“I know,” I muttered. In fact, the dizziness was already beginning to fade. Soon the tunnel would shorten and things would sound normal again.
“Does this happen a lot?” he asked.
I sighed. “I have a weak vasovagal system.”
The nurse looked confused.
“Sometimes,” I told him.
Edythe laughed again, not bothering to disguise it.
“You can go back to class now,” the nurse said to her.
“I’m supposed to stay with him,” Edythe answered. She said it with such confidence that—even though he pursed his lips—the nurse didn’t argue it further.
“I’ll get you some ice for your head,” he said to me, and then he shuffled out of the room.
I let my eyelids fall shut again. “You were right.”
“I usually am—but about what in particular this time?”
“Ditching is healthy.” I worked to breathe in and out evenly.
“You scared me for a minute there,” she admitted after a pause. The way she said it made it sound like she was confessing a weakness, something to be ashamed of. “I thought that Newton girl had poisoned you.”
“Hilarious.” I still had my eyes shut, but I was feeling more normal every minute.
“Honestly,” she said, “I’ve seen corpses with better color. I was concerned that I might have to avenge your death.”
“I bet McKayla’s annoyed.”
“She absolutely loathes me,” Edythe said cheerfully.
“You don’t know that,” I countered, but then I wondered.…
“You should have seen her face. It was obvious.”
“How did you even see us? I thought you were ditching.”
I was pretty much fine now, though the queasiness would probably have passed faster if I’d eaten something for lunch. On the other hand, maybe it was lucky my stomach was empty.
“I was in my car, listening to a CD.” Such a normal response—it surprised me.
I heard the door and opened my eyes to see the nurse with a cold compress in his hand.
“Here you go, son.” He laid it across my forehead. “You’re looking better,” he added.
“I think I’m okay,” I said, sitting up. Just a little ringing in my ears, no spinning. The mint green walls stayed where they should.
I could tell he was about to make me lie back down, but the door opened just then, and Mr. Cope stuck his head in.
“We’ve got another one,” he warned.
I lurched off the cot to make room for the next victim and handed the compress back to the nurse. “Here, I don’t need this.”
And then McKayla staggered through the door, now supporting Leann Stephens, another girl in our Biology class. She was currently sallow green. Edythe and I drew back against the wall to give them room.
“Oh no,” Edythe murmured. “Go out to the office, Beau.”
I looked down at her, confused.
“Trust me—go.”
I spun and caught the door before it closed, floundering out of the infirmary. I could feel Edythe right behind me.
“You actually listened to me,” she said, surprised.
“I smelled the blood.” Leann wasn’t sick from just watching other people. Much less embarrassing, I thought.
“People can’t smell blood,” Edythe contradicted.
“I can—that’s what makes me sick. It smells like rust… and salt.”
She was staring at me with a wary expression.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s nothing.”
McKayla came through the door then, glancing from Edythe to me and back again.
“Thanks so much for your help, Edythe,” she said, her sickly sweet tone a pretty good indication that Edythe was right about the loathing thing. “I don’t know what Beau here would have done without you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Edythe replied with an amused smile.
“You look better,” McKayla said to me in the same tone. “I’m so glad.”
“Just keep your hand in your pocket,” I cautioned her again.
“It’s not bleeding anymore,” she told me, her voice going back to normal. “Are you coming to class?”
“No thanks. I’d just have to turn around and come back.”
“Yeah, I guess.… So are you going this weekend? To the beach?” While she spoke, she flashed a dark look toward Edythe, who was standing against the cluttered counter, motionless as a sculpture, staring off into space.
I didn’t want to upset her more. “Sure, I said I was in.”
“We’re meeting at my parents’ store at ten.” Her eyes flickered to Edythe again, and I could tell she was worried she was giving out too much information. Her body language made it clear this wasn’t an open invitation.
“I’ll be there,” I promised.
“I’ll see you in Gym, then,” she said, moving uncertainly toward the door.
“Yeah, see you,” I replied.
She looked at me again, her round face slightly pouting, and then as she walked through the door, her shoulders slumped. Guilt lanced through me, the same as yesterday. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but it seemed like it just kept happening. I thought about looking at her disappointed face all through Gym.
“Ugh, Gym,” I muttered.
“I can take care of that.” I hadn’t heard Edythe walk over, but now she spoke from right beside me, making me jump. “Go sit down and look pale,” she instructed in a whisper.