The Toy Soldiers Trilogy: Mockingbird

Chapter 12: Sarah Yellin'

Victoria's POV

I awoke to the back of a clammy hand running across my forehead. My stomach feels like it's housing an atomic bomb, and my skin is practically pure fire against my tense muscles. I pried my eyes open to see me aunt May, with her sweet smile, looking at me.

"It's alright sweetie, I just want you to try and eat for me, okay?" She asked quietly.

The last thing I can even remember was being at band practice and watching the room spin around me. I guess I passed out, or at least that's what I assumed. Now I feel even worse than then, because the nausea is basically eating me alive. I nodded to my aunt's question and tried to sit up, but failed and felt blood rushing to my head. Aunt May put a hand on my back to sooth me, which helped a little when she started to move her cold palm up and down. She brushed a stray hair out of my face before handing me a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

"Please try to eat as much as you can. Your dad will be up in a few minutes to check on you and see if you're well enough to walk to your house."

"Thank you." I mustered out.

She smiled once again and stood up, heading for the door. I watched her leave before turning my attention to the bowl in front of me. The smell of broth actually disgusted me right now, and I wanted to move it away from under my nose, but I knew I needed to eat. It'll help me feel better, and in fact, not eating is probably what made me get so suddenly ill.

The food taunted me, making me almost angry that it could sit there and beg for me to ingest all of it. I just stared for a good thirty seconds before forcing myself to pick up a spoon and take a first bite. At first, the little carrot slice and piece of chicken in my mouth made me want to throw up, but then it started to set in and I could feel my stomach settling down with each sip of soup.

"Don't eat too fast." A familiar, warm voice warned.

I torn my eyes off my food to see my loving father by the door. He's started to look a lot healthier, while I on the other hand am probably sickly as can be. I know I look like shit, because I feel that way. Dad left the door open a tad behind him and sat on the bed's edge, slightly grinning.

"You look like you're feeling better." He said.

I shrugged. "Aunt May's food can fix anything."

Dad sighed, letting a little snicker escape his mouth. "That's true, but you shouldn't have gotten sick in the first place. You were healthy, and I think we both know what happened."

Uh-oh, here comes Mr. Lecture. My dad may act like he's oblivious to everything, but he's actually very smart and knows more than you'd think. He's the silent observer type, and will always act stupid. It's the wolf in the sheep's clothing, and even after being raised by the man, I just figured it out in recent years. I released a long sigh and set my bowl on the side table, then rested my arms along my raised knees.

"I know." I mumbled, already annoyed and his speech hasn't even started.

"God, just like your mother." He scoffed. "She didn't like to listen to me either. She also had the same problem when she was your age, and the poor thing would basically starve herself to fit societies standards. Times have changed though, and you don't need to try to be someone else, when I love the person you already are. You've got a great family already, and don't say boys don't like you, because I see the way that Chase kid stares at you."

"Dad!" I snapped from embarrassment, even though there wasn't anyone around.

He shook his head, laughing under his breath. "Oh, you know I'm joking. I love you baby girl."