One Stupid Thing

4:2:121

Decompression sickness, appropriately nicknamed "the bends" because those who have it bend over in pain. Nitrogen bubbles enter the bloodstream and other bodily tissues when pressure changes too rapidly. Effects may vary from joint pain and rashes to paralysis and death, and what's even worse is that JJ and Kie have it. Immediately, Pope takes action, pulling JJ up onto his feet and draping one of his arms over his shoulders to support him. "Stella, help me out here."

I hurry to my feet and drape JJ's other arm around my shoulders. "I've got you," I say to him.

Sarah and John B take Kie, pulling her up and out of the boat. "Nice and easy. You've just got bubbles in your blood right now," he tells her. Pope and I are not too far behind with JJ.

"I've got bubbles in my blood?" I hear Kie reply.

"You're going to be fine."

Cleo appears at my side right before we reach the ramp up to the shop. "Stella, here, let me help you," she offers. I know she's just trying to help, but anger bubbles up inside of me. I know that if I hand him over I'm going to lose my mind.

"I've got him," I snap.

Once we are all situated in the Twinkie, I sit on the back bench seat with JJ's upper body in my lap once more, refusing to let him go. I made that mistake when I let him dive, I'm not going to make it again.

JJ writhes around in my grasp, his pained groans echoing through my conscience. I brush the wet hair off his forehead and wrap my other arm around his shoulders. Suddenly, he reaches for my hand and takes it in his. "El," he musters.

"I'm here, Jay. I've got you." I squeeze his hand and he squeezes it back as another wave of pain racks through him. "Stay with me. We're almost there."

"Who was down there with you guys?"

"No idea, Pope," JJ manages to reply. "But, ya'll are not gonna believe this." Shifting in my grasp, he takes his free hand and pulls something out of his pocket: an object wrapped in a towel. He hands it off to my sister, who is sitting on the floor with Kie and Cleo.

"What is that?" Cleo asks Sarah, as she removes the towel.

"You found it?" she asks JJ, staring down at the amulet in her hands.

"Oh shit. That's the thing he was looking for"

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" John B asks from the driver's seat.

"I was too busy dying."

"John B!" Cleo urges him.

"I'm going!"

"You're a rockstar, girl!" Cleo praises Kie, who presses a hand to her stomach, leaned over one of the seats. "Fifty thousand!"

JJ shifts in my lap. "Fifty K," he groans.

"It was worth it," Kie breathes out.

"Cha-ching."

But while my friends are all celebrating, the only thing I can focus on is that I might lose him. I don't care about some stupid amulet. I don't know how long it takes us to get to St. Olive's, or if anyone had even tried to say anything to me on the ride over because I wouldn't have heard them. Between my heart thudding in my chest, the ringing in my ears, and JJ's pained breathing, I wouldn't have been able to hear anything else.

The van stops abruptly and before I can react, Pope opens the trunk and pries JJ from my grasp. I hop out of the van, and follow closely behind them as they stumble into the hospital. John B carries Kie at the head of the group.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, I need help!" Cleo urges, hurrying over to the front desk.

I couple of nurses dressed in familiar navy scrubs rush over, take Kie and JJ from our other friends and hurry them down a hallway without question. They enter a room and disappear beyond the doorway. My heart tugs inside my chest, wanting nothing more than to follow, but my brain goes into overdrive.