The Pros of Cons

13 | She Better Not Get Sick

CONS

"Harvie?"

The EpiPen dropped from my hand. Toni was hunched over, barely gasping for air. I held her up, my one hand still gently massaging her throat. A sort of routine was setting in — she wouldn't breathe for a long time and then, all of a sudden, a loud gasp would come from her mouth. It did nothing to settle me. 

She was okay – at least, she would be. That being said, we weren't out of the woods. I had no idea if this girl had ever been given a dose of epinephrin before —and although it clearly had brought down the swelling in her throat, there's no telling just how her body could react. She had to be taken to the hospital.

I squeezed her shoulder. "Squeeze back if you can hear me."

Her nails had been digging into my arm the entire time. I knew she could hear me. I just needed to know if she could breathe okay on her own. I felt a slightly stronger squeeze on my forearm. It was enough for me.

"Okay. I'm letting you go now and taking you to the hospital. You're okay, Harvie. Just a reaction of some sort. What allergies do you have?"

"I – I... don't have any," she whispered. "I've never before."

This girl had to have had the worst luck in the history of the world. I would have bet my life's work on it. What were the odds that her life in the past few weeks would also include an unforeseen severe allergic reaction?

I was rattled. I had thought for a moment that I really messed up — and at the cost of her life. Bringing her with me today was the wrong decision. She had been through enough already.

I was nearing the hospital when Toni finally spoke up. Her voice was still muffled, but I could tell she was improving. I let go a sigh of relief.

"What did you stab me w-with?" she asked.

I glanced at her briefly. Her eyes were such a bold green that even in the dark they stood out. 

"Epinephrin pen. I keep one in the car — they're more common than you'd think."

"But how did you know that's what I needed?"

"I didn't," I said, turning my eyes back to the road. "My sister... is allergic to peanuts. It wasn't exactly the same reaction as yours, but it reminded me of it. It's also why I keep a pen with me."

She nodded after a moment, contemplating this information.

"I'm really tired," she said, fighting a yawn. "I think I just need sleep. Maybe I don't have to go to the hospital anymore."

Was she being serious? Is she delusional?

"Here's why we're not doing that," I said with a little more force than necessary. "You just had a pretty severe reaction. Your body is pumping with epinephrin, and we still don't know how you're going to react to it. You're not stable, Harvie. Don't you want to know what the hell happened? What if something else was in that drink?"

"What do you mean?"

I sighed. I had to stop talking now. "Never mind, Harvie. Just please don't fall asleep. We're almost there."

"No, tell me what you mean," she persisted.

"I mean there were a lot of people there. Old men with perverted agendas. That man you were with is definitely an example of that."

"Okay... but you left me alone! I didn't want to be with that guy. He wouldn't leave me alone." She visibly shuddered before turning to look out the window.

Her reaction to him made me want to turn the car around and pummel that guy to the ground. Men like him were crawling at these events. She was in more danger tonight than just possibly running into Eugleshi's people.

"Don't be afraid to be loud, even if it's embarrassing," I told her. "If you tell someone to leave you alone and they don't, make a scene."

She didn't say anything. I turned to see if she was still conscious. "Toni?"

She slowly nodded, avoiding my gaze. "I didn't tell him to leave me alone. I didn't want to be rude."

"Really? You?" I teased. "You don't seem to have an issue with being rude to most people."

"Hey, you're different. I think I know you have no intention to harm me. I... I just... yeah." She swallowed, her eyes flickering to the road in front of us.

Something just happened. Did she think I could harm her?

I was about to question her more but decided to hold back. She looked like she was going to be sick, and we were almost at the hospital. I really didn't want her puking in my car.