Fighting For Normal

The constant barking of my dog, Bernard, jolted me awake from a fitful sleep. Ugh, my head is pounding like crazy. I reached for my phone, turning off the alarm that only made my headache worse. My left thigh was sore, and I felt completely drained, even after a full night of sleep. What’s going on with me? Groaning, I snuggled deeper into the blankets, wishing I could steal a few more moments of peace. The soft flannel sheets felt refreshing against my hot skin.

My door suddenly swung open with a loud crash. I jumped, the noise cutting through the haze in my mind. Stetson, my twin brother, charged in, his backpack hanging off one shoulder and his keys spinning around his finger. He didn’t have his usual smile; instead, he looked worried.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty -" he began, but then stopped, his grin disappearing as he noticed how messy I looked and the redness in my cheeks. I could tell he was thinking that if we didn’t hurry, we’d both miss school. Normally, I was the one who was up and ready first, with my hair done and outfit looking on point.

"Wow, you look terrible," Stetson said, quickly crossing the room. His playful tone shifted to one of concern as he knelt next to my bed, his eyes searching mine for answers. "Are you alright?"

I mumbled something that didn’t make sense, burying my face deeper into my pillow. The smell of my lavender-vanilla perfume did little to ease the throbbing in my head. He placed a cool hand on my forehead, and I felt a shiver run through me.

"You’re really hot! Should I call Dad or Pops?"

I shook my head, flinching at the sharp pain that shot through my temples. They had both already left for work - Dad to the courthouse and Pops to the base.

"Do you want me to stay home with you?" Stetson asked, his voice laced with real concern. I could see he was really conflicted.

As much as I wanted to agree, the idea of him skipping his physics test made me feel uneasy. He had been preparing for it for weeks, determined to do well.

He paused, noticing the mixed feelings in my eyes, then finally nodded. "Alright, I'll tell Ms. Troyer that you won't be in and grab your assignments." He gave Bernard a quick scratch behind the ears, the soft fur brushing against his fingers. "Just call or text if you need anything," he said, his voice deep and full of worry. With one last anxious look, he walked out, leaving the door wide open. The sound of his footsteps faded away, leaving my room in a heavy silence.

I jolted awake, my heart racing. Bernard wasn’t snuggled up at the end of my bed anymore. Feeling a bit confused, I grabbed my phone. Thank goodness, school is almost over! A sense of relief flooded me. I hadn’t completely missed the day after all. My screen was buzzing with messages from my friends, mostly asking, "OMG, where are you?" and "Are you alright?" I also noticed a couple of missed calls from Dad and Pops. I’ll handle those later.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I slowly got up, feeling a bit dizzy. The room felt like it was swaying, and the teal walls looked a little fuzzy. I carefully made my way down the stairs, each step reminding me of the pain in my thigh. The smell of furniture polish hung in the air, showing how much Dad cared about keeping everything clean.

Bernard was curled up in his bed by the back door, happily chewing on a bone. When he spotted me, he wagged his tail against the tile floor, his dark eyes showing worry. He whined softly and nudged my hand with his cold, wet nose.

"Hey there, buddy," I said hoarsely, my throat feeling scratchy. I filled the kettle and placed it on the stove, listening to the burner click on. Then I searched through the cupboard for my favorite herbal tea - a calming mix of lavender and chamomile. I hoped it would help with the throbbing in my head.

The kettle let out a sharp whistle, breaking the stillness of the house. I poured the hot water over the tea bag, watching the steam rise in fragrant swirls. After letting the tea steep, I made my way to the living room, feeling the soft carpet under my feet. This cozy space felt like a safe haven, a break from the hectic world outside. I settled into the comfy sofa, the cool slate fabric soothing against my warm skin. With Dad and Pops still at work and Stetson busy with his after-school job, I had the whole place to myself. Just what I needed. I picked up the remote, its cool surface fitting perfectly in my hand, and turned on the TV. The opening theme of Gilmore Girls filled the air, a tune that always made me smile. It was time for some serious comfort TV. The flickering screen cast a warm light around the room, and I nestled deeper into the sofa, holding my steaming mug of tea, letting the familiar characters and their clever dialogue wrap around me like a cozy blanket.

After watching a few episodes of Gilmore Girls, I felt like I had enough TV for the day. I turned it off, and the sudden quiet made the ringing in my ears even more noticeable. I attempted to scroll through Instagram, but the bright light made my head throb. My cheeks felt hot, and a chill ran down my spine, even though the living room was warm.

Bernard's bark broke the silence in the house. He dashed into the hallway, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. I opened my eyes, but everything around me seemed to blur.

Dad, Pops, and Uncle Jake came out of the utility room, laughing. Dad was holding two pizza boxes, and the delicious smell of melted cheese and pepperoni made my stomach rumble. Pops followed closely behind, carrying two smaller boxes and wearing a cheeky grin.

"Looks like someone is ready to eat," Dad said, his blue eyes sparkling. He placed the pizza boxes on the table - one buffalo chicken, which is my favorite, and one supreme loaded with extra olives. Pops set the smaller boxes down next to them - cheesy stuffed bread.

"Pizza party!" Uncle Jake declared, his eyes shining with excitement.

Dad and Pops exchanged a quick look, a silent understanding passing between them. Pops gave Dad's shoulder a gentle squeeze, showing his support.

I settled in next to Uncle Jake, sinking into the soft couch. He wrapped a warm arm around my shoulders, and his familiar scent was oddly comforting.

"How's my baby girl doing?" he asked, his voice deep and soothing.

"Like I got run over by a truck," I replied, my throat feeling scratchy. "But the pizza smells incredible."

Uncle Jake laughed. "That's the spirit! Pizza can fix anything." He winked. "Well, almost anything."

I managed a weak smile. Uncle Jake wasn’t really my uncle; he was Dad's best friend since they were fourteen. He and his son were like family to me, always around for dinners, holidays, and fun pizza nights like this one.

I pushed my plate away and said, "I'm full. That was really great, thanks everyone." I managed a faint smile, even though my head was pounding and my body felt sore.

"Anytime, sweetheart," Pops replied, his green eyes showing he was worried. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Just a bit," I said, not wanting to cause them more concern.

"Make sure to rest, kiddo," Uncle Jake added, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We'll catch up later."

I nodded and made my way upstairs, with Bernard following closely behind. My legs felt heavy, and each step sent a sharp pain through my thigh. I held onto the banister for support, the cool wood feeling nice against my sweaty palm. In the bathroom, I splashed some cool water on my face, letting out a sigh as the sink pressed against my hot forehead. The smell of lavender hand soap filled the room. I brushed my teeth, enjoying the refreshing minty taste.

Once back in my room, I thought about sketching to pass the time until Stetson returned with my schoolwork. I grabbed my sketchbook and colored pencils from my desk, feeling comforted by their familiar weight. The sketchbook's rough texture felt good under my fingers, filled with unfinished drawings and doodles. I settled onto my bed, the soft comforter wrapping around me like a warm hug. Bernard snuggled up next to me, his warm fur soothing against my sore leg. I opened my sketchbook to a blank page, the clean white surface standing out against the chaos in my mind.

I decided to draw Bernard, his silly grin and expressive eyes always made me smile. I picked up a light brown colored pencil, the waxy tip gliding easily across the paper. I started with his floppy ears, then moved on to his furry snout and big wet nose. With each stroke, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. The worries about missing school, the pain in my body, and the fear of this strange illness lingering faded away as I focused on capturing Bernard's spirit on the page.

I was so focused on my drawing that I didn’t even notice anyone coming up the stairs. A gentle knock surprised me, and when I looked up, there was Chandler in the doorway, holding a Wild Cherry Pepsi in one hand and my homework packet in the other. A warm feeling washed over me, pushing away the chills for a moment.

"Hey," he said, a shy smile on his face. "Stetson's in the shower, so I thought I’d bring you this." He pointed to the packet.

"Thanks," I replied, my cheeks turning red. "That’s really nice of you." And you smell amazing, I thought to myself, catching a hint of his cologne - a fresh mix of ocean breeze and mint.

"No problem," he said, stepping into the room. "Do you need any help with it?"

Usually, I would dive into my homework without a second thought. I was used to getting A's and B's. But today, my brain felt like it was in a fog. "Actually, yeah, that would be awesome," I confessed, shifting over to make space for him on the bed. My heart raced as he sat down next to me, our legs brushing against each other.

Chandler settled in beside me, his shoulder nudging mine. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach and the way my heart raced. He dumped the homework packet onto the bed with a soft thud, scattering worksheets and textbook pages everywhere. Algebra II, Physics, and US Government. The cool paper felt nice against my fingers.

"Which one do you want to start with?" he asked, his bright blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

I groaned. "Let’s just get Algebra II done first," I said, dreading the thought of quadratic equations and polynomials.

Chandler let out a soft laugh that made my heart race. “Okay, let’s get started.” He grabbed the Algebra II worksheet, and our fingers accidentally touched. I attempted to concentrate on the math problems, but I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The way he concentrated, with his brow furrowed and his lips moving as he read the questions, was just adorable. And when he finally solved a problem, his eyes sparkled. I couldn’t help but think how cute he looked when he was focused, and a goofy smile crept onto my face. I quickly looked down, hoping he didn’t catch me staring.

We were about halfway through the Physics worksheet, trying to untangle momentum and velocity in my head, when Uncle Jake walked in.

"Ready to go home, Chan?" he asked, his voice deep and steady.

Chandler looked up, surprised. "Oh, hey Dad. Yeah, I'm just wrapping this up. I think I'll stay in the guest room tonight."

Wait, he's staying over? My heart did a little flip.

Uncle Jake nodded. "Sounds good. See you in the morning." He waved at me quickly. "Hope you feel better, Sloane."

"Thanks, Uncle Jake," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up under his gaze.

Chandler turned back to the worksheet, a slight blush creeping up his neck. "Where were we?" he whispered, almost too quiet to hear.

I pointed to the problem we were stuck on, my finger brushing against his by accident. He flinched a bit, and I quickly pulled my hand away, feeling embarrassed. Great job, Sloane.

"Sorry," I said, my face burning.

"No problem," he replied, his voice a bit tight. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. I could hear the soft scratching of his pencil on the paper and the rustling of pages as he shifted.

We kept working, the air around us heavy with unspoken feelings. I glanced at Chandler, his forehead creased in focus. He was biting his lip, a little quirk I always found cute. My eyes drifted to his hands, his long fingers holding the pencil with surprising gentleness. I quickly looked away, my heart racing. Get it together, Sloane. You’re supposed to be doing homework, not getting lost in thoughts about Chandler.

But it was tough to focus with him so near. His cologne wafted over, a fresh mix of ocean breeze and mint that filled my senses. I felt a weird blend of nerves and excitement, my stomach flipping. I hoped he couldn’t hear how fast my heart was pounding.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, we wrapped up the Physics worksheet.

"That’s the last one," Chandler said, relief evident in his voice. He started organizing the papers into a neat stack. "I guess I should let you get some sleep."

"Yeah," I replied, my voice barely audible. I really didn’t want him to go.

He stood up, and a wave of disappointment washed over me. "I’ll see you tomorrow?" he asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

"Absolutely," I said, a smile breaking out on my face.

He returned the smile, and for a brief moment, our eyes locked. I felt a spark, a connection that sent shivers through me. Then he turned and left the room, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and a fluttering heart.

I sank further into the uncomfortable plastic chair, the rough fabric sticking to my skin. The sharp smell of disinfectant hit my nose, mixing with a metallic taste of fear that lingered in my mouth. My head throbbed in time with the buzzing of the fluorescent lights, each beat sending waves of nausea through me. Dad, Pops, and Stetson were close by, their anxious faces blurring in my feverish vision. I could feel their worry weighing down on me, adding to the unease churning in my stomach.

"Sloane?" A voice broke through the haze. A young nurse appeared in the doorway, her name tag reading "Sera."

Sera had warm brown eyes that crinkled when she smiled, a button nose sprinkled with freckles, and full lips that formed a kind expression. Her cinnamon hair was neatly tied back in a bun, with a few loose strands framing her face. A tiny silver stud sparkled in her nose.

"Only two visitors can go back with the patient," Sera said softly.

Stetson squeezed my hand,