Chapter 13
(Nick's point-of-view)
I awoke to the awkard swaying of the bus. Suddenly, I remember why my mother would never drive on curvy roads. They could make anyone carsick. Sick was the apporiate word.
That one small bite of the disgusting chowder was doing cartwheels inside of me. It was time for the soup to join the banana bites. I sat up quickly regretting having the top bunk. I really wish I would've taken Brian's offer to keep his bunk. I threw off the sheet Brian had forced me to keep and prepared to climb down. The floor was too blurry to focus and my head was surrounded in dizziness. I shut my eyes tossing myself downward. "Ow!" I winced. I had managed to lose my footing and bang my knee against the floor. Kevin stirred.
Oh, Kevin, don't wake up! I really wanted to be alone. I had already sent Brian into a panic. Wasn't causing one nervous breakdown bad enough? I pushed myself up. I had to get to the bathroom.
I barely made it. This was fet worse than the banana incident. The burning and heaving had doubled in pain. I shut my eyes. I had no desire to see what was decorating the toilet bowl. The vomiting continued as the someone entered.
"Damn, Nick!"
I kept my head over the bowl. "Kev, I'm sorry."
He rubbed my back. "Don't be sorry. Just relax. Do you think you're going to be sick again?"
I coughed. "No, I think I'm done. I'm fine. I don't need any help I'm a big boy."
He flushed the toilet. "How in the hell could you have vomited that much? You only had one bite of the soup."
I breathed deeply. "Must have been the coke AJ gave me. He didn't know it would make me sick."
"I'm sure he didn't. Let's try Sprite this time." He wet a washcloth placing wiping away the perspiration that dripped from my face. "You wanna' go back to bed?"
"Yeah. I'm really sorry."
"For the second time, there is nothing to be sorry about. I guess Brian does know you like a book, doesn't he?"
Yes, he did. But he shouldn't be caring for me or even thinking about me after all he had been through.
I groaned lowering my head. "Make the room stop spinning."
"Not too much I can do about that," he answered calmly. "You want to lye here or go back to the bunk?"
"My bunk."
Kevin wrapped my arm around his shoulder lifting me up. I took a few wobbling steps my knee throbbing. "Ah!"
"What?"
"I hit my knee getting to the bathroom."
"You're crazy, Nicky. Lean against me. I've got 'ya."
Kevin practically carried me down the small aisle as I struggled for balance. He set me down. "Take my bunk. It's closer to the bathroom-just in case. I'll take one of the extras."
"Thanks." I moaned.
"You want to go to the emergency room? You look pretty ghostly."
Do I look like Casper or something? "No, I just need sleep. I'll be fine."
"I want you to drink a warm Sprite before you drift off."
"No."
"Nick, it should help your stomach and keep you from getting dehydrated."
"Guys?" Brian called sitting up yawning. "What happened?"
Kevin frowned. "Nick, got sick again."
He threw back his bedsheets. "I told you he was sick, but you wouldn't listen to me! And you shouldn't have made him touch that gross soup!"
Kevin gritted his teeth. "I made a mistake, Brian. I'm human we all do!"
AJ pulled back his shade. "Would you two shut up! Yelling won't make Nick feel better or allow any of us to sleep! Except Howie-but he could sleep through an earthquake!" He faced me. "You okay, Nick?"
"I'll be okay."
"Just rest and ignore dumb and dumber even if they are taking care of you!"
He pulled back the shade once again. AJ spoke the truth so sweetly.... Brian stared down at me. "Nick, you all right? Do you want to stop by the nearest hospital?"
I shivered. "I'm fine. Just go back to bed."
Brian's eyes narrowed. "Kev, he's sweating like a pig! Could you get me the thremometer?"
Kevin stared at me speaking quietly. "You go on back to bed, Bri. I'll take care of him."
Brian shook his head. "I want to sit with him. I'll go back to sleep once I know he's okay."
Why did he have to stay? I couldn't handle him being near me it was too uncomfortable. "Kev's right, Bri."
"Just calm down, Frack."
Calm down? I couldn't.
Kevin fidgeted about handing Brian the thremometer. "I'll go get him a Sprite. Try to get him to calm down."
Brian slid the thremometer under my tongue. "You really should've told us. Is this why you've been so distant to me? Because you weren't feeling well?" What was I suppose to say when I didn't know the answer? He wrapped the sheets over me pulling them to my chin. "That better?"
I nodded.
Kevin returned handing me the warm Sprite. "What's his temp?"
Brian retrieved the annoying object. "99.9."
Kevin placed a straw to my lips. "Sip that slowly."
I took a small sip. "You guys can go back to bed. I'm okay now. Sorry to wake you up."
"I'll stay with you awhile longer, Frack. I wanna' make sure you fall asleep okay."
"I'll do that," Kevin offered.
"No, I'm fine, Kevin! I'm perfectly able to sit up with him."
"But-"
"Please, Kev. Just let me be."
Kevin sighed climbing into my bunk. "Just get some sleep, both of you. If he's not better by morning I want him checked out properly."
Brian faced me. "Do you need anything else?"
"No."
He stood rummaging through my bunk. "How long has this been going on?"
"A few days."
"Next time don't wait so long to say anything."
Yeah, Brian, take your own advice. Next time don't wait so long to have heart surgery.
"Um...okay."
He smiled. "There it is. Here."
He placed 'Friendship Bear' in my arms. "Maybe that'll make you feel better. Help remind you of home."
I stared at the toy. "Thanks."
"You okay, Frack?"
I stammered my words. "Yeah, sure." I looked up at him. "Brian, you would never leave would you?"
"Leave? No, I don't think so."
I hugged him tightly my body shaking. "Just don't! Please just don't get sick again! You just can't. And if you're near me you could get sick again-"
"Nick!" he exclaimed feeling my forehead. "You've got to calm down. You're scaring me here."
I struggled to catch my breath. "Sorry."
He ruffled my hair. "It's all right. Just get some sleep. You've got to get better."
I had to get better. We both had to get better. Inside and out.