Freak Show (Carnival Series book 1)

Chapter 19

I was spending the night at Brittany's house, so I could probably keep her from getting in trouble. Luckily, no one was home when we got to her house, so we wouldn't have to sneak around. I brought her up to her room, and gave her some pj's to put on. I helped her get in the bed, and I tucked her in. 

"Connor is a really good kisser." She says to me right before she shuts her eyes. I take the blanket by her feet and an extra pillow off her bed and lie down on the floor and try to sleep, but I can't. My mind is spinning. 

I kissed Trevor and liked it. I was able to kiss him, and not run away. But I also kissed Jc earlier this week. I kissed him. He was the one who ran away from me. He told me that we couldn't be together, because I'm a minor. Which is true. I don't want him to go to jail. No one does. But do I have feelings for him? He has been so sweet to me since that day we met. He has shown so much care, and of course I care for him too. He is one of my best friends. I don't really want to say this, but if it weren't for Trevor running away, I never would've met Jc. I wouldn't be hanging out with him and his best friends. 

I obviously really like Trevor. I told him I loved him. It makes sense for me to want to be with him. And it's possible for us, because he's not even two years older than me. We've had some rough times, sure, but we worked through them. This whole situation is giving me a headache.  I want to be with Trevor. But I think I also want Jc. 

Tonight, I must've really hurt him. He kissed me, then I make out with his friend in his room. God, I'm such an idiot. Of course he walked in on us. I feel a tear running down my cheek. Why am I crying? This is all so screwed up. I flip over onto my stomach and shut my eyes. All I need is sleep. 

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I wake up to a crying Brittany. I look up at her, and she was clutching her stomach, her face a light shade of green. I jump up and help her get to the bathroom. I shut the door as she leans over the toilet. I hold her hair back as she throws up the little bit of food that was in her stomach. 

"Brittany," I whisper. She was sobbing. 

"God, I made a mistake drinking that," She cried. I pat her back gently, trying to soothe her. She sits up and wipes her mouth. She walks over to the sink and brushes her teeth. "Ugh, my head hurts." She opens the medicine cabinet and pulls out a bottle of aspirin. I leave the bathroom to find some clothes for her. As I walk to her room, I glance at the clock. It's 10:28. I grab the comfiest clothes I could find in her dresser, and go back to her. 

Brittany was in the fetal position on the floor, sobbbing. I kneel down next to her and hand her the clothes. 

"It's okay. You'll feel better later today or tomorrow." She shakes her head.

"My head hurts, and I'm so tired," she whispers. I help her up and bring her into her room. She doesn't get dressed. 

"Just go back to sleep. I need to get home. I'll come back later, okay?" She nods. I gather my things and leave her home. 

When I got home, the whole house was strangely quiet. I walked around the house, looking for people. My Dad was asleep in his room, and I'm guessing my mom was at work. I look in my sister's bedroom, but she wasn't there. I checked the living room, the kitchen, and my room. She wasn't there. Then I looked in the bathroom. My sister was lying on the floor, asleep. 

I shake her arm slightly. "Isabelle," I whisper to her. She didn't wake up. "Isabelle, c'mon. You can take a nap in your bed." I began to get worried when she didn't respond. I looked around the bathroom and found an empty prescription medicine bottle on the floor. "Oh my god." I pick Isabelle up and run into my dad's room. I set her down on the bed and wake up my dad.

"Isabelle ate all of your prescription." I say to him frantically. He gets up and put on his shirt and shoes. I pick up Isabelle and carry her down to the car. I sit in the back with her, resting her head in my lap. My dad drove exactly the speed limit, wanting to drive faster. 

When we got to the emergency room, my dad took Isabelle from me. "Call your mother," He commanded, then brought Isabelle up to the lay at the desk. I did exactly as he said. 

"Andraya, I'm working. What do you need?" I hold my breath, wanting to spare her the grief. 

"Isabelle ate all of dad's prescription. We're at the hospital right now." I could hear her gathering he things and jingling her keys. 

"I'll be there in five." and she hung up. I watch my dad and a doctor go down the hallway, leaving me in the waiting room. I look down at my phone and check the time. It's 11:28. Exactly an hour since the last time I checked the time. A lot can happen in an hour. I decide to call Trevor to tell him I won't be over today. 

"Well hello, miss Andraya. What can I do for you?" Trevor answers. 

"I'm not coming over today," I tell him in a monotone voice. 

"Why?" he asks. I could hear the saddness in his voice. I sigh.

"I'm in the hospital. My sister ate all of my dad's prescription." My voice breaks, and suddenly, I feel like throwing up. "I need to go, Trevor. Bye." I hang up the phone and run to the bathroom. I lean over one of the toilets, praying that since this is a hospital, the toilet is sanitary. But nothing happens. I don't throw up. I just sit with the sick feeling in my stomach and throat. But then I realize: I'm not sick. This is fear. I'm afraid for my sister. 

I sat down on the tiled floor and bring my legs to my chest. What if pumping her stomach doesn't work? She's only seven, and I never really spent a lot of time with her. Especially not in the past two months. The brims of my eyes were burning with tears, wanting to spill over. And I let them. I've been a horrible sister. I stand up. My mom is probably here, freaking out because she can't find her family. 

I leave the bathroom and find my mom walking into the building with a worried look on her face. I wipe my tears away and put on a brave face. 

"Hi, mom." She engulfs me in a hug, her breathing shaky from fear. 

"Where are they? "She asks. 

"I don't know. They left me here in the waiting room." She releases me, and walks up to the lady at the desk. I sit down in one of the chairs, and pull my legs up onto the seat. I hug my legs to my body, and bury my face in my knees. 

Last night, I hurt Jc. This morning, I helped take care of a hungover Brittany. And now, my sister is in the hospital with an overdose. A hand rests on my shoulder. 

"She'll be okay" Trevor says. I look up at him, and let out a loud sob. I hug his waist and he rubs my back. "They'll pump her stomach in a couple of days, she'll be back at home annoying you again." He sits down in the chair next to me. I rest my head on his shoulder, still crying. Trevor ran his hands through my tangled hair, shushing me. I swing my legs over his and hug him tight, searching for comfort. He hugs me back, and rocks me gently back and forth. 

"Shh, Andraya. It'll be okay," He says. "It'll be okay."