Page 54 of Just Breathe

“He’d flip his shit if we took him to the hospital,” that deep voice said again. “We need to take him home and if he doesn’t feel better in a few hours, then we will go.”

“Then I’m coming with you.” Fuck, she sounded beautiful.

Someone wiped my mouth as I tried to open my eyes, making me aware of the horrible taste in my mouth. “I’m going to throw up again,” I tried to say, but I know I didn’t succeed because I threw up again.

“It’s ok just let it out. Whatever’s in your system, you gotta get it out.” A hand rubbed my back in a small circle as someone wiped my mouth again. Something cool landed on my neck and I practically purred at the glorious feeling.

Fuck, I was trashed. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bad before. My body was being lifted and pulled into a lying down position. I laid down on something soft and I realized I was on someone’s lap. I leaned into the legs, rubbing my face, feeling their softness and the faint smell of something sweet. Before I knew it, I passed out.

* * *

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy and itchy. The room was dark when I opened my eyes. I felt hot and cold at the same time. I did not know what the hell what was going on and I remember nothing. Someone was lying next to me and at the foot of the bed. It was too dark to see who it was.

My mouth was so dry, I coughed, feeling like I couldn’t swallow. It took everything in me to sit up, my body feeling like it wasn’t my own. The person next to me bolted up at the sound, grabbing something from the nightstand.

“Take a small sip.” I felt something hit my lip, and I opened my mouth. I took a small sip as instructed, but the need for more water was urgent. “Slow down. You’re going to make yourself throw up.” They pulled the straw away from me.

I groaned, getting frustrated. “Here’s a little more.” The straw came back, and I took in more water, feeling the urgency go away. “Slow down.” I finally recognized Jane’s voice.

“What the hell happened?” My voice was raspy and sounded like I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

“I don’t know. What are you feeling?” she asked, touching my forehead and then feeling a pulse in my wrist as she looked at her watch. “Are you still nauseous?”

“I feel like I got run over by a semi and he backed up because he didn’t finish the job.” I coughed again with all the dryness in my throat. “Yeah, my stomach is queasy.”

“Your heart rate is elevated. Let me check your temp.” She went back to the nightstand an grabbed something. The person at the foot of the bed groaned, rolling over, seeing we were both awake as they got up.

“Hey man, you ok?” Callum's sleepy voice broke the silence.

“Here, put this under your tongue.” She slipped a thermometer under my tongue.

“He’s really dehydrated, his heart is elevated, and he has the cold sweats. I’m thinking he might have a slight fever.”

Callum got up and turned on a lamp on the side of the bed so it was so bright near me. The thermometer beeped and Jane took it out.

“Ninety-nine point two,” she said, looking up at me. I noticed she was wearing an enormous shirt and probably one of the guy’s shorts. “You think you can handle some crackers?” She rubbed my arm, looking worried.

“Can I get a shower first? I think that might help. I also need to get this taste out of my mouth. It’s making me more nauseous.” My arms felt heavy as I ran my hand through my hair. Callum nodded and came to my side of the bed.

“Ok, let’s get you in the shower.” Jane got off the bed and went to the bathroom to turn the light on. She turned around, and I noticed she was wearing one of my shirts. I swung my legs over too fast and I fell off the bed before I could right myself. My whole body felt heavy, and I just landed hard, with no resistance.

“Damn dude.” Callum reached for me, trying to pull me up, but I couldn’t even help him. My body felt like dead weight, making me feel a little panicked. What the hell was going on?

“Can you walk?” He grunted as he picked me up and we fell on the bed.

“Fuck, my body just feels like dead weight.” I got my upper body up but I overcompensated and leaned forward too much. Jane caught me and pushed me up with her own body.

“Maybe a shower isn’t the best thing.” She held my head in her hands. “The last thing we need is you getting a concussion in the shower.”

“Please, I feel awful.” I knew I was whining, but I felt so grossed.

“Let me go get Aiden. We can get you in the shower on the seat.” Callum left the room and left me with Jane. She still had my head in her hands, looking into my eyes.

“Can you hold yourself up?” She still looked concerned.

“Yeah.” It took everything I had, but I kept myself up as she went around for some more water. She came back and held the straw up for me.

“Slow,” she said as I drank from the cup.

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