Page 20 of Unraveled

“Here, sit for a moment.” Ms. Teiger used a gentle hand to guide me over to the bleachers, but the room spun harder.

“I need to sit. Now.” My voice came out mumbled, and Ms. Teiger helped me to the floor. I worked to focus on my surroundings, desperate not to pass out as I ignored my turning stomach.

“Doing drugs, Zane?” I heard Coach Larson, andZane scoffed.

I blinked, trying to process that as I laid my body against the gym floor, watching, everything spinning as Coach Larson held up a baggie with pills he scooped from the ground. His other hand was held up, telling Zane not to move, and his brow shot up as he inspected the contents. “Steroids. Now, that explains a lot.”

Steroids!Zane had been on steroids. The guy whose strength had already cost me so much had actually used steroids to get me to like him? If I hadn’t lived through worse, I’d have thought the stress would do me in. But my stomach didn’t quite get the message. Seconds later, chicken wrap and lemonade covered the floor.

Chapter 8

JET

Me: Heading y’all’s way now. Might make it before the end of lunch.

I texted Annie as I left the snack bar, scarfing down my food as I walked and doing my best to avoid the rain when I got outside. My final project had needed some tweaks, and I hadn’t been able to resist taking a few extra minutes to work on those parts. Of course, now I was running late, but I doubted Annie would mind.

Annie: You missed all the drama.

Me: Oh, yeah?

Annie: Yep. I’ll fill you in later. Do you know where Izzy is?

I frowned, confused because when I’d left her earlier she’d been on her way to lunch. Dumping my trash, I pushed open the door to the main building, and I was about to text Annie back but ended up gaping as soon as I turned the corner down the hall.

“Izzy?”

She was slumped against Ms. Teiger, shakily holding on for support, her legs trembling and her feet bare.

I rushed over and pulled Izzy’s free arm around my shoulders to help. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” She was so pale she was making her usual color look tan.

“Go to class, Jet,” Ms. Teiger directed.

“It’s still lunch. The bell hasn’t rung,” I replied. “Izzy, what happened?”

“I’m fine, Jet. Don’t worry,” she mumbled, but her knees failed her on the next step, and I caught her when Ms. Teiger lost grip.

I rolled my eyes and scooped her up. “Obviously not.”

She moaned and laid her head on my shoulder, her eyes closing tight when she looked like she might be sick. I looked at Ms. Teiger, waiting for her to object, but she just waved me on to the office, following right behind us.

“What happened?” I asked quietly just to her this time, now that her Izzy’s ear was only inches from my mouth.

She didn’t answer right away, my concern growing. Why didn’t she want to tell me?

“I made him mad,” she finally murmured.

“What? Made who mad? And how did that make you sick?”

Ms. Teiger held open the door when we reached the office, and I stepped inside, going straight to the small couch near the nurse’s office to set Izzy down. I poked my head in the room, but it was empty. She must have still been out for lunch.

“Thank you, Mr. Thanos, but I’ve got it from here. She’ll see the nurse as soon as she’s back. The front desk has already paged her. You can go on to class now.”

I gave her a polite smile. Apparently, she didn’t understand how our friendship worked. “It’s still lunch, Ms. Teiger.”

“Jet, I’m okay. Really. You can go.” Izzy’s voice was weak, and she propped her elbow on the arm of the sofa to drop her head into her hand. She looked up at me, attempting a smile.

My eyebrow raised as I grinned. “And have Annie tear into me when I can’t give her a reason why you’re here? No thanks. Tucker wouldn’t be much fun, either.”

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