Free Unwanted Stars by Melissa Brown Page B

Plus, we'd been walking so much these past few weeks, my khaki shorts were starting to hang on my already pathetic hips. Knowing I wasn't a huge fan of British food, I figured I should get my fill while we were still in Italy before returning back to the UK in just over a week.
    The slam of forks hitting a plate startled Anabelle and me. Two tables away, Brianne, a young American was clutching her throat. Her cheeks reddened and her friend Holly spilled her wine glass in panic before digging through Brianne's shoulder bag.
    "I can't find it, Bri—"
    "What's going on?" Anabelle asked, standing up and walking toward the two girls who couldn't be much older than our minimum age of eighteen.
    "I-I can't find her EpiPen. She's reacting to something."
    Brianne clutched her neck as she attempted to inhale, but the whistling sound projecting from her mouth told us that not much air was getting through. Her cheeks were not only red in color, but they were swelling to an atrocious size.
    "What is she allergic to?" Campbell asked. I hadn't even noticed that he was at Brianne's feet immediately.
    "Shellfish...and, um, certain kinds of nuts. But I don't know, I don't know what she ate," Holly said, looking into Brianne's eyes, searching for an answer.
    "Relax, I'm a doctor. We'll figure this out," Campbell said.
    Wait...what?
    He's a doctor?
    Hold. The. Phone.
    My mouth dropped as I stared in awe at Campbell, who was calm and collected even as Brianne's cheeks grew and looked terribly painful.
    "Anabelle, do you have a spare EpiPen for the tour?"
    "I-I don't think so. That's not standard—"
    "That's all right." He stood, holding his hand out to her in an attempt to lessen the panic before turning back to the kitchen, "Signore, per favore!”
    The owner of the restaurant entered, took one look at Brianne, and turned pale.
    Campbell attempted to calm him as well. "Signore, si prega di chiamare un ambulanza."
    An ambulance, of course. Brianne needed treatment. Immediately.
    "Si, si," the owner said as he jogged back to the kitchen.
    "Brianne, stay with me, love. You're going to be okay," Campbell said, clamping two fingers at the base of her wrist to get her pulse.
    "I found it!" Holly said, raising the small EpiPen above her head. Relief and excitement filled her young face.
    "Good, good," Campbell said, extending his hand to retrieve the small tube from Holly. Brianne's breathing was labored as she struggled to inhale, and her skin was glossy from sweat.
    "Do your best to relax. I'm going to inject this into your thigh. Are you ready?"
    Brianne nodded her head quickly, tears streaming from her eyes and rolling down her puffed cheeks.
    Campbell injected Brianne with the bright blue EpiPen. She grimaced as the needle punctured her skin.
    "Shhh, shhh," Campbell said, his voice deep and soothing. Brianne nodded, her wheezing beginning to subside. He took her pulse once again, giving her a thumbs up.
    "Your pulse is returning to a normal rate. This is good. An ambulance should be here soon."
    "Why does she need—" Holly started.
    "It's just a precaution. They'll examine her at the hospital and give her an all clear. I can't do that here."
    Brianne nodded, tears streaming down her face once again.
    "You're a good friend," he said to Holly, patting her on the shoulder. She swallowed hard, her eyes welling with tears.
    "No." She shook her head, "I-I couldn't find it. I almost didn't find it at all."
    "But you did. And you took care of her. That's what matters. Focus on that."
    Holly nodded. Brianne took her hand and squeezed it, mouthing the words, "Thank you."
    The two girls hugged just as the ambulance approached the restaurant.
    "I need to go with them," Anabelle said matter-of-factly, passing me her clipboard. "Can you take over the group?"
    "Sure, yeah. Don't worry," I replied, glancing at Campbell, who had his arm around Brianne and was guiding her to the ambulance. Anabelle followed them to the vehicle and watched as Campbell spoke to the