Chapter 16
Sixteen
Enoch
We played for another hour before my dad got home, poking his head in and whispering goodnight when he saw that Shiloh was sleeping. We were about to finish the game when a hand gripped my shoulder. I swore and jumped in surprise as Shiloh scrambled over my body and out of the room.
Moments later the distinct sound of retching and splatter of liquid against the tile made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Shit,” I muttered again as I rushed out of the room.
Shiloh was puking in the middle of the hallway, and I quickly grabbed her hair out of her face. My mom, with whatever super power she possessed, ran down the stairs in record time with a large plastic bowl in hand to catch her next wave of retching.
I involuntarily shuddered and willed myself not to get sympathy nauseous. When I was a kid, I’d always throw up if I saw someone else, although this would certainly test if I grew out of that.
Shiloh spat one last time into the bowl and let out a shaky breath, standing upright, her whole body starting to tremble like it did when she had first arrived.
“What’s wrong, honey?” My mom asked as she scanned Shiloh trying to detect the problem. My mom reached up to feel her forehead and pursed her lips in thought as she pulled her hand away.
“Um, I just, um, woke up and tried to get to the bathroom. I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up,” Shiloh stuttered out between her chattering teeth.
“No, honey, don’t worry,” my mom said with a soft touch on Shiloh’s arm. “Let me just clean out this bowl and we’ll get ya settled back on the couch. Ya wanna rinse your mouth out?”
Shiloh didn’t move, so I placed my hand on her back. “Come on.”
I ushered her into the bathroom, and she unsteadily rinsed her mouth in the sink, her long hair falling forward again.
I opened the top drawer under the sink and pulled out a scrunchie. I scooped her hair up and secured it behind her as she splashed some water on her face.
“Thanks,” she chattered.
“Let’s go back to the couch, yeah?” I suggested.
She nodded and I wrapped my arm around her waist to support her trembling body. The vomit on the floor was gone when we walked out, and I let out a breath of relief that I didn’t get sick myself. I actually felt fine.
My mom was already in the living room, adjusting the setup so Shiloh had her barf bowl within reaching distance and Jae and I weren’t in the way anymore.
“Do you feel like ya might be sick again?” My mom held out her hand to help Shiloh sit down on the couch, fluffing the pillow in the process.
“No, I don’t th-think so.”
Her body was shaking so hard that she could barely sit up properly. My mom took a seat next to her and offered her a can of 7-Up to which she declined.
Good. There’s no way she can drink that without spilling it all over herself. She’s practically having a seizure with how violently she’s shaking.
“Do ya want me to take ya home?” my mom asked, patting Shiloh’s knee in that comforting way all mothers do when they encounter a sick child.
“N-no. I’m okay. I feel b-better already. Is it okay if-f-f-f I stay?”
My mom looked up at me, silently telling me that she was worried and didn’t believe Shiloh.
“Of course, honey. But I’d prefer it if ya slept upstairs in Nox’s room.” She gave me a ‘don’t even think of protestin’, Nox’ face, before giving Shiloh her full attention. “It’ll be more comfortable, and I’ll be able to hear ya if ya get sick in the night.”
“That-that’s not necessary. Really. I’m f-f-fine here.”
“Shiloh, you’ll be much comfier upstairs, and I don’t mind. Please, just take my bed,” I persuaded, staring into her eyes to show her I meant it.
She let out a small grumble but nodded.
“Good,” my mom smiled, pleased with Shiloh’s willingness.
I knew she’d mother her into it regardless.
She’d never be able to sleep if she knew one of us was alone and sick all night.
“I’ll go change the sheets. Just give me five minutes and it’ll be ready.
Nox,” my mom turned to look at me, “get her some crackers.”
I nodded and headed for the kitchen pantry when Jae abruptly stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll get it.”
I nodded thanks, rolling my eyes at the heart shape he made with his fingers from the doorway.
“Are you sure you’re feeling better?” I asked Shiloh, taking all of her in.
Her face was pale, and her lips stood out bright red.
Thankfully it looked like her eyes had healed from the allergic reaction and were only slightly pink.
Seeing her slouched over with such a lifeless expression made her look haunting.
“I’ll be f-f-fine. I just need to g-go back to sle-ep,” Shiloh finally responded.
I nodded and offered her my hand to lead her upstairs.
I noticed the phone on the sofa that wasn’t mine or Jae’s and grabbed it.
I guessed she’d gotten her phone back. Maybe it’d gotten wrecked in the car accident, and she got a new one?
I’d have to ask her for her number when she was feeling better.
I was genuinely concerned about her well-being. She looked like she felt awful, and I wanted to know for sure it really was just a migraine. Seeing her so sick made my chest hurt.
My mom reminded Shiloh that she was just down the hall if she needed anything and left my room once she was satisfied that Shiloh was settled and didn’t need her. Shiloh sat on the bed and immediately curled up beneath the comforter, her body still shaking.
“Goodnight.” I set the phone on my nightstand and switched the light off. I hesitated to leave. “If you need me, I’ll be downstairs in the living room.”
Shiloh didn’t say anything back, and my shadow in the doorway was casting her in darkness. I turned to leave and was closing the door when Shiloh called my name.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t want to be alone,” she chattered, barely audibly.
I licked my lips and looked down the hall to my parents’ room.
“Okay, I’ll be right back. Two minutes,” I said.
I strode down to their room and knocked softly. My dad called for me to come in. When I walked in, he was shaking out his hair with a towel, standing in just a pair of sweats.
“Hey, is it okay if I sleep in my room with Shiloh. She says she doesn’t want to be alone.”
I looked between my dad and my mom who peeked her head out from the bathroom, her toothbrush hanging from her mouth.
“Yeah,” she nodded, toothpaste dripping down her chin and she chuckled as she wiped it, stepping back into the bathroom.
“We trust you,” my dad added. “Just come get us if you need help.”
I nodded and he shooed me out of his room, whipping his towel in my direction. I chuckled and headed back down the hall.
Shit. Jae.
I popped my head into my room and told Shiloh I just needed to tell Jae I was going to sleep in here. She didn’t respond, so I assumed she had fallen asleep. I rushed downstairs to find Jae scrolling through his phone.
“Hey.” I paused to take a breath. “Shiloh wants me to stay up in my room with her. Do you mind?”
I couldn’t help the small smile on my face as he looked up, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“Of course not, that means I can sleep in the guest room instead of here on the floor,” he smirked. “See y’all in the morning. Don’t forget to brush your teeth first.”
I punched him in the side as he walked past me smugly. “Dip.”
I turned off the TV and the lights downstairs, then raced upstairs to brush my teeth.
I adjusted my pajamas and hair in the bathroom, and I rolled my eyes at myself before sighing and crossing the hall to my room.
I left the door cracked and used muscle memory to make my way to the opposite side of my bed in the dark.
I lifted the comforter and slipped in, laying on my side, facing Shiloh.
I could feel that her body was still trembling and held my breath, scared to reach out and comfort her.
Just freaking do it. She asked you to be here.
Three.
Two.
One.
My eyes had adjusted enough in the dark to make out her shape and I gently stroked her slightly damp hair. She sniffled a few times and I wondered if her body was shaking from crying.
“Shy…” I whispered.
I listened to her breathing, trying to discern if she was really crying or not. She muttered a ‘fuck’ under her breath and rolled over, facing the ceiling.
“What can I do?” I asked gently, staring at the side of her face.
“If you want me to go, I can. But you don’t need to worry about anything, you know, like, happening between us.
My dad’s a cop, he’s got bionic hearing and Spidey senses, so you don’t have to be scared that we’re sharing a bed. And I know you have a boyfriend.”
She confirmed my suspicions that she was crying when she reached up and wiped her eyes, then her nose with the sleeve of my shirt she was wearing.
She let out a rattled sigh, cursing several more times, and closed her eyes.
“He’s not my fucking boyfriend. Can I just have a goddamn hug?”
I blinked, startled by her voice in the silence and all the force behind her statement. Maybe they broke up tonight, and maybe she does genuinely have a migraine.
“Of course. You don’t gotta ask. If you couldn’t tell, I’m definitely a hugger.
It’s my love language.” Fuck, why did I say that.
“I mean, not that I’m saying I love you.
I mean I care about you. You know…as a friend and everything.
Just, never mind. Yes. You can most definitely have a hug. Anytime.”
Oh my God, Nox. You’re a freaking idiot!
Shiloh rolled onto her side to face me, staring into my eyes like she was searching for something. I tucked her hair behind her ear, my thumb lingering on her cheek that was warm. Even in the darkness I could see that her eyes were beginning to get puffy and swollen.
“Do you want some ice for your eyes?” I asked as I pulled my hand away.
“Just hold me,” she pleaded, her voice cracking.