The End of the Road

Absence

I didn't actually speak to Harry for the rest of today. Allison kept looking at me with puppy dog eyes. I asked, she never answered (they swore each other to secrecy. The bastards). I still don't know what happened while I was sharpening that pencil.

~

I was walking down the hall with Katie earlier today, when I saw Harry. She saw him too and would not stop asking about what happened during Science. This made me feel a little guilty. One, because I did like Harry and still haven't told Katie, and two, because Harry looked a little sick after science. I looked over at Katie, who at this point must have given up, because she pulled out a book and entered that bookworm fantasy world of hers. I just left it alone.

~

I've been walking around, feeling queasy all day. On my way to tenth period, I felt way worse than before.

"Hey Greg?"

"What?"

"I don't feel so good."

"Dude, stop with the Infinity War quotes! That movie came out, like, two years ago. Get over it," Greg bellowed

"No, I feel sick. I'm sweating. Am I pale?"

"By pale, you mean, your face looks like it's covered in blood because of how red you are?" he answered matter-of-factually

"Yeah, I gotta go."

I ran up the stairs, straight to the nurse's office. I barged in, and she immediately saw my issue. I've been here two other times times for the same reason. She sent me home, in a wheelchair (I was perfectly capable of walking, but okay). I'm getting sick because of general anxiety. Or at least that's what she wrote on the note she gave to my mom.

My mom questioned me, and I told her midterms were coming up (which is true). Actually, it's mostly because of Allison and Katie.  And I'm stuck in the middle of it all.

The next day...

I don't think Harry's in school today. He's not answering Greg's texts. 

He isn't answering my texts either.

But, Greg did tell Allison that Harry felt really sick right before tenth period yesterday, and went home early (Greg doesn't talk to me so Allison is the front line). 

I hope he's okay.

Other than that, Allison has been really silent. I know she's hiding something from me. Well, whatever happened in science yesterday, I obviously won't be getting the details anytime soon.

Meanwhile...

"Mom, I'm still sick."

"Oh Harry, get up. You aren't fooling anyone."

"Mom, I'm serious." I retaliated

She came by the edge of my bed and took my temperature.

103.6 degrees

"Good God, Harry. Your fever got worse. Your poor little face is all red."

"Oh, now  you believe me?"

She ignored my smart-mouth and ran to the bathroom. A few seconds after, she came back with the most disgusting ibuprofen pills in the history of medicine. The pills were almost the size of my pinkie finger (and that should NOT have been approved by the FDA).

"Get some rest, okay? You aren't going back until your temperature gets below 100."

She walked out and closed my door.

I'm actually sick. Damn my weak immune system.

According to my calculations, that means I won't be back until Friday, the latest.

I have to thank Allison for that.

~

"Harry isn't in school"

"I know. You told me. I'm sure he's fine, Allison. He does have a weaker immune system,"

"But still. I'm worried"

"He's fine. Now shut up, I'm trying to read." she concluded

Ew. Katie's such a bookworm.

What if I put Harry in the hospital? The last time we had a test, he fainted (so did another kid).

"He could've had a heart attack! Or a stroke! Oh my god, he could've died!"  I said

"The heart attack wasn't enough? He's fifteen." she yelled from her book, not lifting her eyes.

Ugh, the attitude.

Words can't hurt that much, can they?

I shouldn't have told Harry about my feelings. Or Katie's.

Oh my god. 

Wait

He's not sick. 

He's avoiding us!

Wait, no, Katie has a point. He does have a weak immune system.