Free The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry Page A

pill and he can check on me when he gets back.”
    “She's taking a… oh, you got that… take her to the hospital if she what? Okay, bye.” He looked over at me, his eyebrows pulled together. “Don't pass out, okay? It'll send us both to the hospital.”
    “Oh, come on, you were in the military right? You shouldn't be so squeamish,” I teased quietly.
    “Yeah,” he said, “that's why I don't like hospitals.”
    I was curious about Brian's experiences in Iraq, what made him not like hospitals. It, too, was a good distraction.
    “Oh, food, I have to feed you before you make yourself crash. There's a Crown Burger, is that okay?”
    I couldn't smile. I fought to stay conscious. I pressed the side of my face against the cool glass and closed my eyes. It helped.
    “Leigh?” He sounded stressed. He reached over and put a hand on my leg.
    “Plain cheeseburger, chocolate shake, and that's all I'll be able to handle. You'll have to eat my fries,” I said quietly.
    I heard him breathe out in relief. He moved his hand.
    I ate slowly on the way home. The drive was short. Neither of us spoke. When we pulled into the driveway, Brian ran to my side of the car. I turned and set my legs on the ground but realized I was going to need his help to stand. After the past year of relying on everyone around me, I really wanted to do things on my own.
    I looked up at him standing there.
    “Here.” He held his hands out for me to take.
    I grabbed ahold of his forearms, and he helped me slowly out of the car. I was shaky and incredibly dizzy. The backyard seemed to move like a small boat being pitched about in the waves. I'd given up on having any amount of dignity, so I let Brian put his arm around me and I leaned against him.
    “I just thought of something,” he said. “There might be some explaining to do if I take you to your house because Jaron said something about wanting you somewhere he can sit with you.”
    Sit with me? While I slept? “What about the honor code and all that?”
    I felt Brian shrug.
    As much as I wanted my bed, I didn't want questions from my roommates, and I didn't need Jaron in my room. Whatever, there was no arguing with Brian over whatever Jaron was determined to do. Jaron and I would have to talk later. “No.” I sighed. “Take me to yours.”
    “I know this all seems really dramatic,” I said quietly as he walked with me down the stairs, “but I'll be fine, I promise.”
    “Well, that's good because you look terrible.” He tried to laugh.
    I slipped and fell against him.
    “Whoa.” He scooped me up in his arms.
    “Now my humiliation is complete.” I felt too tired to argue and let my head rest on his shoulder.
    “At least you kept us both out of the hospital.” He opened the door while keeping me in his arms. “And you weigh nothing.”
    I leaned against Brian through their house and into Jaron's room. The dizziness was so disorienting. He slowly set me down on Jaron's bed. One thing for sure, Brian was strong.
    “Your sleeping pills?” He asked as he kneeled by the bed.
    “My bathroom.”
    He came back a few minutes later with water and my small bottle. I raised my meds up to him, and he took the bottle, opened it, and handed it back.
    “Thanks.” I didn't know what else to say. A mix of gratitude and embarrassment filled me. I slid a full one out, took a glass from Brian's hand and swallowed it.
    “No problem. I promised your brother I'd stay here until he gets back. I hope I wasn't out of line, but you had a pair of pajama pants on your bed and I grabbed those too. If you need anything, knock on the wall. I'd never hear you otherwise, okay?”
    “Okay.” It seemed silly, but knowing someone would be here made it easier for me to relax. I could feel my body getting heavier as I pulled off my jeans and put on my sweats. I lay my head on my brother's pillow and drifted into sleep.

     
    I opened my eyes slowly. Jaron sat on the floor in his room reading a book.
    “Hey,” I