Varsity Boy and The Prep

9

ASHER

"How can I help you?"

The dreaded words.

Well, not always. In fact, that phrase was an everyday phrase for people working in department stores. So why did people at the health center say it?

"Excuse me-"

"Sorry." I said, my voice coming out as a croak. "I'm sick."

I'd noticed it stepping into the California airport, but nothing seemed too bad. It was only when I attempted to walk to class and found breathing was hard, that I decided to come to the health center. I only came there once a year for the flu mist and it was early, because that stuff goes quick. The lady was young, about twenty two and had a black bob. She still stared at me, probably waiting for more information.

"Well," my eyes skimmed over her nametag, "Amatrice Meyers....should I say your first name or last?"

The lady's glossed lips curved into a smile. "You can call me Ama. Now, get back to telling me your symptoms or I'll call you Frog Boy."

"Right."

My fingers tapped on the office desk that stood in the front of the health center. Amatrice's name was listed as the working nurse for today. "I've been losing my voice, shivering, loss of energy, soreness, tired."

She typed the symptoms into the computer. "And do you have any dietary restrictions?"

I tried to think. Being in France, my parents made me eat how French people did, even though our home base was California. That meant smaller meals and less, except for lunch. It also meant good table manners.

"I ate a lot less during the break. But that can't be what's causing this."

"It is." Ama pulled out a piece of paper, with different syringes on it. My stomach turned. "Significant changes in diet can cause what you're feeling. There also could be another burden that's causing your fatigue." she pointed to a shot on the bottom right of the paper. "This is a syringe of B12, an important vitamin that your body needs. Think of it as an energy booster. I can give you the shot, to help."

I didn't want to tell Ama that shots scared me, I wouldn't. So, Ama went to the health center's small kitchen room to fetch one. When she was gone, I surveyed the place. The health center was small, with four chairs as a waiting area, five cots for people to lie down on, and a private room used for giving shots. That's where I would be in a moment. There was a sound of clattering, and Ama guestered for me to enter the shot room. Really called the check up station, but everybody called it the shot room. In Ama's hand, was a small but full syringe, filled with red liquid. I wanted to ask if it was blood, but Ama jumped in first.

"This is a vitamin called B12." she said. "No need to be scared." Ama pulled up the sleeve of my shirt and paused. "You have goosebumps."

"I'm not scared." I lied.

Ama put the shot down. "Hold on." she said, running out of the room and back into the kitchen.

It was only a few seconds until a brown container of goo was in my sight.

"What is that?" I asked, making a face.

Ama spooned out a bit. "It's Nutella." she said. "Try some."

Bracing myself for the goo, I slowly stuck the spoon in and tasted-chocolate? A few more seconds and the taste had fully kicked in and I felt a slight pinch on my left arm.

"Nurse Meyers, when are you gonna start?"

A smile erupted on her face. "Go to your dorm and lay down. The B12 should kick in any time now."

A very short, fun chapter acting as a prequel for the next couple.