Chapter
4
“Well, Angela, I need to be getting back to the other guys. They’re probably wondering what happened to
me,” Nick mumbled, his head still swimming with the shocking information he had
just learned.
He stood up quickly, feeling suddenly suffocated, wanting to get
out of that room. But as soon as he was
up, he knew it was a mistake. A wave of
dizziness washed over him, and he swayed on his feet.
“Nick?” Angela asked. As he
started to fall, she leapt up and grabbed him around the waist, steadying him
and then slowly lowering him back down to the sofa. “God, Nick, are you okay?” she asked,
hovering over him. “Your face is white!”
Nick panted, cold sweat dripping down his back. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back
against the couch, trying to get the dizziness to pass.
“Here, Nick, lie down,” Angela urged, helping turn his body and
lay his head back so that he was lying down on the couch.
“Thanks,” Nick mumbled, but his voice sounded far away.
Angela’s hand rested on his forehead for a moment. It felt soft and cool, very refreshing on his
clammy skin. “Are you sick? I don’t think you have a fever,” she said,
looking down at him worriedly.
“No, no, I’m fine,” Nick murmured, but he sure didn’t feel
fine. He felt horrible, and he was not
at all sure he would be able to get up anytime soon. Dizziness and nausea still ran through his
body.
“Listen, Nick, I need to go find you some help. I’ll be right back, okay? Don’t move,” Angela said.
“No, wait-“ Nick started to say, but she had hurried out before he
could finish the sentence.
Only moments later, she was back, followed by Kevin, Brian, AJ,
and Howie. They crowded the room,
surrounding Nick, hovering over him in concern.
“Back up, guys,” Angela said.
“Give him some space.”
The four guys exchanged glances, and Kevin, AJ, and Howie stepped
back, letting Brian stay by Nick’s side.
“Frack, you okay?” Brian asked, his voice filled with concern, his
blue eyes wide.
Nick managed to nod his head.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. In fact,
he was beginning to feel a bit better already.
“What happened, buddy?” Brian asked.
“I.. I don’t know, I just got dizzy all of a sudden. But I’m okay now,” Nick said, sitting up
slowly. His dizziness was nearly gone
now.
“You sure?” Brian asked, putting his hand behind Nick’s back to
support him.
Nick nodded and climbed slowly to his feet. He stood a minute to regain his balance. Brian held lightly onto Nick’s arm, in case
he would fall again. But the dizziness
was gone, and Nick felt much better.
“Thanks, Angela,” Nick said, turning to Angela, who stood in a
corner, looking worried. “For
everything.” He gave her a meaningful
gaze.
Angela smiled. “You’re
welcome, Nick,” she said.
“I’ll… I’ll, uh, be right down the hall if you want to talk some
more,” Nick said, as Brian started slowly out of the room.
Angela nodded. “Okay,” she
said.
Nick flashed her a slight smile and followed Brian out of the
room.
***
