I texted her back asking what was up. I got kind of nervous. Had she done something with Seamus? After all, she was his slut. Ugh. That was nasty. I mean, he was emo!

Oh.

Wait.

Well, whatever. She texted me back telling me that cheerleading practice had been canceled for tomorrow and I instantly relaxed.

“How are you feeling Alex?” Dr. Holst asked as he set down the last box. “Um…good. Why?” He chuckled. “There’s a stomach bug going around. I think Clifton has it. Poor kid doesn’t look too good. Two of his friends had it and he was with them.” I nodded. “Yea, Seamus has it.” Dr. Holst sighed. “Yep. He was hanging out with Seamus too. So three people he was with have it.”

Light came running down the stairs. “Dad, he definitely has it. He just got sick.” Dr. Holst shook his head sadly. “Go put a bucket by his bed. Tell him I’ll be up in a minute.” Light nodded and went back upstairs.

“Are you sure you feel alright?” he asked me again. I shrugged. I didn’t feel perfect but not like I was going to throw up. “I think I’m alright,” I said. Daddy looked worried. “If you feel sick, tell me alright?” I nodded.

We left the Holst’s so that Dr. Holst could care for his son.

***Seamus’s POV***

There was a knock on my door and then mom came in. She looked nervous. “Shame…I’m sorry I yelled at you. Lizzy told me you’re sick.”

She sat down next to me on my bed and placed her hand against my forehead. She sighed. “You’re burning up.” I went to make a joke about how hot I was but I had to turn and empty my stomach…again.

That had to be the trillionth time today.

No joke.

Mom pushed my hair out of my face as I puked. I leaned back onto my pillows feeling like shit. Jay and Jer were also sick. I coughed and shivered. I pulled the blanket up around myself more. This was an awful feeling.

Mom was looking at me with sympathetic eyes. “Do you need anything?” she asked. I shook my head. “Sweeney Todd?” she offered. I nodded. Mom left the room and came back. She put the movie in and sat next to me awkwardly.

“Uh…mom? I’m kind of violently throwing up. Sitting next to me isn’t exactly smart.” She laughed lightly. “I don’t care if I get sick Seamus. I want to watch this movie with you.” I shrugged. “Your loss. Of lunch.”

We watched as Sweeney and Antony sang No Place Like London. “Hey Seamus?” “What mom?” She was talking while I was listening. I mean, yea I had the entire Sweeney Todd album downloaded onto my iPod. But still…it was Sweeney Todd. It should be illegal to talk during this movie.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yea. Adalyn.” “Oh.” She was quiet for a little. “I too have sailed the world and seen it’s wonders for the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru,” Sweeney sang.

“Are you a virgin Seamus?”

I wasn’t sure whether it was my stomach bug or just how funny the question was that made me throw up again. Mom hurried to pull my hair away from my face again. I sat up and wiped my mouth with a tissue.

How to answer this? “Sex is overrated,” I said simply. She gave me a confused look. “You didn’t answer my question.” “Sure I did. In a sense.” She was giving me “the eye” now. “Who did you do it with?”

I nearly laughed. Who didn’t I do it with, more like. Well, except Alex and Adalyn. I’d get them someday.

Mom went silent again and I mentally groaned. Great. The sex talk…after I’d already had sex. Thanks mom. Great timing. I’d heard more bitching about from Lizzy than I’d ever heard from my mom.

“Do you like that girl?” I raised an eyebrow. “Mother, ’that girl’ could be any of the, what is it, 3 billion girls in the world? Something like that.”

“Alex.”

How do moms do that?!

I shrugged uncomfortably. Why couldn’t I puke now? “Yea. I guess she’s hot. Not my type though.” Mom leaned back, satisfied. “I knew you liked her. I could tell even when you two were younger.”

Of course she did. Because dad probably told her. Because I told dad Alex was cute. But how had mom remembered that? I had been about 8 or so when I had told that to dad. My throat choked up and I puked again. Man I missed my dad.

No. Stay strong.

“You really need to cut this hair,” mom said as she held it back. “It’s way too long.” I shrugged. “I like it. So I keep it.”

Mom was watching me carefully as I positioned myself back on the pillows and watched Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett. “You should ask her on a date when you get better.” I rolled my eyes. “Lame.” “No, I bet she would like it. Ask your sister.”

Ask my sister?

For advice on being with Alex?

She would never let me live it down.

“Sure, I’d love to help!” Dammit. Lizzy smirked as she stood in the doorway. “Oh you bitch!” I cried. She chuckled. “Actually, it was mom’s idea. But now that you’re too sick to run away from me…” I groaned as she began to try teaching me how to hook up with Alex.