Tess had passed some parents in the hall, having a hurried conversation with the school Principle, Dr. McMahon. They stopped talking as she approached, and the principle quietly moved their conversation to a nearby unused classroom. 

As she entered, Nurse Liz Hopkins looked up at Tess from where she’d been re-checking on of the other kids’s temperature. “What?! Another fainting?” And she bustled off out the door, forgetting entirely to provide Tess with her required medication. 

In her anxious state, it did not even occur to her to quarantine the room and keep Tess out. She still thought it was something they had served at lunch. 

——-

Meanwhile, Bruce ran his fingers through his hair. They came back wet with cold sweat. He looked back at Oberon. “I think so. I feel better, some. A little nauseous. Did you... did all of us black out?”