My Savior

Chapter 23

I get woken up out of my wonderful dream, where I was petting a bunch of fluffy dogs, with the feeling that I was going to throw up. I wasn't feeling good after eating dinner last night so I didn't want to chance it.

I got up and quickly walked to the bathroom. Not even a minute after closing the door, I was on the floor with my head in the toilet. I absolutely hate puking. I felt too sick to move so I just collapsed on the floor by the toilet.

A few minutes later I heard my mom come in my room hollering for me. She found me sitting in the bathroom and frowned at me. "You feeling bad sweetie?" She asks and I nod. "I guess you were right last night when you thought you were getting sick. I was hoping you'd be one of the lucky ones and not catch the stomach bug." It seemed like illness always started to spread around Christmas time. Last year I was lucky and didn't catch anything, this year not so much.

"Why don't you brush your teeth and come downstairs? You can lay on the couch and watch tv while I make you some chicken noodle soup. It will be light on your stomach." My mom offers and I nod.

"I'll be down in a minute." I tell her. She leaves and I clean up. I went in my closet and picked out a pink soft cotton pajama set that was loose to put on. It wasn't tight to bother my stomach. After I had it on, I threw my hair up into a messy bun to keep it out of my face so it didn't get anything in it.

Once I was dressed, I made my way downstairs. I could smell my moms chicken noodle soup and it made my stomach roll. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to eat it or not.

I went down to the basement and curled up at the end of the couch. I grabbed my blanket and curled up in it. While I waited for my mom, I put on outer banks and started watching it.

"What's up colt?" I hear my mom ask after a door slammed.

"Not much. I was bored. Where's Em?" He asks her.

"She's downstairs on the couch with a stomach bug. I don't know if you want to go down there or not right now." She tells him.

"I've never got the stomach bug so I should be fine." He tells her and she hums.

"Well can you take her this soup and water? You can take a bowl for yourself too if you'd like."

"Sure. And you know I'd never miss the chance to eat something you've made." He says and I hear her laugh. A few minutes later I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. "Hey Em, I brought you soup."

"Thanks." I tell him and take the bowl. I sit up and he sits beside me. We always share this chair when we are down here because we both like being at the end where it has a place for your legs. "You good with this or do you want me to put something else on?"

"This is fine." He says as he adjusts himself and grabs my blanket to drape over his legs. He was just in a pair of athletic shorts and a t shirt.

"I'm surprise you want to be around me. I would be scared of getting sick." I tell him but he shrugs.

"I never get sick so I'll take my chances. I like hanging out with you, it saves me from boredom in my room."

"Where's Mel?" I ask. Usually she likes to come over too or we all do something that way we don't leave her out. I hate the thought of leaving someone out since I used to be the kid that was.

"She's at her friend Cody's house. I'm not sure if he's actually just her friend or if she's dating him. I think they are together but she just tells mom and dad that they are friends." He says.

"Well we tell them we are just friends and we are really just friends so it might be the same way with her." I try but he shakes his head.

"I don't think so but I wouldn't tell my parents either way. I don't want anyone to break her heart and I don't want her doing anything with a boyfriend right now that could result in her getting pregnant since shes just now about to be in high school, but I'm not going to stop her completely from seeing the guy. I just hope she's smart and is careful." He tells me his worries.

"I know it's hard because she's your baby sister and you want to protect her from being hurt, but being hurt comes with life. Mel is a smart girl and I believe she will make smart decisions." I tell him to try to help with his worries.

"You're right. I trust her but I don't trust the boy, especially since I don't know who it is."

"Hopefully he's a good one and that you can meet him soon to see that for yourself." I say and he agrees. "How's your arm feeling?"

"It's feeling a lot better. I still have to keep the sling on and not use it but the sharp pains have went away." He tells me.

"That's really good. Have they said anything else about if you will be able to play football for college?" I ask and I immediately tell by the look on his face that I shouldn't have asked because it must not be good.

"With the amount of stuff I tore, it will be unlikely that I will be able to use the arm to throw half the distance that I used to throw. They said I would definitely be out of being the quarterback and would have a hard time doing anything else since it will also be difficult for me to catch things quickly. More or less, my football career is over and hopefully my grades will get me scholarships since all my football ones are down the drain."

"I'm sorry Colt, I can only imagine how you feel about it since you loved football. It really sucks that it has to be over now and that you couldn't play for college." I try to say something to make him feel better but I don't know if anything that would.

"Well I'm trying to look at it like how my mom said, at least I got to play for 7 years. I knew I wouldn't be able to play football as my career so I wouldn't have moved past college level. At least I had other plans as to what I want to do." He says and I nod.

"I'm glad you are looking at it like that. What is it that you want to do in the future?" I ask because we've never talked about any of that.

"I want to get my bachelors in college and then come back to be a diesel mechanic as well as a welder on the side. That way I can save up to buy a nice house on a good property for my future family." He says and I nod.

"Wow it sounds like you have everything planned out. I'm still not sure what I want to be. I would love to be a gymnastics coach for younger kids but they don't get paid very much. I wouldn't be able to support a family with that salary."

"I say follow what your heart wants you to do. You also have to think about the fact that you will most likely have a partner that will help with costs for your family. I think you would make a great coach with the way you are with kids and doing stunts." He tells me and I nod.

"I still need to do a lot more thinking but I think that's what my heart wants. You made a good point about adding a partners salary with mine. It's just the thought that I might not have a partner so it would be all up to me."

"Do you want to be married and have a family in the future?" He asks and I nod.

"Of course I do. I want a relationship like my parents have but I also know myself. I suck at meeting people and talking so no one would want me."

"Don't even think like that Em. Any guy would be lucky to have you. I believe that you will find someone perfect for you and get the relationship of your dreams." He tells me and I move a little to wear I can give him a hug.

"Thank you Colt. I hope you're right." He hugs me back the best he can and then pulls me towards his side. We cuddle up together under the blanket and turn our attention back to the show that I had forgotten was on. I started it over and relaxed next to Colton. My stomach was still churning but I had managed to keep the soup down so I was happy. I was hoping it would be back to normal soon.