Page 32 of Charlie Sunshine
“Because if it lasts over five minutes, we’ll have to call an ambulance.”
“Fuck.” He looks panicked. “Has that happened before?”
I shake my head. “No, but he’s not been well lately.”
Jamie looks around at his friends who are still staring and muttering. “Off you go,” he says, an unusual note of command in his voice. “It’s not London Zoo.” The group mutters but disperses quickly, and I smile at him in gratitude.
I stroke Charlie’s hair back as he judders, his heels drumming on the floor. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I say to him. “I’m here.” He’s oblivious, but I always talk to him and stroke his hair as if he knows I’m here. It might be that a tiny part of his brain is aware, and he won’t feel so alone, so I’ll always do it.
I catch the expression of disgust on Harry’s face as he stares down at Charlie. He must sense my gaze because he looks up and stills before having the grace to flush. “I think you should go,” I say sternly, and he swallows hard before nodding and exiting the room.
I look down at my watch. “Three minutes, sunshine,” I say to my best friend. “Get it done now, Charlie.”
The juddering carries on, his teeth clenched.
“You’re so calm,” Jamie says. “How many of these have you seen?”
“Far too fucking many.” I stroke the long waves of Charlie’s hair back. They’re soft as silk on my fingers. “I’ve hated every fucking one,” I confide, looking up at Jamie.
He’s sitting next to Charlie, stroking his arm. He nods sadly. “I don’t blame you. I don’t like seeing him like this. It’s so unfair.” He pauses. “I thought you had to put something between his teeth?”
I smile. “Shit, no. Not unless you’ve got a useless finger and fancy losing it.”
He gives a sad smile, and we watch as the seizure loses force, and the juddering gradually stops.
“Okay, babe,” I say briskly. “Over on your side.” I help him into the recovery position and look at Jamie. “Can you grab a blanket from somewhere? He’s always cold when he comes round.”
He nods and dashes out of the room, and I crouch next to Charlie, still stroking his hair. “Come on back now, sunshine.”
His eyes flutter, and then I’m looking into the bleary blue eyes of the person who means the most to me in the whole world.
“Hey, you,” I say softly.
He looks around, and I hate the almost hopeless look of resignation in his eyes. It doesn’t sit well on Charlie’s face. He’s made for sunshine and smiles. “Shit, I had a turn.”
“You did,” I say briskly. “And thankfully you’ve got us out of going to a nightclub tonight with people who are by and large less educated than a bunch of babies. So, well done, you.”
“Don’t be nasty,” he whispers with a half-smile.
I roll my eyes. “There’s more inbreeding in this group than at Crufts.”
His pale lips quirk, and then he sighs. “Tell me the truth. Did I piss myself or worse?”
“Nope, but don’t worry, the night is still young,” I say, pinning a smile on my face when I just want to cry. To hug him close and keep him safe and weep.
He starts to struggle up, and I help him, bolstering his body when he falters. “I’m as weak as a kitten,” he says, staggering slightly as he gets to his feet. He shivers violently, and I look up in relief as Jamie tears into the room with his arms full of blankets.
“Jesus, how many have you got?” I say.
“I got different thicknesses so he can decide which one feels best on his skin.” He looks at Charlie. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re up again.”
Charlie looks shamefaced, and I want to shout at him. He has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Not him. He’s the best fucking person in the world. “I’m so sorry,” he says to Jamie, his voice a tired thread of sound. “I’ve broken up your party.”
Jamie immediately shakes his head. “Don’t be so silly, Charlie. They’re like expensive goldfish. They’ll have forgotten all about it by the time they got to the door.” He hugs Charlie around the shoulders. He has to reach up to do it, as Charlie is taller than him, but he does it as gently as if Charlie were a child. “I’d rather be with you and Misha.” He grins at Charlie. “Well, you anyway.”
I snort out a laugh and even Charlie smiles. It’s the final step that makes me accept Jamie as a friend. If he can be so kind to Charlie and even make him smile after a seizure, then he’s a mate for life to me.
“Let’s get you upstairs,” I say.
