“No.” I close my eyes, trying to steady myself. “This is what happened Saturday,” I say. Or, at least, I try to say. It may come out more like, “Tbhib what happened.” I really can’t be sure.
“Jackson…” She’s concerned. Are my lips not shaping the words correctly, either?
I do my best to enunciate. “Vertigo. The doctor said.”
“What are you doing?” another voice calls toward us. Someone older. Someone from school. A teacher?
“He’s not feeling well,” Ellie explains, practically holding me upright.
“Have you been drinking?” he asks.
“Drunk? No,” she says sharply. “Smell his freaking breath. He’s not.”
The teacher steps forward and sniffs. This feels much worse than being inebriated. I do my best to stand up straight. And not vomit on him. “Really,” I say, trying to stick to short words and enunciate. “I’m fine. Some vertigo. Basically nothing.” To sound more convincing, I manage to string a full sentence together. “I just need to go back to the hotel. Now.”
Ellie wraps an arm around my back and guides me a step away. I guess we can leave. We hurry off without further question. But once we’ve exited the stadium, I lose momentum.
“Slow,” I croak out. Clutching her tight, I close my eyes for the rest of the walk back to the hotel.
We take the elevator.
Why are there so many people in this hallway? Why is it so long? It’s like it stretched out by a mile while we were gone.
The door. The key is in my wallet.
Ellie is reaching a hand into my pocket.
Wait, I’m mad at her.
We’re in the room, and I let go, following the wall toward the bed. But I don’t want to lie down. Down is bad. Down is dizzy. Yet I can’t stand, either.
Sit. I need to sit. I slump to the floor.
And hurl.
Ellie slides the empty ice bucket into my lap right in time.
Nice of her.
But she’s the worst.
Vomit, again.
Ellie asking something. I can’t answer.
Then I remember.
“Mm—”
“What was that?”
“Mmmedicine.” I raise a shaky finger toward where I think my bag is sitting.
I close my eyes.
Ellie reappears with two orange bottles. Reads the labels. Hands me a pill from each.
And water.
