Free Last Chance by A. L. Wood Page B

Princess. I, on the other hand am here for the gummy worms, and the chick flick of course.” Liam joins in.
    I reach the entrance to the movie theater first. The building is a dome structure, the doors are a solid glass plane with smooth silver handles. I yank open the door and enter. Deep dark red carpet covers the entire floor.
    The smell of melted butter and salty popcorn hit my nose first. The only thing that I would pay an arm and a leg for in this establishment, hits me right in the gut.
    Overcome with severe nausea, I leave Layla and Liam in the entrance way and go running for the nearest garbage can, since I have no idea where the restrooms are.
    Luckily my hair is already pulled back into a pony tail, because I vomit. Over and over again. Any time my body gives me a break from gagging ; a long pause to where I believe I am done and it starts all over again, as soon as the waft of butter hits my nostrils.
    My hands are placed on the rim of the black metal garbage canister for support , as my body is hunched over now, dry heaving. Layla approaches the garbage can and situates her body to block any ones view of what I’m doing. Thankfully.
    I feel a large hand placed upon my back and it starts rubbing in circular motion. If I thought I could move to smack it away without puking all over the floor , I would. Until I realize its Liam.
    “Shh…It’s all right.” He repeats , in a quiet soothing tone.
    It remind s me of my mom, when I was little and sick. She would rub my back and tell me I would be all right. It’s extremely comforting.
    Approximate ly fifteen minutes later, when I believe my body has successfully discarded any contents within, the nausea just goes away. As quick as it came, and I feel okay.
    “Here , I have some mouthwash in my purse that you can use.” Layla says, while handing me a small travel bottle of spearmint mouthwash.
    “Who just carries mouthwash around in their purse?” I say rhetorically, while taking it.
    I open the lid, pour some into my mouth and gurgle , making sure that every part of my mouth has been swooshed by the bacteria killer. I spit it out into the garbage can. I hand the mouthwash back to Layla and start thinking.
    I feel normal, fine. Great actually.
    “Weird.” I say, accidentally out loud.
    “What?” Liam and Layla ask at the same time.
    “Nothing, just I felt fine before we came in. Then suddenly my stomach wasn’t in agreement with my body. I don’t know, it just went away. I feel fine. I don’t feel sick.”
    “Are you sure? Maybe you’re getting a virus or something. It’s going around, everyone at the bar has been calling off all week. Everyone and their families have it.” Layla says.
    “Lals, I don’t leave the house except to visit Dr. Anne. I don’t think I caught a virus.”
    “Odd. Well if it happens again, you are going call the doctors. Get in and get seen. We don’t want you to dehydrate yourself because of vomiting , and I don’t want to catch it either.” Layla orders.
    “Yes Mom!” I say loud enough for others to hear me. Serves her right, ordering me around like I’m a child.
    We walk to the service desk to pay for tickets, where Liam informs us that he is paying for the tickets.
    “Three for Endless Love please.” He tells the kid at the counter.
    “Really Liam you don’t have to. It was my idea after all, and you are suffering through a chick flick. Let me pay.”
    “What kind of gentleman do you take me for? No one pays my way, a nd if you’re with me, you are definitely not paying your way either. It’s not the way I do things, so don’t plan on arguing.” Liam says, while reaching for his wallet to pay.
    Movie theaters are damned expensive . The tickets are reasonable, but it’s the food that gets you. I only pay the outrageous sum for popcorn, because it’s so tasty. Seven dollars for a Coke isn’t affordable for the regular working Joe. And I tend to be frugal when it comes to my money.
    Liam gets the tickets