It turns out doing anything with a concussion isn't that easy. I'm finding out the hard way that, if I do have a concussion, it's going to make life rather difficult for a while. Every time I stand up after sitting in class for a while I get dizzy, and my balance is off. Sometimes, when we're walking down the halls hand in hand, Alfred has to pull or push me back into a straight position because I was starting to lean too far. He's not too happy about me still marching.
"You really should get checked out," he says in a low voice. He's trying to make sure the others at our lunch table don't hear, but it doesn't work.
"Get what checked out?" Arthur says suspiciously.
"Yeah. I'd like to know what's going on too," Vash says as he narrows his eyes.
"Um, well you see...we can explain...uh...well..." Stupid brain! This isn't the time to get all fuzzy on me.
"Are you feeling dizzy again? Nauseous?" Alfred asks me. I just put my head down on the table until the spinning stops.
"Dizzy...nauseous...oh my gosh." Arthur's eyes become impossibly wide. "Did you get (y/n) pregnant?" he growls through clenched teeth at Alfred.
Alfred and I look at each other, and then at Arthur. We both start laughing at the same time.
"It's not funny!" Arthur yells. "This is serious!"
Everyone at the table look at each other uncomfortably as we laugh. Feli is the only one that seems oblivious to what's going on. Kiku and Ludwig look nervous, but they keep quiet. Lili and Vash just look on in shock, and Arthur looks like he's going to murder Alfred.
"No, no. You got it all wrong," I tell him when I'm done laughing. "I might have a concussion, that's all. I'm not pregnant weirdo."
"Oh," is all Arthur says. He turns a bright shade of red and mumbles, "Sorry about that."
"How did you get a concussion?" Vash asks confused. I give him a look that'll hopefully jog his memory. "Oh, that's right," he says when he remembers.
"Wait, I wanna know what happened too," Alfred chimes in.
"I thought Ivan told you," I reply confused.
He shakes his head. "He only told me about catching you as you passed out and taking you to the nurse's office."
I look around the table at everyone's anxious faces. Guess I can't keep this a secret anymore. I tell them the story, and do my best to not pause when I start to feel light headed. I'm in better condition than yesterday, so the dizzy spells are becoming fewer and further between. The reactions from my friends vary when I finish.
Alfred, Arthur, and Vash are mad. "If I ever see those girls again..." Vash mumbles to himself. "I'm so sorry I left you (y/n). If I had known..."
"It's okay Vash," I say with a small smile. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt to."
Feli and Lili look scared. "They're not going to come after me are they Ludwig?" Feli asks, apparently terrified. I'm not the only one at the table that sweat drops or facepalms.
"Of course not!" Ludwig snaps. He starts poking the goofy kid on the forehead. "Start using your brain a little more! I'm sure there's something like that in here."
Ludwig and Kiku are the only relatively calm ones. They still look a little tense. "We're sorry our fans caused you trouble Miss (y/n)," Kiku says to me. He bows slightly at me from across the table.
"Oh, it's fine," I say a little embarrassed. I'm not used to people treating me so formally.
"What about homecoming?" Arthur asks the million dollar question.
"I'm gonna march," I answer simply.
"You can't march with a concussion," Vash protests.
"I don't know much about band, but I agree with him," Ludwig adds. "We get players with concussions all the time in football, and it's best if you rest (y/n)."
"I have to march," I insist. "I'll be letting everyone down if I don't. You guys need me."
Vash and Arthur look at each other uncomfortably. They know what I'm saying is true. Trying to rework my squad to function without its leader on such short notice is next to impossible.
"Just...don't overdo it," my co-section leader says with a sigh. He doesn't look happy about the decision.
"I'll be fine," I promise, "but thanks for caring." I smile and get up as the bell rings to signal the end of our lunch. Alfred takes my hand, and the two of us walk to band.
By the end of our evening rehearsal I'm beginning to regret my choice of staying on the field. My head is pounding like crazy from all of the loud music, and I'm short on breath. The sax player next to me in my squad has been warned to keep an eye on me by a worried Arthur. I see him watch me huff and puff from the corner of my eye.
"Are you alright?" he whispers. We're at attention, so technically we shouldn't be talking.
"Y-yeah," I tell him quietly. "Just...peachy." I'm doing my best to stand up nice and straight with my instrument out, but I'm shaking all over. I do my best to will my body to hold its position.
"At ease!" Mr. Rome says the magical words over the speakers. I let out a big sigh, and lean over as I breathe heavily some more, while listening to the director. "We're looking really great out there everyone! Lets keep up the good work, and we'll be a big hit for sure this year! You're all dismissed," he announces with a big smile.
Almost everyone takes off for the band room. Several of the section leaders stay behind, and walk toward me concerned. Alfred also rushes over from the bleachers to help me.
"What's the matter dear?" Elizabeta asks. "You're not looking so good."
"It's nothing," I tell her. "I'm fine." I've finally caught my breath, so hopefully that makes me look less pathetic.
"Are you sure?" Alfred asks me. "Cuz you know, concussions aren't-"
"Ai-yah!" Yao interrupts. "You have a concussion (y/n)?"
I look around helplessly. Looks like the cat's out of the bag. Again. I nod to answer Yao's question. "Well, we think that's what it is anyway."
Elizabeta gasps. "You shouldn't be marching then! What are you thinking?"
Arthur steps in and answers for me. "She's going to be fine Elizabeta. You know she won't quit no matter what we say." Vash silently nods in agreement.
Elizabeta sighs disapprovingly. "Alright. If you say so."
My group starts walking back to the band room in an uneasy silence. Once, on the way back, I stumble over a rock, and everyone flips out. It's takes forever to calm them back down. Arthur and Elizabeta look like they're going to have a nervous breakdown by the time we get to the school.
"You keep a close eye on her," Elizabeta instructs Alfred and Arthur. "On and off the field." She's radiating a threatening, no nonsense kind of energy.
"Yes ma'am," the two answer nervously in unison. She looks satisfied and walks away to stash her instrument in its case.
The other section leaders also disperse to put their things away. I find my way to my case and put my sax in it. Then I put the case in my locker. I stand up slowly to try to prevent a dizzy spell, but I still end up swaying on my feet. Luckily Alfred is there, and he steadies me before I fall over.
"Are you okay (y/n)?"
"Yeah...yeah I'm fine now," I say as my head clears. "It's not as bad as it was yesterday." We start walking to the door.
"Okay," Alfred says and sighs in relief. "You scare me sometimes you know that."
"What do you mean?" I ask as we walk out of the band room together.
"Well when it looks like you're going to fall over or pass out on the field, that's scary," he says. "And then there's the way you tell people that you'll keep marching no matter what. Your determination is scary too." He laughs, "HAHAHA! Sometimes you look like you're going to murder someone in their sleep."
"You'll be first," I tell him jokingly.
"Aww man," Alfred whines. He makes a pouty face at me.
"Okay, okay!" I tell him with a laugh. "I'll get Ar...th...Arthur first." I wobble slightly as the ground starts to shift under me. Alfred grabs my arm quick, and the feeling passes. "Thanks."
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asks again.
"Yes. Trust me, I'll be even better by tomorrow," I reassure him. "Now let's get moving before the ground starts spinning again."
Before I can take another step, Alfred scoops me up in his arms. "I'll carry you like a hero! Now you won't fall over anymore," he says and plants a kiss on my forehead. I blush as he easily carries me to his truck in his strong arms. Usually I would protest something like this, but given the current situation I'll gladly accept.
Somehow Alfred manages to open the passenger door, and he gently sets me down on the seat. "Not bad for a football player, huh?" he says teasingly with a wink.
"Thanks Alfred," I tell him and smile.
Alfred frowns at me. "I think a hero deserves more thanks than that." He raises his eyebrows expectantly.
I can tell what he's getting at, and after all the help he's been I think he deserves it. I motion for him to come closer with my finger, which he happily obliges. I lean in and give him a kiss on his soft lips. He licks my bottom lip with his tongue, and I nip at it. He's not getting in that easily. Alfred's hand moves through my hair, and comes to rest just above my neck. I clutch the front of his shirt and pull him closer, which makes him growl. I could really get used to this whole kissing thing. It's even better than the hand holding.
We break for air briefly, and right as we do another wave of dizziness hits me. Ugh, stupid concussion. Alfred holds my hand firmly as we wait for my head to clear. It helps having something to ground me to the real world when everything starts spinning. Finally I look up at Alfred and smile faintly.
"I'm good now. Thanks."
"No problem," he responds with a grin. "Time to go?"
"Yup," I say in agreement. "Let's get going."