there , but I just wanted to say hey." Leaning forward, she pressed an open palm against his shoulder, leaving a slip of paper fluttering into his lap as she walked away. "Hey , to you too" he called out , in disorientation, fishing the scrap of paper from his lap. His fingers toyed with edge of the paper, and he slipped it into his pocket with resignation There was no answer as she disappeared into the haze of twilight that shimmered across the field . "What have we got ourselves into , huh?" . He grinned ruefully at the setting sun , with her number under his fingers as they returned to the crumpled paper and traced the digits with temptation . He sighed into the unfolding night as he rose from the bleachers and made his way toward the parking lot. After a long few hours spent in traffic , Victor curtailed the escalating effect of gridlock on his nerves by fiddling with the radio. Song after song, he surfed the channels , sifting through droning ballads and unrelated classics that remanded him vaguely of childhood. Unresolved, he switched the station off entirely, strumming a fabricated tune on his jeans , and humming in agitation. "C'mon" he willed the stagnant vehicles with an offset jaw, scratching at his shoulder blade and realigning his neck . As the faint honking of horns replaced the old classics that had been playing , he found himself trapped. His mind was transported to an afternoon from years back, one he never recalled often , and its vivid presence made him flinch. The sun had been a waning backdrop as he'd stood crying on a green lawn, plastic spade in hand. A sandpit laid under his bare feet, and a familiar voice thundered through him, grinding him to a halt . Tears streamed down his face , each one a grave mistake. "You have until the count of three to stop crying-" Looming above him, his fate was closing in as the authorising voice descended upon him. " One...I'm not playing around , Victor ...Two-" . Suddenly the blare of a horn sent sobering reality coursing through him as his eyes flew open and he slammed the accelerator, his memory entrenching itself in the dark corners of his subconscious as he drove in silence.The shadows of the highway painted themselves across his features in a haunting reflection of his solitude. Eventually he swung the leather wheel into its neutral position, unjamming the keys from the ignition . His long journey was over , but only just beginning as he encountered the stairs to his second floor apartment, , lethargy mocking him every step he endured. He fell onto his couch it misery, not paying the idiot box one iota of attention. Flashes of his friends, his studies , and lukewarm food, passed through his thoughts. And the occasional splice of Lara's embodiment of perfection made his void stomach flip. He then fell in an encompassing sleep, his entire psyche drowned in the salvation of dreamless peace . Sun came streaming into the claustrophobic living room, stirring Victor from his unconscious haven. His eyes , opening and closing again as he groaned, radiated the early morning and forced him awake. His hands drifted absent minded , to the intricate patterns just above the small of his back. His clenching teeth ground tighter and he fingered the imprint with disdain. Already unsure of how it had been inflicted , it was all a part of the blueprint that he covered day in , day out. Like a roadmap only he had the itinerary to. But as he folded deep creases into the map and buried it into his mind , it was safe in the shallows of his mind for another day . Retrieving the slip of paper from his jeans , her number jarred at his mind . He punched the string of digits into his phone , and glared at the screen, before locking it and prying himself off the couch . After showering, and shovelling a dry , milk-laced bowl of cereal down into his wrenching stomach, he stopped at his door. "Well , here goes nothin'" he muttered as he thumbed his phone's screen and his index finger touched upon "Lara" As her voice answered , it numbed the frayed edges of his mind for a second ." Hey, it's Victor. I found something in a rather compromising place yesterday, and I had to chase it up ... Yeah your number found its way to my lap. Oh it that so , huh? Sure . I think I can do that. How about that new fusion bar that just opened on the strip? Great, I'll swing by around eight. Looking forward to it." when he was sure the call was disconnected, he sighed cooly. "No idea what we're in for here " . He shrugged and hit the pavement for his morning jog, shaking the past night's worries from his physique as he belted the asphalt with momentum. Then it started as usual, Logan sprinted by, yelling in jest. "Victor , see you on the field later, hot stuff!" "Will do, you're ass had better be in shape , not going' easy on ya, buddy " Victor , beaming in relief at the normalcy , stunted his pace as she walked across her front yard, stopping at the bottle green - fence to join her friends , and his pulse elevated with her passing. He then found his gait slowing as his peripheral vision drank in Lara's figure, her curves contrasted against the angular wood panels. His tongue ran over his teeth as he contemplated approaching , his eyes instead gleaming in the fleeting sunlight that hit them. Shielding his gaze from the glare he maintained his jog ,and his mind carried to thoughts of the oncoming evening. Ok an experiment : Victor , twirling his fork through a saturated noodle, suppressed his urge to tackle the mouthful, his eyes resting on her lips . It was distracting enough , as she chewed with a delicacy and yet a hunger he admired somehow. "I guess things just got tough when the incident with Ethan- well you know what happened to the guy -" . Lara swallowed and swiped her napkin across her glossed lips, nodding in empathy. "Yeah, I can't imagine what you went through , Victor , to almost lose someone close , I imagine it's difficult. But it's one thing I admire about you." "Yeah? Really... I ...Guess I'd never thought of it that way. He stopped breathing for a solid five , the longest minutes of my life . It was... a lot. " Victor nudged the sesame sauce pooling around the pieces of chicken on his plate, her compliment harder to digest than his food. "You're a genuine type of guy, and I respect that, you're a quarterback and everyone looks up to you , but from where I sit, there's so much more , and I want to be the one lucky enough to share it. " Her words made his breath come a little faster as he finally found interest in his food , out of better avenue for escape , he dug in. "Well, from where I sit , I just feel lucky to be seen by someone so beautiful , and you know I don't talk for my health." Victor held her gaze with intense meaning, the light of the bar playing on his irises . She laughed, reaching out to hold his elbow for a brief moment, and he glanced at her hand , his breath slowing. " How about we get some air? A walk around campus ? " he offered , returning his gaze to her softened smile. As they crossed the quad , peppered with students passing here and there , he savoured the crisp air in his lungs. Her constant stream of harmonious chatter conveyed her nervousness, again tugging at his pulse. It was a pleasant sound against his own trepidation, and he wasn't about to interrupt her, it was too arresting for him to do so.

USER: Is this a well crafted piece of writing? : Victor glanced out across the field, the sizzling heat blanching the concrete under the bleachers. Another afternoon of training was wrapping up around him, with random teammates clapping him over the shoulder as they jogged past. His tendons ached with fatigue, and he attempted to ease the strain in his neck by stretching it wearily to the side. "So tired of all this," he muttered, despite the sense of fulfillment pulsing through his veins. It never quite seemed enough. Removing the residual sweat from his face with the hem of his jersey, he wrenched at the corner and dragged it across his brow. As he craned his neck, his taut abs caught the afternoon sunshine, and he was assaulted by a barrage of wolf whistles. "Yo, Vic, you've been benching, eh?" one male voice called out to him from across the field. "She ain't gonna call you back, but I will!" another jibed in good humour. "As if I'd have the time for that, my life is so stressful I could just about--" Victor lamented, his attention suddenly swallowed by a passing silhouette, a female figure with a perfect, core-of-an apple shape. His stare glassed over as Lara sent him a smile from behind her dark bangs, her olive complexion glowing in the orange light as she came into view . Her light green eyes lingered just a moment too long and his stomach shot him a jolt of wonderment as he smiled back. "Yeah, that's what we don't have time for , Vic " he mumbled under his breath, well out of her earshot as she elapsed him like a polarising eclipse as he ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, shaking his head. Her pristine white teeth, full lips and the echoes of her laughter interweaved through the blaring whistle of his coach. His legs screamed with lactic acid from running drills , and he found relief in the cooling breeze that brushed against his perspiration. In the quiet reprieve of the emptying arena, his thoughts flashed to his profoundly emptier shoe-box apartment. His hand, running along a faded imprint across his back, sent him chills . It was when his time was idle , his fingers would explore all the old wounds and he stopped himself; steeling his grip on his forearm. The impending evening promised him a decent meal , a sound night of sleep and insurmountable volumes of pay-per-view. Yet he felt exhausted as his mind flirted with the prospect of abandon. A night of rampant corruption, of revelry, and flames of his inexhaustible youth. That's when he felt a presence at his shoulder , and he lift his gaze. "Lara? How long have you been standing there?" he asked, broken from his distraction. "Not long, you look stressed out, is everything okay?" Her soft lilt fell on his ears , rendering him speechless . "Oh yeah. Just , life of a quarterback, y'know how hard it is being in demand right?" "Cheerleading coach and head cheerleader in an institution like this, yeah I think I might have a slight idea." Her laugh washed over him as his mind was soothed by its smoothness. "I have to get back out there , but I just wanted to say hey." Leaning forward, she pressed an open palm against his shoulder, leaving a slip of paper fluttering into his lap as she walked away. "Hey , to you too" he called out , in disorientation, fishing the scrap of paper from his lap. His fingers toyed with edge of the paper, and he slipped it into his pocket with resignation There was no answer as she disappeared into the haze of twilight that shimmered across the field . "What have we got ourselves into , huh?" . He grinned ruefully at the setting sun , with her number under his fingers as they returned to the crumpled paper and traced the digits with temptation . He sighed into the unfolding night as he rose from the bleachers and made his way toward the parking lot. After a long few hours spent in traffic , Victor curtailed the escalating effect of gridlock on his nerves by fiddling with the radio. Song after song, he surfed the channels , sifting through droning ballads and unrelated classics that remanded him vaguely of childhood. Unresolved, he switched the station off entirely, strumming a fabricated tune on his jeans , and humming in agitation. "C'mon" he willed the stagnant vehicles with an offset jaw, scratching at his shoulder blade and realigning his neck . As the faint honking of horns replaced the old classics that had been playing , he found himself trapped. His mind was transported to an afternoon from years back, one he never recalled often , and its vivid presence made him flinch. The sun had been a waning backdrop as he'd stood crying on a green lawn, plastic spade in hand. A sandpit laid under his bare feet, and a familiar voice thundered through him, grinding him to a halt . Tears streamed down his face , each one a grave mistake. "You have until the count of three to stop crying-" Looming above him, his fate was closing in as the authorising voice descended upon him. " One...I'm not playing around , Victor ...Two-" . Suddenly the blare of a horn sent sobering reality coursing through him as his eyes flew open and he slammed the accelerator, his memory entrenching itself in the dark corners of his subconscious as he drove in silence.The shadows of the highway painted themselves across his features in a haunting reflection of his solitude. Eventually he swung the leather wheel into its neutral position, unjamming the keys from the ignition . His long journey was over , but only just beginning as he encountered the stairs to his second floor apartment, , lethargy mocking him every step he endured. He fell onto his couch it misery, not paying the idiot box one iota of attention. Flashes of his friends, his studies , and lukewarm food, passed through his thoughts. And the occasional splice of Lara's embodiment of perfection made his void stomach flip. He then fell in an encompassing sleep, his entire psyche drowned in the salvation of dreamless peace . Sun came streaming into the claustrophobic living room, stirring Victor from his unconscious haven. His eyes , opening and closing again as he groaned, radiated the early morning and forced him awake. His hands drifted absent minded , to the intricate patterns just above the small of his back. His clenching teeth ground tighter and he fingered the imprint with disdain. Already unsure of how it had been inflicted , it was all a part of the blueprint that he covered day in , day out. Like a roadmap only he had the itinerary to. But as he folded deep creases into the map and buried it into his mind , it was safe in the shallows of his mind for another day . Retrieving the slip of paper from his jeans , her number jarred at his mind . He punched the string of digits into his phone , and glared at the screen, before locking it and prying himself off the couch . After showering, and shovelling a dry , milk-laced bowl of cereal down into his wrenching stomach, he stopped at his door. "Well , here goes nothin'" he muttered as he thumbed his phone's screen and his index finger touched upon "Lara" As her voice answered , it numbed the frayed edges of his mind for a second ." Hey, it's Victor. I found something in a rather compromising place yesterday, and I had to chase it up ... Yeah your number found its way to my lap. Oh it that so , huh? Sure . I think I can do that. How about that new fusion bar that just opened on the strip? Great, I'll swing by around eight. Looking forward to it." when he was sure the call was disconnected, he sighed cooly. "No idea what we're in for here " . He shrugged and hit the pavement for his morning jog, shaking the past night's worries from his physique as he belted the asphalt with momentum. Then it started as usual, Logan sprinted by, yelling in jest. "Victor , see you on the field later, hot stuff!" "Will do, you're ass had better be in shape , not going' easy on ya, buddy " Victor , beaming in relief at the normalcy , stunted his pace as she walked across her front yard, stopping at the bottle green - fence to join her friends , and his pulse elevated with her passing. He then found his gait slowing as his peripheral vision drank in Lara's figure, her curves contrasted against the angular wood panels. His tongue ran over his teeth as he contemplated approaching , his eyes instead gleaming in the fleeting sunlight that hit them. Shielding his gaze from the glare he maintained his jog ,and his mind carried to thoughts of the oncoming evening. Ok an experiment : Victor , twirling his fork through a saturated noodle, suppressed his urge to tackle the mouthful, his eyes resting on her lips . It was distracting enough , as she chewed with a delicacy and yet a hunger he admired somehow. "I guess things just got tough when the incident with Ethan- well you know what happened to the guyI found myself living out of Ethan's car because I had nowhere else to go -" . Lara swallowed and swiped her napkin across her glossed lips, nodding in empathy. "Yeah, I can't imagine what you went through , Victor , to almost lose someone close ,flee home and get an apartment off campus, I imagine it's difficult. But it's one thing I admire about you." "Yeah? Really... I ...Guess I'd never thought of it that way. He stopped breathing for a solid five , the longest minutes of my life . It was... a lot.I just did what I had to do to stay afloat. " Victor nudged the sesame sauce pooling around the pieces of chicken on his plate, her compliment harder to digest than his food. "You're"Sure Victor , you've held yourself together better than anyone would . We all know about the homecoming game What happened to Ethan and what you did -" "Yeah" Victor met Lara's gaze , holding her green eyes in his view , almost mesmerising , inviting him to slip into their comforting focus. "When Ethan stopped breathing for three solid, those were the longest minutes of my life, it terrified me. For a long time I just wanted to escape the roar of the crowd. I just longed for some peace and quiet I suppose. I can't hear my own thoughts sometimes." Lara held his gaze , her eyes filled with empathy . "It's ok to need quiet , Victor . It's human . It's what makes you so much more than the star quarterback. You're a genuine type of guy, and I respect that, you're a quarterback andsure everyone looks up to you , but from where I sit, there's so much more , and I want to be the one lucky enough to share it. " Her words made his breath come a little faster as he finally found interest in his food , out of better avenue for escape , he dug in. "Well, from where I sit , I just feel lucky to be seen by someone so beautiful , and you know I don't talk for my health." Victor held her gaze with intense meaning, the light of the bar playing on his irises . She laughed, reaching out to hold his elbow for a brief moment, and he glanced at her hand , his breath slowing. " How about we get some air? A walk around campus ? " he offered , returning his gaze to her softened smile. As they crossed the quad , peppered with students passing here and there , he savoured the crisp air in his lungs. Her constant stream of harmonious chatter conveyed her nervousness, again tugging at his pulse. It was a pleasant sound against his own trepidation, and he wasn't about to interrupt her, it was too arresting for him to do so.do. His hands slid casually into his jeans as her lilt charmed the edges of his racing thoughts, slowing them into a calm pause. Before he noticed , they had circled the campus, and were already at her dorm , where he'd met with her earlier. It was instinctive as he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, his tongue grazing the roof of her mouth as he pulled away again, the moment fleeting but more than enough. "Thanks for tonight" he whispered , his voice rough against her ear as she tucked away a strand of dark hair and stared into his gaze. "I'll see you after practice, tomorrow, quarterback" she whispered back as he left he left her to wander past her fence , and disappear through her door.