Ties That Bind

Chapter 20. An Untimely Sign

It was Stevie's last week of school and though she was normally bummed for a semester to be over, because she did always enjoy herself, she was pretty relieved it was going to be over and she was excited for the break. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she could spend the rest of December and most of January with Lindsey. Even if she would be working at the diner, it wouldn't be so consistant.

During the two hour, what would normally be a lecture, she was sitting there, avidly taking in the last people to give their speeches as a final and in the midst she felt a wave of heat overcome her, making her slightly clammy. Feeling that as uncomfortable, she shifted her position slowly and she uncrossed her legs, fixing her posture and uncrossing her arms.

"You okay?" Robin whispered to her, placing her hand on her forearm.

"Mhmm," she nodded. "I just um..." she let off a small breath of air. "I'll be right back," she flew out of her chair and she went running out of class.

Robin got up and followed her out.

Seeing that, Lori got up as well.

"Ms. Perry, I highly reccomend you stay in your seat otherwise you will not get graded for your final," the group's mean professor stated even though she was quite aware the three were a trio and just looking out for each other.

"I have more important things to take care of," she snidely replied, taking her blazor off so she could go find the other girls.

She really hadn't cared too much about class and she was doing it to appease Stevie since she asked, but all the way through she wanted to drop and just work. Feeling like the professor gave her an ultimatum, she wanted to be with her family first.

When she did make it into the women's restroom, she could see Robin trying to coax Stevie out of the stall since she was sobbing away.

"What happened?" she whispered, pushing back her red curls.

"We'll be right outside, Steph---" Robin stated, gently guiding the younger girl out of the bathroom. Lingering for a moment, "I think she was sick---she was vomitting, but she said she was fine. She's not moving from there. I'm gonna get our stuff, stay with her and maybe try to get something out of her."

"Okay," she nodded gently. She then passed her by and she went inside. "Hey, Steves...?" she paused, standing just outside the stall door. "Wanna talk about whatever it is?"

"Lori, I'm sorry... I'm just not in the mood right now," her voice was slightly hoarse.

"Stevie, you should talk about it. You make me talk about everything, no matter what it is," she dropped down to her knees, sitting on her side so she could continue to speak. "You shouldn't keep, whatever it is, in," she simply concluded.

Stevie opened the door, "Get off the floor, Lori, that is disgusting," she rubbed her head, since she was starting to get a headache from her crying.

The redhead obeyed and she did as told.

···

The three women had convened in the restroom; Stevie leaned against the sink while her arms were crossed and she stared blankly at the linoleum between Robin and Lori who were on each outer edge of either eye.

"How long have you known?" Robin questioned.

"Not long," she shook her head. "Now just proved it to me... I thought something was off a couple weeks ago in general with my medicine and I guess I skipped a few days---not in order, but took it one day, forgot the next and then took it again the next. You know how it doesn't catch up---it stays in the system for about two days so I was sure to take it the day after I realized I hadn't, but I've been so beat with school and then..." she swiped her hair back. "I kinda screwed myself. I wasn't paying attention and I was looking for signs because I didn't think I was. I thought I was fine and then nausea just hit me flat, right now."