Krys
An epidemic is spreading around my school. Three kids threw up on Tuesday and no one knows why. None of them had a fever. I didn’t care though. If I get sick, I get to miss school and as midterms approach, I feel really overworked. “Let’s go this way,” May says to me at lunch. We’re choosing where to sit and May just noticed a boy named Steve sitting all alone. Ever since we were little, May has been eyeing Steve and his friend Hunter. The two are known for doing stupid things around the school. May always goes on about how Steve is clearly a genius being pulled into Hunter’s “shenanigans”. May sets her lunch tray down at Steve’s table. “Is it okay if we sit here?” she asks hopefully. Steve looks up at her. “Uh . . . sure.” he says quietly. May’s face lights up as she sits down. As much as I’d rather not sit with the new couple, I don’t have much of a choice. I sit down beside May. “I don’t actually see you two that often,” Steve begins. “What are your names?” he asks. “I’m May and this is Krys.” she says motioning to me. I scowl at her. I hate my nickname.
Being just about the most boyish girl in school the kids call me Krys instead of Krystal. It’s basically a boy’s name spelled differently. I guess I’m pretty much a tomboy but I still do girl things like wearing make-up and obsessing over the British-Irish boyband called One Direction. “So where’s Hunter?” I ask rolling my eyes. “Oh . . . he puked and the nurse sent him home. It was pretty funny actually,” Steve pauses for a moment. “The nurse storms into the classroom and screams at Hunter for leaving and going to class when he was sick. He practically dragged him out of class.” He explains laughing. May laughs too. But a little too long and a little too loud. This makes Steve laugh even more. “Ugh! You irritate me. I’m going to fill up my water bottle.” I announce. “Wait! Don’t!” Steve yells dramatically. “Why not?” I ask. “That’s what got Hunter sick. He took one sip and just puked.” He explained. “Really? And then he got to go home?” I ask eagerly. Steve nods. “Then I’m draining that fountain.” I say running over to the water fountain.
At first, as the cool water rushes into my mouth, I think Steve was joking around and over exaggerating what happened. But I almost instantly feel nauseous when I pull away from the fountain. I dizzily stumble back to the table fighting off my roller-coater stomach. “Imma go to the nurse.” I mumble. “I told you.” Steve insists. “Wait. The water really made you sick?” May asks. I nod and waddle over to the trash can awkwardly. I lean in and puke. In the back of my mind, I feel the entire 7th grade’s eyes watching me with pity or disgust. I push away from the trash can weakly and still coughing. “Oh God.” I gasp.
May and Steve escort me to the nurse. They stay with me for a moment but then go back to lunch. It seems like maybe they’re eager to be alone. I don’t blame them. When the nurse comes over to me, I think about what Steve said about Hunter. When the nurse chased him around the school or whatever he said. He is tall and intimidating. He has short hair, a big nose and bushy eyebrows. “How are you?” he asks. He seems nice. He offers me a thermometer and I put it in my mouth. I sit and hum One Direction waiting to see if I am sick. I hope I get to go home and just get a break just for a day. When I see the thermometer, I’m surprised to see my temperature is only 98.3 degrees. “Um . . . I’m not actually sick.” I say to the nurse. “That’s what’s been happening to the other kids. They throw up only to discover they’re not sick and they’re fine shortly after.” He explains.
“My friend said there was something in the water from the fountain.” I offer. A look of panic comes over the nurse. “That’s odd but I doubt it. If it was the water everyone would be vomiting.” the nurse insists. I know that’s wrong. The fact that Steve had that theory combined with the fact the water made me sick instantly makes it the only option. “Whatever you say.” I reply arrogantly getting up to go home early.
