Some Nights (Part a)
Title: Some Nights
Beta: samjsjlove
Pairing: J2
Wordcount: ~16,000
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 for language and medical stuff
A/N: After reading my collab with leaveitunsp0ken, imogen_lily asked if I would be interested in doing a new verse that was a college au featuring Jared with a chronic illness. So this is the first part in that verse.
Summary: Jared is used to having his life decided for him. His crappy genes -not to mention his parents- have been running the show now since before he was old enough to walk. Sick and tired of being sick and tired, Jared finally takes his life into his own hands by moving out and starting college and nothing is going to ruin it for him, not his illness, not his overbearing parents. Life is finally going his way. And then he meets Jensen…
The halls were crowded, people pushing in and around him hurrying off to class. It had been a long time since he’d been around so many people. It was both exhilarating and nerve wracking all at the same time. He tried to focus on the exhilarating part. He was tired of letting nerves and anxiety run his life. He was tired of letting other people run his life. And he was definitely tired of letting his crappy genes run his life…
“Jared?”
Jared jumped on the hard wooden bench and looked up to where his name had been called. He stood slowly, making sure to pick up his worn, leather messenger bag. “Morning Mr. Manganiello.” Jared stuck his hand out for the counselor to shake.
“So formal! You’ve known me forever! It’s Joe, kid.” Joe laughed and pulled Jared in for a hug. “Come on in and we’ll talk.” He guided Jared into his office and pushed him towards the chair across from his desk. “How are you, Jay?”
“Not bad,” Jared replied with a small smile. Not bad was his version of good most days.
Joe smiled sadly. “That’s good, kid.” He rifled through his papers for a moment on the top of his desk. “So what’s this I hear about you being accepted here?”
Jared blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Yeah…I even got offered a scholarship.”
“From both the music and art departments apparently. That’s pretty damn impressive, Jay. So are you wanting to double major then?”
“Um…I’d love to but…I don’t even know how I’m going to be able to keep up with work for one let alone two.”
Joe nodded and got up from his chair. He made his way around his desk and sat on the top of it, in front of Jared. “Listen, Jared, you and I both know that isn’t your opinion on the matter.” Jared cast his eyes down to the ground. “Have you told your parents yet?”
Jared shook his head. “Jeff is the only one who knows. He helped me get all my application stuff together and sent in without Mom and Dad knowing.”
“Jared…your parents are incredible! I mean, they’ve been there for you every step of the way since you were diagnosed. And that’s amazing. But you are, what, nineteen now? I know you have got to be tired of staying home all the time when Gen and Penn are going to college now.”
“I’d have to move. I mean…campus is only forty minutes away from their house but that drive would suck every day. It would be easier to live here.”
“There are the dorms and-“
“I don’t want the dorms. I don’t think I’d be comfortable there when I am sick.”
“What about Jeff’s apartment building? I know he moved into one nearby when he started med school. What about that?”
“Maybe,” Jared replied with a shrug. “They’re a lot cleaner than most student housing, which would be great for me. But Jeff already has a roommate and I don’t know if living by myself would be that smart and-”
“And I’m sure Jeff knows most of the people there to see if there is anyone needing a roommate.” Joe squeezed Jared’s shoulder. “I just hate to see you give up the idea of all this just because you think you have to. You don’t. We have lots of programs in place to assist our students with health problems. And I know the staff here; they are really good with helping when it’s needed. You could do this, Jared.”
Jared bit his lip. “I really want to.”
“You’re an adult, Jare. I’m not saying go behind your parents’ backs, but you don’t have to have their permission for this.”
“I know…it would just be nice to not have them fight me on it.”
“They want what’s best for you, and for most of your life that’s been staying close to home where they can help you. But you can handle this. You’re more mature and responsible than most of the freshmen that come through that door. So don’t worry about it. And if they have a problem or are too worried, I’ll talk to them. It might help if they hear everything we have to offer you.”
Jared smiled at that. “Thanks Joe.”
“Now…let’s talk about setting you up with an advisor in both departments. Do you have a minor in mind as well?”
“Who said I was coming for sure?” Jared asked in awe. “I said I still have to talk to my parents and-“
“You’re coming. I know you will be.” Joe winked at him and crossed back over to his side of the desk. He started clicking away at his laptop. “Let’s see…for the music department your advisor would probably be…Dr. Bomer! You’ll love Matt…he’s a buddy of mine. And for art…you’ll have to talk to…Dr. Graham. Lauren’s a sweetheart once you get past all her sarcasm.”
“Joe, I-“
“Now, what minor? You might as well tell me before I stick you with something random…”
“Composition,” Jared quickly replied, knowing Joe would make good on the threat if he didn’t.
“Good…knew that’s what you would pick.” Joe smirked at Jared over the top of his computer before going back to typing everything in. “I’ll send out an email to both Matt and Lauren so that they will get in touch with you about what you should do. Lauren minored in English as well I believe so she’ll be able to help you with that. This year you’ll mostly be taking general classes…your math and history and so on…but you’ll be able to start on some of your major and minor requirements as well I’d imagine. Plus you have some college credits already from where you took those online courses this past year. I’ll make sure your transcripts are sent to them as well.”
“But Joe-“
“Jared, just talk to your parents. They’ll be ok…it will just take some time. They love you and want you to be happy.”
“But they worry…”
“Yes, they worry,” Joe sighed in agreement. “Good luck, kiddo. You have my number if you need me to help you with them.”
Jared stood from his chair so he could give Joe a hug. “Thank you again. I really appreciate all the help.”
“Anytime Jay.” Joe rubbed at Jared’s back for a moment before releasing. “Don’t be a stranger, ok? My door is always open to you.” He winked at Jared and sent him on his way.
Once in the hall, Jared pulled out his cell phone to check the time. It was just after noon. Amazingly, his parents hadn’t called yet. He sighed in relief before sending a quick text to his brother to tell him he was on his way. He rubbed at his temples, trying to stem the growing headache there, as he walked back to his car.
Within a few minutes, he was parking in the guest lot at his older brother’s apartment building and ringing the buzzer.
“Hello?” Jeff’s voice called through the intercom.
“Hey, Jeff,” Jared replied. “Let me in?”
“Sure thing!”
The door buzzed as it unlocked and Jared hurried inside and up to Jeff’s. He didn’t bother knocking on the door when he reached the apartment. “Hey!” he called in as he stepped into the hall. He toed off his shoes before heading into the living room and sinking into the couch and plopping his feet on the coffee table.
“Hey Jay,” Jeff yelled from the kitchen. “Picked you up some lunch on my way here!”
“You didn’t have to,” Jared replied.
“Like I would let you skip a meal, dumbass.” Jeff came into the room with a Styrofoam container, a water bottle, and silverware. He gently kicked at Jared’s legs to get his feet off the table before he set the food there. “Did you remember your meds or-“
“I’m getting ready to take my hydrocortisone. I’m fine.”
“Sure you are,” Jeff said, rolling his eyes. “That why you’re squinting your eyes with the lights and rubbing your forehead.”
Jared huffed but leaned down to dig through his bag. He pulled out a smaller pouch that contained various bottles and some wrapped syringes. He grabbed a bottle and shook out two white tablets. He palmed them into his mouth and accepted the outstretched water bottle from Jeff. “Thank you,” he said once he had swallowed.
“Any time, Jay. Now eat up before you start to crash.”
“I wasn’t that off schedule,” Jared sighed. He pulled the container towards himself anyway and opened it, revealing a large piece of salmon on top of wild rice. He then laughed when he saw Jeff unwrap his greasy burger and fries. “I hate you,” Jared scoffed.
“Aww…no you don’t,” Jeff replied around a mouth full of fries.
“You are disgusting.”
Jeff opened his mouth wider while the food was in it, earning a balled up napkin to the head courtesy of Jared. “So how did it go today?” Jeff asked after swallowing.
“Good…really good actually.”
“Told you it would.” Jeff sent him a smirk before taking another bite of his food.
Jared pushed the rice around with his fork for a moment. “I think I may have accepted the scholarships and my place in the programs.”
“You what?!?” Bits of burger and bun went flying everywhere.
“Jeff!” Jared chastised. “Swallow then speak! Not that hard of a concept, bub!”
“Sorry!” He wiped his mouth clean with a napkin. “I’m just surprised. Proud of you, but surprised you already accepted. How are Mom and Dad handling it?”
Jared looked down at his food and put a huge amount of rice in his mouth.
“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me!” Jeff chucked a pillow towards Jared. “You haven’t told them?!? Do they even know you applied?”
“Not that I know of…”
“Jared!”
“I panicked!” Jared moved his container onto the table and ran his hand over his face. “You know how they get…”
“They worry.”
“A lot. I’m not gonna break. Lots of people like me go to college and do a whole bunch of shit with their lives. So why do I have to stay home like some damn pariah?”
“Jay, you know they don’t mean to make it seem like that. They love you and-“
“I know,” Jared snapped. “I know…but it…I really want this and I don’t want to see how upset Mom will be. I’ll have to move out. And you know how well that will go over.” Jared ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
“I’ll help you Jared. You could move in here!”
“You have a roommate.”
“I could kick him out or we could share my-“
“I am not sharing your bedroom with you and you can’t do that to Austin. He’s your best friend.”
“And you’re my brother and I know you really want this. Austin would understand.”
“What would I understand?” Austin asked as he walked in the front door. He let his backpack slide off his shoulder while he walked into the living room. He snagged a few fries from Jeff’s container and sat down next to Jared.
“That I need some help finding somewhere to live,” Jared quickly replied before Jeff could say anything he would later regret. “I got a scholarship from both the music and art programs here.”
“For real?” Austin exclaimed with a wide smile. “That’s awesome Jay!” He bounced a little on the couch. “Why are you not bouncing off the walls, kid?!?”
“Because he hasn’t told Mom and Dad that he got in and that he’s moving here.”
“Here here?” Austin continued. “Like this apartment? We could totally figure something out. You could share my room and-“
“What is it with you guys wanting to share beds with me?”
“Never said beds,” both Jeff and Austin said with a shudder.
Jared laughed a little. “I appreciate it guys. Really…I do. But you know you aren’t allowed to have three tenants in this space. But you could ask around to see if there is anyone around the building you know that could use a roommate. I’d appreciate it. I think if I go to Mom and Dad with the fact that I have a roommate and an apartment in the same building as you guys lined up, they’ll feel a little better about it all. Not sure how great it will go but still…might be easier.”
“You know,” Austin started, “I think Misha is looking for someone. He lives across the hall from us. His roommate moved out to live with her girlfriend or something I think.”
“That’s right!” Jeff picked up. “Danni moved out last week! Misha can’t cover the rent on his own…not with just working at the library. You’d definitely get along with him! He’s quirky as hell but a good guy. He’d be someone I’d trust to help take care of you if something were to happen.”
“Plus you’d have both Jeff and me right across from you. And both of us have helped during a crisis before. Your parents would feel a hundred times better about that!” Austin reached over and squeezed Jared’s shoulder.
Jared sent a smile towards both of them. He didn’t know for sure that it would work out…but it was worth a try. He was tired of waiting for something to get better. Maybe this was better opening a crack in the door for him. Maybe…
********
Jared tapped his fingers nervously against the countertop. His coffee was growing cold in front of him. He kept stealing glances around the coffee shop, searching for Jeff and Misha. His hands were growing sweaty as he waited.
A hand settled on his back, causing him to jump. He looked up to see the shop’s owner standing next to him. “Hey Uncle JD.”
“Hey Jay…nervous?”
Jared sighed and pushed himself back in his chair. “A lot riding on today. If Misha likes me and can deal with everything that goes along with knowing me-“
“Jared,” JD warned.
“You know it’s true,” Jared sighed. “If he can and wants me to be his roommate, then I’m going to have to tell my parents tonight. And you know how that’s going to go over.”
JD squeezed his nephew’s shoulder. “Yeah…your mom’s a worrier. She’s always been that way, ever since we were kids.” Jared nodded before hanging his head. JD moved his hand from Jared’s shoulder to the back of his neck. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t get her to listen, bud.”
The bell connected to the door rang as Jeff and Misha entered the coffee shop. Both waved at JD and Jared. JD squeezed Jared’s shoulder one last time before going behind the counter to grab some coffee for them.
“Hey Jay,” Jeff greeted once they were in front of the little table. “This is my neighbor Misha…not sure if you guys have actually met yet or not.”
“Think I’ve just seen ya around,” Jared said.
“Probably. I tend to be bouncing all over the place on the best of days,” Misha replied with a smile. He shook hands with Jared before sitting down.
JD came over a moment later with everyone’s regular orders. He handed Misha a donut and some type of latte. Jeff received an apple turnover and a black coffee. JD switched out Jared’s coffee for a water bottle and handed him a bowl of fruit salad and a whole-wheat bagel.
“Thanks,” Jared said to JD before turning to Misha.
“Someone’s a health nut,” Misha laughed around a large bite of his donut.
Jared smiled awkwardly. “Sometimes.” He really didn’t want to delve into reasons why just yet…not until he had a better feel on how Misha would react. “So Jeff said you are looking for a new roommate.” He picked up his bagel and took a few bites.
“Yeah,” Misha answered. “My last roomie was one of my best friends. We shared the apartment since we moved here for school two years ago. But she wanted to move in with her girlfriend so that leaves me with a spare room and not enough money to cover the rent and food.” Misha took a long drink of his latte. “So do you have a job or a way to cover rent?”
“Yeah,” Jared replied after swallowing down his fruit. “I do some work online to get some income and JD, the owner here, is my uncle so he’s said he would like some extra help here part-time.”
“Cool…I work at the library on campus…making sure no one gets lost in the basement.”
Jared laughed and rolled his eyes a little.
“Seriously! Wait til you have to go down there! It’s wicked scary down there.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jared replied, still smiling. “What are you, um, majoring in?”
“Art…well mainly photography but I kind of bounce around to the other styles and all.”
“Really?” Jared asked with more excitement.
“Jay got a scholarship for art and music,” Jeff said, breaking off a piece of his fritter and giving it to Jared.
“I have friend in the music department…he’s a grad student. I’ll have to introduce you two so he can show you around the department.” Misha flashed Jared a wide smile.
From there on out, they settled into easy conversation about the different types of art and music in which they were interested. It was easy conversation, often joking and teasing the other. It was like they’d been friends since they were kids even though they’d just met.
“I’ll be right back, then we can head out and I’ll show you around the apartment,” Misha said after awhile, excusing himself to go to the men’s room in the back.
“So…” Jeff started.
“I know, Jeff,” Jared huffed.
“Sorry…I know you hate when I bring it up but you’ve gotta tell him.”
“Not right now.”
“Jay, he wants to show you the apartment! That means you should tell him!”
Jared bit his lip and looked down at the tabletop. “Hate telling people.”
“I know it, bub,” Jeff said softly, reaching across the table to squeeze Jared’s hand. “I honestly don’t think Misha will freak out on you.”
“People always react badly.”
“Not always! Penn didn’t!”
Jared rolled his eyes. “I met Penn at a damn support group! Of course he didn’t!”
They both saw Misha returning.
“Just tell him,” Jeff snapped one last time before Misha sat down in his seat once more.
“So,” Misha said, rubbing his hands, “you ready to check out the place? It’s pretty much the same set up as Jeff and Austin’s but is about a hundred times cleaner!”
“That’s not hard to imagine,” Jared teased, earning a glare from Jeff. “Yeah, man, that sounds great. We can head over no-ouch!” Jared rubbed his leg where Jeff had just kicked him. He looked up to see Jeff sending him that look again. He sighed and bit his lip. “Um…b-but f-first…I need to t-tell you something.”
“Oh no! Please say you aren’t one of those roommates who will leave their dirty underwear all over the apartment?!? Danni always did that! But at least hers was, you know, a girl’s. So it was all small and lacy and not covered in-“
“No!” both Jeff and Jared interrupted.
“He’s pretty clean,” Jeff continued.
“Ok,” Misha sighed in relief. “So what’s up?”
“Um…well,” Jared rubbed the back of his neck, “I…I k-kind of have this thing.”
“Ok…”
“This health thing.” Jared glanced at Misha for a moment before looking back down at his hands. “I have Addison’s disease.”
“Really?” Misha asked in surprise. “Isn’t that what JFK had?”
Jared laughed nervously. “Yeah…”
“I totally remember that! I did this essay on him last year for some history class! Don’t you have to take like tablets and shots and stuff?”
Jared just gaped at Misha while Jeff answered. “Yeah, he has to take hydrocortisone tablets and make sure he eats certain types of foods.”
“But you can totally live like a normal life, right? I mean, JFK seemed to.”
Jared blinked at Misha but finally found his voice. “For the most part. I…I have a rough time with it sometimes though. But I’ve had it my whole life so I’m pretty used to it. There are just some days when I feel like shit because my levels are out of whack and I have to be careful about stress.”
“Lucky for you I am one of the least stressing people you will ever meet,” Misha said with a smile. “So you had some type of accident to damage your adrenal gland? Or a disease? Isn’t that how JFK got it?”
“He did,” Jared answered. “But I just have shitty genes.”
“Never knew you could get it genetically,” Misha went on.
“It’s rare,” Jared explained.
“Jared is just that lucky,” Jeff commented dryly.
“Sounds it…sorry man,” Misha added.
“Thanks,” Jared smiled, “but I’ve gotten used to it. Like I said, there are just days I’ll feel worse than others.”
“You’ll have to make sure to show me what to do in case there is an emergency or whatever. I don’t want to have something happen and me not know what the hell to do. Wouldn’t make me a good roomie, ya know?”
Again, Jared just gaped at Misha. “Y-you st-still want me as a r-roommate?”
“Sure! So you have shitty genes and have to take meds. Big deal! I have loads of little quirks and shit. We’ll get used to each other.” Misha finished with a shrug.
Jared honestly didn’t know what to say to that. He hadn’t had someone react that well to him talking about his health in ages. Sure, Gen had, but they had met when they were five years old and he could barely say Addison’s disease, let alone explain it. Penn hadn’t flipped out either, but he had his own problems and understood. And Chace…well…he really didn’t want to think about his reaction…
“So you ready?” Misha asked, drawing Jared back to their conversation.
“Yeah,” Jared said quickly.
“Can you give Misha a ride?” Jeff asked. “I need to head to class.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Thanks for bringing him to meet with me, Jeff.”
“No problem kid,” Jeff replied before giving Jared a hug and leaning down to whisper in his ear. “If you need help with Mom and Dad, call me.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Jeff headed out to class. Misha and Jared left a few minutes later, waving to JD as they went. They fell into easy conversation once more. It was as if Jared had never interrupted it with all the depressing talk of his health. It was odd yet refreshing…and definitely boded well for their new relationship as roommates.
“So,” Misha started once they were in the apartment, “it’s pretty much the same layout as your brother’s place. We have a kitchen slash dining area over there. We’re obviously in the living room right now.” Misha waved his arms at the spacious room. There was a large screen TV set up against the wall and a huge sectional sofa that looked extraordinarily comfortable…perfect for days he didn’t feel like going out. “The bathroom is down the hall and then the bedrooms are on the other side of that. Come on.”
“It looks like you’re missing some furniture,” Jared commented as he walked towards the bedrooms.
“Yeah…Danni took what was hers when she moved in with Sophia.” Misha paused at the bedroom door. “So…this room is pretty much empty at the moment.”
“I have furniture in my room at my parent’s place.”
“Awesome,” Misha said with a smile. “Then come on.” He opened the door to reveal a large bedroom with light blue walls. There were a few nails along them from where posters and pictures had once hung. The windows no longer had any curtains but there were still blinds hanging. Despite the obvious signs of the disorganization from moving, it was clean. Very clean…which was very perfect for Jared.
“This is great,” Jared sighed in relief.
“Yeah…made sure Danni cleaned everything up with me once the furniture was out.”
“That’s perfect. Getting sick kind of sucks for me.”
“Even like, a cold?”
Jared shook his head and he walked around the space. “Not so much with colds and allergies. But sometimes it can be. Being sick screws with my hormone levels which means I have to change the dosages of my meds to compensate.”
“Sounds like a guessing game,” Misha said in shock.
“It can be. I’ve learned over the years how to figure it all out though.”
Misha leaned against the doorframe. “How long have you had Addison’s?”
“Most likely…my whole life. But wasn’t diagnosed until I was like three or four.” Misha scrunched his brow in confusion. “Like I said, inheriting it is rare and there wasn’t really any other indication that I had it. We’re from Texas originally. Mom and Dad got tired of me always being sick and no one ever figuring out what the hell was wrong with me. So they scoured the Internet, looking for people who specialized in rare disorders and stuff. They found Dr. Beaver, who lives here in Massachusetts. They packed up Jeff and me and made the trip up here. Dr. Beaver…Jim…he was just…incredible.”
“Gave you all the answers?”
“And more. I mean, the diagnosis wasn’t ideal, but it was something. It gave us control over something.”
Misha smiled sadly. “Can see that being a big relief.”
“It was for my parents. I was just happy to only feel sick some days instead of every single day. Again, I was just a kid.”
“I’m sorry,” Misha continued sympathetically.
“Thanks…I’m ok with it all though…really. I mean, yeah it sucks but who knows how things would have been if I hadn’t had it. I don’t think I’d be close to Jeff. I wouldn’t have become friends with my two best friends. Not sure I would have realized how much I love music and art and writing. May not have even met you. Who knows…”
“It’s a nice outlook on a shitty situation.”
Jared laughed. “I guess. Have to look at something positive with it all. Would be pretty damn depressing if I didn’t. And I’ve been down that road. Isn’t one I feel like walking down for the rest of my life. So yeah, I guess I do focus more on the positive when I can.”
“Wow…that’s pretty incredible.”
Jared shrugged but smiled. “Not sure about that. But thanks.”
“So,” Misha began, changing subjects, “when can you move in?”
Jared’s smile grew. Things were definitely looking up.
********
“No! Absolutely not!” Sherry snapped as she paced around the living room. “Just no, Jared!” Her face was red and you could tell she was trying not to cry. Gerry stood off to the side, not really saying anything but watching everything unfold.
“Mom I-“
“Jared, sweetheart, you can’t do this! Think about how stressful everything will be on you! You’re going to be surrounded by tons of people, who all carry around germs and bacteria and everything! No…just no!”
“Mom I’m not going to go through life a damn bubble boy and you know that! Aren’t you the one who always encourages me to have as normal of a life as possible?”
“But-“
“Mom, going to college is normal. Moving out of your parents’ home is normal.” Jared ran a hand through his hair, sending locks in various directions.
“Jared, be reasonable! Of course I want you to have a normal life, baby, but not when it could risk you having a life at all!”
“Sherry,” Gerry warned. “I think you need to calm-“
“No,” she continued. “Jared isn’t listening and I won’t let-“
“I’m an adult, Mom,” Jared interrupted. “I’m not asking you for permission, just for your support.”
“How are you planning on paying for the rent, Jared?” his dad asked before Sherry could say anything else.
“I’ve been making money off my blog for about two years now. Most of it I put into savings since I’ve been living with you for that whole time. And Uncle JD asked if I would help out at the coffee shop a couple of times a week…not all that much but some.”
“And tuition?” Gerry asked again.
“Scholarships from both the music and art departments…should cover all of the tuition. I’ll just have to pay for books and supplies and-“
“That’s…that’s impressive, Jared.” Gerry smiled at his son. “I’ve been saving up for you to go to college one day. It’ll cover all that, kiddo.”
“Really?”
Gerry walked over to his son and pulled him into a hug. “Seems to me that you’ve earned that.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Now,” Gerry turned towards his wife, “Sherry, you can’t hide the boy away forever. I know you are just worried, but he is an adult and he’s proven himself quite capable of taking care of himself and being responsible. I mean, do you know of any other kid that was capable of remembering a pill regimen by age five? I don’t know of many.”
“But he forgets when he gets caught up in-“
“And he said he’d have a roommate that lives right across from Jeff and Austin, both of whom know how to handle Jared’s meds and health just as well as we do.”
“And Misha knows now too,” Jared clarified. “He expressed interest the other day when I told him I had Addison’s. Jeff showed him the ropes and what to look out for.” Jared stepped towards his mom and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m not doing anything to endanger myself; I promise, Mom. Misha will know how to help me. JD’s house is only about ten minutes from campus. Joe already promised me that my professors would be informed and know how to help me and would be more lenient when it was needed. I’ve taken precautions. I knew I couldn’t come to you guys with a half-assed plan.”
“I just…”
“Mom,” Jared rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a comforting manner, “I’d only be forty minutes away. You would still see me all the time I’d imagine…you see Jeff every couple of days.”
Sherry bit her lips, her eyes watering with tears. “And you’ll make sure to wear your medical alert bracelet and keep everything in your bag at all times so that people can help you?”
Jared moved his right hand from his mom’s arms so that he could show her the bracelet he always wore. The worn red, blue, yellow, and green leather wrapped snugly around his tanned wrist. The only part of the bracelet that actually looked like your typical medical alert bracelet was the silver plate with the medical alert symbol on one side and Jared’s info on the other. It was perfect for that very reason. Growing up, Jared had a more traditional, very obvious looking one that often led to him being teased whenever he would attempt public school or be around his peers. He hated it, and everyone close to him knew that, especially Genevieve.
Being his oldest and dearest friend, she had seen first hand how much he hated wearing that thing. For his sixteenth Birthday, however, she found the solution in a website specializing in funkier, hipper alert bracelets. He’d worn it ever since.
“See? You know I never take it off, Mom. I know better.” Yes, he’d learned early on how catastrophic forgetting it could end up being.
Sherry nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “And you promise you’ll come home some nights for dinner?”
Jared smiled, knowing where this was going. “You know I will, Mom.”
“And call me once a day? Just so I know that everything is ok and that nothing happened while you were on campus and-“
“If that’s what makes you feel better then I think I could manage to do that.”
“It would,” she sighed. She stepped forward and pulled him into her arms. “I really am proud of you for doing this on your own.”
“I never wanted to go behind your back. I just wanted to try this. I didn’t think I’d even get accepted or-“
“Hush,” Sherry chastised. “You know good and well that you are more than smart and talented enough for that school, baby.”
“Thank you,” Jared replied, hugging her tighter.
“So when does the semester start, bud?” Gerry spoke up.
“In two weeks,” Jared answered. “I’ve already met with my art advisor and gotten some ideas of classes I should take this semester. I’m supposed to meet with my music one next week. He was booked with rehearsals this week so he asked if I could wait.”
“So you need to probably move into your apartment this weekend so that you can get used to everything before school starts? That way you aren’t stressing about everything and making yourself worn down,” Sherry said, swiping a few strands of hair from Jared’s face.
“So you’re ok with this?” Jared looked skeptically at his mom.
She sighed before speaking. “I will be. I’m still going to worry about you, but I do that when you are in the house I guess.” Jared smiled a little at the comment. “And I want you to invite that roommate-“
“Misha.”
“Invite Misha over for dinner tomorrow night. I want to meet him and see how he is. I trust you and I trust Jeff…but I want to meet him as well to make sure he is capable of helping you if something were to happen.”
“You are not going to quiz him, Mom!”
“We’ll see…” With that, Sherry ran her hand through Jared’s hair and walking off towards the kitchen.
“I’ll make sure she goes easy on the kid,” Gerry promised. “Why don’t you go ahead up to your room and start gathering up things to pack. I have some boxes in the garage from when Jeff moved that I never got around to throwing out. I’ll be up in just a minute to help you with it all.”
“Thanks Dad,” Jared replied before heading up the stairs. Once in his room he flopped down onto his bed and looked around at everything he would have to take with him. With a sigh, he got up and began taking down the poster frames from his walls and leaning them against his bed.
“What’re you doing, Jay?” a small voice said from the doorway.
He looked over from where he was taking down a Queen concert poster to see his little sister, Megan, still dressed in her ballet tutu. “Hey Meg,” he called over to her. “Just get home from practice?”
“Aunt Sam just dropped me off. Why are you taking down all your pictures? That’s what Jeff did when he moved out to live with Austin.” Her eyes widen in realization. “Are you moving like Jeff did?” Her eyes were big and almost watery with unshed tears as she said the last part.
“Oh sweetheart.” Jared set down the frame and walked over to her. He picked the ten year old up from where she was leaning and took her over towards his bed, placing her on his knee. Despite the nearly ten-year age difference between them, the two had always been very close. Whenever she became old enough to understand what exactly Jared being sick meant, she had instantly taken to being a little nurse with him, always sitting with him on bad days and bringing him water. Jared couldn’t ask for a better little sister.
“I don’t want you to leave like Jeff.” She sniffled before leaning her head against his chest.
“I got into to college, Meg,” he said softly. “You remember how badly I wanted to do that right?”
“You did?” She sounded excited for him despite the sniffles.
“I did. And driving to campus will take a long time every day. So I’m going to move into Jeff’s building with a new friend.”
“Oh…”
“How about this,” Jared nudged her so she would look at him. “You can come sleep over with me sometime…”
“Really?!?” she squealed. “Jeff won’t let me spend the night at his apartment!”
“Well I’m not Jeff now am I?” Jared teased, rubbing his nose against hers. “I’d have to clear it with my roommate but I don’t think he’d really care if you did so for a night.”
“Yay! Thank you!” She flung her arms around Jared’s neck.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Jared returned the hug. “Now…how about you help me pack up my books?”
Part b →
Beta: samjsjlove
Pairing: J2
Wordcount: ~16,000
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 for language and medical stuff
A/N: After reading my collab with leaveitunsp0ken, imogen_lily asked if I would be interested in doing a new verse that was a college au featuring Jared with a chronic illness. So this is the first part in that verse.
Summary: Jared is used to having his life decided for him. His crappy genes -not to mention his parents- have been running the show now since before he was old enough to walk. Sick and tired of being sick and tired, Jared finally takes his life into his own hands by moving out and starting college and nothing is going to ruin it for him, not his illness, not his overbearing parents. Life is finally going his way. And then he meets Jensen…
The halls were crowded, people pushing in and around him hurrying off to class. It had been a long time since he’d been around so many people. It was both exhilarating and nerve wracking all at the same time. He tried to focus on the exhilarating part. He was tired of letting nerves and anxiety run his life. He was tired of letting other people run his life. And he was definitely tired of letting his crappy genes run his life…
“Jared?”
Jared jumped on the hard wooden bench and looked up to where his name had been called. He stood slowly, making sure to pick up his worn, leather messenger bag. “Morning Mr. Manganiello.” Jared stuck his hand out for the counselor to shake.
“So formal! You’ve known me forever! It’s Joe, kid.” Joe laughed and pulled Jared in for a hug. “Come on in and we’ll talk.” He guided Jared into his office and pushed him towards the chair across from his desk. “How are you, Jay?”
“Not bad,” Jared replied with a small smile. Not bad was his version of good most days.
Joe smiled sadly. “That’s good, kid.” He rifled through his papers for a moment on the top of his desk. “So what’s this I hear about you being accepted here?”
Jared blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Yeah…I even got offered a scholarship.”
“From both the music and art departments apparently. That’s pretty damn impressive, Jay. So are you wanting to double major then?”
“Um…I’d love to but…I don’t even know how I’m going to be able to keep up with work for one let alone two.”
Joe nodded and got up from his chair. He made his way around his desk and sat on the top of it, in front of Jared. “Listen, Jared, you and I both know that isn’t your opinion on the matter.” Jared cast his eyes down to the ground. “Have you told your parents yet?”
Jared shook his head. “Jeff is the only one who knows. He helped me get all my application stuff together and sent in without Mom and Dad knowing.”
“Jared…your parents are incredible! I mean, they’ve been there for you every step of the way since you were diagnosed. And that’s amazing. But you are, what, nineteen now? I know you have got to be tired of staying home all the time when Gen and Penn are going to college now.”
“I’d have to move. I mean…campus is only forty minutes away from their house but that drive would suck every day. It would be easier to live here.”
“There are the dorms and-“
“I don’t want the dorms. I don’t think I’d be comfortable there when I am sick.”
“What about Jeff’s apartment building? I know he moved into one nearby when he started med school. What about that?”
“Maybe,” Jared replied with a shrug. “They’re a lot cleaner than most student housing, which would be great for me. But Jeff already has a roommate and I don’t know if living by myself would be that smart and-”
“And I’m sure Jeff knows most of the people there to see if there is anyone needing a roommate.” Joe squeezed Jared’s shoulder. “I just hate to see you give up the idea of all this just because you think you have to. You don’t. We have lots of programs in place to assist our students with health problems. And I know the staff here; they are really good with helping when it’s needed. You could do this, Jared.”
Jared bit his lip. “I really want to.”
“You’re an adult, Jare. I’m not saying go behind your parents’ backs, but you don’t have to have their permission for this.”
“I know…it would just be nice to not have them fight me on it.”
“They want what’s best for you, and for most of your life that’s been staying close to home where they can help you. But you can handle this. You’re more mature and responsible than most of the freshmen that come through that door. So don’t worry about it. And if they have a problem or are too worried, I’ll talk to them. It might help if they hear everything we have to offer you.”
Jared smiled at that. “Thanks Joe.”
“Now…let’s talk about setting you up with an advisor in both departments. Do you have a minor in mind as well?”
“Who said I was coming for sure?” Jared asked in awe. “I said I still have to talk to my parents and-“
“You’re coming. I know you will be.” Joe winked at him and crossed back over to his side of the desk. He started clicking away at his laptop. “Let’s see…for the music department your advisor would probably be…Dr. Bomer! You’ll love Matt…he’s a buddy of mine. And for art…you’ll have to talk to…Dr. Graham. Lauren’s a sweetheart once you get past all her sarcasm.”
“Joe, I-“
“Now, what minor? You might as well tell me before I stick you with something random…”
“Composition,” Jared quickly replied, knowing Joe would make good on the threat if he didn’t.
“Good…knew that’s what you would pick.” Joe smirked at Jared over the top of his computer before going back to typing everything in. “I’ll send out an email to both Matt and Lauren so that they will get in touch with you about what you should do. Lauren minored in English as well I believe so she’ll be able to help you with that. This year you’ll mostly be taking general classes…your math and history and so on…but you’ll be able to start on some of your major and minor requirements as well I’d imagine. Plus you have some college credits already from where you took those online courses this past year. I’ll make sure your transcripts are sent to them as well.”
“But Joe-“
“Jared, just talk to your parents. They’ll be ok…it will just take some time. They love you and want you to be happy.”
“But they worry…”
“Yes, they worry,” Joe sighed in agreement. “Good luck, kiddo. You have my number if you need me to help you with them.”
Jared stood from his chair so he could give Joe a hug. “Thank you again. I really appreciate all the help.”
“Anytime Jay.” Joe rubbed at Jared’s back for a moment before releasing. “Don’t be a stranger, ok? My door is always open to you.” He winked at Jared and sent him on his way.
Once in the hall, Jared pulled out his cell phone to check the time. It was just after noon. Amazingly, his parents hadn’t called yet. He sighed in relief before sending a quick text to his brother to tell him he was on his way. He rubbed at his temples, trying to stem the growing headache there, as he walked back to his car.
Within a few minutes, he was parking in the guest lot at his older brother’s apartment building and ringing the buzzer.
“Hello?” Jeff’s voice called through the intercom.
“Hey, Jeff,” Jared replied. “Let me in?”
“Sure thing!”
The door buzzed as it unlocked and Jared hurried inside and up to Jeff’s. He didn’t bother knocking on the door when he reached the apartment. “Hey!” he called in as he stepped into the hall. He toed off his shoes before heading into the living room and sinking into the couch and plopping his feet on the coffee table.
“Hey Jay,” Jeff yelled from the kitchen. “Picked you up some lunch on my way here!”
“You didn’t have to,” Jared replied.
“Like I would let you skip a meal, dumbass.” Jeff came into the room with a Styrofoam container, a water bottle, and silverware. He gently kicked at Jared’s legs to get his feet off the table before he set the food there. “Did you remember your meds or-“
“I’m getting ready to take my hydrocortisone. I’m fine.”
“Sure you are,” Jeff said, rolling his eyes. “That why you’re squinting your eyes with the lights and rubbing your forehead.”
Jared huffed but leaned down to dig through his bag. He pulled out a smaller pouch that contained various bottles and some wrapped syringes. He grabbed a bottle and shook out two white tablets. He palmed them into his mouth and accepted the outstretched water bottle from Jeff. “Thank you,” he said once he had swallowed.
“Any time, Jay. Now eat up before you start to crash.”
“I wasn’t that off schedule,” Jared sighed. He pulled the container towards himself anyway and opened it, revealing a large piece of salmon on top of wild rice. He then laughed when he saw Jeff unwrap his greasy burger and fries. “I hate you,” Jared scoffed.
“Aww…no you don’t,” Jeff replied around a mouth full of fries.
“You are disgusting.”
Jeff opened his mouth wider while the food was in it, earning a balled up napkin to the head courtesy of Jared. “So how did it go today?” Jeff asked after swallowing.
“Good…really good actually.”
“Told you it would.” Jeff sent him a smirk before taking another bite of his food.
Jared pushed the rice around with his fork for a moment. “I think I may have accepted the scholarships and my place in the programs.”
“You what?!?” Bits of burger and bun went flying everywhere.
“Jeff!” Jared chastised. “Swallow then speak! Not that hard of a concept, bub!”
“Sorry!” He wiped his mouth clean with a napkin. “I’m just surprised. Proud of you, but surprised you already accepted. How are Mom and Dad handling it?”
Jared looked down at his food and put a huge amount of rice in his mouth.
“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me!” Jeff chucked a pillow towards Jared. “You haven’t told them?!? Do they even know you applied?”
“Not that I know of…”
“Jared!”
“I panicked!” Jared moved his container onto the table and ran his hand over his face. “You know how they get…”
“They worry.”
“A lot. I’m not gonna break. Lots of people like me go to college and do a whole bunch of shit with their lives. So why do I have to stay home like some damn pariah?”
“Jay, you know they don’t mean to make it seem like that. They love you and-“
“I know,” Jared snapped. “I know…but it…I really want this and I don’t want to see how upset Mom will be. I’ll have to move out. And you know how well that will go over.” Jared ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
“I’ll help you Jared. You could move in here!”
“You have a roommate.”
“I could kick him out or we could share my-“
“I am not sharing your bedroom with you and you can’t do that to Austin. He’s your best friend.”
“And you’re my brother and I know you really want this. Austin would understand.”
“What would I understand?” Austin asked as he walked in the front door. He let his backpack slide off his shoulder while he walked into the living room. He snagged a few fries from Jeff’s container and sat down next to Jared.
“That I need some help finding somewhere to live,” Jared quickly replied before Jeff could say anything he would later regret. “I got a scholarship from both the music and art programs here.”
“For real?” Austin exclaimed with a wide smile. “That’s awesome Jay!” He bounced a little on the couch. “Why are you not bouncing off the walls, kid?!?”
“Because he hasn’t told Mom and Dad that he got in and that he’s moving here.”
“Here here?” Austin continued. “Like this apartment? We could totally figure something out. You could share my room and-“
“What is it with you guys wanting to share beds with me?”
“Never said beds,” both Jeff and Austin said with a shudder.
Jared laughed a little. “I appreciate it guys. Really…I do. But you know you aren’t allowed to have three tenants in this space. But you could ask around to see if there is anyone around the building you know that could use a roommate. I’d appreciate it. I think if I go to Mom and Dad with the fact that I have a roommate and an apartment in the same building as you guys lined up, they’ll feel a little better about it all. Not sure how great it will go but still…might be easier.”
“You know,” Austin started, “I think Misha is looking for someone. He lives across the hall from us. His roommate moved out to live with her girlfriend or something I think.”
“That’s right!” Jeff picked up. “Danni moved out last week! Misha can’t cover the rent on his own…not with just working at the library. You’d definitely get along with him! He’s quirky as hell but a good guy. He’d be someone I’d trust to help take care of you if something were to happen.”
“Plus you’d have both Jeff and me right across from you. And both of us have helped during a crisis before. Your parents would feel a hundred times better about that!” Austin reached over and squeezed Jared’s shoulder.
Jared sent a smile towards both of them. He didn’t know for sure that it would work out…but it was worth a try. He was tired of waiting for something to get better. Maybe this was better opening a crack in the door for him. Maybe…
********
Jared tapped his fingers nervously against the countertop. His coffee was growing cold in front of him. He kept stealing glances around the coffee shop, searching for Jeff and Misha. His hands were growing sweaty as he waited.
A hand settled on his back, causing him to jump. He looked up to see the shop’s owner standing next to him. “Hey Uncle JD.”
“Hey Jay…nervous?”
Jared sighed and pushed himself back in his chair. “A lot riding on today. If Misha likes me and can deal with everything that goes along with knowing me-“
“Jared,” JD warned.
“You know it’s true,” Jared sighed. “If he can and wants me to be his roommate, then I’m going to have to tell my parents tonight. And you know how that’s going to go over.”
JD squeezed his nephew’s shoulder. “Yeah…your mom’s a worrier. She’s always been that way, ever since we were kids.” Jared nodded before hanging his head. JD moved his hand from Jared’s shoulder to the back of his neck. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t get her to listen, bud.”
The bell connected to the door rang as Jeff and Misha entered the coffee shop. Both waved at JD and Jared. JD squeezed Jared’s shoulder one last time before going behind the counter to grab some coffee for them.
“Hey Jay,” Jeff greeted once they were in front of the little table. “This is my neighbor Misha…not sure if you guys have actually met yet or not.”
“Think I’ve just seen ya around,” Jared said.
“Probably. I tend to be bouncing all over the place on the best of days,” Misha replied with a smile. He shook hands with Jared before sitting down.
JD came over a moment later with everyone’s regular orders. He handed Misha a donut and some type of latte. Jeff received an apple turnover and a black coffee. JD switched out Jared’s coffee for a water bottle and handed him a bowl of fruit salad and a whole-wheat bagel.
“Thanks,” Jared said to JD before turning to Misha.
“Someone’s a health nut,” Misha laughed around a large bite of his donut.
Jared smiled awkwardly. “Sometimes.” He really didn’t want to delve into reasons why just yet…not until he had a better feel on how Misha would react. “So Jeff said you are looking for a new roommate.” He picked up his bagel and took a few bites.
“Yeah,” Misha answered. “My last roomie was one of my best friends. We shared the apartment since we moved here for school two years ago. But she wanted to move in with her girlfriend so that leaves me with a spare room and not enough money to cover the rent and food.” Misha took a long drink of his latte. “So do you have a job or a way to cover rent?”
“Yeah,” Jared replied after swallowing down his fruit. “I do some work online to get some income and JD, the owner here, is my uncle so he’s said he would like some extra help here part-time.”
“Cool…I work at the library on campus…making sure no one gets lost in the basement.”
Jared laughed and rolled his eyes a little.
“Seriously! Wait til you have to go down there! It’s wicked scary down there.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jared replied, still smiling. “What are you, um, majoring in?”
“Art…well mainly photography but I kind of bounce around to the other styles and all.”
“Really?” Jared asked with more excitement.
“Jay got a scholarship for art and music,” Jeff said, breaking off a piece of his fritter and giving it to Jared.
“I have friend in the music department…he’s a grad student. I’ll have to introduce you two so he can show you around the department.” Misha flashed Jared a wide smile.
From there on out, they settled into easy conversation about the different types of art and music in which they were interested. It was easy conversation, often joking and teasing the other. It was like they’d been friends since they were kids even though they’d just met.
“I’ll be right back, then we can head out and I’ll show you around the apartment,” Misha said after awhile, excusing himself to go to the men’s room in the back.
“So…” Jeff started.
“I know, Jeff,” Jared huffed.
“Sorry…I know you hate when I bring it up but you’ve gotta tell him.”
“Not right now.”
“Jay, he wants to show you the apartment! That means you should tell him!”
Jared bit his lip and looked down at the tabletop. “Hate telling people.”
“I know it, bub,” Jeff said softly, reaching across the table to squeeze Jared’s hand. “I honestly don’t think Misha will freak out on you.”
“People always react badly.”
“Not always! Penn didn’t!”
Jared rolled his eyes. “I met Penn at a damn support group! Of course he didn’t!”
They both saw Misha returning.
“Just tell him,” Jeff snapped one last time before Misha sat down in his seat once more.
“So,” Misha said, rubbing his hands, “you ready to check out the place? It’s pretty much the same set up as Jeff and Austin’s but is about a hundred times cleaner!”
“That’s not hard to imagine,” Jared teased, earning a glare from Jeff. “Yeah, man, that sounds great. We can head over no-ouch!” Jared rubbed his leg where Jeff had just kicked him. He looked up to see Jeff sending him that look again. He sighed and bit his lip. “Um…b-but f-first…I need to t-tell you something.”
“Oh no! Please say you aren’t one of those roommates who will leave their dirty underwear all over the apartment?!? Danni always did that! But at least hers was, you know, a girl’s. So it was all small and lacy and not covered in-“
“No!” both Jeff and Jared interrupted.
“He’s pretty clean,” Jeff continued.
“Ok,” Misha sighed in relief. “So what’s up?”
“Um…well,” Jared rubbed the back of his neck, “I…I k-kind of have this thing.”
“Ok…”
“This health thing.” Jared glanced at Misha for a moment before looking back down at his hands. “I have Addison’s disease.”
“Really?” Misha asked in surprise. “Isn’t that what JFK had?”
Jared laughed nervously. “Yeah…”
“I totally remember that! I did this essay on him last year for some history class! Don’t you have to take like tablets and shots and stuff?”
Jared just gaped at Misha while Jeff answered. “Yeah, he has to take hydrocortisone tablets and make sure he eats certain types of foods.”
“But you can totally live like a normal life, right? I mean, JFK seemed to.”
Jared blinked at Misha but finally found his voice. “For the most part. I…I have a rough time with it sometimes though. But I’ve had it my whole life so I’m pretty used to it. There are just some days when I feel like shit because my levels are out of whack and I have to be careful about stress.”
“Lucky for you I am one of the least stressing people you will ever meet,” Misha said with a smile. “So you had some type of accident to damage your adrenal gland? Or a disease? Isn’t that how JFK got it?”
“He did,” Jared answered. “But I just have shitty genes.”
“Never knew you could get it genetically,” Misha went on.
“It’s rare,” Jared explained.
“Jared is just that lucky,” Jeff commented dryly.
“Sounds it…sorry man,” Misha added.
“Thanks,” Jared smiled, “but I’ve gotten used to it. Like I said, there are just days I’ll feel worse than others.”
“You’ll have to make sure to show me what to do in case there is an emergency or whatever. I don’t want to have something happen and me not know what the hell to do. Wouldn’t make me a good roomie, ya know?”
Again, Jared just gaped at Misha. “Y-you st-still want me as a r-roommate?”
“Sure! So you have shitty genes and have to take meds. Big deal! I have loads of little quirks and shit. We’ll get used to each other.” Misha finished with a shrug.
Jared honestly didn’t know what to say to that. He hadn’t had someone react that well to him talking about his health in ages. Sure, Gen had, but they had met when they were five years old and he could barely say Addison’s disease, let alone explain it. Penn hadn’t flipped out either, but he had his own problems and understood. And Chace…well…he really didn’t want to think about his reaction…
“So you ready?” Misha asked, drawing Jared back to their conversation.
“Yeah,” Jared said quickly.
“Can you give Misha a ride?” Jeff asked. “I need to head to class.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Thanks for bringing him to meet with me, Jeff.”
“No problem kid,” Jeff replied before giving Jared a hug and leaning down to whisper in his ear. “If you need help with Mom and Dad, call me.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Jeff headed out to class. Misha and Jared left a few minutes later, waving to JD as they went. They fell into easy conversation once more. It was as if Jared had never interrupted it with all the depressing talk of his health. It was odd yet refreshing…and definitely boded well for their new relationship as roommates.
“So,” Misha started once they were in the apartment, “it’s pretty much the same layout as your brother’s place. We have a kitchen slash dining area over there. We’re obviously in the living room right now.” Misha waved his arms at the spacious room. There was a large screen TV set up against the wall and a huge sectional sofa that looked extraordinarily comfortable…perfect for days he didn’t feel like going out. “The bathroom is down the hall and then the bedrooms are on the other side of that. Come on.”
“It looks like you’re missing some furniture,” Jared commented as he walked towards the bedrooms.
“Yeah…Danni took what was hers when she moved in with Sophia.” Misha paused at the bedroom door. “So…this room is pretty much empty at the moment.”
“I have furniture in my room at my parent’s place.”
“Awesome,” Misha said with a smile. “Then come on.” He opened the door to reveal a large bedroom with light blue walls. There were a few nails along them from where posters and pictures had once hung. The windows no longer had any curtains but there were still blinds hanging. Despite the obvious signs of the disorganization from moving, it was clean. Very clean…which was very perfect for Jared.
“This is great,” Jared sighed in relief.
“Yeah…made sure Danni cleaned everything up with me once the furniture was out.”
“That’s perfect. Getting sick kind of sucks for me.”
“Even like, a cold?”
Jared shook his head and he walked around the space. “Not so much with colds and allergies. But sometimes it can be. Being sick screws with my hormone levels which means I have to change the dosages of my meds to compensate.”
“Sounds like a guessing game,” Misha said in shock.
“It can be. I’ve learned over the years how to figure it all out though.”
Misha leaned against the doorframe. “How long have you had Addison’s?”
“Most likely…my whole life. But wasn’t diagnosed until I was like three or four.” Misha scrunched his brow in confusion. “Like I said, inheriting it is rare and there wasn’t really any other indication that I had it. We’re from Texas originally. Mom and Dad got tired of me always being sick and no one ever figuring out what the hell was wrong with me. So they scoured the Internet, looking for people who specialized in rare disorders and stuff. They found Dr. Beaver, who lives here in Massachusetts. They packed up Jeff and me and made the trip up here. Dr. Beaver…Jim…he was just…incredible.”
“Gave you all the answers?”
“And more. I mean, the diagnosis wasn’t ideal, but it was something. It gave us control over something.”
Misha smiled sadly. “Can see that being a big relief.”
“It was for my parents. I was just happy to only feel sick some days instead of every single day. Again, I was just a kid.”
“I’m sorry,” Misha continued sympathetically.
“Thanks…I’m ok with it all though…really. I mean, yeah it sucks but who knows how things would have been if I hadn’t had it. I don’t think I’d be close to Jeff. I wouldn’t have become friends with my two best friends. Not sure I would have realized how much I love music and art and writing. May not have even met you. Who knows…”
“It’s a nice outlook on a shitty situation.”
Jared laughed. “I guess. Have to look at something positive with it all. Would be pretty damn depressing if I didn’t. And I’ve been down that road. Isn’t one I feel like walking down for the rest of my life. So yeah, I guess I do focus more on the positive when I can.”
“Wow…that’s pretty incredible.”
Jared shrugged but smiled. “Not sure about that. But thanks.”
“So,” Misha began, changing subjects, “when can you move in?”
Jared’s smile grew. Things were definitely looking up.
********
“No! Absolutely not!” Sherry snapped as she paced around the living room. “Just no, Jared!” Her face was red and you could tell she was trying not to cry. Gerry stood off to the side, not really saying anything but watching everything unfold.
“Mom I-“
“Jared, sweetheart, you can’t do this! Think about how stressful everything will be on you! You’re going to be surrounded by tons of people, who all carry around germs and bacteria and everything! No…just no!”
“Mom I’m not going to go through life a damn bubble boy and you know that! Aren’t you the one who always encourages me to have as normal of a life as possible?”
“But-“
“Mom, going to college is normal. Moving out of your parents’ home is normal.” Jared ran a hand through his hair, sending locks in various directions.
“Jared, be reasonable! Of course I want you to have a normal life, baby, but not when it could risk you having a life at all!”
“Sherry,” Gerry warned. “I think you need to calm-“
“No,” she continued. “Jared isn’t listening and I won’t let-“
“I’m an adult, Mom,” Jared interrupted. “I’m not asking you for permission, just for your support.”
“How are you planning on paying for the rent, Jared?” his dad asked before Sherry could say anything else.
“I’ve been making money off my blog for about two years now. Most of it I put into savings since I’ve been living with you for that whole time. And Uncle JD asked if I would help out at the coffee shop a couple of times a week…not all that much but some.”
“And tuition?” Gerry asked again.
“Scholarships from both the music and art departments…should cover all of the tuition. I’ll just have to pay for books and supplies and-“
“That’s…that’s impressive, Jared.” Gerry smiled at his son. “I’ve been saving up for you to go to college one day. It’ll cover all that, kiddo.”
“Really?”
Gerry walked over to his son and pulled him into a hug. “Seems to me that you’ve earned that.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Now,” Gerry turned towards his wife, “Sherry, you can’t hide the boy away forever. I know you are just worried, but he is an adult and he’s proven himself quite capable of taking care of himself and being responsible. I mean, do you know of any other kid that was capable of remembering a pill regimen by age five? I don’t know of many.”
“But he forgets when he gets caught up in-“
“And he said he’d have a roommate that lives right across from Jeff and Austin, both of whom know how to handle Jared’s meds and health just as well as we do.”
“And Misha knows now too,” Jared clarified. “He expressed interest the other day when I told him I had Addison’s. Jeff showed him the ropes and what to look out for.” Jared stepped towards his mom and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m not doing anything to endanger myself; I promise, Mom. Misha will know how to help me. JD’s house is only about ten minutes from campus. Joe already promised me that my professors would be informed and know how to help me and would be more lenient when it was needed. I’ve taken precautions. I knew I couldn’t come to you guys with a half-assed plan.”
“I just…”
“Mom,” Jared rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a comforting manner, “I’d only be forty minutes away. You would still see me all the time I’d imagine…you see Jeff every couple of days.”
Sherry bit her lips, her eyes watering with tears. “And you’ll make sure to wear your medical alert bracelet and keep everything in your bag at all times so that people can help you?”
Jared moved his right hand from his mom’s arms so that he could show her the bracelet he always wore. The worn red, blue, yellow, and green leather wrapped snugly around his tanned wrist. The only part of the bracelet that actually looked like your typical medical alert bracelet was the silver plate with the medical alert symbol on one side and Jared’s info on the other. It was perfect for that very reason. Growing up, Jared had a more traditional, very obvious looking one that often led to him being teased whenever he would attempt public school or be around his peers. He hated it, and everyone close to him knew that, especially Genevieve.
Being his oldest and dearest friend, she had seen first hand how much he hated wearing that thing. For his sixteenth Birthday, however, she found the solution in a website specializing in funkier, hipper alert bracelets. He’d worn it ever since.
“See? You know I never take it off, Mom. I know better.” Yes, he’d learned early on how catastrophic forgetting it could end up being.
Sherry nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “And you promise you’ll come home some nights for dinner?”
Jared smiled, knowing where this was going. “You know I will, Mom.”
“And call me once a day? Just so I know that everything is ok and that nothing happened while you were on campus and-“
“If that’s what makes you feel better then I think I could manage to do that.”
“It would,” she sighed. She stepped forward and pulled him into her arms. “I really am proud of you for doing this on your own.”
“I never wanted to go behind your back. I just wanted to try this. I didn’t think I’d even get accepted or-“
“Hush,” Sherry chastised. “You know good and well that you are more than smart and talented enough for that school, baby.”
“Thank you,” Jared replied, hugging her tighter.
“So when does the semester start, bud?” Gerry spoke up.
“In two weeks,” Jared answered. “I’ve already met with my art advisor and gotten some ideas of classes I should take this semester. I’m supposed to meet with my music one next week. He was booked with rehearsals this week so he asked if I could wait.”
“So you need to probably move into your apartment this weekend so that you can get used to everything before school starts? That way you aren’t stressing about everything and making yourself worn down,” Sherry said, swiping a few strands of hair from Jared’s face.
“So you’re ok with this?” Jared looked skeptically at his mom.
She sighed before speaking. “I will be. I’m still going to worry about you, but I do that when you are in the house I guess.” Jared smiled a little at the comment. “And I want you to invite that roommate-“
“Misha.”
“Invite Misha over for dinner tomorrow night. I want to meet him and see how he is. I trust you and I trust Jeff…but I want to meet him as well to make sure he is capable of helping you if something were to happen.”
“You are not going to quiz him, Mom!”
“We’ll see…” With that, Sherry ran her hand through Jared’s hair and walking off towards the kitchen.
“I’ll make sure she goes easy on the kid,” Gerry promised. “Why don’t you go ahead up to your room and start gathering up things to pack. I have some boxes in the garage from when Jeff moved that I never got around to throwing out. I’ll be up in just a minute to help you with it all.”
“Thanks Dad,” Jared replied before heading up the stairs. Once in his room he flopped down onto his bed and looked around at everything he would have to take with him. With a sigh, he got up and began taking down the poster frames from his walls and leaning them against his bed.
“What’re you doing, Jay?” a small voice said from the doorway.
He looked over from where he was taking down a Queen concert poster to see his little sister, Megan, still dressed in her ballet tutu. “Hey Meg,” he called over to her. “Just get home from practice?”
“Aunt Sam just dropped me off. Why are you taking down all your pictures? That’s what Jeff did when he moved out to live with Austin.” Her eyes widen in realization. “Are you moving like Jeff did?” Her eyes were big and almost watery with unshed tears as she said the last part.
“Oh sweetheart.” Jared set down the frame and walked over to her. He picked the ten year old up from where she was leaning and took her over towards his bed, placing her on his knee. Despite the nearly ten-year age difference between them, the two had always been very close. Whenever she became old enough to understand what exactly Jared being sick meant, she had instantly taken to being a little nurse with him, always sitting with him on bad days and bringing him water. Jared couldn’t ask for a better little sister.
“I don’t want you to leave like Jeff.” She sniffled before leaning her head against his chest.
“I got into to college, Meg,” he said softly. “You remember how badly I wanted to do that right?”
“You did?” She sounded excited for him despite the sniffles.
“I did. And driving to campus will take a long time every day. So I’m going to move into Jeff’s building with a new friend.”
“Oh…”
“How about this,” Jared nudged her so she would look at him. “You can come sleep over with me sometime…”
“Really?!?” she squealed. “Jeff won’t let me spend the night at his apartment!”
“Well I’m not Jeff now am I?” Jared teased, rubbing his nose against hers. “I’d have to clear it with my roommate but I don’t think he’d really care if you did so for a night.”
“Yay! Thank you!” She flung her arms around Jared’s neck.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Jared returned the hug. “Now…how about you help me pack up my books?”
Part b →