Problem Kid

Chapter 18

"Alright! Everybody sit down and log on silently, please!" Everyone in the room did everything but that, not even trying to hide it as they spoke about me.
'Oh my god, that's the kid who starved herself and cut her arms and stuff! I heard she got locked in an asylum' one pale ginger boy practically hollered.
'She looks so much fatter now!' A slim brunette placed a hand on her hip as if she were a model.
'Wow, what a retard'
'She's a freak!'
'She must have some mad mental issues!'
Mr Gray is outside talking to a teacher, unable to see or hear what's going on until I stand up.
"Why don't you all just shut up and mind your own goddamn business!" I scream at the top of my lungs causing everyone to freeze. Tears stream down my face and I sigh heavily, throwing my bag onto my back before practically snapping at Summer to heel, leaving her leash to trail behind her. I storm out of the room as Mr Gray comes in after hearing me scream. He attempts to stop me by reaching out to my shoulder however I shrug myself away and storm out, slamming the metal door behind me. The teacher Sam had previously been talking to states at me, shocked, as I begin to run down the halls. I rush into the toilets and throw my bags down, my fist connecting with the wall without much force as I sink down to the ground. I allow myself to sob in a ball. Summer rushing to help me as I begin angrily scratching my arms and screaming. After a moment she calms me a bit, her paws holding my arms down and her tongue licking my hands and chin. I allow myself to break down, sobbing into my crossed harms, my forehead on my knees.
"Baby..." I don't look up, even when I hear Jimmy's voice beside me. After a moment, I feel two strong arms wrap around me, comforting me and holding me safe in a circle of his love.
"It's ok... let it all out..." he gently rubs my back as I soak his hoodie with my pained tears.
"They aren't true, you know," I make a 'pft' sound, disbelieving what he says.
"You're just saying that," I push myself away from him, my back resting on the wall again. I instantly feel a strong bout of pain overcome my body after leaving his arms. I stayed put though, tears still flowing at a speedy pace down my cheeks.
"No, I'm not. From the moment I set my eyes on you I found you beautiful. Everything you did was suddenly amazing. The air you breathed was sacred. Every time you touched me I felt like I had been touched by the queen herself. You are my queen. Seeing you get sick again broke my heart. I was loosing my girl. Of course I still loved you but I wanted the old you back and now I have her, I couldn't be happier. I don't want anyone or anything to change you. You're perfect. You're not even fat! Their idea of skinny is malnourished and bony. I don't want that. I want you. Just you. I love you, Everleigh. Even when you've got tears streaming down your face. Even when your hair is messy in the morning. I love you and only you," I fall back into his arms, sobbing against his chest once again and muttering 'I love you' over and over again as my fists bundle up and squeeze the fabric of his clothing, clinging to him like a baby chimpanzee would to it's mother.
"Shh, it's ok," he gently whispers into my ear as I carry I'm crying until I can feel my eyelids dragging themselves shut and soon, I'm sleeping. Sleeping until my eyes flicker open halfway and I feel myself being carried, seething the bushes of the quad moving past me and the person who's arms I'm being carried, bridal style, in. I don't get to think anymore however before I fall back to sleep. When I wake up, I'm in the nurses office lying on the same bed as I was those months ago, Jimmy and Mr Gray beside me, worried looks on their faces.
"I fell asleep..." Jimmy shakes his head.
"I think you passed out. I tried shaking you awake but you didn't wake up and Summer kept trying to go into her DPT position. I brought you here. Mr Gray said he'll drop us home when you wake up. I'm coming to look after you because your mum is at work," I nod in a daze before suddenly shaking my head and propping myself up on my elbows quickly.
"No... no! I'm fine! I don't need to go home!" I mutter, despite the dizziness filling my head and Summer's paws on my chest trying to instruct me to lay back down.
"Ev, today has already started off badly... you had a breakdown in the first 10 minutes of your first lesson. You're literally 20 minutes into lesson one and you're still crying! You need to go home, Everleigh," I sigh.
"Fine... But you're staying in school!" He shakes his head.
"You're not staying home alone," I instantly growl, glaring at him.
"So you're saying you don't even trust me?!" Fury burns through me.
"No... I just want to keep you safe!"
"Everleigh... he's only trying to help you," I roll my eyes.
"Whatever. I don't care anymore," Sam sighs.
"Let's just head out... you're signed out already," I sit up and try to stand however my legs are weak and I instantly crash back down to the ground. Jimmy tries to help me up however I jerk my body away.
"Can I pick you up?" Sam bends down and asks. I shrug and he attempts o carry me. I just allow him to, tears rolling down my cheeks again.
"Ev..." I shake my head, burrowing into Mr Gray's chest and ignoring Jimmy. He sighs. After a moment I realise I'm being unfair and do the same.
"I'm sorry..." he looks up as we leave the school building and walk across the gravel towards Mr Gray's large car. Jimmy opens the door and allows Mr Gray to sit me inside before moving to the other side of the car, Summer's leash in his hands as he gets her in before doing the same and closing the door.
"Don't be sorry. It's ok," I smile gently as he places his hand on mine before turning my head to the window and resting my hot forehead on the cool glass.
"Let's get you home," Jimmy whispers as I lay my body down and across his lap. My head is pounding and my body has gradually begun to ache during this drive leaving me feeling incredibly tired and slightly nauseous.
"Jimmy-" I cough, my throat hurting. As the car pulls up outside of my house, I leap out of it and rush over to the bushes where I throw up, bile burning my throat.
"Ok baby, it's ok. Shhh," Jimmy pats my back gently, holding my hair back with another hand as I retch and spit into the bush with tears streaming down my face. Summer has rushed over to stand beside me, gently brushing her head against the back of my leg.
Once I stop coughing and spitting up, Jimmy gently picks me up so that I'm resting in his arms before taking a key out of his pocket and unlocking the door. With a small whimper, I squint my eyes shut to attempt to hold back some of the pain coming from my furious migraine and failing.
"Here, I've got her stuff. I'll put it by the door. If she's sick then let me come in and help you, quickly," Jimmy thanks Mr Gray, steadily heading upstairs with me as I burrow my face into his chest.
"Can you get me a large bucket or something for if she throws up, please? You know where stuff is, right?" Mr Gray nods hesitantly before rushing off down the hall. I feel jimmy walking before he stops and I'm placed in bed.
"Can I get you changed into pyjamas?" I nod, sitting up slowly as my head sends out a strong bout of pain which makes me wince. He opens my drawers and selects a black tank top with red print on it. It's my Black Veil a Brides one from hot topic. He also takes out a pair of black leggings and hands them to me. Gently, he helps me out of my top layers and turns around to let me deal with the bra. I slip on the tank top, my body aching like it had just been hit by a bus. I then slide my trousers off underneath the covers and settle in my leggings before laying myself down and burying my face into the cool and soothing pillows. My body suddenly turns freezing cold and Jimmy must have seen me shiver as he pulls my covers up over me after he sits in bed beside me, his cold hands gently rubbing patterns on my burning forehead.
"Here, I brought a few things to help," I hear Mr Gray's voice loudly even though I know he only spoke quietly.
"Ev, open your mouth so I can check your temperature," he instructs me in a whisper before placing a small thermometer in my mouth. After 29 seconds it beeps and he makes a grave face.
"It's the flu. She's burning up. If her temperature goes even 2 degrees up she'll have to go to A&E. Ev, what do you feel like right now?" I groan, rolling onto my back.
"My whole body aches... my head is on fire. It hurts to talk or breathe and I feel so sick. My stomach. Pain. Dizzy. Tired. Hot. Cold," I hiss before relaxing after a cold, wet flannel is laid across my forehead. My hands go up to my cheeks which feel hot and I hear Sam ask Jimmy about the fresh injuries on my arm. He replies briefly before gently. Stroking my arm.
"I have some meds in my bag that might help. I had flu a couple months ago and I was on these. Let me get them out, if you can call her mum please, Jimmy?" I hear Jimmy make an 'uh huh!' Sound before calling my mum.
"Hey, Ma?" I almost laugh at how he calls her Ma now however I'm too weak.
"Everleigh is coming down with the flu. Mr- Sam has some meds that he took that should help. Can she take them?"
"They are venifliaxilima" Sam speaks to my mother.
"Sure!" I hear her muffled voice and whisper.
"I love you, mummy," before tilting my head slightly upwards to take a small sip of water and swallow the pill I'm given by Sam before falling back down on the pillow and almost instantly falling asleep as Jimmy's arms wrap around me.
"I don't want you to get sick, Jim..." I whisper hoarsely.
"It's ok, baby. Get some sleep," I close my eyes and drift off, turning to snuggle my face into this arm chest where I feel comforted and calm, my pain easing slightly as I finally feel myself drifting off.

"Jimmy..." my voice is croaky and hoarse as I fumble around for him. My hands meet a body beside me and I look up through my bleary eyes to see him fast asleep beside me, Mr Gray sat on my desk chair beside us both.
"Do you need anything?" He asks softly, worry on his face.
"New cloth... please..." he nods and takes the now hot one from my forehead and rushing to the bathroom before returning with an icy drilling cloth which momentarily soothes my pain, allowing me to fall back asleep.

"Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me," I hear my mother's soft voice whispering the lyrics of her lullaby to me as I whimper slightly, my body aching and sore still and my stomach pained.
"Shhh, baby," I feel her brush my sweat covered hair out of my face with her fingers before the wrap around my clammy hand. Jimmy has moved from the bed and I think he's left me until I see him return with a fresh cloth for my head which isn't as burning as badly as before. I thank him quietly as he places it on me and gets back into bed beside me. Once again, I fall back asleep.

"Definitely flu," my mum said.
"Do you want me to stay the afternoon? I can help out, if you want?" Mr Gray's voice sounds distant.
"Only if you want to! I can text you how she is in the morning, once you leave, if you want?" I smile at the thought of my mum and my favourite teacher being friends. She needs a friend after a lot of hers are just from work and she's only close with two of them.
"When's dinner?" I croak, hungry.
"Honey, we had dinner yesterday. We had dinner today, too. About an hour ago," I sit up slightly, dizzy.
"What about me?" She laughs.
"You've just been sleeping, love. How do you feel now?" I notice my body aches less and my migraine has subsided to a small, dull pain in the background.
"Better. My head hurts a lot less and I don't feel really sick anymore, just slightly nauseous. My body is less in pain and I only have minor dizziness now but I think that's just because I've been laying down a long time," my mother nods and Jay rubs my arm gently.
"Ev, Sam And I saw the fresher marks on your arm. We're they before or after you left hospital?" She whispers quietly, her eyes appearing clouded with the water of her tears.
"I'm sorry.... it was from the hospital, but it was only a one off. I swear. I was just anxious to go home," she nods as I flush red, digging my wrist further below the smooth quilt above my body. I notice my hot and cold flashes have disappeared and smile.
"I'm just going to rest, I guess. Tomorrow is Sunday, right?" Jimmy nods.
"Your mum has an emergency shift but I was planning on going to the mall and bringing you, if you wanted to?" I nod.
"Sure! Sounds good. I should be a lot better by then," he smiles.
"Good!" My mum chimes in.
"Well, I'm was planning on going out with some work friends tonight. But if you are too sick, I can cancel," I shake my head.
"No, it's ok. I can stay here with Jimmy. We'll be ok!" She nods.
"I was going to stay at Laila's place, you ok with that?" I nod.
"Sounds great!" She thanks me before giving me a small hug and rushing to get ready.
"Everleigh? Can I have a word, please?" I nod and Jimmy leaves me and Sam alone after patting my arm.
"Listen, these next few months are going to be hard for you in regards to your mental health. You just left hospital and the whole school somehow knows. It's a lot. You are going to have to fight a lot to maintain your healthy state and not revert back to old habits but just know, if you slip up then I am here and so is Jimmy. We won't judge you and I won't report you to the school since I am a family friend now. I want you to fight as hard as you can and if you need to talk, I'm here. I understand the fight. You know that. I will help you all I can, ok?" I nod, thanking him before reaching my arms out for a hug which he gives me.
"You're gonna be ok, just stay strong," I nod into his shoulder and smile, pulling away.
"I'm headed home now but I'll see you on Monday, probably. Bye, Everleigh! Stay safe and get well soon!"
"Bye," I whisper, watching him slip off to say the same to Mum after hugging Jimmy.
My eyes close with a small sigh and I fall asleep once again.

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EDITED