Tardy

Sit Down Kid, It's Story Time

I hate waking up in random places. It makes me feel like a statistic. Like one of those girls at a house party who drank a little more than she should, did something highly untasteful, and ended up on the host bed. Waking up trying to piece together the previous night and why her clothes are covered in her own vomit.

That's how I feel right now. As light slowly starts to enter my eyes, I glance around and try to piece together where exactly I am. White washed walls and two sets of eyes that are staring at me with utter distress stamped into them surround me. I think I have an idea of where I am now. As I try to pull myself up on my elbows, I realize a white sheet has wrapped me down to a lumpy white cot. Then it's confirmed. I'm in the nurses' office.

I haven't been back here in over 6 months, not that I miss it. I hated the staring mostly. Nurse Jackson would stare daggers into me for thirty minutes straight with concern plastered onto her face until she finally asks, "How are you feeling, hun?"

Kind of like how she's staring now; her and Dylan. Dylan. Why is he here? Wait, why am I here? I remember leaving the house and walking over to the roses bushes. I saw Dylan with that stupid smile painted on his face. We walked to school and then...nothing. I am seriously throwing a blank now.

"Well, you look terrible," stated Dylan as he walked over and helped me sit up.

"Well you're no panty dropper yourself," I retorted. He just smirked and slid my hair behind my ear.

"What the hell happened? You stared at the clock and started freaking out," he wondered as he rubbed circles on my back.

"The clock? What clock?"

"Outside the school. You know it's not a crime to be on time, ok? You won't die or anything. Or maybe you will because you basically did."

"Did you have another episode, hun?" piped Nurse Jackson. I forgot she was in the room.

"Episode? What is she talking about?" inquired Dylan as he looked at me with confusion written all over his face.

I had an episode. The last time I had an episode was last year. It started happening after the incident. I was powerless to it. I couldn't control it. But I was better this year. Why would it start again?

"I thought I was done with those?" I thought out loud.

"Done with what?" Dylan persisted.

"Sweety, it can be brought back on by any stressors. You are here rather early than usual," explained Nurse Jackson. "It's 8:45 right now."

"We had a project due like fifteen minutes ago. There goes our "A"," answered Dylan. I gave him the vilest glare I could muster, but he just shrugged it off. Nurse Jackson watched our exchange and giggled in amusement.

"The last time you were this early was when you were with Chase," she laughed and then the smile fell of her face as she realized what had just left her mouth. She grazed over to me and mouthed the words "I'm sorry" but it was too late. The damage had already been done. The room froze over with silence as Nurse Jackson and I refused to make eye contact.

"Who the hell is Chase?" asked Dylan as he watched us in bewilderment. I couldn't bring myself to answer. What would I say? How would I explain Chase?

"He was a student here," replied Nurse Jackson.

"Oh ok. So he doesn't go here anymore," he said nonchalantly.

"More like anywhere," I whispered.

"What'd you say?" he questioned. I didn't think I was loud enough for anyone to hear me. He gazed at me, waiting for my answer. I couldn't speak. All the saliva had disappeared from my mouth and my body tensed to the point that I couldn't even move my lips.