The Last Chance book 1

chapter 15

CW: Needle

When they reach the nurses office he can hear Nat yelling for the nurse.
" Mrs. A , We think my friend has a higher fever then yesterday ". He opens his eyes when Max helps Zee put him on the bed. The nurse rushes. " Open your mouth please Nunew. I need to check your temperature ". He opens his mouth. He sees Zee give Max his phone in order for his parents to be updated. Max pulls Nat out of the room with him. " His temperature is 105⁰F ( 40⁰C ) ". Zee takes a hold of Nunews hand. " Since this morning he has been saying that he's been freezing ". The nurse looks at him and thinks before saying. " He's overheating so much that his brain is confused and thinking he's cold. We need to get him out of the hoodie and remove his shirt so we can put cold washcloths on his body to cool him down. I also want to give him an IV to get some fluids into him. Please help him remove his top layers while I go get the on call doctor as well as the supplies ready ". His eyes widened. Hes coherent enough to know that means Zee, Max and Nat will all have to see his scars. He shakes his head no as Zee tries to take the hoodie off. " I know you are cold Nunew but this will help ". He doesn't care if he's cold. He just doesn't want them to see his scars. When Zee successfully gets the hoodie off Max and Nat return. At this point he's pushing away Zee as tears stream down his face. " Max can you help me take his shirt off. The nurse said hes overheating and we need to take his shirt off so we can out cold towels on him. He won't let me remove his shirt ". When Max tries to help he yells at them.
" I dont want you to see! I wont let you. Its bad. Its scary ". Nat stops Zee and Max for a moment. " He's worried about his scars ". Zee looks at him. While they stop trying to get his shirt off he has moved to the otherside of the bed against the wall away from them. Looking at them terrified. He can see the hurt in all of their eyes. " New, if we see your scars we won't look at you differently then we do ok. Please take off your shirt so we can help you ". He shakes his head no. Zee turns to Max and they seem to communicate before Zee holds him down and Max quickly takes his shirt off of him. Once the shirt is off he uses Zee's body as a way to try and hide his scarred torso from them. His hands are shaking. " I dont want this. Im scared. Hia please ". When Zee goes to pull him away he tries to stop him but he is to weak. He is exhausted from trying to stop them. He hears Nat let out a gasp causing him to bring his legs to his chest. And hide his head in his hands. " I didn't want to show you. I dont want you to see how broken my body is ". He flinches when he feels someone lift his face up. " Your body is not broken New ok. You are beautiful and strong " Zee said as he wipes the tears away. Both Max and Nat stand at the edge of the bed. " Zee is right Nunew. You are strong ". Max says. Nat joins in with trying to help him not be terrified to show them. " I wish you can see the way we see you. No one here or even in our friend group looks at you like you are broken. The only one who thinks that is you. Please don't be afraid to show us ". He looks at the three of them before looking back down. He rubs his head in pain. " everything hurts. And im scared to show ". Zee gently rubs his head. " Can you tell me why you're scared ". Quietly in a shaky voice he says" Im afraid you will be grossed out by my scars ". He can feel someone grab his hand. Looking up he sees that its Max. " I have a scar that I will show you if you want. We can show everyone our scars for the first time together. No one has seen my scar before as well
Nunew. I used to think that everyone would be grossed out like you. But I quickly learned that people don't. Although no one has seen it cause it makes me nervous. I will let you guys see it if you will show us your scars ". He looks from Max to Zee. He them looks back at Max. " Not even Hia Zee has seen it ". He nods. " Not even Zee ". He looks at the three of them before slowly nodding. Stuttering he says " Can you go first P'Max ". Max nods as he lifts his shirt up enough to see the scar. Just above his hip he has a long and massive scar. " I was in a car accident my sophomore year. A peice of metal had scrapped my side ". He looks at Max's hands and can see them shaking a little. He can tell that Max had told the truth. Especially with the way Zee had looked at Max's scar. He makes eye contact with max who is giving him an encouraging smile. He grabs Zee's hand as a way to comfort himself. It takes him a little while but he eventually lowers his legs away from his chest. He doesn't make eye contact with anyone. Not until he feels Zee gently squeeze his hand. When he looks up he sees Zee stare at him with a look that shows how proud he is. He then turns to Nat and although he is holding back tears he can see worry in his eyes. Lastly he turns to see Max.
" Im proud of You Nunew. You are incredibly brave ". Slowly he scoots over to max. " P'max can I give you a hug ". When Max nods he pulls him into a hug. Quietly he says " We are both brave. Thank you for doing that for me. You have no idea how much it means. I could see your hands shaking ". He then pulls away from the hug. " I did it because I care about you and I know how it feels to have scars that you are afraid to show others ". He gives Max a small smile before looking at everyone. The adrenaline from showing his scars is gone and he feels even more naseaous from his emotions. When the nurse comes with the doctor they have him lay down. " Can we have everyone besides Nunew leave please ". He quickly sits back up causing him to feel extremely dizzy. " D-dint make Hia Zee leave. At least let him stay. I need him ". The doctor can see the fear in his eyes. " If I let him stay will you cooperate
with me ". He says yes. So the doctor tells Zee to sit on the other side of the bed. Zee pulls him to lay down as Nat and Max leave the room. " Nunew I want you to listen to me ok. Im going to put an iv in your hand. I need you to relax this arm for me ok ". He bits his lip and nods his head before turning to look at Zee and holding on to Zee's hand with his other arm. He winces in pain when the needle is inserted to his arm. Zee gives his hand a squeeze. " You did good Nunew. Now im going to give you some medicine that will make you sleepy but it will make your fever go down ok ". He looks at the doctor before nodding. Shortly after the medicine goes through the IV as well as the fluids, just like the doctor said he starts to feel sleepy.
" Go to sleep New. You need rest ". So he does. He closes his eyes and let's himself fall asleep.

Word Count: 1359