Jaided (6 page)

T
he period flew by. Blaize was still being anti-social. He hadn't even shown any emotion when she informed him that Tremaine was coming that weekend. The next class she had with Garret, and she wanted to talk to him about Alex.

While Jaide was totally supportive of equality, she was surprised too. Alex didn’t strike her as the least bit homosexual. Just by looking and talking to Garret, you could tell he was in touch with his feminine side, but Alex would be the last one she would have guessed. She knew it must be hard to be a gay couple having to keep it secret and having no one to be able to talk to if they had problems. She wanted to let Garret know that she was there for them if they got in a fight or anything and they needed someone to talk to.

She found Garret in the corner, doing work on a computer. "Hey Grr, you busy?"

He looked at her and grinned. "I'm never too busy for you, baby. What can I do for ya?"

"Well, actually I wanted to talk to you about something."

"About what?"

"You and Alex."

"What about me and Alexander?"

"Well, he told me about you guys."

"Oh ... look, I didn't turn him gay. He went there on his own, ok? So I'm sorry I took one man from your selection of hundreds, but ..."

"No, no, you misunderstand. I fully support you guys and I want you to know that."

"Oh ... well thanks, that means a lot. It is kind of an awkward situation in an all boys school."

"Yeah, I know it must be kind of hard to have to keep it a secret and everything. I just wanted to let you know that if you ever have like any issues with your relationship or anything that you don't think you can really talk to about with any of the guys, you can talk to me about it. I mean, if you want, I'm here for you guys."

"Thanks Jaide, that's really awesome. It is kind of tough. Like, we just got together pretty recently, but I can already tell that it's going to be hard to keep a strong relationship when we have to keep it on the down low."

She smiled. "I know you guys can do it. I have faith."

Garret laughed. "Yeah, we'll see. So how's Blaize?"

She frowned. "Not you, too. I told you guys, me and Blaize aren't doing anything. We’re just roomies."

He laughed. "That's not what I meant. That's you guys' business. I just meant that he seemed down this morning."

"Oh. Yeah ... last night I sort of brought up his girlfriend ... ex-girlfriend, whatever."

"Oh ... "

"So what's the deal with her exactly? I didn't really get the full story."

"She's brain dead."

"One hundred percent?"

"Yeah, no brain activity at all. It’s sad to say but ... there is no hope. There never was. They have run tests. If there was even just a little spark going on in her brain, there would be a little hope, but there is none. There wasn't from the time she ‘died' in the emergency room. Don't get me wrong, it was really sad, it
is
really sad, but ... it’s been a year. Of course it's going to be easier for us to move on because we weren't dating her but he really needs to move on. It’s not healthy for him."

"So the only thing keeping her lungs moving and heart pumping is the machines?"

"Yeah, that's all. I mean it depends on your personal beliefs I guess, but I consider her dead. If she was taken off the machines, she would be at the end instantly. I personally think that she should be unplugged and allowed to rest in peace. That’s what she would have wanted. Her spirit has moved on and it’s time that her body does, too. If there was even a one in a millionth of a chance, I would be all for trying to help her and give her a chance, but there is no chance. It’s zero in a million. Blaize just ... I don't know, he blames himself, but he has no reason to. He hates it because she loved him but he didn't love her. He cared about her a lot, like they were the best of friends, but he didn't love her in the way that she loved him. He tried, but you can't control who you love."

She nodded. "How come she hasn't been unplugged already?"

"It’s a combination of things. The law - the parents haven't given the doctor consent. He can't do anything. It’s just killing Blaize to see her 'alive.' I don't think he will ever be able to move on until he believes she is truly gone."

The bell rang to dismiss them.

"I'll see you at lunch, Jaide. And ... keep an eye on Blaize, ok? He’s ..."

"I know, and I will."

Garret nodded and they parted ways. She sat beside Blaize in Creative Writing, which seemed over before she could blink.

Next came lunch and a crowded table with a couple of the guys who didn’t make the team. They were just sort of hanging around the team players. Jaide figured they were trying to look “in”, as it were. The main course was spaghetti with fresh fruit or veggies. Jaide thought the spaghetti tasted odd. The lunch table was filled with small chat but Blaize said nothing, and Jaide didn't say anything unless someone asked her a question.

In Trigonometry, Mr. West loaded them with homework. By the time she hit Advanced Biology, her brain was exhausted and even more homework was added to the load.

At practice, Jaide suddenly began to feel peculiar and sort of wobbly. She just wasn't feeling well. Practice became hell for her, even though she knew it shouldn't be. They weren't doing any more than normal, yet she was feeling dizzy and a little nauseous. They were doing some distance running toward the middle of practice and Jaide lagged at the very end, while normally she led the pack.

She stumbled and fell, lying splayed on the grass for a second, trying to get her head to stop spinning. Because she had been running at the back, none of the boys saw her fall. They just kept running.

When she struggled up, Coach called her over. "Miss Williams, you don't seem yourself today. Are you sick?"

She hung her head. "I'm sorry, Coach. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Why don't you sit out for the next couple of drills?"

"No way, Coach. I have to catch up."

Coach Thacker commanded her. "Williams, sit out this drill."

"Coach, I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"If the guys start to think that I'm weak or that I get privileges, then I am over. I'm really ok. I'm just a little spacey. I'll get it right."

She jogged off without giving him time to answer.

She caught up, but was immediately dizzy again. She tried to ignore it but it was really frustrating. Just as she caught up with the boys again, she was aware that they were watching her. A few looked concerned.

She took a couple more staggering steps before sitting down hard, holding her head while she watched the ground swim. She glanced up and saw nothing but blurry bodies belonging to her teammates.

"Jaide, you ok?"

"Do you feel ok? You don't look so good."

"Jaide, answer us."

"Jaide. Jaide, look at me."

She vaguely recognized Chance's voice. She tried to focus her eyes but the effort gave her a serious headache, so she closed them. She felt like she was going to throw up. She felt someone’s hands lifting her face, then her closed eyelids.

"Coach, her pupils are dilated and uneven."

She saw a body appear through the blur. "No way, Coach. I was with her all day. She is not high. I swear." The voice belonged to Blaize. Several teammates verbally agreed with Blaize.

"I believe you," the coach said.

Chance voiced his concern again. "Hey, sweetheart, talk to me. What’s wrong?"

She shook her head slowly. "Nothing, I'm fine." She could hear that her own voice was slurred.

"Right. Do you feel sick, dizzy, what?"

She nodded slowly. She couldn't think. Her brain was fogged.

"Come on Jaide, talk to me. What's wrong?"

She focused hard, mumbling. "Dizzy, sick ... tired, not ... good."

"Alright honey, just relax now. We’ll figure it out."

In the distance, she heard the vague sound of loud, angry voices. She felt one belonged to Matt. He was yelling. “You dumb mother ...,” And then Coach Thacker’s fuzzy voice came tumbling through her throbbing ear. “Break it up, Matt. You’re killing that kid.”

"Coach, I just heard him tell his friend that their loser buddies slipped something into her spaghetti at lunch!"

Coach Thacker dragged Matt’s victim away from the gathering soccer team and into the safety of the gym.

"Jaide? What did you eat at lunch?"

She had an agonizing headache. She heard his words but couldn't process them. She felt an overwhelming urge to sleep.

"No, no, baby. Don’t fall asleep on us. Stay awake for just a little bit. Did you have spaghetti for lunch?"

She felt a warm, soothing hand on her back, and then heard Blaize’s voice. "She had juice, orange juice I think. And, yes, she ate the spaghetti."

She tried to stay awake, focusing hard on Chance's concerned face.

Coach Robinson returned from the gym. "It was two boys. They weren't sure what it was but they described it to me, and I have a pretty good idea. It can cause lots of things: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, headaches, pretty much anything. Since it hasn't hit her until now, it was probably a delayed acting drug. That is common in date rape drugs, maybe ecstasy or something else withhallucinogenic properties."

“Shit,” said Blaize. “Nobody rapes our bicycle kicker.”

A few disgusted murmurs passed through the team.

"Well, we know she's dizzy. Jaide, are you sick to your stomach?"

She nodded after a long moment. "Tired."

"I know, sweetheart."

"Those dumbasses say they gave her a double dose."

"So what do we do?"

"Nothing to do. It’s too late to pump her stomach. Just wait it out. Get some fluids and food in her to help it digest."

Jaide leaned against the hand that supported her and closed her eyes, desperately in search of sleep.

"So it'll be ok for her to go to sleep?"

"Should be. Actually, it’s probably best if she can sleep it off. It’ll be better for her."

Blaize hoisted her up in his arms, cradling her like a small child and asking, "Should she go to the infirmary?"

"Won't do any good right now. She’d be more comfortable in her room. She just needs to sleep it off. Get some food that's easy on her stomach, like crackers or something. She might start to vomit but it's not long term. She'll be fine."

Blaize nodded and looked at Coach Thacker. "Coach, can I?"

"Of course. Practice is over.”

The team headed for Jaide’s room, following Blaize, who appeared in full command while protectively carrying Tremaine’s little sister. In her semi-consciousness, Jaide could feel the kind of strength that she’d never known before.

B
laize set Jaide down on her bed as the rest of the team crowded into the room with varying looks of apprehension scattered across their worried faces. Chance and Blaize bent over her.

Chance shook her very gently, whispering, "Jaide. Jaide, wake up."

She opened her eyes slowly, narrow slits.

"How do you feel?"

She shook her head, wrapped her arms around her stomach and curled onto her side in a ball, closing her eyes.

Blaize stroked her back, hoping to comfort her.

Chance shook his head. "I better call Tremaine. He would want to know." He stood from the bed and strode to the window as he pulled out his cell phone. "Hey Trem, its Chance ... I'm alright. You? ... Oh, you are on your way right now? ... Umm, yeah actually, that's why I called. No, she's ok, but she’s a little sick just now. Um, no. Tremaine, calm down. Just don't get in a car accident or anything . She's sick, actually. Well, she got drugged ... Tr- ... listen! ... yes ... no, I don't know but ... dizzy, sick, headache, tired, but Coach says she's fine. She's sleeping right now. No, well she can't really talk. She’s having a hard time concentrating, but really, she's ok though. Coach said it should wear off in a few hours. Of course, I'm going to keep an eye on her. Crap, hold on." Chance watched Jaide toss and turn. Her mumbling sounded distressed. "No she just ... she’s having a nightmare or something, man."

Matt and the rest of the team moved toward the door. "We're gonna clear out to give her some space. Just call if you guys need anything, ok?"

Blaize attempted to calm Jaide in her sleep, whispering, "Shhh, Jaide, it's ok."

Chance quickly finished his call. "Yep ... ok, we'll see you in a little bit then. Yep, bye."

He turned to Blaize, speaking slowly as though to make sure his words were understood. "Tremaine says she has nightmares about her past and that she needs someone to be in bed with her to hold her when that happens. Ellensburg’s only 36 miles up I-86, so he’ll be here in no time flat, thank God. He’s really pissed."

Suddenly Jaide bolted upright, completely rigid at first but then she grabbed her head and then her stomach.

"Are you ok?"

"Need to puke," she mumbled.

"Ok, hold on a sec." Blaize pulled her out of the bed with Chance's help. With each holding her up by her arms, they made it to the bathroom just in time. On her knees, she threw up the small amount that was in her stomach and then began to dry heave over the white porcelain toilet bowl.