Chapter 40 (Caroline)


    “No! I’ve been practicing! How did you beat me again?” Nick whined. Iughed and shrugged. We were


    at the Porter house waiting on dinner. I’d already made my portions and had them set out on the table.


    To pass the time, I decided to whoop the guys at videogames. They never stood a chance. It was a few


    days after Keegan marked me. Four days to be exact. It was also Thanksgiving. We’d decided to have


    dinner at the Porter’s house since they had more room and Danny had never met them before. He was


    the bite was finally green. It’d left a nasty bruise at first. And being as it was Thanksgiving break; there


    was no school or volleyball practice to worry about. I just had to keep Danny from finding out; which


    was surprising easy.


    I yed Gregg on Fifa next. Looks like he’d been practicing too, but he just wasn’t as good as me. As I


    was ying the game, I started to feel ufortable. It started to feel hot. I shed my light sweater,


    leaving me in my tank top but it didn’t help. I’d had a hot sh before two days ago. I was hoping this


    would pass like thest one. By the time I finished ying, Gregg won. I was sweating bullets and


    feeling a little out of it. The room was tilting.


    “Are you okay?” Gregg asked as he turned to look at me as he was sitting on the floor and I was sitting


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    on the couch. Keegan was down visiting with his dad. My heart hammered as I panted. I leaned over


    and groaned. It was too hot.


    “What happened?” I heard Keegan’s voice. I was too weak to even look at him.


    “I don’t know. We were ying and she just… I don’t know,” Gregg tried to exin. I leaned over so I


    was lying on my side with my feet curled up. I felt Keegan’s hand on my forehead as he pushed my


    very damp hair out of my face.


    “Caroline… Caroline, open your eyes please,” he whispered. I did as he asked. I opened my eyes into


    slits. I couldn’t remember anything beyond Gregg winning and me getting very hot. It was still hot in


    here. I took a deep breath and sat up as Keegan handed me a bottle of water. I drank it gratefully,


    almost finishing the entire thing. I sighed and handed it back to him. I still felt hot, but it was a little


    better.


    “I’m fine,” I tried to assure them. They were all looking at me worried. There was a moment of silence


    before the doorbell broke through it.


    “I’ll get it,” Trevor muttered.


    “Wow, nice ce,” I heard my brother’s voice. I smiled and looked towards the door. I stood and started


    making my way over to him. Before I got to him though, ck dots swam in my vision. I saw everything


    go sideways before Ipletely cked out.