The weather is not terribly cold for mid-November, but even wearing a thick cable knit sweater dress and wool leggings and my old Ugg boots, I am still shivering all morning. I see Zach coming out of a class and I am still shivering but not for any good reason. He stops to ask if I’m okay. I explain that I’m just a little chilled, "county must be too cheap to turn on the heat this early in the year," I tell him my teeth nearly chattering.
Zach surprises the heck out of me by taking off his varsity letter jacket to drape it around my shoulders. He orders me to slide my arms into the sleeves and zip it up before he heads to his next class.
"Your next class is out in the trailers right? It’s majorly cold out there you’ll need it to keep warm.” He waves off my objection with, “it’s no big deal. I’ll pick it up after lunch. See you in a couple of hours,” and then he is gone around the corner.
I head to class then lunch, warmer, but still shivering a bit. The chills are still with me and now my head is pounding as if someone is jack hammering inside my skull.
When Josh sees me at lunch, he looks like he's still furious for some reason. I figure he's mad about seeing me and Player in the hallway last week, even though nothing happened, and why would he even? But, that's not what's bugging him today.
"How convenient your football boyfriend was around to lend you his jacket," he snaps at me before I can even sit, more like fall, down onto the bench wincing. My whole body suddenly feels like one giant bruise and I am feeling so woozy. Must be low blood sugar I think as I try to start eating and ignore his nasty tone.
"He’s not by boyfriend. He was just being nice," I explain.
"Yeah, I see him lending his most prized varsity jacket to girls all the time."
I am wondering why he should care. Why do I care that he cares? He’s acting like he's jealous and being mean to me on purpose.
Why? Is the last thought I remember before I pass out, just missing falling face first into my mashed potatoes.
Flu is no one's friend. Trust me on this. Catch it just once, and you will become obsessed with washing your hands and sterilizing everything you touch.
Josh visits me while I’m home recovering. Being stuck at home in bed for a week is not fun; after the first couple of days, incredibly boring hour after hour after hour. Josh has had his flu shot this year, but Laurel didn't. She is terrified of needles and has a severe allergy to eggs (BFF secret), so she can’t have the flu mist. Both of which also mean that she can’t come visit me during my parent-imposed quarantine.
“She’s super pissed she can’t come see you,” he told me.
“And you’re enjoying it."
“A little bit. Yeah,” he laughs.
I love hearing his laugh. How can someone’s laugh make you feel warm on the inside?
I’m so loopy today.
“My throat feels like it’s on fire and my face is all puffy,” I complain.
“It’s a good look for you,” he said.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Seriously. You make sickness look good. I didn’t think your eyes could sparkle any more than they usually do.”
“Am I that loopy or did you just give me a compliment?” I ask.
“Don’t sound so shocked. It’s what friends do.”
“Oh now you’re my friend?” I ask him.
“I have always been your friend Kat,” he said softly.
Awkward pause. It hasn’t felt like it lately.
“I know it probably hasn’t felt like it lately, but that’s my fault. I’m pigheaded and stubborn, but I am loyal. Get used to it,” he said.
I’d like to. I missed not having him around making me laugh the last couple of weeks.
When he spills the broth down my chin for a second time trying to help me eat, I tell him he’d make a lousy nurse.
“Ouch. You just talked yourself right out of a sponge bath missy.”
“Don’t make me laugh, it hurts my head,” I say wincing.
He gives my hand a little squeeze and told me he’s going to go and let me get some rest.
“Not yet. Just a few more minutes,” I beg. The isolation with no one but myself or daytime television to keep me company all day is getting to me.
He smiles and sits back down. I start telling him about the guys that came over to visit and their pros and cons hoping he can help me decide which one is the best.
“A couple of them have tried to kiss me and I have thought about kissing them back, but I’m just not able to for some reason. Something always interrupts or goes wonky.”
I notice his face starting to look somewhat angry when I’m talking about the other guys. I figure he’s back to being all mad at me again thinking I’m some kind of school skank, so I try to explain.
“I’m not a wild, random kisser like Laurel or anything. It’s just these four guys.”
Wow. Four guys. That sounds like a lot when I say it aloud like that.
“Good to know.”
“Be nice, there’s nothing wrong with that. Laurel’s a good girl,” I tell him.
“I didn’t say she wasn’t.”
“I’m not so sure I’m a good girl though,” I say.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you are,” he said.
I look at him again. He’s so big for my computer chair. He looks like he’s sitting in a little kid chair, especially when he keeps swiveling back and forth it in like that.
“I used to think so, but now….I’m not so sure… there was this amazing guy a couple weeks ago.”
I start to tell him more but I see the chair go still. I know he’s uncomfortable hearing me talk about other guys, but if he’s really my friend, I should be able to tell him right?
“There was this guy at the Halloween party...”
“Kat, you don’t have to tell me.”
“I want to. I want to tell someone. I have to tell someone. I told Laurel," (a little bit, just enough for her to agree I can cross #5 off my bucket list), "but I can’t stop thinking about it. About him. It was just…so…just the most amazing night of…my whole life.”
“Why?”
“He was just..so..amazing...see there was all this loud music, but then my head was pounding so hard…so loud…and his hands were just….and I wanted to….and his mouth…ohhhhh myyyyy God, Josh this guy’s mouth…and his hands…and his butt were just…so…”
“Amazing?”
I look back over at him and he’s smirking. What’s with the grin? And why is his face all blurry. I blink a few times to focus, but he’s still blurry…wait, who turned out the lights? Ok, wait, there is his face again.
“Kat. Kat? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just…what were we talking about? Man it’s hot in here. Why’d you turn out the lights?”
Now Josh’s blurry face isn’t smiling, he’s got wrinkles all over his forehead. Why is he putting his hand on my forehead? Do I have wrinkles too?
“MR. O’CONNELL!” Why is he yelling at my Dad? That is not a good move friend.
I can’t keep my eyes open but I can hear people talking. I just can’t figure out what they’re saying. It's like I hear them from the end of a long tunnel. I start to drift in and out. Every time I manage to open my eyes just a sliver, there’s more people in my room, some are wearing uniforms. Where did all these people come from?
“Kat! Kat! Look at me! Stay with me! KAT!”
Josh?
Josh?
The first thing I see is white tiles with hundreds of dots. My eyes feel like they weigh a hundred pounds each and my head is throbbing as if a bongo band has been using it for practice. I try to get up and I can’t. There’s a hand holding my shoulder down. I try to turn my head to look at the hand but it’s so hard to move. I want to cry or yell but then Mom’s face is floating over me.
“Katie. Sweetie. How are you? Don’t try to move just yet ok?” Floating Head Mom whispers.
“Mom? Where am I? What happened?” Man my throat is on fir
e.
“You’re in a hospital. Your fever spiked to 106. You were delusional. Daddy called an ambulance that brought you to the Emergency Room.”
“What? When?”
Floating Head Mom is starting to cry, “last night. You’ve been unconscious for almost a whole day sweetie. I need to go tell the nurse you’re awake, but I’ll be right back I promise. Don’t try to move ok?”
“I won’t. Trust me.”
Mom comes back with the nurse who messes with buttons and rearranges tubes and bags hanging on a rack next to me. She seems nice but she has the most annoyingly chipper way of talking.
“How are we feeling today dear?” she asks.
“Just peachy. Like I got hit by a Mack truck. And you?”
“Hmmm, feisty. That’s good, considering you’ve been unconscious for 22 hours straight.”
“Guess I needed a nap.”
“Not quite,” she said.
She starts writing notes on a clipboard at the foot of my bed and checks a few more machines behind my head, “but you’re in good hands now and almost out of the woods. We’re going to keep you here for a little longer on the antiviral meds and the doctor just approved a small dose of painkiller that I just put into your IV bag now that you're conscious. You'll be fully hydrated very soon. That was one nasty strain of influenza you picked up dear. Your Mom and brother can take you home sometime tomorrow. Now you just relax and push this little button right here if you need anything.”
Brother?
“Mom?”
“I’m right here sweetie,” she said taking my hand.
“Can you rise up my bed, it really hurts to move right now.”
“Of course, sweetie. Here you go.”
Just like that with a push of a button I’m slowly sitting up so my view moves from white tiled ceiling to white block wall in front of my bed, but there’s a TV too so that’s something new.
“Where’s Dad? Did that nurse say my brother?”
“Daddy went home to get a little rest and grab a shower. I called him just now and told him you’re awake. He’s on his way back and he’ll be here in about 30 minutes. I called Laurel’s Mom too and told her so she could stop worrying. How are you feeling?”
“Sore. It hurts to move and I feel like my body weighs a ton. And I’m thirsty and I sound like a whiny little kid, but other than that, I’m tip top.”
She puts a straw to my lips, “here, sip some ice water, slowly just a little at time ok?”
It may just be water, but I think it’s the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.
“What about the brother? You guys didn’t get a replacement kid while I was out did you?”
She gives me a tired little laugh and a smile, “no sweetie. That’s your brother,” she said pointing her chin somewhere to my right.
It takes nearly all my strength to turn my head. When I do, I see Josh passed out, sprawled in a chair next to the window.
“This could be the pain killer talking, but I’m really confused now.”
Mom sighs and pats my arm. Total Mom move. Then she told me, “Josh is the one who figured out something was terribly wrong with you. He called for Daddy, who called for the ambulance. Daddy rode here with you in the ambulance. Josh came right behind in the car with me, and his Mom Carol. The hospital staff tried to make him leave when he first got here, but Carol told them Josh was your brother and Daddy and I went along with it so he could stay in the room with you. He hasn’t left your side since.”
“Wow. He’s been here for 22 hours?” I ask her.
“Yes. He has. That’s quite a friend you have there in that young man Katie.”
“Yeah. I…I guess so,” I say with more than a touch of wonder.
“I’m going to go out front and wait for Daddy. You call the nurse if you need anything ok?”
“Ok.”
Mom leaves pulling the door closed behind her. It wasn’t really loud, but in a quiet hospital room, it was just loud enough. I jumped a little bit when it banged. So did Josh. He practically fell out of his chair he was so startled awake. Another classic Mom move--doing something ‘accidental’ on purpose.
“Seriously, you know that chair is about three sizes too small for you right?”
“Kat. Oh my God. You’re awake,” he said jumping out of the chair rushing over to my bed.
“Yeah. Apparently that’s a new thing for me lately I’m told. Bro,” I smile.
Josh takes my hand in both of his, sits on the edge of my bed, and smiles back. Not one of his full strength smiles though.
“Geez you look like crap Bro,” I tell him.
“It’s not been one of my better days. Sis.” he said with a small snort.
“You’ve been here the whole time?”
“I had to make sure you weren’t faking just to skip out on school.”
“Oh, that’s why. Had nothing to do with being a friend huh?” I say.
He stretches out his leg to pull a chair over with his foot so he doesn’t have to let go of my hand, “nope, all business. All the time,” he told me, propping up his leg on the chair.
“I see.”
“Actually, I’m here under orders from Laurel. They wouldn’t let her in, not even during visiting hours because you were still...unstable…and she was going out of her mind. They had to threaten her with forcible removal by armed security or heavy sedation to get her to calm down.”
“Oh man, I can’t believe I missed that,” I say.
“It was an impressive display I think. Even by her dramatic standards. I should text her, let her know you’re awake,” he said looking out the window at the dark sky, “I haven’t talked to her since school got out and it’s what after dinner now?”
“My Mom’s already on it. But thanks.”
Josh is quiet for a while. He is just sitting there staring at me with those big green eyes. He looks so tired. My eyelids start to get heavy again. Just before I think I can’t keep them open any longer I hear him say softly, “You really scared me there Kat.”
“Sorry. Won’t happen again. Not a big fan of germs,” I say all sleepy.
“That’s good to hear. I don’t think I could take it.”
“Ok. I’m gonna take a little nap now ok?” I say.
The last thing I hear is Josh telling me, “I’ll be right here when you wake up Kat.”
“Do I dare ask what we’re talking about today?” Josh said as he stands at the edge of the table before sitting down on my first day back at school after the hospital discharged me.
Jaxon pipes up, “don’t sweat it man, just a simple math problem today.”
Poor Josh, too bad he hasn’t had the benefit of knowing Jaxon’s wicked sense of humor for the past five years like Laurel and I have.
Josh visibly relaxes and sits closely next to me on the bench. I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost.
I cast a sideways glance at him that he catches out of the corner of his eye when he picks up his milk. I get one of his quick smiles, but with slightly squinted eyes.
He’s getting suspicious. We’re all being too quiet. This is so not the quiet kids’ table.
“Ok, spill it. What’s going on?” he asks us putting down the carton.
“Whatever do you mean?” Jaxon replies innocently. Josh just gives him his ‘cut the crap’ look.
“Ok, here’s the deal new guy. By the numbers, we’ve got a contest going to see who’s the most experienced kisser of our little lunch bunch. The lovely Laurel over here” who tilts her head and bats her eyelashes obligingly, “is immediately disqualified for being incredibly OVER qualified.”
“That’s so cute how shocked he looks. Sweetie I lost count around 80 last year, so I’ll just round mine up to an even 100 and we’ll all agree that I’m the judge,” Laurel boasts.
“Sounds fair,” Josh said, “but, my number isn’t nearly that high, so no way I’m going first.”
Is he blushing? OMG he is blushing!
; “Come on, you've got to give us the dirt on those Carolina hotties. All country, all the time, running around in cut off shorts and bikini tops right? Farm girls, yeah,” Player said taking the seat on the other side of Laurel. “Hey hot stuff. Welcome back. Sweet sweater,” he said giving me a nod and a wink. Once a Player always a Player but I can’t help laughing out loud at how brazen he is. I missed him too.
“Which brings us to little miss Bookworm, it’s always the quiet ones who have the most boners rattling in the closet,” Jaxon taunts me.
I laugh louder (if that's even possible), “Hardly. And Laurel doesn’t have 100, she has 99, Danny Wilson kissed me first in 6th grade by the basketball hoops THEN he kissed her under the monkey bars. So I get to count him in my tally.”
“OH PLEASE! That doesn’t count at all. We’re talking REAL kissing, the whole heavy breathing, heavy petting, about-to-get-your-ass-into-some-serious-trouble-if-someone-doesn’t-turn-the-hose-on-you, kind of kissing,” wow. Player certainly paints quite a visual image there.
I blush furiously remembering Halloween, but clear my throat saying, “Well then, sorry, but I’m out in the first round. I haven’t had anyone from school that fits that description yet,” I smile.
“Oh right, like you’ve forgotten all about getting hot and heavy with your Halloween mystery man? The way I remember it a whole battalion of fire fighters would have been needed to douse that heat,” Laurel lets slip.
LAUREL! The absolute shock and fear on my face is an exact twin of hers.
Getting all giggly, she tries to recover fast with, “oops, that was me too.” But she’s not fast enough to stop Player from catching on. The human shark smells chum in the waters.
“Woo hoo! Hold the phone, what is this about a mystery man hot stuff? You been holding out on us?” I give Laurel the most serious I-Am-Going-To-Kill-You-The-Very-First-Chance-I-Get look.
She mouths ‘oops’. Some apology. Her BFF status needs immediate reviewing.
“Nothing,” I tell him. Trying to put some, ‘shut up and drop it right now’ force in my voice.
“Actually, for once I’m in rare agreement with Eli. I think I’d like to hear more about this mystery man too,” Josh said making me look at him as if he has just grown two heads that both started singing Broadway show tunes.
“There is Nothing. To. Tell.” I say very succinctly trying to keep my voice even and steady.
“Now see that guys, when a girl said there’s nothing to tell, that means there’s a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff to tell.”
I can’t play defense so I go offense instead, “Seriously Player. It’s not new. There was a party, a guy, and some music and a few minutes of making out. Nothing new to report. Not like your most recent escapade with the, how many was it, three members of the school Drill Team?”
“Four actually, but we’re talking about you, not me. So who was he? Do we know this paragon of charm who finally caught our little Bookworm’s eye and Heaven knows what else?" he said looking me up and down with a wicked grin, "why’d Laurel call him the mystery man?”
“Geez, enough with the 20 questions. I gotta go,” and with that, chicken-livered Katie splits leaving behind a table full of friends loudly objecting to my lack of respect for detailed descriptions.
The week before Thanksgiving he just stands there. He sighs, waiting.
Laurel looks up putting him out of his misery, “college guys.”
Josh shakes his head and decides (probably against his better judgment) to join us once again for another exciting half hour of lunchtime mayhem.
“Once, just once, why can’t you guys talk about something boring and ordinary at lunch like, I don’t know broccoli or something?” Josh begs us.
I feel it coming. If I look at Laurel I’m going to lose it. I stuff a roll in my mouth to keep the laugh locked inside.
“Just say it already. Go on. Let it out before you hurt yourself,” he said to me and I practically spit the roll across the table laughing. I can’t help it. When we get together something magical happens that we all just get so silly and giggly. It starts like a germ but spreads like a virus. My germ today is the look of pure anxiety on Josh’s face before he sat down wondering what topic was going to make him uncomfortable today.
“What is it this time? My shirt?” he asks.
“No. Never anything so mundane. Today it was just your look of abject horror as you approached the table wondering what awaited you before you sat down.” Laurel catches the bug and starts LOLing all over the place. “Even after you heard what the subject was, you still sat with us. It got me thinking it only took us what, ten weeks to break you into our warped sense of humor. I think you secretly crave it now,” I tell him.
“You’re probably right about that. Much to my eternal shame,” he confides then starts laughing right along with us trying to grab a bite between laughs. I swear there must be something in the milk or water that makes us all loopy at lunch.
“So what about college guys today? Pros? Cons? Fraternity vs. Chess club?” he asks, “I may need time to prepare some research notes.”
“Far more interesting, we’re trying to determine if Katie’s Halloween mystery guy was a college boy,” Laurel purrs.
“You’re trying to figure it out not me. I don’t know any college guys and he said he was a friend who knew me,” I say.
“When we were talking on the phone last night you said you thought he must have been a college guy because he REALLY knew what he was doing,” she said with emphasis, loudly licking her lips and making a yummy sound, “especially when he was—“
“LAUREL!” CRAP!
Josh drops his water bottle splashing it a little bit.
"Geez! A little discretion? Do I need to remind you that BFF conversations are confidential! Plus you’re going to scare Josh so bad he’s never going to want to sit with us again,” I scold her.
“No, no, that’s fine, I’m fascinated at the…wealth of knowledge available to me during lunch now,” he said clearing his throat.
“Hey where are Jaxon and Eli today?” Josh said changing the subject.
“Jaxon is having lunch is Ms. Warshak’s room while he retakes that last Unit Assessment test that he totally bombed,” I say.
“And Player is serving a one day in school suspension for trying to have sex in Principal Phillips’ car,” Laurel said so casually as if she's reporting on the weather today.
I almost choke on my pizza, “holy crap that was real? That was him? I heard about that in Chemistry but I thought it was just a rumor. I can’t believe even he’d go that far. That boy is insane and should be forced to wear cast iron underwear.”
“How in the world did Eli get into the principal’s car?”
“Because, sweet innocent Josh, Player was trying to get into Principal Phillips’ daughter’s pants at the time. Apparently her Daddy gave her the keys because she’s home on winter break from college.”
“HOLY SHIT!” My hands fly to cover my mouth but seriously, HOLY SHIT!
My friend is insane, but seems to know his way around. Could my mystery man have been Player?
Please, please no.