Chapter 6: Shortbread Cookies
770 Words
Taking away everything about Nate, I was actually surprised how well my life was going without major glitches. I was now 3 weeks in and everything was fairly going well and I was adjusting just fine.
The stares had stopped long ago, probably as people didn't get whatever content they expected from me and Nate.
Going to Rosie's house on Saturdays seemed to be becoming a tradition now and I wasn't complaining. My homework got done faster and I made my mum proud in terms of socializing with actual humans, willingly, so everything was good.
However this particular Thursday, everything was really not good. I wish I'd let my mum call in sick for me because the nausea I've been feeling since yesterday was overwhelming. I'd also broken out into a cold sweat last night with a headache.
Yet, here I was in school. Suffering.
Thankfully, the teachers had a district meeting so the first half of school period was free. Even though I desperately wished the other half would be cancelled too.
"How are you feeling now?" I heard Rosie ask, we were in the courtyard, one of the very few times of managing to actually get a spot to sit that wasn't grass with bite-y insects. Aaron came along too, and he was reading some fat textbook I didn't care about. We've started talking more, but only by the tiniest bit.
"Worse." I groaned, feeling my mouth get really salty. Oh God. I was going to puke.
"Hey, I don't care what you said, let's get you to the nurse and get you a home pass." Rosie said, already standing up.
I'd refused going to the nurse because I believed I could stay strong till at least after the Chem theory test that was supposed to hold today. However I don't know anymore.
"Mmh hmm." I agreed and sat up, resisting with everything in me the urge to spit on the grass. I met Aaron's eyes, it was full of concern even though he said nothing.
"Come on, Ron. You're coming with us." Rosie declared, holding me by my forearms and helping me up.
Don't puke, Sarah. Don't puke, Sarah. Don't puke.
"Don't bother, Aaron." I groaned, a wave of dizziness hitting me. Oh God. "The toilet is closer, I want to puke."
"Ugh." Rosie slightly groaned and said something to Aaron I didn't get because it felt like every single thing was distorted. Rosie led me to the toilet and I basically rushed to a stall to empty my guts into a dirty toilet with her holding up my hair.
"How beautiful." I mocked myself, feeling a little better.
"Well that's out, you ought to feel better." Rosie said, gently rubbing on my back.
"I do."
"You're still going to the nurse." She said as I stood up straighter. I still felt dizzy as I flushed the toilet.
"Mmh hmm."
Soon enough, I was in a stiff, uncomfortable bed in the nurse's office as the little lady stuck in a thermometer into my armpit and checked my eye. I was dozing off, and barely properly took the medicine Rosie helped feed me.
Next thing I knew, my mum was gently waking me, helping me off the bed.
"Honey, you said you were fine." She lightly scolded as I slipped my feet partly into my sneakers. "I should've called you in sick."
"I real thought I would be fine." I groaned, looking around. Rosie wasn't here, just me, my mum, the nurse and some other kid in another bed. Maybe classes had started again.
My mum picked my bagpack up―Rosie must've brought it―then proceeded to open it and put something inside.
"What's that?" I asked, squinting and talking softly to not trigger the headache into another short riot.
"The nurse said someone brought it for you when you were sleeping." My mum zipped up my bag and pushed away my hands when I made to carry it. "A pack of shortbread cookies, I think it's that one brand you really like."
"Huh." I blinked. It was probably Rosie, however shortbreads weren't sold in school and Rosie was still on a diet (a new one), she wouldn't randomly bring cookies.
And Aaron... Could be but yet can't be.
However apart from the two of them, there was no one else to randomly get me cookies. And a brand I like.
My headache was threatening to explode once more as I left with mum so I stopped thinking about it. I would ask Rosie later.
Whoever it was, they just made my day a little better.
- Writer
