Austin's POV.
The next morning was terrible. I almost threw up after barely eating anything, and then Ally and I got off the bus at my Aunt Melissa's office, which as soon as I sat down, I immediately got the chills as I told her.
"I hate doctor's offices." Before glancing at Ally, remembering what she had told me before. "Don't tell me about Moby again."
"I won't. Hey, it's your aunt, it'll be okay." She insisted, rubbing my shoulder before asking. "Wasn't your mom supposed to be here already?"
"She's on her way." I told her when I heard the door open and my aunt coming in.
"Hey, sweetheart. You wanna tell me what's wrong?" She asked as she put a pair of fresh gloves on.
"Besides not wanting to be here?"
"Still scared of doctor's offices?" She asked sympathetically while going over the email Ally sent her last night explaining everything.
"I'm not scared, I just hate them." I lied straight through my teeth as she pulled out a tongue compressor.
"Uh huh. Sure. Open up, sweetheart." She insisted, turning on the light on her head.
I opened my mouth so she could see inside, squeezing Ally's hand the whole time.
"There is defiantly throat swelling." She told me, putting up the light and compressor. "Have you experienced throat pain on your tour before?"
I nodded before asking. "Can I still perform tomorrow night?"
"I don't know." She insisted before grabbing the thermometer. "Open, and keep this under your tongue."
"You have to let him perform. His Mom is coming from Miami for this show." Ally tried to plead with my aunt.
"The fact his throat is so bad-" She was cut off by the thermometer beeping, which made her sigh. "And have a pretty high fever are worrying."
Then my Mom came in, and immediately hugged me tightly, asking. "Oh honey. Are you okay?" She broke off and started brushing my sweaty hair from my face.
"My throat hurts so bad." I whined, leaning my head back against the wall as my Aunt intervened.
"So I do need to swab his throat due to the fact his tonsils are pretty swollen and it could either be strep throat, or tonsillitis. Both of which are likely, but I'm leaning more towards strep cause of the fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and the white patches in his throat. If it's strep, he'll be put on antibiotics and a strict vocal rest till tomorrow, but patients usually feel better from the antibiotics within two days. Any questions?"
"Will the swabbing hurt?" I asked, my skin crawling with goosebumps.
"It might hurt a little, but I'll go fast." She insisted, grabbing the swab from the cabinet while Ally grabbed my hand. "Open up, kiddo."
I opened, letting her quickly swab the inside of my throat before sticking it in a zip bag. "I'm gonna take this to the lab downstairs, and I'll back soon." She told us, leaving the room and leaving me alone with my Mom and Ally.
•••••••••••••••••
She came back with the results about two hours lately, and I was almost asleep when she came back.
"It's strep throat, kiddo. You're lucky Ally caught it early."
"Can I still perform?" I rasped, trying to make my voice clear, but I probably just sounded like some sort of dolphin.
"It depends on the antibiotics and your vocal rest." She insisted, before quickly making a prescription and handing it to my Mom. "There's a CVS a couple miles away, so you can get that filled there. Other then that, I think we're done." She insisted before hugging me. "Feel better, kiddo."
"Thanks. Love you."
"Love you, too."
We left after that, as my Mom turned to Ally and I. "I'm gonna take this to the drugstore. Ally, can you take him back to the bus?"
"Sure." She smiled, taking me to the bus where Trish and Dez were waiting eagerly for us.
"So, what did she say?" Dez asked as we got back on.
"Strep throat. The next 24 hours are gonna determine if he's gonna be able to perform or not, but we have to make sure he takes his medication his Mom is picking up and keep him on vocal rest." Ally explained.
"I wanna perform!" I whined, clearing my throat immediately after.
"As your manager and your friend, you need to rest and take it easy so you have a chance of performing."
"Fine. But I am NOT happy." I crossed my arms, sitting on my bed.
Vocal rest. And maybe this will bring back your smile." Ally smiled, handing me my plush dolphin, which had me smiling at her gratefully before texting. "Thanks, Ally." Before laying down in my bed on my side.
"Sure. Now get some sleep." She told me, ruffling my hair, and soon enough, I was blacking out into dreamland.
