Chapter 55

I wake up when I’m just about to be sick again. I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom, throwing up in the toilet. I stumble back into my room and try to get back to sleep but it’s an impossible task. I check my phone for the time and see it’s 8:30am. At least it’s not early hours...

I do a repeat of yesterday and get out my laptop, except this time, I take my duvet and pillows downstairs so I can watch a film on the 50” TV in my living room. I decide on watching a Christmas film seeing as it’s only  45 days until Christmas.

‘Elf’ it is.

It cheers me up loads and I end up not even going on my laptop or my phone for that matter. I’m laughing the whole way through and I don’t even think about how ill I am. It’s such a good distraction.

When it ends, I check my phone to see I have a new message from Jack.

From - Jack: how you doing?:(x

To - Jack: I’m keep being sick:( watching Christmas films though so it’s fine;)x

From - Jack: it’s nowhere near Christmas you dickhead x

To - Jack: 45 days!x

From - Jack: which is ages away... x

To - Jack: leave me alone x

I start watching Home Alone with my Dad for a bit until my vibrating phone interrupts us half way through. This better be good... I pause the film with my Dad’s permission and answer my phone.

“Hello?” I sigh.

“Hey, are you alright?” Conor asks.

“I’m surviving” I laugh.

“Good. I miss you”

“We only saw each other yesterday” I laugh again.

“Still miss you” I can imagine him pouting while he’s saying this.

“Come over then”

“Serious?”

“If you want” I shrug and my Dad frowns. “I’m sure my Dad would love to meet you” I start laughing and my Dad rolls his eyes.

“Shut up” he laughs. “When shall I come?”

“Whenever. Don’t expect me to make any effort though”

“I’m not! You better still be in bed” he warns me.

“Or what?” I tease.

“You’ll find out when I get there” he says seriously, but I know he’s smirking right now.

“I’m looking forward to it” I laugh.

He chuckles, “See you later”

“Bye” I end the call and resume the film.

“I’m guessing Conor’s coming over” my Dad says sternly.

“Yep” I nod, keeping my eyes locked on the TV.

“I’ll tell your Mum. Do you want anything to eat?” he asks, getting up from his seat.

“No thanks”

“You sure? You haven’t eaten in ages”

“I’m not hungry” I shrug. He nods and walks out of the room and I hear him tell Mum that Conor’s coming over. I can’t tell if my Dad’s not too keen about Conor coming round or he’s just playing it cool to try and set standards for Conor. Probably setting standards...

Conor’s POV

I knock lightly on her front door, knowing her parents are in the house. I’m shitting myself about seeing her Dad but Lucy was telling me the other day that he wants to meet me and he’s been in a good mood so I guess I shouldn’t be this worried.

Marie opens the door with a huge smile on her face as always.

“Hi Conor! Lucy’s in the living room” she nods at the living room door. I’m gonna go mad at Lucy for not staying in bed...

“Thanks” I smile.

“Do you want a brew?”

“Go on then” I laugh and she nods before walking off into the kitchen.

I walk over to the living room door and gently push it open. I see Lucy lying down on the big sofa with her feet up and her body wrapped up in the duvet. I recognise that she's watching ‘Home Alone’ and as I glance around the room, I see what looks like her Dad sat on the other sofa, eating a piece of toast.

“Hey!” she glances up at me, smiling.

“Hey, you alright?” I smile, slowly walking over to her.

“A bit better” she shrugs. “This is my Dad” she nods over to him. “Dad, this is Conor”

“Hi” I smile awkwardly.

“Hiya, you alright?” he asks.

“I’m good thanks, you?”

“Yeah, I’m good”

I guess he’s alright...

Lucy saves the awkwardness by patting the sofa where her feet were just laying, gesturing me to sit down. I sit down under the covers and pull her legs back up, on top of my thighs. As soon as I’m settled, Marie walks in with my cup of tea and places it on a coaster on the coffee table.

“Thank you” I smile.

“Lucy, do you want a drink or anything?” she asks.

“No I’m alright” Lucy replies. I shake her legs slightly and she gives me a weird look. I nod at her and she turns back around to her Mum. “Please can I have some water?”

“Yeah” she nods and walks out. I smile at Lucy when she turns back around and she rolls her eyes.

“You’ve got her well trained” her Dad smiles and I just laugh. I don’t have her ‘well trained’... I’m telling her to have water to make her feel better.

“Conor, do you think I could ski?” Lucy asks me out of the blue. I burst out laughing at the unexpected question and she frowns.

“I don’t know” I shrug, still laughing lightly. “Why?”

“Dad said if we went on a skiing holiday, I’d come home with a broken bone”

“I think I agree with him” I laugh and her Dad starts laughing along.

“I was thinking Sweden though, Lucy” her Dad says.

“Never seen it. Is it nice?”

“I’ve been before” I tell her.

“Really? Is it good?” she asks.

“I went two years ago at Christmas. It’s only good if you like snow but I’d only recommend a weekend or a week there. We stayed for two weeks and I was bored shi... Um, bored out of my mind” I stop myself from swearing.

“Oh right, we should go” she tells her Dad and he nods.

“Where abouts did you go?” her Dad asks me.

“Stockholm” I tell him and he nods as Marie walks into the room with Lucy’s water.

“What’s this about?” she asks.

“Conor’s been to Sweden” Lucy tells her and she just shrugs before walking out.

“Right, I’ll leave you two to it” her Dad nods and walks out of the room.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” I snap as soon as her Dad walks out.

“Better TV down here” she shrugs.

“I specifically told you to stay in bed” I tease and she rolls her eyes.

“Lucy, I made you some soup. At least have a little bit” Lucy’s Mum walks in with a bowl of soup. She puts it on the table and walks back out of the room.

“I don’t want it, do you?” she asks me.

“Lucy! I’m not eating your soup. Have you eaten anything since you left mine?” I ask and she shakes her head. “You need to eat”

“I don’t”

“Yes you do. Even if it’s only one mouthful” I persuade her. She picks up the bowl, puts a spoonful in her mouth and puts the bowl back on the table. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that” I smirk and she shrugs. I keep staring at her before she finally picks up the rest of the bowl and has the rest of the tomato soup quickly.

“If I throw up now, I blame you”

“Alright” I nod and she smiles before putting her attention back on the film.

Lucy’s POV

I wake up the next day at 7am, throwing up in the toilet again. I can’t go into school like this...

I go downstairs and do a repeat of yesterday. Sit on the sofa, watch loads of films and drink water, except this time, Conor won’t be here. He left at 9pm yesterday after having a huge conversation with my Dad about cars... At least they get along.

My Mum comes down at about 7:45am and starts making us both a cup of tea.

“Lucy, I have to be at work at eight today so your Dad’s taking me” she tells me, giving me my cup of tea.

“Ok” I nod. The doorbell interrupts our conversation and my Mum wonders off to answer it.

“Lucy!” Jack runs through the living room and jumps on me to give me a hug.

“Oh my god, get off!” I scream while he rugby tackles me. “I’m gonna be sick!” I lie and he instantly jumps off me. I start laughing and he shakes his head. “What are you doing here?”

“We came to see if you were coming to school” he shrugs.

“Who’s we?”

“Oh, Conor’s still talking to your Mum I think” he laughs and I roll my eyes.

“Them two get on like a house on fire” I say, making him laugh.

“I’m guessing you’re not coming into school then”

“Nope” I shake my head.

“Hey!” Conor smiles as he walks into the room wearing his school uniform and his bag on this back.

“Conor!” I squeal and he bends down to give me a hug.

“I’ll stay with you today” he smiles and I widen my eyes and nod.

“No you won’t! Conor, you need to go to school” Mum interrupts.

“No I don’t, Mum won’t mind” he shrugs.

“Well I do. I’ll take a day off work to look after you Lucy if you want”

I sigh, “I want Conor to stay. Jack can stay too!”

“Nope, definitely not. It’s illegal to skive you know” she shakes her head.

“Is it fuck” I laugh and my Mum’s eyes grow wide. Conor gasps and bursts out laughing and Jack does nearly the same thing.

“Your language is getting disgusting Lucy! Your Dad would go mental if he heard you say that!” She gasps.

“Well Dad’s not here” I shrug.

“What’s this about?” my Dad walks into the room, adjusting his tie. My eyes grow the size of golf balls and I look from my Mum to Conor, then Jack.

“Nothing” I lie and turn my attention towards the muted TV.

“Okay...” he frowns. “Marie, we need to go”

“Ok” Mum nods. “Come on boys, you can come round after school”

Conor sighs and walks over to me. He gives me another hug and whispers in my ear, “I’ll be back soon”

I nod when he pulls away and give Jack a massive bear hug.

“Love you!” he smiles.

“Love you more”

“Love you most” he winks, walking out of the living room with Conor. After a quick goodbye from my parents, I’m left alone in the silent house with nothing to do except watch Christmas films and go on a few social networking sites, although everything’s dead because everyone’s at school. Every now and then a new status is posted by someone brave enough to go on their phone during class.

About half an hour after being left at home, I hear a knock at the door. I’m pretty scared. Who comes round at 8:30 in the morning!?

I slowly walk towards the front door and open it quickly to see who it is.

“Conor! What the hell are you doing here!?” I gasp, stepping aside to let him in.

“Am I fuck going to school when you’re ill and on your own” he says into my hair when I give him a hug. I start smiling into his neck as he rubs my back.

“I feel like I’m going to be sick again” I moan.

“Go to the bathroom” he holds my hand and drags me to the bathroom. I stay hovering over the toilet for a bit until all my soup from yesterday comes up. I thought I got rid of that this morning but I guess not. “Lucy, we need to take you to the doctors” Conor sighs.

“No, I’m fine. Honest” I nod, rinsing my mouth out with water.

“You’ve been throwing up for like, four days now. It’s not right”

“It’ll go soon” I sigh. I don’t need to go to the doctors because I’m a bit ill...

“Right, if you’re sick again though, you’re going”

“Whatever” I roll my eyes and go back to the living room. “Why didn’t Jack come?”

“I didn’t tell him I was coming” he shrugs and I laugh.

-

Conor POV

I sit in the living room on my own watching the remainder of this shit film Lucy put on, while she gets something from upstairs. She said she wanted to show me something...

“Got it” I hear her shout from her bedroom. “Conor” she breathes at the top of the stairs. What the fuck is she doing? I walk out of the room and see her holding her head at the top of the stairs when she suddenly falls straight down them. I grab her half way down as quickly as possible and I start to panic. Is she dead?

I quickly carry her into the living room and think of everything that could be wrong. She still has a pulse so I guess she’s just fainted. What the fuck do I do?

I’d run back to my house now, get my Dad’s car, drive it here and take Lucy to the hospital or something but there’s no way in hell I’m leaving her here on her own.

Right.

She fainted that time she kissed my brother and she was fine. I don’t know what Jack did though while I was gone. I’ve seen the girls faint a few times when they’re drunk and Jack does it quite often. Ben’s done it too so I guess I could just wait for her to wake up.

I’m literally shaking. I’m just glad she’s breathing.

I get my phone out and start dialling Jack’s number into my phone.

“Conor, what the fuck? Why are you ring-“

“Lucy’s fainted, what the fuck do I do?” I panic.

“What!? Oh my god, um, talk to her” he whispers.

“Luce, please wake up” I shake her shoulders slightly. “Baby” I plead. “She’s not answering” I tell him.

“Obviously” he says sarcastically.

“Stop fucking about! What do I do!?”

“Open the windows” he rushes his words. I don’t know how that will help but I’ll do anything right now to wake her up.

“Now what?”

“Keep talking to her”

I breathe heavily, “I love you Lucy, please wake up”

“Are you gonna give her the kiss of life now?” Jack jokes.

“Jack, it isn’t fucking funny. I think she’s dead”

He starts laughing, “She’s only fainted, she’ll wake up in a minute or two”

I stare at her, rubbing my thumb over her cheek. I’ve never experienced something like this. I haven’t been this scared since Mum got rushed into hospital after having a fucking overdose.

“Shall I take her to hospital?”

“You can but you’d be wasting your time. She’ll be awake by the time you get there and there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s probably not been eating anything”

“You better be right” I mumble, and I see her eyes flicker open. “Fuck, Lucy, can you hear me?”

“Mhmm” she moans.

“Oh my god, Jack she’s alive!” I wipe my tears and she lets out a small laugh as she sits up, still opening her eyes slightly.

“Good, now I have to go back to class. Call me at break” he tells me before I hang up.

“Lucy, are you ok?”

“Yeah” she sighs, trying to sit up.

“Lie down” I push her chest back slightly so she can lie back down on the sofa. “I thought you were dead” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood when her eyes are fully open.

She starts laughing a little bit, “I feel dead”

“What have you been eating this weekend?” I ask and it takes her a while to reply.

“Just that soup yesterday”

“Fuck, you need to eat, Luce! What did I tell you?” I gasp.

“Shut up” she moans.

“I’ll get you some water” I nod and run into her kitchen. I get her water in record breaking time and run back into the living room to give it her. “I’m taking you to the doctors after you’ve had something to eat”

“Conor, I don’t need to go to the doctors” she moans.

“Yes you do! You’ve been sick for four days, you’ve fainted and you just fell down the fucking stairs. You could have a broken neck”

“I’d be dead if I did” she smirks.

“Well, your arm then”

“You’d know about it if I broke my arm” she laughs and I roll my eyes.

“Right I’m making you toast”

I walk into the kitchen and put the toast into the toaster, making her a hot chocolate while waiting for it to pop up.

-

I drive my Dad’s car into her driveway and go back into the house.

“Right, get your coat and come outside” I tell her. She raises her eyebrow so I just nod. She sighs before getting up from her seat and finding a coat.

“Who’s car is that?” her eyes go wide.

“My Dad’s. Get in, I’m taking you to the doctors”

“Wait. What!?”

“I’m taking you to the doctors” I repeat.

“Conor are you insane? You can’t drive! You’re not even sixteen yet! I’ll probably die!” she exaggerates.

“I drive my Dad’s car loads. I drove Jack to a party once” I shrug. I’m always driving round the car park...

“I don’t care, it’s illegal, I am not getting in that car” she crosses her arms across her chest.

-

Lucy’s POV

I don’t know how I got persuaded into getting in this car but it’s happening. I’m letting a fifteen year old drive me around Brighton – the busiest town in the world – to get to a doctor’s appointment I don’t even need.

“I don’t think this is a good idea” I stutter, strapping myself into the car tightly.

“You’ll thank me for it later” he smiles, turning on the engine.

“No, I can’t do this” I shake my head and grip onto my seatbelt.

“You’re already in the car now, don’t make me take you all the way back into the house” he sighs dramatically although my front door is only down the path.

“Conor, I’m shaking”

He starts laughing, “Babe, you’ll be fine”

Fuck, I love it when he calls me that. He starts smirking at me.

“Come on baby” he smirks, putting his hand on my thigh.

“Ok, drive then” I blurt out, saying the opposite to what I’m thinking. He’s so persuasive...

We start driving slowly down the street and he gradually gets faster and faster. He’s actually a pretty good driver except for the sharp turns and the jolting every now and then.

His phone starts ringing as we come to a roundabout. He gets his phone out of his pocket and answers it, leaving me with my jaw on the floor.

“Hey Jack!” he cheers.

“CONOR GET OFF THE PHONE NOW!” I scream, snatching it out of his hand and putting it to my ear.

“Lucy? What’s going on?” Jack asks.

“Conor’s taking me to the doctor’s”

“And how are you getting there?”

“Um, he’s driving” I mumble.

“WHAT THE FUCK! He can’t drive!” Jack shouts.

“He’s doing pretty well actually” I flick my hair and Conor starts laughing. “Conor concentrate!” I point to the road and we swerve a bit before driving normally.

“Get out of the car Lucy” Jack tells me.

“Yeah Jack, I’ll just jump out now in the middle of the road” I say sarcastically.

“For fuck sake, why are you even in there!?”

“We’re going to the doctors”

“Why are you letting him drive!?”

“He’s driven loads” I exaggerate and look at Conor smiling proudly at himself. I roll my eyes before returning my attention back to the phone call. “Anyway, I’ll text you”

“Wait Lucy you nee-“

“Bye!” I end the call. I have no idea why I was sticking up for Conor on that phone call because I agree with everything that Jack was saying. I was just in no mood to be on the phone when I need to accompany Conor. “And as for you” I turn to my boyfriend, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing answering your phone while you’re driving!? We’re not exactly driving safely as it is!”

“Chill out, I can multitask” he shrugs.

“Chill out!? I’m letting a fucking fifteen year old drive me around Brighton for fuck sake” I scream and he stays silent. The rest of the two minute drive is in silence. I don’t know what to say.

“Are you still mad at me?” he asks when he turns off the engine, unbuckling his seatbelt and turning his body to face me.

I sigh, “I wasn’t mad at you Conor”

I’m not mad at him, not at all, I was just panicking because I thought I was about to die.

“Sounded like it”

“Sorry, I was just scared about being in the car. I thought I was about to die”

He starts smirking, “I drive all the time”

“I’m keep reminding myself that but part of me’s telling myself that’s not true” I smirk and he starts smiling.

“Don’t listen to that part of you” he winks before jumping out of the car. In other words, that other side of me is right but Conor doesn’t want me to listen to it...

I follow him into the doctors and take a seat in the waiting room.

“You’re not coming in with me” I whisper.

“Why are you whispering?” he whispers back.

“I don’t know” I cough. “That’s what you do in the doctors” I smirk and he rolls his eyes. There’s no one in here so why shouldn’t I talk out loud?

“Why can’t I come in?” he pouts.

“Because I won’t be able to concentrate. You distract me”

“Name one time I’ve distracted you Lucy” he raises his eyebrow.

“In science, in school in general, whenever you smirk, or call me ‘babe’ or ‘baby’” I count my fingers and he starts laughing.

My name pops up on the board so I turn back to Conor.

“Stay” I warn him, standing up and walking away from him. “Stop rolling your eyes” I say without looking at him and he starts laughing.

I enter the doctor’s room made up of a bed with blue paper on, weighing scales and a desk with a computer on. There’s three chairs in the room including the one he’s sat on.

“Take a seat” he smiles at me. He looks different from the rest of the doctors I’ve had. He looks around 25 and has short black hair in a quiff. “What seems to be the problem?” he asks me the stereotypical question.

“I’ve been throwing up every day since Friday and I just fell down the stairs because I fainted” I rush my words, realising how stupid I sound. Why am I even here? I bet it’s just a bug or something.

After he takes a few tests and types in practically everything I’m saying onto his computer, he confirms I have a virus, and signs for me to have some tablets which should make me better within a few days.

“If anything worse happens or you’re still not well within five days, come back in and we’ll take things further. Other than that, you’re free to go” he smiles.

“Thank you” I return the smile and start walking towards the door.

“And try to keep eating and drinking”

“I will” I nod. I decide to trick Conor for putting me through that horrible drive...

“What’s wrong then?” he asks me when I leave the doctors room. I stay silent and don’t make any facial expression. “Lucy, what the fuck happened?”

“I um, I just need tablets” I smile hesitantly and he starts frowning.

“What for? Lucy, tell me what’s wrong” he demands, taking hold of my shoulder and looking into both my eyes.

“I’m pregnant” I whisper and see his face drop. His wide eyes stare at me with his mouth slightly open.

“Y-you’re pregnant?” he stutters and I nod. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah” I mumble. I turn away to hide my smirk.

“Look at me” he turns me back round by my shoulders. I look into his eyes and start smiling. “You’re fucking joking” he lets out a huge breath. “I hate you so much”

I keep laughing at him as he shakes his head and mumbles a few things.

“I can’t believe I believed you” he laughs. “Asshole”

“It’s payback for driving me here”

“You got here safely! Stop complaining!” he gasps and I roll my eyes, still laughing slightly. “What’s really wrong?”

“Just got a virus” I shrug. “I need to get tablets though”

“We’ll go get them now” he nods. “Any broken bones?” he smirks.

“Nope, I have bruises though” I pout.

“You’ll live” he rolls his eyes.

“You need to kiss it better” I hold out my arm.

“I am not kissing your arm better in the middle of the doctors” he shakes his head and I start laughing.

After our trip to the pharmacy to get my medicine, we drive home at 30mph the whole journey. I said that if he wants to drive me home, we’re not going any faster than 30mph. No way are we going 50mph again. I nearly had a heart attack.