I woke up to a commotion down the hall, raised voices that had to be Theo and Savannah because Felix was effectively incoherent. I jumped out of bed, pulling my pants on as quickly as I could. I didn’t run down the hall, but jogging was a pretty damn close definition. It felt like all of our lives depended on what was going down in Felix’s room. I turned into the doorway, but Felix wasn’t sitting up in bed. I had half expected to see him scowling at all of us for making a big deal out of nothing. Instead, Savannah knelt next to his face, holding a basin as he retched, his stomach long empty. Theo was silent, in the midst of a panic attack, his chest rising and falling, his skin whiter than Felix’s.

“Luther, thank fuck.” Savannah’s shoulders visibly relaxed at my presence. “He woke up about ten minutes ago and won’t stop dry heaving. I can’t leave him like this, but we need more water. And well…” She tipped her head towards Theo, who still stood frozen on the other side of the room. I knew she didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to his state of mind, but worry was clearly scrawled across her face.

I nodded and walked over to Theo, placing both of my hands on his shoulders. “Theo,” I murmured, keeping my voice level and calm. “Theo, look at me.”

His eyes darted to mine, but his body still trembled under my hands. He was newly sober, and all his old reasons for getting high were smacking him in the face. Death was a bastard that way.

“Theo. Take a breath with me, come on now.” I exaggerated my breathing, keeping our gazes locked, until he finally began mimicking me. After a minute or two, his face regained its color, and he could focus on me. “It’s okay. We’re okay. I’m going to take you to your room, and you can rest. If we need you, we’ll come get you.” I reassured him the whole way out the door, meeting Savannah’s grateful gaze as we walked. Once I had Theo in bed, calmer and clear-headed, I returned to Felix’s room.

Savannah looked up at me again, rubbing Felix’s back as he continued to retch. He didn’t seem to be aware of what was happening, which sent a stab of panic running through me. “Thanks,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do. They both needed me, and I couldn’t split myself in two. Poor fucking Theo. I don’t even want to think about his mental state right now.” She shook her head, falling silent.