Wheels

Chapter 15: Chemistry

          "Wait... We're playing with fire?" Rory asks and looks at me. "No. Setting different compounds on fire isn't a game. The flames are really pretty though" I say and giggle, turning on the beaker.

          "Can I pour this one in?" Rory asks and smiles, picking up the first compound. "Sure, but first..." I take the ponytail holder off Rory's wrist and put her hair up for her. "Thank you" She smiles at me and puts the first compound in the fire. The flame turns purple and I write it down on our sheet.

          Rory starts coughing and steps back from the table. "Are you okay?" I ask her and turn off the beaker. She nods but keeps coughing, grabbing her chest. The teacher tells me to take her to the nurse.

          I gently pull Rory onto my lap and start quickly rolling down the hall to the nurse's office. "Just take some deep breaths" I say and keep going. She nods and takes some deep breaths.

          We get to the nurse's office and the nurse jumps up, helping Rory into a chair. "Just stay calm and take long, deep breaths, sweetie. You're having an asthma attack.

          Rory looks at me in tears so I grab her hand. "It's okay, babe" I say and hold her hand. "Here, drink this. It's gonna burn, but it'll help open up your airway" The nurse says and hands Rory a hot cup of coffee.

          She takes a big drink and sets the cup down. She stops coughing after another minute or two, squeezing my hand. "You called me babe" She says and giggles softly.

          "Where were you when the asthma attack started?" The nurse asks before I can respond to Rory. "In chemistry. We were working with fire" I say. "Well, there's more chemistry between you two than there will ever be in that classroom. School is almost over, so you can head home, I'll call your teacher for you" The nurse says and smiles.

          I pull Rory back onto my lap and she leans into me, kissing my cheek. I smile and roll us to her locker to get her book bag. Rory puts her bag on my chair and leans into me.

          "I haven't had an asthma attack since I was fourteen" Rory whispers and closes her eyes. "Let's go tell your dad, just so that he knows" I say and head to his office.

          Rory nods and wraps her arms around me, keeping her eyes closed. I knock on his office door and he opens it. "Hey, Marley... Rory, are you okay?" Coach O'Connelly asks and gets on his knees.

          "Yeah, just tired" Rory says and opens her eyes enough to look at her dad. "She had an asthma attack during chemistry" I tell him. He frowns and kisses Rory's forehead.

          "I have to stay late for football practice and Rachel is out of town; can you stay with Rory until I get home?" Coach O'Connelly asks me. "Of course" I say and he thanks me.

          I nod and take Rory home, going to her room. She moves onto the bed and sighs. "Do you want me to help you?" Rory asks and starts to get up. "No, it's okay. Just lay down" I say and gently push her back down.

          Rory nods and lays down. I lock my chair and take off my right armrest, sliding myself onto the bed next to Rory. She rolls onto her side and wraps her arms around me, laying her head on my chest.

          I smile and hold her, kissing her forehead. "Why did you call me babe?" Rory asks, keeping her eyes closed. "I was really thinking when I said it. I was worried about you, and I didn't know what else to say..." I say softly and bite my lip.

          "It helped. And I really liked the sound of it..." Rory whispers and smiles shyly, accidentally falling asleep. I smile and rub her back, grabbing my phone. "I need to stay with Rory tonight. She had her first asthma attack in three years today" I text Ben.

          "Alright. Is she okay?" Ben responds. "Yeah. She's sleeping now" I say. "Good. I'll see you in a day or two" Ben responds. I set my phone back down and hold Rory, whispering "Well, at least we made it until Friday before our next issue...".