Becky feeling very awake pulled herself from her wonderful dream. She looked around her room in wonder, She wished her dreams could become real but at last they didn't. Tonight was Erika's 18 birthday party, and Becky hadn't found the perfect outfit yet. Becky got out of bed, and walked slowly into her bathroom. She turned before the full length mirror on her door, and smiled at her reflection. Today was a day of change, Becky could almost feel it as She dressed to go out. After deciding on a pair of jeans and a plain blue shirt, Becky grabbed her keys, and wallet then raced outside. She opened the drivers door and hopped into her mothers forest green Jetta. She turned on the radio as She headed to the mall. Hours had passed but Becky still had found nothing at the mall. She turned to leave a vintage shop , when something caught her eye. There it was , the perfect outfit was on display, Becky could not believe her luck. She grabbed the outfit and headed to the counter. The outfit in question was on sale and Becky just had enough to buy it. "that's really lucky" thought Becky.
Erika's party started at 7:30, but Becky didn't get there until about 7:45 or 7:50. Becky's older brother had driven her to the party. The music coming from Erika's house could be heard all over Pala Linda. We pulled up and came to a complete stop. Her brother was going to rally some friends but would eventually come to the party. Becky agreed to this deal. The party it seemed was the highlight of the night, anybody whose anybody was there . Most of the faces were of people She didn't know, or had never met, most of them older anyways. Becky, decided this was a bad idea, and She was moving towards the door, when out of nowhere a hand grabbed my arm. Becky spun around to face the hottest guy in my school, Bradin Westerly.
"you going?" He questioned me. "I hadn't decided yet" came my idiotic reply. "stay with me, you'll enjoy it" He told me.
We walked through the house, and into a dimly lit backyard. Huge coolers lined the fence, most Becky decided probably had beers. People were standing in clumps around the various parts of the yard, talking, and laughing. We stood under the porch for a moment. His hand brushed the side of my arm, sending tingles down my spine. He asked if Becky wanted anything to drink, but She declined. He walked over to the nearest cooler and got himself a soda, and walked back to stand beside her . My heart was racing, "why me?" I thought "why does He want me?"
I wanted to dance , so we headed inside. Bradin and I were inseparable on the dance floor, it just felt good to be with him. It also was amazing to grind him on the dance floor, to prove He was mine. Something changed about his demeanor, He looked like He was going to be sick. I offered that we walk outside , and get fresh air. I grabbed his hand and helped him through the crowded room. We had just entered a dark , empty hallway in the back, when his hand shook in mine. I turned towards him as his hand became limp in mine, and He collapsed on me, bringing me to my knees. I sat like this for a moment feeling the weight of him on me. A door near me opened and Erika , poked her head out. She closed the door and came out to help me. She grabbed his feet and I grabbed his shoulders and we moved him onto the bed in the master bedroom. Erika eyed him a moment before turning to look at me.
"do you know what happened?" She asked. I had no idea what I should say, so I figured in my head the best answer.
"no " I told her. She surveyed me for a minute before seeming to agree.
"what are we going to do?" She asked, as She bent down, and felt his forehead.
"We should take him to a hospital" I replied as though it seemed like the perfect idea.
But how would we do it…
"How?" Erika asked, before running and getting a cold wet washcloth for his head.
"Well… " I started " we could call an ambulance?" although I wasn't sure if that would help.
Erika thought for a moment before replying.
" we could but nobody else at the party knows about his condition, and now is not the time to let everybody know"
"I guess so" I figured thoughtfully.
"then what do we do?" I challenged. Erika turned towards me trying to figure out all our options.
"can you help me get Bradin to Mona's sand bar?" I asked
"sure, but why?" She asked.
" it's far enough away from the party so that nobody will know, we can get adult intervention" I said matter of factly.
"that's perfect" She agreed "but how do we get him out of the house unnoticed?"
"we could try putting on his hat , and a pair of sun glasses, to hide his eyes?" I said
"great ! Let me find a pair" She whispered.
She worked the party for a min, while I compressed his head. She came back and handed me his hat and some sunglasses. I put the hat and the sunglasses on. I propped him up on my shoulder and got him into a standing like position. Erika came up under his other arm, and together we took a step forward. We swayed a bit to the left but ultimately we stayed up. He was a little bit heavier then I'd expected. We half dragged, half carried him pass the groups, and cliques in the hall, until finally we reached the porch. There was a group of teens I didn't know getting high outside, but they didn't notice us.
By the time we got to solid pavement, we both breathed a sigh of relief. Bradin was resting on my shoulder in such a way that it hurt, but I didn't say anything. By the time we got to "Mona's sandbar" I felt like collapsing myself. We came through the door, and laid Bradin on a table, but there wasn't anyone to gawk. Johnny spotted us out of the corner of his eye, and came over. I removed the glasses and hat, and Johnny noticed it was Bradin.
"what happened to him?" Johnny asked. I looked at Erika before replying.
" we were dancing at Erika's party , when all of the sudden He like collapsed on me" Becky stated.
"really?" "how long ago?" Johnny asked
" about 10 minutes ago" came Erika's reply.
"I'll call an ambulance then" Johnny said without hesitation.
Johnny ran back to the bar, and grabbed the telephone under the counter, and dialed 911. Just before the paramedics arrived I borrowed Erika's cell phone and called my parents. I tried to calmly explain that my friend was being taken to the hospital and that they could pick me up 7:15 tomorrow morning in front of the hospital. I had just gotten off the phone with my parents when the paramedics arrived.
"how long has He been like this?" one asked.
"was He drinking or taking drugs?" asked another.
Erika and I answered all questions carefully, before they put Bradin in the ambulance. I climbed in following Johnny but , Erika had to return to her house but said She would check on him tomorrow.
The ride was bumpy, but otherwise uneventful. We got to the hospital in record time, but while in the ambulance , the put a mask on Bradin to help him breathe, and that was all one could hear. I scooted closer to Johnny and He put his arm around me. Although I barely knew him, and He barely knew me we had a common sense of each other.
When we pulled up at the receiving bay, the doors flew open, and everybody hopped out. They rolled the gurney with Bradin through a set of sliding glass doors. I slowly walked alongside Johnny, as we entered the waiting room. Johnny checked on bradin's condition and then came and sat with me in the waiting area. Johnny could not sit still, so He finally got up and started pacing back and forth. After several hours, a Blonde nurse came out to inform us , that He was in the ICU wing off the main ward. The room number was 772. She gave us little stickers so we could not get lost. Johnny and I walked down a long hallway, the was full of really bright lights. It smelled of floor wax and smelling salts, it wasn't soothing but It made me feel better. I turned to the right and was standing in the doorway of room 772. I wanted to cry, there lay Bradin. The room itself had a small couch, a easy chair and a folding chair and the bed in which Bradin lay.