Chapter 9: Surprise!
'Alex wakes up feeling a lot better than she has in a while. 'Another few weeks have passed without anything really interesting happening; Alex gets up and goes over to Justin's room. 'Alex knocks on his door hoping he can talk. Who is it? 'Justin asks' It... it's me Alex.
'Justin quickly opens his door and lets his sister in. Sorry about the mess, here sit. Thanks- Yeah, so what's going on, are you OK? Eh trying to be, it's getting a little better but I still just can't breathe. I do everything I can to keep busy but- It's not enough is it? No some days it feels worse than the day it happened- well I'm glad you came to talk to me really- Me too.
Hey are you feeling OK you're looking a little under the weather. Yeah I'm OK I feel a little sick but I'm doing good actually. We should probably go to school huh? Maybe? Ha-ha come on.
'Alex and Justin arrive a little late to school Justin is OK with being late if it means his sister is okay. 'Alex goes to find Harper, Alex? What are you doing here?! What do you mean we're at school? I just thought you wouldn't want to be here today. Well I don't want to be Harper, but my parents think that it will be good to have "social interaction" So.
Ugh here come Gigi and her wannabes. Alex you decided to show up at school again! Gigi I didn't decide to show up I have to be here- well you didn't "Have" to be here the past few weeks. Why do you care? I don't but you have on a cast and you look like you crawled out of the sewer... come on Alex it's not worth it- you're right let's go. 'An hour or so passed and Alex and Harper are talking by their lockers. Hey Alex, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Alex please don't lie to me. I'm not lying I'm fine 'Harper gives Alex her signature look she knows Alex can't resist. Harper stop- not until you tell me what's going on. Anything to get you to stop with your serious look, I... don't feel good I haven't all day- what do you feel like? I don't know I'm tired, I can't focus, my stomach hurts, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Huh maybe you're just sick? I don't know maybe I've never been sick like this before but I'm OK. All right Alex if you say so, come on let's get to class.
'Alex and Harper sit down and start class, all is well for the first five minutes but Alex is not good at all. Alex, are you OK? 'Alex shakes her head' 'Mr. Laritate 'Alex calls out' can I go to the bathroom I don't feel good- this wouldn't be one of your ploys to get out of class Miss Russo would it.
N... no... my you do look quite sick actually; very well you may go- thank you Mr. Laritate. 'Alex rushes out of class and goes straight to the bathroom, once there Alex burst into a stall and started vomiting profusely; Harper quickly followed behind Alex and could hear her vomiting from the hallway.
'Harper enters the bathroom to find Alex curled up next to the toilet with her head hovering over the bowl. Oh, Alex- I... don't know what's going on I was feeling fine earlier, then I Just started... 'Alex throwing up' …doing that. I feel bad, there's nothing I can do for you! Harper it's OK don't feel... 'Alex throwing up again' …bad. Oh, I feel a little better now. Yeah? That's good! Yeah, I wish my stomach would stop hurting though- Oh! I'll go get you some soda from the cafeteria! Thanks, Harper.
'While Harper goes to get Alex a soda Alex herself flushes the toilet and sits down hoping no other girls come in. Before Alex can start cleaning up however, she feels something coming back up and gets back down over the toilet and starts to throw up again this time however is the end of it. 'Alex stands up feeling better and goes to wash her hands after she is finished Harper comes in the bathroom with her soda. Alex are you feeling okay now? Yeah, I feel a lot better but I'll still take the soda.
'Not much else happened at school that day Alex, Justin, and Max are all at home now; Alex does nothing for hours until about 6:00 she went down stairs at just the right time. Theresa was done with dinner and setting the table it was a nice Friday dinner; everyone sat down at the table and started talking about their days.
Theresa and Jerry went first talking about the day they had at the Sub Station, and how some guy placed a bug in his sandwich to get free food, Justin talks about boring stuff, and Max is being Max while all of this is happening Alex is stuffing her face with everything she can find.
No one really notices what Alex is doing until she asks for more food. Hey Mom is there any more food? 'Alex asks with her mouth stuffed' Woah! Alex, honey are you okay? 'Jerry asks' Oh, I'm great Daddy! hey are you gonna to eat that? Mija what's going on? Oh, nothing I'm just super hungry. So uh Alex, why don't you tell us about your day?! Well I... 'Alex's stomach starts to growl' Alex, are you okay? No I... 'Before Alex can finish, she puts her hand over her mouth and quickly gets to the garbage can in the kitchen.
'Alex starts vomiting profusely in the trash' Oh Gosh! Eww gross! Ugh! I'm... I'm sorr... 'Alex Throwing up again' Oh, my goodness, I feel better now! Oh, Alex! It's OK mom I think I'm just a little sick the same thing happened earlier at school. I'm sorry guys I- Alex you don't need to apologize we just want to make sure you're OK. Yeah, Justin is right you being okay is what matters. Yeah but I ruined dinner sorry... it's alright really- I... I think I'm just going to go to bed a little early tonight if that's OK.
Its okay honey you can go, feel better! Thanks Mom 'Alex heads off to bed while the others stay and talk' I don't know what that was... I've done some pretty nasty stuff over the years but that tops them all! Dude! 'Justin hits Max with his Shoulder' Ow! Jerry I'm worried about Alex, I've never seen her like this before. Theresa I'm sure she's fine let's just give her some time and if she wants to talk about it then we're here.
Later that night everyone is in bed but Justin he just can't sleep. Justin gets up and decides to go check on his sister; Justin goes across the hall and slowly opens the door to Alex's room. Justin peaks in to see his baby sister sleeping so peacefully and thinks about all the things she has been through the past 2 months this just makes Justin want to protect her even more.
Justin is feeling like a failure if he can't protect his little sister then what's the point of calling himself a man? Alex always tells Justin "It's all right" or "It's not your fault" but Justin can't stop feeling like it is; Justin goes back to his room and eventually falls asleep. Alex wakes up feeling good and not having any bad dreams for a while. Alex walks downstairs to find her mother on the phone. Yes, okay, all right, thank you bye.
Morning Mama, who was that on the phone? That was the nurse at the hospital she said that you can come by later and get your cast removed your arm should be fully healed. Yes! I can finally take this ugly thing off, could we go now? Wow you're really eager to get this thing off huh? Man, I can't believe it's already been 2 months.
I get what you mean these 2 months have felt like 2 years to me. All right come on let's go! Alex and Theresa get to the hospital and go see the nurse that took care of Alex. Hey hon you ready to get that cast off? Yes! After Alex gets her cast removed, she just keeps staring at her arm almost forgetting what it looked like. Alex and Theresa get back home.
Once they get back upstairs Harper is waiting; she pulls Alex to the side and starts talking to her. Alex! Woah! Harper what are you doing here? Look I did some research on your "Sickness" well did you find out anything? Yeah, I did, but Alex, you're not sick at all. What Harper what are you talking about? Harper suddenly holds up a box of Pregnancy Tests. Oh My God Harper put those down now! Alex, you have to take one. No I don't! Alex please- No! No way; Harper I'm not... 'Alex sighs …fine give me the box.
I'm only doing this to prove you wrong. 'Alex goes into the bathroom and locks the door she opens up the box and takes a stick out. Ugh this is so stupid! Just to be sure though "When Things Are Good and Things Are Bad Show Me the Truth Don't Make Me Sad" there now whatever this thing says will be true. After Alex is done, she comes out of the bathroom making sure to hide what she has in case her family was around. So? 'Harper says in anticipation' I don't know yet, I have to wait 5 minutes! Well let's wait then. The girls wait for 5 minutes and look back at the stick; So what does it say? I... I'm Pregnant.