[chrome]

[Seven Weeks Later]

The morning had started out pretty roughly; Desmond sleeping in through the majority of his first class. Usually he at least attempted to make an appearance but once he woke up and looked at the time he simply rolled over and fell back asleep. When he finally did pull himself out of bed he felt more tired than when he'd fallen sleep the night before. The past couple of days had been just as bad and Desmond would have brushed it off as a typical illness if it weren't for the fact that the simple smell of coffee now had him rushing to the bathroom. Oh how he missed his favorite drink, especially now that he was so freaking tired all the time.

Desmond made it to his second class of the day only a couple minutes late and spent the majority of the lesson with his head in his arms dozing in and out of sleep. It wasn't until lunch time that he felt some of his energy returning, though he still craved at least a cup of dark caffeinated goodness.

Peeking his head around the opening of the cafeteria doors, his eyes darted around to be sure the room was void of a particular blue head of hair before entering. It was busy now, Desmond had arrived almost exactly at noon which was purposefully earlier than he usually had lunch. He'd been avoiding Ocean since he'd started suspecting the reason behind his condition, not quite ready to face the other half of the problem just yet. It wasn't like they were in a relationship or anything, they just fooled around a bunch since that first time. Irresponsibly, he might add.

The smell of a bunch of different meals around him made his stomach churning warningly causing him to avoid the hot food set out and go straight for the salad bar. Once he'd gotten a plate full of greens and vegetables topped with a light layer of dressing, he went back to his usual seat near the window.