“Charlie. I need my sweatshirt on the bleacher.” Typically, I’m as stable on skates as I am on my own two feet, but I’m in the middle of the rink and don’t want to risk moving her too far.
He glances up and his eyes fall on Aulie. In a hurry, he grabs my sweatshirt and rushes to my side of the rink, laying it down on the ice. I lay her gently down, supporting her head and trying not to shake too much.
“She used to do this every once in a while in high school,” Charlie says. “Gave the teachers a wicked good fright, but she’d always come out of it okay. She’s probably fine—”
“We should call an ambulance,” I cut him off, so tired of everyone saying whatever is going on with Aulie isfine.For fuck’s sake, she said those words herself before she fainted.
People don’t just lose consciousness for fun.
Charlie runs a hand through his sandy blond hair with a grimace. “She’s going to hate us making a big deal of it.”
“I don’t care if she’s going to hate it. Just go do it.” The words come out with more bite than I intend, and I immediately regret it.
He shoots his hands up in surrender. “I’m going. I’m going.”
Sitting down next to Aulie on the ice, I scrub two hands down my face as Charlie’s skates glide further away.
Fuck. How did I miss the signs that she wasn’t feeling well?
I glance down at her paling skin. Was she like this this morning?
Her eyes slowly flicker open. “Hey,” she says hoarsely.
I exhale. “Fuck’s sake, Dessy. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“I’m so sorry.” She rests a palm on her stomach, and a small cry of pain passes over her lips before it grows into a louder wail.
I rub circles into her hand, my heart still running a thousand miles a minute. “No, I’m sorry. I’ll try to be nicer—”
“Oh no, am I dying?”
My racing heart leaps in my chest, running hurdles. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you said you’re going to be nice to me.” She tries to laugh, but I’m not in the mood for playing.
“No more kidding, Dessy. Charlie’s getting an ambulance, but I need you to tell me what’s happening.”
“Nothing’s going on. This happens sometimes. Please don’t make a fuss. I’m—” She tries to pick her herself up but stops. “I’m laying back down. But I’m fine, okay?”
It’s not okay. Aulie’s keeping something from me, and considering my history with my dad, I’m the last person emotionally stable enough to handle that.
It’s hitting too fucking close to home.
I can’t let it capsize me like it usually does. I need to stay strong because Aulie needs that, needs me—no more sulking.
She grabs her right side, breathing sharply.
“Is that where the pain is coming from?” I ask, bringing my hand over hers.
“Mmhmm.”
“Looks like it’s your appendix.”
“It’s being an appen-dick. But that might be why I vomited.”
I refuse to acknowledge her pun. We’re built from the same cloth the way we use humor to deflect away from heavier topics. “When did you vomit?The bathroom,” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re so fucking stubborn, it’s ridiculous.”
“Don’t be mad at me. I’m sick.” She cracks an eye open and peeks at me with a soft smirk.
