The Unexpected Visit

Chapter 28

Within a day, I'm no longer having coughing fits. We leave with the rest of the Warriors in a couple of days and I haven't even met anyone on the team. Anna says that they've met everyone. I'm signed up for school and have all of the supplies that I need. Jackson still seems mad at Anna for calling dad, but I'm grateful; if she hadn't, I might be dead right now. I'm just worried that I won't be able to attend the school they send the team to. Anna talked to a doctor and was told most cases have symptoms of withdrawal from the drug for a year or more. She said that she would most likely be with me all day at school, just to make sure I was okay. Plus, I will have the Warriors around. Jackson decided to tell the entire team what was going on with me without my permission, or even Anna's.

I can hear Jackson and Owen yelling to lift something out of the apartment and get it to the trailer. Anna and I are just taking two bags each. The boys want to bring all of their belongings and the silly stuff. We were told to bring the necessities only. I have no say in it, however, because the doctor also recommended that I don't ride in the car, as that will increase my symptoms. Anna has made me stay in bed and not do anything at all, literally nothing.

"Owen, I said take that to the trailer!" Jackson yells.

"Why can't you take it?" Owen yells back.

"Because I'm busy!"

"I'm not taking it! It's not mine to load!" Owen yells back.

"It is because I said it is! Just load it!" Jackson shouts.

Will it ever end?

"I can't even lift this! What on earth did you put in it?!"

"My weights! Honestly, you would think you would know I don't go without them!" Jackson yells, lowering his tone slightly.

If they keep this up, I'm asking Anna to get us a place ten miles away from theirs. Maybe from there, we won't be able to hear them.

"If you two keep shouting, Rebecca and I are taking the truck, trailer, and everything in them. And not coming back. Understood?" Anna asks loud enough for them to hear but not shouting.

"Fine," Jackson replies reluctantly.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

"Hello, how are you feeling today?" Vallie asks in her usual cheery tone.

"I'm fine, and no, I don't need anything. Why don't you see if the boys need anything?" I ask, knowing she was going to ask.

"Alright, have a good afternoon!" She replies, walking away with a bounce in her step.

We leave a couple of hours later and don't arrive until the next day. Owen sat in the back with me. He took advantage of the fact that I fell asleep almost immediately to cuddle, I know because he thinks I'm asleep even though I'm actually not. Anna knows I'm not asleep and she knows why.

"I'm stopping here for a few hours to sleep. You should get some rest too," Anna says, looking at Jackson then catching my eye in the rearview mirror.

"Okay, but before I do, do you know how Beca's doing?" Jackson asks.

"Why don't you ask her? She's awake," Anna replies, taking her pillow and curling up.

"Beca, are you awake?" he asks, looking at me and Owen trying to cuddle in his sleep, not really succeeding.

I grunt in acknowledgement.

"I will take that as a yes. Are you doing okay?" He asks, turning towards me fully.

"I'm fine. I'm tired, though, so please go to sleep so I can," I say slowly, knowing that trying to rush my words might end in another coughing fit.

"Night," he says, turning and falling asleep instantly.

I try to fall asleep, I really do; it just isn't working. I can't move because I'm sort of a pillow for Owen. Eventually, I did, but it wasn't long after that that Anna resumed driving. I woke up as soon as we got on the road, sadly.

We are almost at our destination, although I'm not sure what the destination is. We haven't been driving long, but after getting practically no sleep because of Owen, I'm exhausted.

"Jackson..." I say as loudly as possible, which is barely above a whisper, another side effect of the withdrawal.

"Yeah, what is it?" Jackson asks, turning slightly to look at me.

"You come to school with me and let Anna take care of the soccer team."

"O-"

"I'm going to school with you, and they can worry about the soccer team," Owen states, looking me in the eyes. He's been sitting on the floor, watching me because I've been in the car so long.

"Won't it look a little weird for me to have a 21 year old following me around?" I ask slowly, trying to sit up.

"No, because everyone always says I look 19," Owen replies, immediately stopping my attempt to sit up.

"Fine, but you aren't following me around the whole year. You and Jackson can take turns," I say slowly, because I feel like my lungs are going to explode.

"Are you all good back there, Beca? That's the most you've said in a conversation in awhile," Anna asks, looking at my pale face and obvious discomfort in the rearview mirror.

"We should be there soon, at least I hope so," Owen says, trying to convince me, but I can see Anna's face saying that we have at least another hour.

I know I'm about to have a coughing fit and Owen can see the worry on my face. I shake my head, don't tell them. I try to stop it by taking deep breaths, even though they hurt. I can barely see Owen. The vibrations of the car are stopping, and when it does, I know I won't be able to stop the coughing.

"Beca, hold on," Owen says right before he kisses me, the burning in my lungs slowly fading away.

"....." Anna and Jackson are both speechless.

I can barely think. The burning in my lungs is just a small reminder that I could've had a coughing fit, and by some miracle or trick, Owen somehow stopped it and made it go away.

Jackson clears his throat and pulls Owen away. I look at Anna and know exactly what she's thinking. I nod in response and lay back down, still trying to process what just happened.

"Dude, did you just save my twin from a coughing fit by kissing her?" Jackson asks, looking shocked and slightly mad.

"He did," Anna says, clearly having a lot on her mind while she starts the truck back up and pulls onto the road.

"Dude, what," Jackson exclaims.

"I guess I did. Rebecca seems to be resting easier now. She may even fall asleep," Owen says hopefully.

"Don't count on it," I mumble through a blanket.

"You sure sound happy that I saved you," he says, teasing me and moving towards me to tickle me a little.

I take the blanket away from my face. "Tickle me and suffer the consequences," I state, then go back into hiding under the blanket.

"Okay, fine, I won't tickle you...for now," Owen says, moving back into his watching me position on the floor.