Most of the Time

Chapter 18

"So, what are you in for this time" Justin says as if this is prison, and he wouldn't be wrong.

"Bowel obstruction. Prepare yourself for vomit." I preface.

He smiles "Remember when we had our unplanned sleepover. It seemed like so long ago, but it really was only like 2 months ago."

I nod. How could I forget. Justin Collins was not only at my house, but he slept there.

He continues, "I didn't really get any sleep that entire night partly because I was scared your dad would find me and throw me out but mostly because I wanted to make sure you slept. Lily told me you get really hot at night and vomit. I don't know I guess I just wanted to be there." He pauses to switch his gaze from his hands to my face to see my expression but there isn't any. I just didn't know what to think. "This may sound weird but that night I stayed up watching videos and looking at pictures of people vomiting, I mean all kinds. Some had food poisoning, some had worms in their stomach, I mean full on ascariasis, projectile, you name it"

He looks back down, "Then the next morning we went to Deny's or was it IHop?"

"Same thing" I interject to keep the story moving along so I could figure out what he's trying to say.

"Yeah" he chuckles. "I tried my best that car ride not to hit any potholes so you wouldn't get nauseous, and you know that's really hard in Texas. I drove incredibly slow. You barley ate at IHop and before you told me you were eating practically nothing so you wouldn't upset your stomach, I was ready. Napkin in pocket, ready to smell vomit and pat your back ready." He sees the shocked expression on my face. My lips slightly partly open without me noticing and I could feel my eyebrows flurrying. "Needless to say, this has been my life's work for the last couple of months so I'm ready."

I knew he was dead serious, but I just couldn't help it

"Oh shut up" l hysterically start laughing at his longwinded story. A story I knew well but not in the way he told it. I rolled on my side, opposite of him facing the window, continuing my hysterical laugh.

I hear him make his way around the bed and facing me again. He begins talking again, but I instantly cover my ears before I could hear anything else. "You're making me laugh too much, I don't want to throw up" I say in the hysterics. I shift to my back in an attempt to fight against my urge to laugh.

I see him laughing too. He slowly reaches for my hands and moves them away from my ears, pining them down gently on the side of my head.

I resist.

"No, I need you to hear this, really" he says. "It would be my honor to shovel your vomit into a green hospital baggie Em."

"Why are you so stupid and thoughtful?" I laugh but what I really wanted to ask is, Why weren't you this stupid and thoughtful to me before? I have known Trevor for 4 years and though in many ways he is the same cool without trying dork, now it seems he is something else. I don't recognize him and do at the same time.

Two movies, including the movie we never watched during our sleep over, lots of commentary, and several hours later it was 8pm and Dad never showed. I've never slept at the hospital by myself, and I wasn't planning on started now. I managed not to vomit the entire time Justin I watched the movies. A small part of me wishes I did vomit so I could see how Justin would have handled it.

I see Justin begin to fall asleep next to me. He moved the bedside chair as close to the bed as the chair could go. So close that the side of his head is resting on my bed. Now we're sharing the same pillow. That made me smile

I pull out my phone to call someone to come so Justin could go home. It was a long shot as no one has answered the phone all day. Finally, my mom answers. Honey I'm so sorry, your dad got home late from work. He was going to take a quick shower and drive down to the hospital but the guy fell asleep in our bed putting on his socks. He works too hard, You know I would come down, but you know how I am about driving in the dark, I can already barley see. Have you called Lily to see if she could come down, if not I'm more then happy to shake your brother out bed to be there with you?