Gone-ON HOLD

Asthma

Megan fell asleep with Erika in her arms. She woke up and found the younger girl gone. "Erika?" she called.

That's when she heard her most dreaded sound. She heard Erika throwing up from the bathroom. She ran over to the weak girl and pulled her hair up. She rubbed her back until Erika weakly sat up against the wall. "What time is it?" she asked.

Megan looked at her phone. "2 am," she told her.

"We'd better go back to bed, school's tomorrow," Erika mumbled

Megan shook her head. "You're not going to school," she said. "And I'm taking care of you."

"No," Erika said. "Megan, you should go to school, I'll be fine. I'm used to being home alone."

"Erika that's terrible!" Megan said. "I'm going to take care of you."

Erika leaned her head on Megan's shoulder. Megan kept an arm around her. She helped her back to the bed. Laying her down, Megan felt her forehead. "Erika, you've got a really high fever," she said. "Are you hot?"

"N-no," Erika said through chattering teeth. "I'm freezing."

Megan wrapped a blanket around the younger girl. She then wrapped her arms around her, and Erika leaned in. They fell asleep like that.

When they woke up, Erika was crying. "Erika what's wrong?" Megan asked, trying not to panic.

"I... Can't... Breathe," she said.

"Mom!" Megan screamed.

Mrs. Lee came running up the stairs. "Megan, what's with the yelling?"

"Something's wrong with Erika! She can't breathe!"

Mrs. Lee's eyes went wide. She called 911 and an ambulance took Erika away. Megan rode with her. She called Dale. "Meg, I'm about to go to school, what's wrong?"

"We're taking Erika to the hospital!"

"What, why?!"

"She can't breathe!"

"Okay, I'm on my way. Dani!"

He then hung up. As they reached the hospital, they rushed Erika into a room and left Megan in the waiting room. Her parents ran in soon enough and Dale followed. What surprised Megan was that Louriza was following him. "How's Erika?" she asked.

"No news," Megan replied.

Dale hugged Megan tightly. "It's gonna be okay Meg," he said.

Louriza gave her a hug as well. "Thanks for coming guys," Megan barely whispers.

They sat on a bench in the waiting room. Megan leaned her head on Dale's shoulder. "Hey," he said, rubbing her back. "She's gonna be okay. Don't worry."

Dale then realized Megan was fast asleep. "She must have had a rough night," he told Louriza.

"Yeah," she agreed. "Maybe she and Erika were up late. I mean, she was throwing up in detention."

"Yeah," Dale said. "How're you? I mean, after everything that you told me."

"Okay, I guess," she replied.

"Who was your boyfriend?"

"Austin," she replied in tears.

Dale's eyes went wide. "You were dating Austin Mahone?! Holy crap he's a senior!"

"Yeah," Jodi replied. "So what? On Make it Pop Corki's dating..."

Louriza smacked herself. "You watch Make it Pop?" Dale asked, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, so?!"

"I just never imagined a bad girl like you would watch that K-Pop stuff."

"Well, I do, deal with it."

"You and that Jodi girl could be twins with your looks."

"What?! We look nothing alike!"

"But you do."

"I could never have short hair, she has short hair. And red highlights? I prefer blue."

Dale rolled his eyes. "Wait, how do you know what Jodi looks like?" Louriza questioned.

"Dani watches it all the time," he answered simply.

The room went into silence. Louriza smiled at Dale. "What?" he asked.

"Thanks," Louriza whispered.

"For what?" Dale asked, confused.

"For being here for me."

"No prob, can I call you Lo?"

"Sure," Louriza giggled.

"Did you just giggle?"

"Maybe."

The nurse called for Erika Tham. Dale gently woke up Megan and the three all went into the room. "Hey," Erika whispered.

Megan hugged her. "Omg I was so worried!" she said.

"I'm sorry," Erika whispered.

"Don't be," Megan said. "You're sick, it's not your fault."

The nurse sat down with Megan and her mother, explaining how Erika's mother did not have insurance. Megan's mom gladly payed for Erika. The nurse then explained what happened. For one thing, Erika had a nasty stomach bug. However, the reason she couldn't breathe was because she had an asthma attack.

"You have asthma?" Megan asked.

"I didn't know," Erika replied.

Megan gave her a sympathetic smile. "We prescribed an inhaler," the nurse cut in. "You can pick it up at the front desk pharmacy."

"Thank you," Mrs. Lee said. "Come on Erika, let's get you home."

After calling Ms. Tham, who was not enthusiastic about helping her daughter, Mrs. Lee took Erika and Megan back home. Dale and Louriza had Dani drop them off at school and Dale promised to bring their homework.

Megan and Erika decided to watch a movie on the couch. "Alrighty," Megan said. "We've got Frozen, Lion King, Princess and the Frog, basically any Disney movie available, what do you want to watch?"

"Do you have The Little Mermaid?" Erika asked.

"Yup!" Megan replied, putting the DVD in the machine.

Megan got back onto the couch with Erika. Erika leaned her head on Megan's shoulder. They both fell asleep halfway through the movie. Mrs. Lee walked in. "Aw," she whispered, pulling a blanket around the two.

Mrs. Lee, who had probably seen everything with Megan and her older sister in college, knew that this was a start of a beautiful friendship.

Megan woke up first. Erika was finally cool against her. "Erika, wake up sweets," Megan gently said to the girl.

"Megan? Did we fall asleep?"

"Yup."

"What time is it?"

"Like two, are you getting hungry?"

"A little bit."

"Come on, let's get some sandwiches."

Megan made two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She gave one to Erika, and they are in silence. "Thanks, by the way," Erika said.

"For what?"

"For taking care of me. You're family is really nice."

"Aw, no problem! My parents love you!"

Megan gave Erika a hug. She hugged back, and Erika whispered something as they hugged.

"Thank you for being my first real friend."