“Yes, you do,” Kiran leaned in closer to my neck, his lips nearly touching my ear. His silky and soft voice lost its edge; his lips brushed my hair. “What’s wrong with you?” He sat back quickly.
I began to convulse, and wondered to myself if this was a seizure. Surely, I was too coherent for a seizure, but my body shook so violently, I could barely stay seated. A small part of me wondered if I should bite down on a spoon, but before I could react, I felt myself falling backwards, slightly aware I was causing a scene.
I fully expected to hit the floor, but instead, I felt strong arms reach out and catch me. I looked up assuming to see Kiran, but instead I was shocked to see Principal Saint looking down at me. His eyes were full of concern and I could see his mouth was moving, but the ringing in my ears drowned out the sound. That was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness for the second time that day.
Chapter Nine
I regained consciousness in an unfamiliar place. My head was pounding and my mouth felt like sandpaper. The electricity inside me slowed to a soft hum and my blood temperature cooled down a bit. I must have been in the Nurse’s Office because I was lying on a soft cot and a metal medicine cabinet sat directly to the left of me.
As I slowly pulled myself into a sitting position, I realized I was not alone. I rubbed my eyes and moved my tongue around in my mouth, but it was no use. I needed a glass of water.
Arms folded, Principal Saint sat at a desk, staring. A wave of trepidation swept over me.
“Are you feeling alright, Ms. Matthews? You took quite a fall,” his distinct, elegant voice was crisp and serious. He stood up and reached over to hand me a glass of water. I took it, my hands trembling a bit, and drank it quickly.
“I think so,” I still felt weak, and my head was especially fuzzy. “Thank you,” I said hesitantly. He took the cup out of my hand and walked over to fill it again at a sink positioned behind him.
“For what?” he sounded surprised.
“For the water.… and for not letting me fall,” I replied matter-of-factly.
“I did no such thing. You did fall; you fell hard. The student, who brought you here, said you possibly had a seizure. I am here to make sure that you don’t have another,” his voice was full of conviction, but I could have sworn I saw him catch me.
“A seizure?” I said pretending to be confused. Although confident that I was conscious of what was happening to me, I was not so sure now. I didn’t remember hitting the floor at all. I rubbed the back of my head, but nothing felt sore or tender.
“Yes, Mr. Angelo said you began shaking uncontrollably before passing out; you were fortunate he was near and able to act so quickly. Do you not remember any of this?” he looked at me skeptically.
“No,” I said simply. I leaned my head forward to look at the ground, letting my long hair fall in front of my face. I could not look at this man in the eye when I lied to him; he seemed as if he would be impervious to a dishonest student. Obviously still confused, I didn’t remember Talbott being there at all.
“Hmmm…” he clearly didn’t buy it; but I wasn’t sure I bought it either. “Well, the important thing is that you are alright. Do you have any idea of what could have caused this? Has this happened before? What is the last thing you remember?”
“I don’t know,” I paused, trying to remember what happened. What made me convulse so terribly? “I remember talking with Kiran and then nothing.”
“Mr. Kendrick?” Principal Saint’s voice raised in alarm, although I had no idea why. “This is worse than I thought,” he mumbled cryptically under his breath. “Eden, I am afraid there is something we need to discuss. This has gotten out of control,” he looked at me gravely, but did not attempt to stand or come closer. A feeling of dread washed over me, but before he could continue, Mrs. Truance stepped through the door.
“Eden’s aunt is here, sir. Would you like me to send her in?” I was amazed at the tone of respect Mrs. Truance used with Principal Saint. Her quiet, subservient demeanor was nothing I had ever seen her exhibit before.
“Yes, that would be fine. I am sure she is anxious to see her niece,” Mrs. Truance left the room and Principal Saint turned his attention back to me. “Our discussion will have to wait. I am sending you home for the day, and strongly suggest you take the rest of the week off to recuperate. Kingsley does not tolerate sick and fainting students.” He said it with finality and stood to take his leave.
“Oh my word, Eden are you all right?” Aunt Syl was through the door and in front of my face before I could react. She was still in her green doctor’s scrubs, and her hair was frazzled. She reached out to put my face in her hands and I inhaled the strong smell of hospital soap.
“I’m fine, really, I’m fine,” I tried to reassure her, but she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small flashlight to begin examining my eyes. I attempted to push her away but she was persistent.
“They said it was a seizure, I was so worried,” she exclaimed, finally giving up the impromptu checkup and hugging me tightly.
“Aunt Syl, I can’t breathe,” I said, struggling for oxygen.
“Oh, I’m so sorry dear,” she pulled back, but didn’t take her hands off my shoulders.
“I have excused her for the day, as well as the rest of the week,” Principal Saint interrupted from the doorway. “Please, take this time to recover, and we will see you back here on Monday, healthy. I will have Ms. Mason bring over your homework and make sure you are caught up on classes.” With his final instructions, he left us alone, closing the door behind him.
“What happened?” Aunt Syl asked exasperatedly. “The school called me at the hospital and I rushed over here right away.”
“I guess I had some sort of seizure or something…. I don’t really remember to be honest. But I feel much better now; I think I’m fine. Let’s just go home,” I looked up at her with pleading eyes, giving her my most charming smile, hoping to convince her.
“Nice try, but seizures are serious Eden. I am going to take you to the hospital for a full checkup, and then we will go home…. Ok? Who is Ms. Mason?” Aunt Syl was serious. I knew there was no getting out of all of the tests I was about to have run on me. I inwardly groaned, not sure if I was up to being poked and prodded. Still, I wondered if there was a diagnosis for blood made out of lightning.
“Lilly, the girl I was telling you about yesterday,” I hopped off the cot and adjusted my uniform. Aunt Syl checked out with Mrs. Truance before we left; but we eventually made our way down to her car, parked slightly askew in front of the school.
Before we could begin our escape and to my utter despair and frustration, I noticed Kiran jogging down to us from the Administration Building. I cringed, unsure why he just couldn’t leave me alone. Since I was still not feeling like myself, I was in no mood to deal with him.
“Eden,” he called from a few feet away as I tried to slide into the passenger’s seat as quickly as my trembling appendages would let me. “Eden!”
“Who is that?” Aunt Syl was both impressed and confused by the unbelievably good-looking boy jogging in our direction.
“What?” I shouted exasperatedly, stepping back out of the car and closing the door, hoping to shield, whatever this was about, from my aunt.
“Are you Ok?” he came to a stop too close for comfort, but thankfully I only felt the soft hum of electricity that had come to be normal.
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, hoping he would just get to the point.
“Are you sure?” he reached out to hold my hand, reminding me of the dream I had about him last night. I let him hold it for a moment, feeling butterflies instead of overwhelming energy, before taking it back. He smiled slightly.
“Yes, I’m sure, but my aunt is taking me to get a checkup anyway,” I said with slight irritation. “What do you want?” I hoped he was not here to ask me about the trashcan in the theater again.