Change of Plans

Chapter 18

I felt my forehead with the back of my hand and slumped against my locker. With an annoyed groan, I concluded that I was running a fever. I pushed off from the locker and trudged to the cafeteria, my head pounding while I walked.

"What's with you?" Sophie asked, using her spoon to circle my face.

"I'm not feeling so hot today," I admitted.

Casey gently placed her hand on my neck and shook her head. "You feel pretty hot to me Cam. You're burning up."

"I know, I feel so miserable," I grumbled, slouching in my seat.

"C'mon, I'll take you to the nurse's office," she offered, pushing her lunch away.

"I'll watch over your food," Madison promised."

"It had better be here when I return," Casey warned.

I laughed and then scrunched up my face. It even hurt to laugh. With a groan, I followed Casey, gripping her arm for support.

"What's the matter, Camille?" Krista asked, ushering us into the office.

"I'm dying."

Casey rolled her eyes and helped me lie down. "She has a fever. Where's Nurse Alice?"

"She left to get a snack," Krista answered with a smile.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "I like hanging out here."

"She feeds off of other people's pain," Casey supplied, but I wasn't entirely sure that it was a joke.

"Does she also take it away?"

Krista rolled her eyes and smiled at me, while Casey laughed and patted my knee.

Nurse Alice returned a few minutes later with Savannah in tow. I glanced at Casey and her smile morphed into a glare directed at Savannah who was trying her best to look everywhere but at her. Suddenly the room felt really crowded.

"Hi there!" Nurse Alice chirped, hovering over me.

"Hi," I said feebly, glancing at Savannah. Her eyes were puffy and her nose looked bruised. "You okay?" I asked her.

She nodded and tapped Krista on the shoulder. "May I have an aspirin, please?"

While Krista searched for the aspirin, Nurse Alice took my temperature and smiled sympathetically at me.

"It looks like you'll be spending the rest of the week at home," she said, scribbling something on a prescription pad before tearing the page and giving it to Casey. "She needs to take this three times per day, after each meal."

"May I have an aspirin, too?" I asked Krista. "My head hurts."

"I'll get that for you," Nurse Alice offered. "Ms. Collins should not even have access to my medication," she scolded Krista, who simply shrugged.

"Yeah, so can I go now?" Savannah asked.

"I don't see anyone holding your legs," Casey muttered.

"Nobody asked you!" Savannah snapped, glaring at Casey.

"Well, alrighty then," I said after an awkwardly silent minute. "Am I good to go?"

Nurse Alice nodded and Casey helped me to my feet.

"Krista, Savannah, the aspirin please," I heard Nurse Alice say as we left the room.

***