Twenty Øne Reasons to Live

Chapter Thirty-Øne

My Point of View 

My face is dangerously close to a hotel toilet right now. Yep, just hurled again. My ankle is sprained and now I've been puking my guts out all day- what's next?? 

Oh...did I fail to mention that I barfed once this morning, too? I thought I just ate something wonkey but now, six pukes later I'm not so sure... 

Have you ever tried to barf quietly before? It ain't easy. I'm positive Jenna heard me despite my best efforts to puke in silence, but maybe, just maybe I got away with it. No matter what I just do not want to go to the Emergency Room. 

I inhaled and exhaled heavy breaths, then collapsed on the floor with my hand on my stomach. I'd just stay down here for a while until I feel better. Which almost has to be soon, right? 

RIGHT? 

"Kirsten?" Jenna rapped softly on the door using her nails. Oh no. She heard me. 

"Yeah?" I tried my best not to sound horrifically ill. 

"You okay?" 

"Yep, fine, thanks." Maybe she hadn't heard me after all... 

"Hun, I need to take you to-" 

"No I'm fine give me one more chance please? Please Jenna?" 

"Look..." she opened the door, walking in, then laid down next to me on the floor. "I can't let you get dehydrated, and you're in serious danger of that, Kit." 

"I can't do doctors, Jenna. I can't. Please don't make me go! If I don't throw up again-" 

"Kirsten. Josh is going to be so mad if he knows you puked again and then talked me out of taking you to the ER. Do you really want to disappoint Josh?" 

Mmmmmmm, the Josh card. Smooth. Tyler and Josh are my best friends in this universe, of course I don't want to upset or disappoint them. However, I know my limits, so even this tactic isn't gonna wo-

Wait a second. 

What was that noise? 

I swear I heard something... 

Something like a breath. 

But it was choppy. 

Like it came from this room but not in this room.

I crossed my arms, letting out a breath. "Hey, Josh, how was the show?" 

"Dang it." Jenna's phone answered me. 

"Darn it, Josh! I told you not to breathe!" she exclaimed, sitting up and taking her phone off the counter. 

"What was I supposed to do- stop??" he replied, annoyed. 

"Guys, come on, stop it.." I heard Tyler. Oh great, he's involved in this conversation too. I wonder if all the Clique at the show is listening as well. You know what, let's just call up the president because I bet he'd be real interested in how many times Kirsten Black threw up today!! CAN'T A GIRL JUST BE TERRIBLY SICK IN PEACE?!?!?!?!?! 

"You don't breathe into the phone, you ding dong!" 

They went back and fourth several times and that's when I began to feel it again. Oh no.......... Before anybody knew what was happening or what happened, I was puking again. Crap. Now I'm really in for it. 

"We're on our way now," Tyler said, then hung up, leaving no room for pleading or arguments. 

I groaned, then scooted myself back against the tub and hung my head between my knees both because of the considerable nausea and the shame.