Bittersweet Heartstrings

Chapter 5: Sickening

I've edited the last few chapters, so make sure you read them before you start on this!!

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The weirdest thing happened to me. When I went to sleep, trying desperately to remember his face, I dreamt of Griffin's sulking face, instead. The way his eyes were filled with something that I couldn’t understand. Was it grief? Disappointment? Guilt? Maybe none of the above. But that image of his face left me wanting to know the reason behind the unreadable emotion. What could’ve left him like that?

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When I went to school the next day, I felt awful. 

As lunch neared, I could feel my stomach growling. It made me feel sick, considering my stomach was also aching. All day I had been feeling sick. A headache coming and going. I almost puked a few times, but I managed to hold it in. I think a few of the teachers noticed that there was something wrong with me. Even Mrs. Eckberg asked if I was feeling alright. 

When it was time for lunch, Declan and I walked to the lunch room together, like usual. A frown was etched onto my face as I held my stomach. Declan had tried to convince me to go to the nurse, but I didn't want to. If I was sick, I'd need my mom to come get me, considering I didn't own a car, yet. 

Declan and I waited in line for lunch. Avery seemed to have disappeared for the day. I hadn't seen her since second period. That was odd. The only thing that came to mind was that she ditched. It wasn't unlike her, but it was unusual. 

"What do you want?" Declan asked.

"A water." I croaked, my throat starting to hurt as well. 

"That's all?" He drew his eyebrows together.

I nodded my head, walking in line with him. When we reached the end, Declan handed the lunch lady the money and we headed towards the table where Griffin, Ricky, and a few other people now sat. 

After a few minutes of just sitting at the table and staring at the water bottle, I took a sip of it. My throat hurt as I swallowed. I moaned, leaning into Declan and closing my eyes. I was already tired and this was only the fifth period of the day. 

"Carson, you sure you don't want me to take you to see the nurse?" Declan questioned.

I weakly nodded my head, aware of the stuffy nose that I now had. 

"She's sick?" I heard Griffin ask, actual concern laced into his words.

"Yeah." Declan replied uneasily.

"Why don't you take her to the nurse?" 

"She said she doesn't want to go." 

"You should take her anyway."

"I can't exactly force her to go, Griffin." 

"She looks like she has the flu."

"What makes you think that?" 

"My brother just had the flu a few days ago and she acted just like Carson." Griffin explained; I hadn't even known he had any siblings.

Declan shifted uncomfortably, his arm that was resting around my waist tensing. I cracked open my eyes and saw that Griffin was staring at me worriedly. That was odd. I never knew that he cared about me one bit.

Then came that feeling in my stomach. I felt like I was about to throw up. My arms moved protectively over my stomach, as if that would stop me from upchucking. And just my luck, my head started pounding.