Just Friends. (A falling in love with my best friend story)

Chapter 9: Power Out

 Genna's POV:

I didn't seem to be improving yet. His mom made sure I kept a strict diet that helped me gain weight, but I was still rib-showing skinny. I was scheduled for a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I hated hospitals. Ever since dad slammed me into rehab...... well I never went near one since.

I hadn't been feeling too well either, so it was after lunch that I decided to go downstairs and take a nap. I had a terrible headache all morning that even two cups of coffee couldn't cure.

I was shaken awake by a cold hand on my upper arm and I let out a strangled yell. The person instantly let go.

        "Sorry, sorry." He said. I held my head in my hands, and slowly sat up. Every part of my body ached. I felt terrible. I also felt like I was going to throw up.

I quickly jumped from my bed and ran into my bathroom, tossing my cookies. A pair of hands took a ponytail and pulled my hair back into a loose ponytail.

After that horrible ordeal I was handed a stick of gum from my right. I thankfully took it, shut the lid of the toilet and lay down on the floor, feeling like death. I expected it to be Parker's mom, but no, a pair of worn sneakers told me it was Parker.

        "I haven't seen you get sick in a while." He said. Well I have. All the medicine they gave me in rehab and when I was seriously hospitalized made me sick all. the. time. It's been a while since I've thrown up, but I wasn't exactly missing it.

A pair of hands scooped me up off the floor and I now only noticed how all the lights in the basement were off. As if it was pitch black. Fine by me, my head wouldn't be able to bear the light.

        "Sucky time for you to be sick. Mom and dad went out. Dad went to go check on your dad, and mom went around town to see if anyone needed any emergency supplies for the power outage." Parker said, laying me on the basement couch. It was nice and cold in the basement.

        "There's a power outage?" I asked, my throat scratchy. I opened my eyes a bit to see he was crouching next to me.

        "Yeah. Throughout our neighborhood. Looks like I'll be taking care of you for the next couple hours." He said.

***

Turns out, Parker actually knew what he was doing. He roated cool washcloths on my head hourly and had me take bits off crackers and drink small sips of ginger ale. I desperately wanted water. Parker made a mistake the first time I asked, by giving in, and I chugged the glass, since I was so dehydrated and thirsty. But I had to rush to the bathroom to throw up again.

        "Okay missy, no more water for you." He said, sitting down. I nodded and he took the wash cloth off my forehead, setting it down. I closed my eyes and thought back to when mom always took care of me when I was sick. She didn't seem to care how deathly sick I was, she was right there, in the action, holding me. She'd rub my head and pull my hair back into a braid and hum to me, and told me we'd watch all my favorite movies until I fell asleep.

Those comforting images were suddenly interrupted by gloved hands holding me down as I screamed and fought, as they tried to get a syringe in my arm to knock me out so they could pump my stomach.

I made a strangled noise and cowered, and a warm hand grabbed mine. I squeezed it tight.

        "Hey...hey. It's okay." Parker's voice brought me back to the present.

        "I can't go to the doctor's tomorrow. I just can't. I hate hospitals. You have no idea." I said, my voice smaller than ever. Parker lifted me up and moved me over on the couch so I was now leaning against him. He didn't seem to mind that despite my gum, I probably had terrible breath.

        "I'll go with you guys. I'll be there the whole time." He said. I felt guilty again, that he'd sacrifice one of his last few school-free days to sit in a waiting room.

        "You don't-" He stopped me.

        "Just accept my help. Please." He said. I sighed, not knowing what else to do.

        "Okay." I said.

I fell asleep shortly after, and I didn't wake up to throw up once.