Not nearly enough Natsume/Naomi material out there, so I thought I'd try my hand at Writing.
Please do review and point out anything that I can improve on. I'm more adept at quick, silly doodles over literature.
"Well, it seems you're in top form, Miss Ooe! Well, as top-form as I've ever seen you,"
Nurse beams at me over his clipboard, leaving me questioning whether or not I should have found that insulting. Luckily for him, my sense of humour is as grim as his. I jump down from the bed, slide my arm into my crutch and thank the toothy man. However, his smile stops rather abruptly and he stands to meet me.
"Before you set off, I need to discuss something with you. It's about your friend, Naomi."
This wasn't good. If the fact he used her first name wasn't enough of a flag, I have noticed her Seizures are becoming increasingly common. I had hoped I was just imagining it, but that would be too convenient. Increasingly often I would find I needing to wait for her to snap back to reality… It's disconcerting, if I'm honest. As much as I hate to see her like that, I know she can't help it.
She regularly has small seizures, in which her brain just kind of… stops, for lack of a better term. Her face relaxes and she just mindlessly continues whatever it is she's doing for a little bit. Usually it's just for a few seconds, but that being said I had to follow her around the city for a few minutes last week to make sure she wouldn't get hurt. Nurse stresses that my best course of action for her 'moments' is to just let the seizure run itself out and make sure she's in no danger.
Realising I'd left him waiting; I thankfully remember to answer Nurse.
"Her epilepsy?"
"I'm afraid so. Looking back at reports from your Teachers and her sessions with my colleagues, it would seem her condition is ever-so-slightly getting... worse."
So I was right. As much as I saw this coming, I can't help but feel myself becoming a little anxious as to what it could mean.
"Now, when I say 'Worse', I don't mean anything life-threatening! Don't you worry about that, it's just a case that her seizures are becoming more frequent and are lasting longer. Being as you and her are so close, I imagine it would be best to discuss this with you in person."
What does he mean by that? 'You and her being so close'? Focus, Natsume, damnit. This is important stuff.
"Discuss what? Breaking Doctor/patient confidentiality?" I put my hand on my hip and smirk. I don't know why I said that, I just needed to lighten the mood. God damnit it wasn't even a joke, let alone a funny one. I really don't do well in serious situations. Thankfully, he lets out a quick chuckle and sits me down.
"We all need someone to look out for us sometimes, even more so when you have a condition like Naomi's. Yes, we have medical staff on hand at all times here, but do you want a paramedic breathing down your neck at all times? Besides, Epilepsy is one of these things that just happen. Even with the major Clonic-Tonic episodes usually nothing is needed, just someone to make sure they're fine. That's where you come in." My head perks up at this.
"You know what to do if your friend starts having a convulsive seizure, right?"
Oh.
So this is the grim reality behind it all.
The head nurse is preparing me for my best friend having a full-on seizure. Admittedly yes, I know what to do. I've gone and done some research into Epilepsy, just so I know what to expect. Because that's what a good friend does, right? I know essentially to do what I normally do. Just let it run its course and keep her safe. It's what I always do. No big deal.
Except this time would be different.
Much different.
"Natsume?"
Oh shit, how long have I been looking at the floor?
"Yes, sorry! I'm here!" I just wasn't expecting it to be so blatant. "Yeah, don't worry, just keep her safe, right? Same as before!" Surely he should have been more tactful with the question. "Nothing too difficult I'm sure!" Stop, you're trying too hard.
Nurse just looks at me. He knows how uncomfortable this whole topic makes me. Well it's not just this topic, rather everything with a heavy atmosphere. Yeah.
"She hasn't had a Grand Mal episode before, so I want you to push one of the emergency buttons, if it does happen."
"You mean when?" Awful attempt at cutting the tension there, Nat.
"If it happens."
"If. If is good," I concede.
After a reflective moment, I stand from my chair and nod at the suddenly-smiling doctor before me. How he can go from serious to happy in 0.4 seconds, I'll never know. We say our goodbyes and I close the door behind me.
Recounting the conversation on the way to the Girl's Dorms, I can't help but feel I overreacted. My face is still burning from how uncomfortable the whole thing was. Good lord, it must have been more painful to watch than Nakai's self-introduction. And now to make matters worse, I'm sure that Nurse thinks there is something more going on between me and Naomi.
No, come on.
In all fairness, I was just told my Best Friend was going to get a whole lot worse for wear.
I'm completely justified.
I'm just thinking too deeply into it.
Yeah, that's it.
Agh, my knees are aching. The sooner I get back the better.