Author's note: This is a re-post. I hated how I wrote this the first time but I want to try again. This time, I'm going to commit. I'm not a great writer but I love reading and I hope maybe someone will like reading my story just like how I've loved reading others :)

Chapter 1.

Within the girl's restroom, the sound of vomiting echoed throughout.

The retching sound could be heard outside of the school's restroom as well. It also traveled clear down the hall into the principal's office. When the staff working inside heard a child throwing up. The principal himself came down to check on the source. First calling out to make sure there were no other girl's in the restroom. That was a lawsuit just WAITING to happen... But once he figured the coast was clear he came in to find a student losing her lunch in the trash can.

'I'm sure Miss Little will be happy to hear it's not on the floor.'

"-Hey," *Taps girl's shoulder* "Can you give me your name? I need to call your parents; you can't stay here like this."

The girl nodded; she didn't want to be at school either. She didn't know what came over her but after lunch she became nauseous. Maybe the lunch lady didn't cook her burger, right? She didn't know… But regardless, she wished to be home where her mother could care for her.

"Ha-*Spit*-Hazel Curtis. *Hurl*" The principal nodded and emailed the attendance secretary with his phone. He didn't feel comfortable leaving her.

"Aaaallright Miss Curtis. Mrs. Lane has got you covered. Can you make it into the office?" Hazel shook her head, but she instantly regretted it. She threw up again, thanks to the motion sickness. The principal chuckled a bit.

"Let's just stay still then- Sound good?" She gave the thumbs up this time.

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"OOOOOOOhhhh! You poor thing!" Barb- Hazel's mother- felt so bad for her child. Yes, it is the flu- and she would be just fine after some rest- but no parent likes to see their child sick. Barb was so thankful that the school let her borrow one of the office's small trash cans. Her daughter's stomach was nowhere near stable enough to handle even a small car ride. And seeing how they lived in the country, there was no way Hazel was going to make the entire trip. Barb decided it was best to stop
by a gas station on the way back. She wanted to get some flu medicine and a sprite. Her family always gave sick kids sprite. It helped the nausea and as she thought it over, she remembered that salt helped also. So, Barb grabbed a pack of pretzel's too. When she got back into the car, she could smell the vomit
piling up in that can. Barb is going to just buy the school a new one. No way could she give that back with a good conscience.

"Man, oh man sweetie, drink some of this and hold on." Barb cooed; Hazel groaned but did as her mother instructed.

"Mom…I feel…*cough, spit* I feel like crap." Barb snickered.

"Really? I thought you were just trying to skip." She heard her daughter mutter 'smart ass' into the trash can.

"-Excuse me? Couldn't hear that last part."

"Guh- Said 'ha-ha, right?'" Barb was satisfied with the answer and gave her a break for now.

"Mom…"

"Hmmm?"

"Am I going to die?" Barb busted out laughing.

"Oh my gosh NO! Hahaha! You dork! You're fine!" She patted her back but stopped at the sound of her upset stomach. The gurgling threatening another round of vomit should she keep patting.

"-Let's just hurry up and get you home babe."

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When they finally made it home Hazel went straight towards her bed, still carrying that puke filled trashcan from school. It is horribly disgusting, but she didn't have a care to give. When Hazel made it to her room, she wrapped herself in every blanket possible. Meanwhile, her mother let out their dog from downstairs. Bork came barreling up the stairs ready to greet his young pup. Yet he soon was distracted by the sound of his food hitting the dog bowl. He dashed back down the stairs and abandoned his human companion. Hazel was totally fine with this. She wanted to get a nap in without any disturbance. Barb on the other hand- was on the phone with her husband Mick talking about their daughter. He told his wife that he had a long shift today, and that he was sorry he couldn't be home to help.

Barb assured him that he couldn't help even if he was home. She told him that he couldn't even fry an egg. Let alone feed and nurse their sick child. Mick shot back that if Hazel had to rely on Barb- than their daughter is fucked. All of this banter mind you is in joking fun.

While Barb was talking to Mick, Bork the dog came back to cuddle his sick human. Groggily, Hazel decided to go ahead and allow this since she is still cold. Bork is a pretty massive dog and has plenty of heat to pass around. It was with his help that she finally managed to get some shut eye.

But surely if she knew what tomorrow would bring. She wouldn't have spared a blink.

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Mick kissed Hazel's forehead as she slept. Apparently, Bork hasn't left her side all day. So, Mick made sure to pet his head and give him some lovin' for keeping watch.

"Good boy. You stay with her, you hear?" Mick expected Bork to return his affection, but Bork did no such thing. He whimpered instead and took a huge sniff of Hazel's hair. This wasn't normal at all. Bork is usually a huge, spastic ball of destruction. Mick took a risk addressing him because Bork would normally roll all over the place in a mess of kicks and tail wags. But Bork isn't doing any of that. Mick quirked a brow and left to speak with his wife.

"Hey, has Bork been acting like that all day?"

"Like what?"

"Well… like a normal, sane dog." Barb stared at him.

"Bork…sane?"

"Yes, honey. I just loved on him and he barely moved a muscle. He seems really worried about Hazel."
Barb thought about it.

"Maybe he caught her flu? Isn't that one of the diseases we share with dogs?" Mick shrugged.

"I'm a pharmacist. Not a vet." Barb rolled her eyes.

"Well, it's all I got. That's so strange though. She's been sick before and his mood didn't ever change." Mick sat down at the table.

"Maybe she has it bad this time around." Barb sighed.

"I could have told you that. We had to dump that can on the side of the road while driving back." Mick stuck his tongue out in disgust.

"No thanks. Sorry, I left you here-"

The couple continued on- None the wiser to what was occurring upstairs. Bork
whimpered yet again and pushed his muzzle under Hazel's hand. He was trying to wake her up-

- before it was too late.