Page 154 of Vying Girls

Nic shrugs her off, getting to her knees on the rocky shore, gasping as she leans over.

‘Nic?’ I kneel down, hand touching her shoulder. ‘Hey, are you alright?’

She shakes her head, not even sparing me a glance as she staggers back to her feet and stumbles towards the water.

‘She’s been doing this for ages,’ Skylar says. ‘All restless. Can’t sit down. Dunno. Kinda looks like a panic attack to me.’

‘S’not,’ Nic bites out. She puts a hand on her chest. ‘It’s not beating right. It’s not beating right.’

‘Skylar, just phone an ambulance,’ I snap, angry at her for not doing exactly that straight away. Nic might not mess with head injuries, but I feel the same way about hearts. Especially knowing drugs are involved.

‘They’ll probably send a chopper,’ Skylar mutters, putting her phone to her ear. ‘Fucking dramatic, Nic.’

I turn back to Nic, standing in front of her to get her attention. ‘Hey. Can you tell me what you’ve taken?’

Removing her hand from her chest, I put mine there instead. She’s moving too much for me to feel anything.

‘Dunno. Skylar knows.’ She’s shaking terribly as she finally meets my eyes. ‘I wanted you here…just in case…if I die—’

‘You’re not going to die, idiot.’ I force a smile to my face. ‘Would have happened by now if you were going to.’

I think. I hope.

‘Right.’ Skylar hops off the bench. ‘They’re sending a helicopter. Can’t fucking land it here so I said I’ll meet them in the field, and they’ll bring a stretcher this way if she’s still struggling.’

She steps up to Nic and looks into her face, one hand curling around her arm. ‘Hang in there, babes, alright? Not having you dip out on my gear.’ She gives a tremulous smile, her face tattoos twitching. ‘Not good for business.’

She turns away, her folded arms a weak defence against her scant clothing, and disappears into the forest.

She had shown genuine concern. I don’t know whether to be touched or worried.

I rub Nic’s arm. ‘They’ll be here soon, okay?’

She nods curtly, eyes unseeing over the water. She doesn’t look particularly high. Her eyes aren’t weird or anything, not like before. A small measure of comfort.

‘Feeling any better?’

‘A bit,’ she mutters. ‘Still doesn’t feel right though.’

‘Okay. Slight improvement. How about, I dunno, your left arm? Is there any pain?’

‘No. Hadn’t been last time though.’

She sounds more gripey than panicked now. Another sign she’s coming back to herself. I draw in a silent breath, letting the adrenaline ebb a bit. I’m pretty sure she’s going to be okay. I fist my hands against the urge to hug her.

Her breathing’s still fast. I listen to it meld with the hissing wavelets at our feet.

‘Sorry for this,’ she pushes out. ‘I wasn’t thinking. You should be at home.’

‘You just panicked,’ I murmur soothingly. ‘It’s okay. I’m happy you asked for me.’

Because if that’s not a sign of care, I don’t know what is.

Of course, it could just be true that she didn’t want to get into trouble with Haz and Elly.

No. I squeeze my eyes shut, remembering her words.I wanted you here…just in case…if I die…

Giving into the impulse whilst I probably still can, I lean my cheek on her back, my arms cautiously lifting to cradle her from behind.