S H E

Girls will be girls

It seemed like an eternity waiting for the ambulance. Olivia and I watched with distressed terror as we peeked through the crack of the bathroom door at the restaurant, watching Kyle seize on the ground. Drool dribbled down his chin. He was flat on the ground, violently twitching. He was making no other sounds.

Olivia started to sob. I was too shocked to react in anyway, but I embraced Olivia to comfort her.

I have a younger cousin who has epilepsy. He has episodes like this, but Kyle's is more violent. And it unnerves me a little.

I caught a glimpse of the same man who was shouting about the incident; he was trying to turn Kyle on his back. I quickly
but cautiously unlinked myself from Olivia.

"Don't touch him!" I called out to the man, peeking over the door frame of the men's room.

"Yeah, man, you shouldn't mess with someone having a seizure. Leave it to the paramedics," A nearby waiter chimed in. I felt bad for the man; he was only trying to help.

"But it's a good thing you warned us," I praised him, trying to raise his spirits. He didn't know, after all.

20 minutes passed. Kyle has passed out. Worry spread throughout the restaurant. People did continue to eat their meals, but there was still a worried and curious bunch of people near the bathroom.

The ambulance arrived a few minutes later. "Finally!" Olivia said exasperatedly. I nodded in agreement.

The paramedics questioned us, and told us to go home. They assured us they'll notify Kyle's parents.

"Like that's gunna happen," Olivia said when we both got in her car. She was still shaking. I shot her a look. "What do you mean?"

"We're going to follow them." Olivia said excitedly, starting the car. I shook my head quickly, nervously glancing at the time.

"No, Olivia. Kyle's probably fine. He might have epilepsy. This might be a normal thing that happens." I reason, putting her car back in park after she eagerly shift it to reverse. "Unfortunately." I add.

"But I want to make sure he's okay, see him for myself," She murmurs.

"I know you do. So do I. But we should go home. There's nothing else we can do." I said, and after a hesitant moment, Olivia nodded. "Yeah. This was too much to take in. He's a guy I just met today, too. Sorry." She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and begins the trip to drop me off home.

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Sunday. I woke up and stretched my arms above my head. I somehow was able to sneak back in my house discreetly. No suspicions from my parents. I even went to use the bathroom and past my mom on the way; she even asked how I was feeling, and I told her much better. They don't suspect a thing, I hope! I'll probably tell Olivia I snuck out later in life, but for now I'm keeping this a secret.

"Apparently, my friend Kyle had a seizure last night. He had to be taken to the hospital," I told my mom, while we were both sitting in the living room. I had to vent to someone other than Olivia.

"Oh, really? That's scary..." My mom clasped a hand over her chest. "Is he okay?"

"I don't know," I replied, pulling my eyebrows together.

"If you want to visit him, I'll let you," My mom smiled, rubbing my shoulder for comfort. I nodded. "Thanks."

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"It wasn't epilepsy, he has a concussion," Olivia explained frantically to me on the phone. She had told me she went to visit him without me. I was a bit angry about that. Why would she do that? She must have assumed I was still grounded, but she could at least still texted me.

"A nurse told me he suffered too much trauma and that caused the seizure." She sounded distressed, and that kind of irritated me even further.

"Can we go visit him together right now?" I asked, trying to strain the annoyance from my voice.

"Visiting hours close in 35 minutes, I don't think we'll make it, sorry Al," Olivia said. It must have been just my irritation but she sounded like she was waiting for that question, and waiting to say those exact words. My knuckles turned white as I tightly gripped my cell.

"Never mind then. I'll see you tomorrow," I say emotionlessly and hang up before she could respond.

Why was I so upset with her? She's just concerned for Kyle, but she only just met the dude! I'm the one who should be this concerned, I'm more of a friend to him than she is!
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Bright and early at school, my jaw dropped when I saw Kyle sitting in his seat. He smiled weakly at me. "Kyle, are you okay?" I asked, sitting next to him. His light brown skin looked even lighter, and his lips were cracked.

"Yeah. I have a concussion-" He began but I waved him off. "Olivia told me," I said, and I saw him cringe. I thought I made him upset because I interrupted him. Before I could apologize he began his words. "Olivia tried to um... Kiss me," he explained. My jaw slacked. "I don't think I want to hang out with her any more." He murmured.

I KNEW she was up to something. I don't know much about her dating life; I figured it was none of my business since she wouldn't tell me. But she seems a little persistent. And obsessed. My hands clenched into a fist.

"I'm so sorry, Kyle, I didn't think she'd-" I stopped when I saw him shake his head. "You and me can still be friends, right?" He asked, not wanting to address the subject further. I nodded, and gave him a reassuring smile. "Of course, Kyle."

"Well, in that case I want to tell you something. Later, though." He smiled. I tilted my head curiously and nodded. The bell rang, and class began.