Of course, the last thing I should be doing is beginning another story, especially since I'm stuck on some of my others. But this idea came to me when watching the first episodes of the season – Holly J looked exceedingly pale. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing this story continue. Chapter two is ready and I will post it as soon as I have ten reviews.
Chapter 1 - Ready or Not
Holly J had been more than strange lately. She'd been falling asleep in classes, showing up late for everything, and generally looking haggard and broken. Fiona, in all her clinginess, noticed and worried. She had spent precious together time bothering her friend to see a doctor, to relax, to rest – anything. Holly J continued spiraling through her busy life – contending with a full academic load, a heavier-than-usual presence as the vice-president of student counsel, and working at the grill.
It was a few weeks after Holly J and Declan had taken a break that Fiona truly began to worry – especially since others had started to notice. Sav had taken the time to mention how tired Holly J appeared to be – that she'd almost fallen asleep during their last meeting. Anya took time away from avoiding her old friend to approach her and ask if she needed help with anything. Peter told Fiona that he'd found Holly J crying at Above the Dot twice, but the redhead vehemently denied it, stating that her allergies were bothering her because the place was so dirty. As a last ditch effort, Fiona begged Holly J to go with her to her doctor, or at least see the school nurse. Holly J walked away, telling her to mind her own business.
Eventually Fiona had enough waiting. One well-placed call and she felt she had done the best she could. She and Holly J were sitting on a bench in front of the school on a Thursday morning, attempting to study French verbs, when a familiar car pulled up. "What is he doing here?" Holly J asked, eyeing her friend suspiciously. "Fi?"
"I'm not his keeper," Fiona answered. "I had no idea he was coming." Declan was out of the car and at Holly J's side before they could converse any longer.
"Hey, sis," Declan said, offering Fiona a quick peck on the cheek. "Think you can actually attend your classes today?" He asked, teasingly. "I need you to get Holly J's assignments."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Holly J said, agitated at his immediate orders. Declan looked at her, his expression firm but caring.
"Please," he said, his eyes imploring her. She sighed and looked away, acknowledging that he'd won. She might have argued longer, if her head wasn't pounding and she wasn't exhausted. Fiona gave Holly J a peck on the cheek and disappeared, leaving the two ex-lovebirds to their own awkward devices.
Declan offered Holly J his hand and she took it, allowing herself to be led to the car and folded into the backseat. She dropped exhaustedly against the soft leather, not caring when Declan took her books and set them aside. He handed her a bottle of water and said something unintelligible to the driver and they were off.
"Where are we going?" She asked, her eyes closed against the brightness of the day. The water bottle was clutched so tightly between her fingers that her knuckles were white, slightly paler than her complexion.
Declan approached the situation carefully, gently extracting one of her hands from the bottle and taking it between his own in a steady grip. "Fi told me you haven't been feeling well. She's worried – I'm worried. Sav and Anya are worried. I'm taking you to the doctor's and I'm not taking no for an answer."
Holly J's eyes had flipped open at the sound of the word doctor and she lunged away from him, her hand reaching for the door. Declan caught her quickly, pulling her back into his arms. Despite her determination to struggle, he was stronger. "Calm down and look at me," he said, easily holding both of her hands while pulling her tightly against him, minimizing her struggles. She eventually sagged against him, realizing it was a fight she couldn't physically win. Glaring, she met his eyes and saw they were gentle, concerned – more caring than she wanted to process. It was more than she could take, so she turned away, averting her eyes.
"Holly J, I don't care if we're not technically together right now. I love you – and I always will. Even if you go off and find someone else, I still want you to be happy and healthy. I know that this is not normal for you – you're never sick. And between Anya, Sav, and Fiona – I've gotten a pretty dismal picture of what's been going on. If you won't do this for yourself, do it for the people who care about you."
"Fine," she said, seething angrily. "But I'm fine."
"And when I hear that from someone with a medical degree, I'll let you gloat," he answered. "And I'll be relieved to hear it. For now, do you have a doctor you prefer?"
"Not really," she admitted. "I haven't been to one since I was a kid. I don't get sick."
"Well, then, we have an appointment at 9am with Dr. Gretchen Remarque. She is supposed to be the best general practitioner and diagnostician in Ontario."
"Declan, It's too expensive - I can't let you—"
"Are we having this argument again? I'm not backing down this time, Holly J. I don't care how much it costs – I want to know that you're alright. Think of it as money I'm spending on me – because I can't bear to think about the alternative." She sighed and Declan moved on, trying to brighten the situation. "We have some time – did you have breakfast?"
"I don't want any," Holly J answered simply. She eyed his expression darkly and continued. "And if you make me eat breakfast, I'm going to puke in your fancy car."
"It's my dad's car," Declan retorted. "And I thought you said you were fine. Do 'fine' people puke after breakfast?" Holly J rolled her eyes.
"Can we stop arguing? I'm going with you – move on. Tell me about school." He sat back, repositioning himself to support her heavy lean and began to spin tails about his elite private school. Commenting sarcastically about the homework assignments and intense projects, he also gave satirical glimpses into his well-to-do classmates and their idiosyncrasies. At first, Holly J laughed and commented on his anecdotes, obviously enjoying his story styling. After twenty minutes or so, she became quiet and Declan realized she was sleeping.
