Dude, I love you

Chapter Eight

Jack Johnson’s POV

I woke up to the smell of stir fry being made. How late was it? Whoa, I’ve been asleep a few hours it’s almost six thirty. This is going to for sure put my sleep cycle out of whack. Damn it. I was just getting the hang of it, few months late but I was getting up without getting tired later in the day.

Stir fry sounded good right about now. I sat up and looked over to my sandwich. It didn’t seem as appetizing like it was before I decided to sleep. Besides it was probably all cold now and it looked all toppings and no meat.

I got out of bed and stretched, my cheek felt odd. I drooled and it dried on my face, my pillow has a wet patch too. I hope my parents didn’t come in and check on me and see that. I went to the bathroom and washed my face before heading downstairs to find my mom and hopefully some food.

My mom was still making the food when I walked into the kitchen. My dad got up from his chair in the living room and came to hug me, Jeff turned over from his laying down position to look at me. They both asked if I was alright and how I was feeling. I told them I was fine and was just feeling really hungry and thirsty. My head had this slight pressure near my neck but I think that was more from the nap than from lack of blood in my system. Having a nap during the day is like playing Russian roulette. You are either well rested and good to go or you have this aching feeling in your head near your neck and a bad taste in your mouth. I woke up with the latter of the two.

I sat down at the counter and fiddled around with my pen waiting for supper to be done, my mom must have borrowed it from my backpack which was in the corner of near the hallway closet. My mom turned around and looked at my hand holding the pen and she looked like she was about to say something but she turned around in a hurry looking startled.

“Oh no, I wonder if they’re burnt. Oh I’m sure they’ll be fine. It’s only been a few minutes over.” My mom says more to herself than to us. She was making cupcakes and almost forgot about them.

“What are the cupcakes for?” I ask. Maybe they are heading over to Jack’s house. I don’t plan on going.

“They’re for you Jack.” She simply states.

“Oh okay, why though? I ask somewhat confused.

“I’m not sure I just felt bad.” She says turning towards me with a soft expression.

“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.” I say hoping to alleviate this parental guilt she must feel.

“I know honey I just feel. I-I feel like I should have picked you up when you said you weren’t feeling well.” She says wiping her hands with a cloth and leaning on the counter.

“Mom, it’s me who should feel guilty the ambulance and check-up must have cost, what? Like a thousand dollars?” I say feeling the guilt rush back.

“Oh don’t worry about that Jack, the school agreed to cover most of the insurance charge for letting you leave without making sure you were properly taken care of.” My dad calls from the living room where he was sitting again.

“Oh yes, that nice nurse vouched for you.” My mom added.

“Really? She took proper care of me and made sure I was with Jack when I left. She made him watch me.” I ask in somewhat disbelief. I guess she understands the stupid costs of medical bills, being a nurse and all, but why would she put her neck on the line like that. Won't she get in trouble by the school?

“That reminds me, Jack stopped by but you were sleeping. He dropped your pen off before going home. He said you dropped it in the field.” My mom states matter of factly.

“Oh.” I simply say even in more disbelief examining the pen more closely. I must have dropped it when I fainted. I told him not to come and yet he still did. More guilt added to the bank.

* * *

My mom finished cooking the stir fry and put icing on the cupcakes then we all sat down to eat. I went to my room to lie down afterwards. I took a cupcake with me but I didn’t feel like eating it at the moment. My mom had told me I could stay home tomorrow. I planned to. I don’t want to deal with Jack just yet. I turn my Xbox on to play online, Jack doesn’t have an Xbox so I can at least be free of him on there.