Sean stirred, his gaze blurring against the harsh neon lights lining the ceiling. Squinting, he tried to remember how he had come to find himself lying on a layer of itchy, neglected carpet. He let out a loud groan as the events of the fencing lesson with Lundi Nova rushed back to him.
"Mornin', sunshine." A hand clamped down on Sean's forehead.
Sean gasped as his head erupted into pain. It wouldn't surprise him if he had a concussion.
"It's about time you woke up." The hand pulled away. "I've been shooing all the female teachers away from you. They're vultures when it comes to tending a man in need. Makes me think I need to get into accidents more often."
Jack appeared to his side, his shadow blocking the harsh light. A toothy grin appeared over the scrawny man's expression.
"How long have I been out?" Sean asked with a groan. He sat up, instantly regretting it as the world spun violently.
"Only for about five hours," Jack replied, pulling away to make himself a cup of coffee. "School finished half an hour ago."
Sean rubbed his eyes with his fingertips, too dizzy to process anything more than how he was going to get off the floor.
The floor.
"Jack, where am I?" Sean glanced around the cramped room, spotting a number of empty chairs and an over-sized fridge.
"You don't remember me dragging you in here?" Jack questioned, balancing two ceramic mugs against his arm as he poured coffee from a dark, stained jug. "I told the administration we should call an ambulance for you. You know, the whole 'concussion plus sleep equals coma' thing, but they said it would be better if you slept it off in here." He gave a vague gesture to the room, his gaze preoccupied with the coffee mugs. "Welcome to the central staffroom - the place where everyone has to come, but no one ever wants to be."
Sean nodded his thanks as Jack passed him one of the filled mugs. "What's wrong with the staffroom?" He sipped the coffee, trying hard not to recoil as the lukewarm, bitter liquid caused his head to spin.
"Oh, you know, this and that. There're rumors that a student went crazy and offed themselves in this room before it was used by staff," Jack answered, suddenly distracted by his watch. He choked, slamming the coffee mug onto the counter. "Jesus Christ! Look at the time! We've got to get you home."
Sean shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'll just catch a cab--"
"Don't be stupid." Jack grabbed his arm, surprising Sean as he easily lifted him from the scratchy carpet. "In half an hour the traffic will be so bad you'll wish you owned a private jet."
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