Climbing the Walls (OFFICIALLY RESUMED!)

Chapter 41: Too Hot to Handle

Chapter 41: Too Hot to Handle

It's hard to get back into a routine after an extra-long weekend, so Tuesday comes with that "Monday blues" sort of feeling. Luckily, I've been paired with Zayn & Kathleen in the sports block. It's great fun: I get to run around all day chasing kids, playing soccer and silly games all over the pitch.

The first humid day passes in a flash; soon it's Wednesday, and somehow, even hotter. By Thursday, the warmest day of the summer, we've incorporated some giant exercise balls into our block, which the kids like to play soccer with. Zayn is able to kick them the length of the field and because of their size, they seem to bounce on forever. The kids think it's hysterical! When dinner break ends on Wednesday, I realize that I forgot my sunblock. When a ball hits off my shoulders, the imprint it leaves is a stark, white one.

"I think you've burned pretty badly, Beth," Kathleen says when she comes to retrieve it. "Put some sunscreen on, woman! You look like Mr. Krabs!" It's not until I head for my bag that I realize just how very red I've become. The cream squirts onto my skin in cold blobs, melting and running as I rub it in... Dang, I'd been doing so well this summer! I always manage to get one sunburn, since I'm typically snowman-pale; maybe this is it? Despite the scorching heat, I change into a long-sleeved workout shirt and continue playing outside.

Come supper time, I'm absolutely wiped, thirsty beyond belief, and suffering from a terrible headache. I drag my lazy bones into the dining hall, where I'm met with quite a few shocked faces.

"What happened to you?" Liam basically screams; I shrug and shuffle to the table, plopping into a seat beside Lou.

"You look terrible," Louis spits. "Here, have a drink!" He pushes a bottle of water across the table to me, which I sip eagerly. Meanwhile, Liam has slapped a cool hand against my cheek and the touch is so soothing, I basically melt into him with a groan of relief.

"Babe, you're burning up," he says in a somber tone. "You should really go see Patricia."

"It's just a sunburn," I argue.

"I don't think you get the sweats from a sunburn, love," Louis says warily. "I think you're probably dehydrated; by the looks of it, s'more of a heat stroke than a burn. How's your head?"

"... Like it's filled with dynamite," I answer.

"There you go," Liam answers for him. "That's your answer; it happened to me once, when I trained too long-"

"Also to me; I played for two teams in a footy tournament. It was brutal! I was vomiting, sick for days."

"Same," Liam excitedly adds. "Upset stomach, nausea - couldn't keep a thing down. It was terrible."

"I'm sure I'll be fine." The looks on their faces tell me that maybe I should be a little concerned.

"What block are you in?"

"Sports."

"So you've been outside all week? In the sun since this morning?"

"Well, yeah, I-"

"Eat up; we're going to see Patricia, you fool." Liam scolds; Louis nods in pathetic agreement, "today was the absolute hottest day we've had yet. You've burnt yourself to a crisp. Plus, you look like you'd be green if you weren't so bloody red! AND you said you've got a headache?"

"- babe, you do look like you might barf on us at any second," Lou adds.

"Grab as much water as you can, get some supper, and march your little ass back here so we can keep an eye on you," Liam finishes with a huff and a raised eyebrow.