Private Finished Three Days Later

Xavier barely managed to hear Gabe, and rather than feeling relieved at getting help, he felt violent guilt. He shouldn’t have called them, probably would’ve been better to keep trying to crawl. He didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, and right now, he felt like a massive inconvenience. He tried to speak, but only managed to open and close his mouth a few times.

It had to be a nightmare. A really freaky nightmare where he could feel the pain. “N-No... please. I’ve already caused so many problems.” Even all he had said before this still had this cheerful tone to it. Like he was about to crack some jokes and return to how things used to be. But when he spoke now, his voice shook and he sounded tired. “All of it is my fault.” There was guilt, this time.

Xavier would wholeheartedly blame himself for almost dying, for becoming something that was completely out of his control. He had already caused so many problems because of the prank... “I’m sorry.” He croaked. “This is all my fault... just because I wanted to do a prank for a friend.” Because he still had his arm over his eyes, Gabe wouldn’t be able to see that Xavier had started to cry. But, from how he sounded and how his shoulders shook, it wouldn’t be too difficult to gather.

Thinking about the prank reminded him of Michael. Deep down Xavier kind of knew that Michael had this prank planned out. That he knew it was holy water, gave it to Xavier knowing what would happen. It wouldn’t exactly be the first time he’d been used by someone he considered a friend. But all those times, there never was such a domino effect like this.

First, he felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart. Considering his chest pain and difficulty breathing anyway, this didn’t help. But then a completely different emotion took its place. Sure Xavier has felt angry before, but it had always been internalised.

Slowly he sat up. His chest still hurt, and his breathing still felt laboured. When both of his arms hung limp at his sides, Gabe and Jude would be able to see that he still cried. But his eyes were narrowed and his face was in a deep frown. Xavier always had expressed anger, but it had always been quite joking. But this was wholehearted rage on his face right now. Michael knew what would happen. Sure he couldn’t have known that it would reach this point but... he knew that Xavier would get in trouble. Bad trouble. That was what ultimately lead to the point Xavier is at now.

Xavier felt selfish. At the end of the day, he had done the prank. He should have asked more questions, or figured out that it was holy water. But he couldn’t help it. He caused unnecessary fear in someone who didn’t deserve it, he hurt his friends and likely ruined his relationships, let his sister suffered at his expense plus she almost died, he almost died and now he couldn’t even walk. He loved to run, to parkour and move freely, to skateboard. All of that was gone. His nose was scrunched and his hands clenched tight. “Michael.” His voice was barely audible, but it had a low, furious sound.