British Bird - Complete

British Bird - Chapter Twenty One

British Bird
Chapter Twenty One
Sang

Flashback: Thirteen Years Old

We spend the morning at the lake, but come noon I'm not feeling too good, so I ask if I can go home. Owen sends me home with Sean, North, Luke, and Gabriel. The rest are staying to pack up the tents and campsite.

Sickness swirls in my stomach and I grip the door handle, my throat working to keep it down. My whole body starts to shake when I know I haven't succeeded. "Sean, pull over."

"What?" He asks, surprise lacing his voice. He looks over at me, and something on my face must tell him that he needs to pull over.

The car hasn't even stopped when I'm pushing the door open by the handle and throwing the top half of my body out of the car door to be sick. Someone's hand is wrapped around my hoodie to stop me from falling out the car completely with my legs still tucked inside.

I cough and splutter, vaguely hearing a door opening and shutting. A second later, Sean is crouching down in front of me, away from getting a direct hit of sick. He pushes hair from my face as he murmurs softly, "You're okay."

Tears leak from my eyes. I hate being sick, and it's not often that I am, but when it hits, it hits hard and I hate every single bit of it. Sweat starts to form on my forehead and down my back, and I reach to pull off the jumper. Sean helps me, chucking it into the backseat as another wave of sickness hits.

"I have some water in the trunk," Sean says. "Get me a bottle a please."

The car moves as weight is removed from it. I hear the click of the boot opening, and some rustling around as I rest my forehead on the door frame. Gabriel comes to Sean's side, holding a bottle of water. He uncaps it and holds it out to me. I take it in my hand, but it's shaking so he keeps his hand there. "Slow sips," he whispers.

"What's wrong with, Trouble?" Gabriel asks.

"It's not food poisoning, otherwise we would all have it as we all ate the same thing last night. I'm guessing a stomach bug; change in water could have caused it, or change of air too. Things are different here compared to across the ocean," Sean explains.

I sip the water slowly, immediately wishing I could brush my teeth. When I'm done, I let go of the bottle and turn my head away, closing my eyes.

More rustling, and then the sound of water spilling. A second later something cool is being placed on my forehead. I sigh, even though the hot flush has left me, and I'm feeling cold. "Think you'll be okay until we get back to Uncle's where I can examine you properly?"

I nod my head, but don't say anything, deciding to just keep my eyes and mouth shut. More water splashing reaches my ears as my door shut. A hand coming down on my shoulder has me reaching up to it. "You're okay, Cupcake."

Sean starts the car back up a few moments later, and the movement of the car has my stomach lurching, yet not wanting to be sick, I hold it in. I can still feel my stomach swimming, so I know I'm not done yet.

I must have passed out, because the next thing I know I'm being lifted. My arms find something to hold onto, a neck, and I snuggle in closer. "Just carrying you up to bed, Beauty," Johnny whispers softly in my ear.

I nod my head and snuggle in closer. We go up the stairs and soon I'm being laid down. Someone pulls off my jeans and my shoes, leaving me in my tank and underwear. Fingers touch my forehead. "My God, she's burning up."