USER: Is this a 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 , 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...

USER: Do Mason and Ethan seem to be close friends

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 ofMason 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 a 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, wrestling 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, I know, Ivy League commitments, I just, it never slows up. See you later." Mason didn't even look up from his overstuffed problem, the duffel's 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 at your-" Victor's eyes sailed past Mason's in a frenzied blur, not even pausing for a second. "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 muttered. Now he 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 around 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 damned 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, fatigue showing in his lack-luster demeanor. "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 favor." 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. "You have treatment tonight, right?" 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 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 screamof clothing I own, I'll have to do some laundry at yours first, then I'll show your hot plate who's boss." Ethan stepped backward, his lean frame unbalanced by the sudden removal of the weight 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 himgrip. "'Y'know, I really need to get 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."training..." 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 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 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,with a centred thump. "Well, you look like hell at the moment but, maybe you could use the company in there". As the two friends upheld each other, stumbling into the street,talk to your doc about it later huh? I know Vic misses you as a corner; he's been whooping Logan's ass a little too hard out of frustration." Laughing in response, Ethan scaled the hospital with his reluctant eyes, and glanced at Mason before shivering in his thin jacket. "Are you sure youshook 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 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 hisyou 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 handthere, Ethan. But for now, let me at least lend your sofa a nice imprint of my ass." Ethan, snorting in approval, clapped Mason 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 waitingthe back as they staggered out of the locker 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 toand went 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 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 matters" . Ethan , for the first time that evening, managed a smile that touched upon his dark pupils with an emanating glow.separate ways.