Chapter 4 Justin

Emily is ignoring me. She has avoided me for a week now. When I went to her house to pick her up for our date, guess what, she was not at home. She was at the cafe doing overtime. When I met her the next day after her class, she gave me a lame excuse. I approached her again a few more times, she either made an excuse or she was doing something. I do not know what she wants.

I have a game tonight. I don't know if she will come or not. Last time, Sam demanded her. This time I hope Sam does something. I was in a horrible locker room. If she doesn't come to the game tonight, I will go to her home. I need to know why she is avoiding me.

The game was not exciting at all. I just needed to finish the game. After the game, I looked for her, but she was not there. When I asked Ed about her, he said she was sick. She is at home taking a rest. I also notice this thing over the week: she looks sick. I marched to her house. It took me 15 minutes.

I knock at her door. Nobody answered at first. I waited then again. Sometimes later she opens the door, sometimes.

She is really sick. She looks pale and weak.

"Hey." I am worried about her now.

"Hi." She sounds tired.

"Are you okay?" She can't even standstill.

"Yeah. I am just tired. I need some sleep." She works too hard. She doesn't have time for herself.

"Did you eat something? You look weak."

"I will eat. What are you going here?"

"Really. After you avoided me for a week, you ask this?" I came here to fight with her. But she is not in that condition.

"I was busy. I didn't avoid you."

"Bullshit."

I shouldn't talk about this now. She needs to eat and get some sleep now.

" Do you have any food at home?"

"I will order something. You should go." She can't even stand now anymore.

"Let's go inside. I will order food you will eat and then take some rest." I can't leave her alone this way.

"You don't need to do these things." I walk inside the house and open the fridge. The fridge is half empty.

"I am ordering some food, go take a shower." She doesn't say anything, just stands there and looks at me in shock or surprise.

"Come on, go."

She finally follows my words and takes a shower. She finishes her shower right before she arrives. I don't know what she will like, so I order a bunch of food. Pizza, hamburger, pasta, orange juice, chocolate cake. She comes to the kitchen wearing a long sweatshirt and sweatpants.

"Why did you order so much food?"

"I don't know what you like, so I ordered basic food."

"It's so much."

"Eat. You look unstable."

She starts to eat. She eats quietly. Not a single word. She finishes almost everything. She was super hungry. Right after her meal, she runs towards the washroom and vomits all the food. I follow her to try to understand what is happening. I hold her hair when she throws up.

"Can you go out?" She is exhausted. I nod to her and leave the bathroom, closing the door behind me. She is sick. I think we should go to the hospital.

When she comes out, I hand her a glass of water. She thanks me and drinks the water. She goes to her bedroom, and I follow her. There is a lot of medicine on her nightstand. She took some water and drank that with water. So she went to the doctor.

"Are you okay?"

She nods and gives me a weak smile.

"I think we should go to the hospital. You don't look good at all."

"I'm fine." She sits at the end of the bed. l seat beside her. She looks vulnerable.

"Lie down. Take a rest."

She follows and lays down. I pull the sheet over her. She closes her eyes, and I pat her head.

"Thank you."

"Sleep."

"You should leave now. I'm fine now."

"Sleep."

She falls to sleep. I stay with her a little bit longer. After her roommate comes home, I leave for home.

The night was torture. I keep thinking about Emily. The entire night I keep tossing in my bed. I couldn't sleep for a second. I wanted to run to her house and sit beside her. I wake up at 6 in the morning. I take a hot shower, eat breakfast, and take off for my class. I wanted to go to Emily, but what if she gets angry? She avoided me for a week. I decided to give her space.

Ed, Sam, Annie know nothing about Emily. They don't know that she is sick. Ed has a class with her later. I don't think she will come to college today. She was so sick last night.

She is here. In front of me. She is talking to a guy. She looks better now. But she is still weak. She is tired,, I can see that in her eyes. Her eyes find mine. We keep looking at each other.

"Hey." I keep my eyes on her face.

"Hi."

"How are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for last night." I shake my head.

"Did you eat today?"

"Yeah. I did."

"You look weak."

"I'm fine now."

"Why did you avoid me last week? A whole week you avoided me."

"I'm sorry. I don't think we should go on a date."

"Why?"

"I don't want to date anyone."

"okay. I can wait."

"No. Don't wait."

"Are we friends?"

I am frustrated now. A week of rejection and now her being sick fucked me up. I like her. I want to date her, hold her hand, kiss her. But she doesn't want any of this. I will wait then.

"Yeah, we are."

"Then call me if you need any help."

"Why?"

"Because we are friends. Friends help each other."

"Justin."

I cut her.

"Give me your phone."

"Why?"

"So I can give you my number."

"I can take care of myself."

"I know you can. I am just a helping hand. Use me as you want."

I convinced her easily. When she gives me her phone, I type my number and give myself a call so I can have her.

"I need to go."

"Take care."

She stops and looks at me for a moment. She nods and walks away from me. I want to protect her from everything. But she is not allowing me to do it. One day she will. For now, let's remain her friend. So I can help her.