Nausea rips through me when I open my eyes. The morning sun slants heavily and Carlos is still wrapped around me. I try to ignore my discomfort but after a minute it becomes too much to handle. I hurriedly disentangle myself from his mocha arms and rush to the bathroom, past a slightly shocked Kendall.
The remnants of last night's dinner spill into the toilet.
'What was that?' I wonder to myself, running my toothbrush haphazardly through my mouth. I rinse and stretch before going back out into the kitchen.
"Are you alright, Logan?" Mrs. Knight is making dinosaur chicken nuggets.
Smelling the processed meat in the oven makes my stomach do flips. I shake my head and return to the bathroom, locking the door.
I sit on the edge of the tub, dropping my head between my knees.
"Logan, honey?" She calls through the door, "What is it? The chicken?"
I groan my affirmative. A migraine building behind my temples.
I listen to her shuffle around the kitchen. She pulls the pan out of the oven and the nuggets go to the trash.
"Okay, all gone." I leave the bathroom once more, moving slowly and squinting against the light. "Oh, sweetie!" Her hand is against my forehead. "No fever. Okay, why don't you go and get back to bed."
I nod slightly and return to my room. I pull the shade down and close the curtains. Carlos isn't in his bed but I lay back down in it. Holding his pillow close I try to sleep again.
I fall into a light sleep for maybe only half an hour before the door opening wakes me.
"Hey." The whisper of his voice is accompanied by a plastic bag being set down. "How are you feeling?"
I shake my head, burying my face deeper into the pillow. "Okay, I got you some Tylenol and Gatorade. Will you take some?"
I sit up and hold out my hand. The seal pops on the pills and he pours two into my hand and hands me a red Gatorade.
I choke down the horse pills and lie back down.
"Stay with me?" He laughs a little and curls up next to me.
His warm hands cover my cheeks. Thumbs press and rub gently at my temples. I sigh against his palms. My headache fades away. Whether from the meds or from his massage, I can't care, right?
"Hmm. You're good." I lean forward and kiss him.
"I know."
"You should also know that modesty is a great quality in a man."
"Good because I'm not quite there yet. Hmm? I'm only fifteen."
"Well you should work on it. Or I may not want you anymore." I tap his nose.
"Hey, not funny! Don't joke!"
"I'm sorry, baby. You're perfect just the way you are."
"Thank you, so are you." He grins at me.
"I should eat something…want to go to lunch?"
"Sure. Just you and me or you wanna bring everyone else? You did make Mama Knight throw away her nuggets."
"We can take everyone." I roll my eyes, "Just let me get dressed."
…
"Better than chicken?" Carlos asks when I pick up my second burger.
"Way better! God, why didn't we come here in the first place?"
"Because, believe it or not, those Dino nuggets are healthier than McDonald's nuggets."
"So? McDonalds is just bad enough to taste amazing! Way better than Dino nuggets, as I've said."
"Let's not go overboard on the burgers okay? It's not good."
"Alright." I chase my last bite with a large swallow of coke. "No more. That's it for my month, okay?"
"Good." He smiles at me from across the table.
…
I may have told Carlos that I wouldn't have anymore McDonald's until next month but the very next Wednesday I had an incessant craving for McDoubles and I snuck away to curb this craving.
This continued for three months until the thought of any fried food from any restaurant set my stomach churning.
…..
Hmm? Better? Longer? Yes! We're getting to the good part, but I've gotta finish writing it right?
Be excited!
