Symmetrical Scars

3) Complications

"Nobody realizes why their alive, until they find what they'd die for."
~Martin Luther King Jr.
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I clench my fingers around my skirt even tighter as I attempt to keep my mind focused on the dissection in front of me. I've swallowed my vomit at least five times now, but I've made it about two hours through the school day without pissing anyone off.

I managed to greet Kid without Jace noticing by waving quickly before getting to my seat. Fortunately, Kid didn't try to talk to me afterwards. But now here I am, about to pass out and throw up all over my desk. In front of an entire classroom of people.

I swear, if I have to swallow another round of metallic disgustingness, I'm going to explode. Biting my cheek harshly, I cautiously raise my hand.

Stein glances up from his dissection and nods in my direction.

"May I use the restroom?" I ask, trying not to let vomit slip into my mouth.

He nods and returns to his experiment, using a scalpel to cut a second incision into the stomach. I quickly stand up, not daring to even glimpse in Jace's direction. He hates it when I leave his sight, but somehow he's allowed to leave mine.

I scramble into the nearest bathroom stall, throwing up a bright red fluid mixed with this morning's breakfast. The sight makes me throw up again, more bright red. I'm not an idiot, it's obviously blood- but why would I be throwing up blood? It's supposed to stay inside my body, not be deposited in one of the most disgusting ways possible.

I flush the toilet to avoid puking at the sight again, but it doesn't help. More blood rises in my throat and spirals down the drain.

I'm absolutely pathetic, I can't stand because I'm so dizzy- I'm practically glued to a toilet. If I stand, I'll either fall or throw up all over something. I'll just have to pray that Jace shows up and gets me help.

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Three bells chime above me, signaling the start of lunch- something I can barely stand to think about. I've been stuck in the bathroom for over an hour now, throwing up blood into a toilet repeatedly.

Today is just fucking perfect.

"I'm just going in to check!" A familiar voice says outside the bathroom.

"No way, Kid!" Another voice protests, "You can't just go into the girl's bathroom!"

"What if she hurt herself or something?" Kid says nervously.

"I'll go in and check for you, honestly- I'm sure she's already at lunch." The voice grumbles as it enters the bathroom.

I force my eyes open as I flatten my brown hair down, hoping to look semi-presentable for whoever is searching the bathroom. The stall door pushes open slowly, and a girl with long light brown hair pokes her head in cautiously, seeing me on the ground.

"Oh my-" she cuts herself off, "Are you okay?"

"Th-throwing up... Blood..." I reply, I honestly don't give a shit about Jace, I just want out of this goddamned bathroom.

"Oh my god, Kid!" She shouts, "Go get help!"

Quick footsteps resound towards the stall, and the girl slams it shut before Kid can see me thankfully. "What happened?! Is she in there?!"

"Yeah, she's in there. Go get Stein right now!"

"What happened to her?!" He panics, attempting to push past her and see inside.