July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (28 page)

I found what I was looking for and struggled to open it. Stupid child resistant cap! I finally ripped it off and dumped a small pile into my hand. I had three swallowed, without water, before Dad rushed over and took them from me.

“Hey! I have a headache!”

“Two is all you need.”

I tried to frown at him. To my annoyance I couldn't open my eyes enough or raise my head for it to be an effective showing of my ire. The pain in my skull took on a whole new level of agony. I grabbed my head, and faintly in the background of my brain, I was aware my knees hit the floor.

“Dad, my head ...” my voice drifted into oblivion and the pain stopped.

The Morning After

Falling!

I jerked to catch myself. My fingers touched the mattress under me. My stomach twisted and turned, causing the muscles around it to cramp. With a moan I rolled over. The hint of a headache knocked at my skull. I willed it
not
to come in.

“Sylvia, are you alright?” Dad whispered from a few feet away.

The screeching of the curtains being pulled back vibrated through my head and I covered my ears as my stomach growled to be fed.

“Tam, get that sandwich!” Dad snapped. “Sylv, speak to me.” He whispered loud, closer now.

“... don't feel … good ...” I whispered

He smoothed the hair from my face. “I know. You've had us worried all night.”

“... night? … what … time?”

“It's a little after eight.”

I tried to look. The light stabbed and my eyes clamped shut. I groaned instead.

“Here.”

The smell of food had my hand crawling toward it.

“It's from last night, but it should still taste alright.”

Who cares what it tastes like?
Dad put a bundle in my hand and I devoured it, ignoring the throb in my head. The bulk helped with the nausea.

“Here's another sandwich.”

“...keep it coming ...” with my mouth full, “please.”

He did just that, filling my hand three more times with sandwiches, none of which I really tasted.

“You had a rough night, groaning every time you moved.”

Two more sandwiches, a pear and a small bag of chips later, and I could finally open my eyes as the throbbing lessened. Dad knelt beside me, hair askew and stubble on his worry-creased face. Tam stood beside him with a cardboard box in her hands. Tim wasn’t visible at first. I looked for him. He peered out from behind Dad until our eyes made contact. He looked down and pulled back a little.

What did I do?

“When you collapsed, I wanted to get the doctor, but I didn't know if something weird was going on, or how the doctor would react.” He stroked my shoulder and shook his head.

I continued eating the box of crackers Tam placed next to me as he said something about being helpless. Three apples and a banana and I uncurled my body.

“I tried to call Aunt Betty last night, but we weren't close enough to land to get cell reception.”

Another bag of chips and a two liter of pop and I felt like sitting up. Tam brought a wet cloth that I gladly washed my face and neck with. It felt good to wipe the sweat from my skin. If only I could wipe the guilt from my soul.

It was hard to look into my father’s concerned face. “I'm so sorry for blowing a gasket last night.”

He squeezed my shoulder. “It's okay Sylv, it's obvious you weren't feeling well.”

“Yeah, I definitely didn't feel right. Man, I felt completely out of control.”

Dad chuckled weakly. “That's an understatement.”

Tam sat next to me. “You looked really hungry.” Her hazel eyes, with knitted brows, had too much worry encircling them.

The gnawing pain was still fresh in my mind. “Yeah, I sure was.” I rubbed my mostly contented belly.

Tim peeked around Dad tentatively. I smiled and he returned it.

My father frowned. “Now, we've talked about this, Sylv. You’re to eat on a regular basis, no skipping meals.”

“I don't remember skipping any meals or snacks.” I must’ve stayed out with Drew too long and didn't realize I was getting so hungry. I couldn't tell Dad the truth even though I hated lying to him. He still didn't believe Drew existed so he would’ve thought I'd really gone nuts.

“Nonetheless, I want you being very careful. And, thankfully, we dock today so you won't be stuck in this cabin much longer.” He stood up. “I think maybe being cooped up didn't help the situation last night.”

“Yeah, I was becoming a little claustrophobic.” Understatement!

Well, that was until Drew showed up. Being cooped up so long is probably why stupidity reigned and I went Phase Walking with him in the first place. Allowing myself to get this hungry was beyond stupid.

Sure, I should’ve have said no and kicked him out. To my defense, I needed to feel the sun and it was so much fun being almost normal. I really needed to stop rationalizing like this. Although … it would be fun to go Phase Walking by myself or go into Phase when boys got out of control. Unfortunately, that meant going with Drew and he was just too irritating.

Something dawned on me and I looked around. “Where's Sue?”

She wasn't in the bed that was now folded up into a couch.

“She's in the shower.” He nodded towards the bathroom.

It was good, Sue was better. I’d been afraid we’d have to carry her off the ship. I could’ve asked one of the affected to carry her if she still wasn’t conscious.

That reminded me. “Oh, how's she feeling?”

“She's doing much better today. Still can't eat anything solid but she's up and starting to feel like herself again.”

“Does she remember last night?”

“No, she doesn't remember most of yesterday.”

“Good, `cause I wasn't very nice to her.”

“Don't worry. `Sides, I don't think Sue wants to be reminded of anything that might have happened while under the influence.” He glanced wistfully toward the sound of running water.

“I bet you'll be glad when we're off this ship and life can get back to normal … well, as normal as it gets this year.” That was something else that was my fault. My head sagged with guilt.

He chucked me under the chin and harrumphed. “Yeah, even that will be a welcome relief.”

The bathroom door opened and a dressed Sue emerged, still pale. Her hawk like eyes were focused. Of course the frown was back as she looked at me. “I see you're awake.”

“Yeah, you, too.”

Dad jabbed me. I probably shouldn't have said that, it rushed out before my brain activated. I would pay for it later. The side of her mouth twitched up as she shuffled past me. She had a towel wound around her wet hair that slid off as she slowly bent to get her shoes.

“We might as well get our things packed and ready for docking.” In other words, Sue was back and ready to get down to business.

Dad handed me a box of crackers. “Why don't you stay put for a little longer? Eat. I'll look and see if there's anything else left.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He ruffled my hair. “You're welcome.”

Sue geared up and set everyone in motion. Though a bit wobbly, she was fully back in control.

By the time I finished my shower and had everything packed, I was much better, too. The ship would be docking soon and I was nervous about getting to our car without creating a whole mess of problems. Dad and Sue sat at the table, bent over a map of the ship. They were going over contingency plans as the minutes ticked by, slowly at first, then leapt ahead when departure from the room was imminent.

I paced the last few minutes away, my stomach rolling along with the ship. It wanted food to feed the nerves that had taken up residence there. I reminded it again and again that there wasn't any more food and it would have to wait until we got off the boat and found a grocery store.

The time came and Dad eased the tape up around the door and scrunched it into a tight ball that he lobbed at the trash can. It stuck to his hand. Hopefully, the tape hadn’t permanently damaged the frame. Dad handed the tape-wad off by sticking it to the back of my little brother’s shirt.

“Take care of that, would ya, Tim?”

Tim huffed and huffed while he struggled to reach the tape ball between his shoulder blades. After we all had a good laugh, Tam took mercy and peeled it from his shirt and stuck it in his hair.

“Hey!” Tim gingerly pulled it free. It was good his hair wasn’t too long.

Then it was time, no putting it off any longer. All faces were now somber. Dad peeked through the hole and shook his head with a sigh. He looked meaningfully at me. We took a collective breath as Dad unbolted and opened the door.

In the hall was a small group of guys clustered around a luggage cart.

One guy, in a ship worker's uniform, pushed through the crowd and wheeled the flatbed to our door. “Hi, I'm Dave. I heard you were getting off at Whittier and thought you might need a cart.” He leaned around Dad and caught my eye. “We sure are going to miss you.”

Dad moved him to the side and loaded the cart. “Thanks.”

“It was very nice of you to think of us.” I was playing with fire and couldn't seem to stop as I smiled broadly.

“I'm always thinking of you.” Another guy, who had sidled up, hit Dave with his elbow and shook his head. “I mean, I'm always thinking about our passengers.”

I handed him the last suitcase. “It's lucky for us you're so attentive.” I kept my eyes locked with his. What was I doing?

The affected crew member placed the bag on top as Dad nudged me and I looked away.

Dave smiled and leaned nonchalantly against the cart handle and waved the other hand as if dismissing his gallantry. Unfortunately, the cart didn't have any brakes and rolled forward dumping the young man on the floor. Everyone laughed. When I moved to help him up Dad caught my arm and pulled me behind him. He and Dave’s friend helped the blushing young man to his feet.

Dad whipped out a tip and shoved it into the guy's hand, then motioned to us, “Time to go.” He pulled me to the cart and I pushed it so he could walk directly behind me in the thin hall.

“Email me, okay?” Dave handed me a piece of paper.

I nodded and Dad pushed me forward.

We were quite the parade. It started out as five guys following and swelled to a dozen by the time we made our way down to the car hold. All the departing passengers had to go the same direction. It seemed like most of the travelers were departing, so it became an awful traffic jam, exacerbated by all the guys trying to get closer to me.

We turned the last corner, which put us just outside the car bay, where everyone had to show their tickets to get their car back.

I saw him out of the corner of my eye before I realized he was there.

Drew climbed onto the cart and lounged directly in front of me. “
So, have you thought about my offer?
”

I peeked from side to side at all the other sardines. Drew knew I couldn't speak to him. Which, of course, is why he insisted on putting me on the spot. Looking him in the eye I nodded.

“Are you going to escape with me?”

Admittedly, it was tempting on one level. I shook my head minutely. All the other levels said no.

He sneered down at me.
“Not much for adventure, are you?”

I frowned at him. If he only knew how I'd had too much adventure, since this whole Change had begun in January, he wouldn't say that. It was frustrating not being able to speak to him and explain how wrong he was.

Drew looked over my shoulder. “
They're distracted
.” He put his hand out. “
Come on, let's go for a walk. Let them deal with this mess.
”

I leaned forward pretending to adjust a suitcase and whispered. “I just can't disappear. It would give my father a heart attack.”

“
Well, then tell them you … forgot something and we'll go talk.
”

“Obviously, you haven't noticed the line we’re in.”

He looked around. “
Yeah, I guess this grid lock does hamper a quick exit
.”

I snorted. “Ya think?” That sounded snotty to me, even if it was for Drew.

Dad leaned over. “What was that, Sylv?”

“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself.”

Drew snorted.

Two fidgeting guys, who stood behind my stepmother, looked about to bolt. Sue shielded the twins as though she were on a battle field. I turned back to Drew when Dad's attention was diverted.

I whispered harshly. “Yeah, I was just talking to myself, better known as my hallucination.” Nice was not my motive.

Drew frowned at me. “
You said if I proved myself you would believe me.
”

“Oh, I do, it’s everyone else who thinks you’re a figment of my imagination.”

He looked at my father with derision. “
What they don't believe won't hurt us. Come on, Sylv, let's blow this joint and go have some fun.
”

“What's fun? It's been so long I don't remember.”

“Hey, baby.” The guy in line in front of me ran his fingers through his unkempt brown hair. “I can show you what fun is. I'll show you anything you want."

Looking past Drew my eyes caught on the tall rugged frame of a definite nine, maybe nine and a half.

"Hi, my name’s Alan.”

I had to clench my jaw to keep it from dropping to the floor.

Drew laughed. “
He wouldn't know fun if it bit him
.”