Page 64 of Feuds and Interludes
“In the bathroom at that pub in Liverpool. And in Boston when we came back from Europe. In my hotel room. I’m diabetic, and I have something called dysglycemia, which makes my sugar drop really low, and since I hate to eat before we perform, and then I don’t drink enough water, it got bad. I’m on medication but it’s not under control yet. I’m trying.”
They both stared at me, not speaking. And staring. And not speaking.
“You’re okay, though? I mean, you’re going to be. Right?” Annie asked, her voice shaky.
“Eventually. I’m not very good at this but I’m trying.”
“But you’re okay though?” Bran asked.
“Yeah, mostly.”
They sat frozen for several beats as I waited for them to say something. Anything.
“Okay.” They looked at each other, Annie nodded, then they turned back to stare at me. Bran threw a piece of potato at me and it pinged off my forehead.
“What the?—!”
Annie threw a grape at my chest.
Bran threw a strawberry that landed in my hair.
“Come on, you guys?—”
“How dare you?”Annie threw a muffin, which was dense, and it hit me in the eye.
“Ow,fuck. I’m sorry!”
“And you didn’t say anything?” Bran threw an ice cube from his juice. “You could have fucking died, asshole!”
“Guys! Wait?—”
And then all I could do was put my hands up as they pelted me with more ice cubes.
“Whoa! What the?—”
Shane came in then and caught me as I nearly fell backward off the bench, trying to get away from the vicious twins.
“I told them,” I said as an ice cube hit me in the lip. “Motherfucker, that hurt?—”
“Wait! Are you saying Shane knew before us? What the actualfuck, Boone!” At that, Annie stopped with the semi-playful throwing and stormed out of the mess hall.
Bran watched her go, and then threw one last piece of pineapple, which hit me in the nose and splashed in my eye. It burned like hell.
“I’m sorry,” I said, as Bran rushed out after his sister.
“That could have gone better,” Shane said. He had a napkin and was trying to clean off my face. I stopped his hand.
“No, they’re right. I have to go after them,” I said, squeezing his hand. “Tell Felix I’ll clean this up.” And I dashed out the door while I shoved the rest of the sausage in my mouth.
Bran and Annie were standing by the fountain outside the lodge, arguing with each other.
“Guys, wait, please. Let me explain.”
“I don’t get how we’re supposed to be your best friends, and you tell your booty call before us,” Annie said, then crossed her arms over her chest.
“He found me in the bathroom our first night here, when I went upstairs? He thought… Shit. He thought I was on drugs. Ihad to tell him. I needed his help getting the wrapper open on my stupid protein bar.” This was not going well. I knew they’d be upset, but I didn’t think it would be like this.
“Jesus,” Bran said. “Why didn’t you tell us? We could have helped you?—”
