The Perplexity Of Normal

Adam

I wiped wearily at my soggy brow. My stomach ached as I bent over, doubling up in pain. I was drenched in sweat despite the cool, stormy air.

"Yo!" Noah slowed to a stop beside me. "Get to movin'! Coach is gonna' have your head if he sees you like this."

I nodded weakly, waving him off. The wrenching pangs pulled at my stomach as I clutched it tightly. I gasped as a particularly nasty one shot through, cramping my abdomen.

"Adam?" Noah came closer as I fell to my knees. I felt light headed and dizzy all of a sudden. The ground seemed to move beneath my clammy palms.

"Woah!" He jumped back as my stomach heaved. I vomited. It flushed out in a watery mix of stomach acid. "Ew! Gross!"

   I heard a few disgruntled sounds as a group of Marvels ran past, the ground vibrating beneath their feat. "Toughen up, McLane!" I heard someone huff. It was lost to me as my head spun.

My stomach heaved again, causing my body to scrunch painfully. However, there was nothing left in me to expel. I stared down in exhaustion at my vomit, too dizzy and weak to move.

"I'm- I'm gonna' go get Coach." Noah shuffled his feet uncertainly. I nodded weakly. There was no way I was finishing the mile. I didn't even know if I could make it to my car.

Noah took off, leaving me to fend for myself. I rolled onto my back, away from the foul smelling puke. I gasped as the cool air clung to my face, gently whispering across my forehead.

My eyes closed of their own accord and I felt my body sink into the grass. An overwhelming sense of exhaustion was plaguing my limbs, accompanied by a dull aching that throbbed in my muscles. It felt like I had just been run over as I listened to the wind playing in the autumn leaves. I felt slightly better now that I was completely empty.

"Kid?" Coach jogged over, Noah hot on his heels. I opened my eyes. Both of them looked concerned, but Coach tried to hide it. "Are you alright?"

I didn't answer, just nodded as I tried not to faint. My eyes fluttered closed again. I felt tired.

"You look rough, kid." I could feel Coach's eyes assessing me. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I stayed silent, willing him to understand. It was so sudden. I didn't even really feel it until I started running, then about halfway in....

"He was fine earlier." Noah supplied, coming to my rescue. His voice was anxious. "Healthy as a horse."

They were both silent for a minute. I could feel sleep tugging at the corner of my brain. All of those tireless, sleepless nights must've been catching up to me.

"Say, Adam." Coach started awkwardly. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was standing with a frown on his face, neck craned towards my puddle of sick. "When was the last time you ate?"

I struggled to remember. When was the last time I ate? I couldn't remember feeling hungry much at all this week, my mind drug down by thoughts of my mother and football and school....

"Thursday?" I managed to croak out, finally landing on the answer. My stomach turned hungrily at the thought of food.

Coach blew out a breath of air. He glanced at me incredulously. "Hell, it's Wednesday, kid."

Noah peered down at me worriedly. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to look at either of them.

It was only the third day of school, and I was already starting to falling apart.

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   I groaned as I collapsed into my car, rolling down the windows with a sense of urgency. Puke never makes a good air freshener, I thought as I laid my head back. I could feel the hunger pains biding their time, resting at the back of my stomach.