I came to on a cot in the stables office. The woman who ran the concession was taking my blood pressure. Nicole mopped my brow. I put my hand down to my crotch.
I was dry.
“How long was I out?” I said.
“Maybe two minutes,” Nicole said.
“Was I-”
“You were shivering, sort of,” Nicole said.
“I don’t think you were all the way out,” the woman said. “You stood up when I told you to and you let us walk you back here. Has this ever hap-”
“Yes,” I said.
“Are you taking any medi-”
“Supposed to be.”
“When was the last time you-”
“Yesterday.” She had taken off my sneakers. I sat up and put them back on.
“Hold on a second there,” the woman said. “The ambulance is on its way.”
“I don’t need an ambulance.”
“Jay,” Nicole said.
“My father’s insurance doesn’t cover ambulance rides.”
“That’s no reason not to get medical attention,” Nicole said.
“It is for me.” I was done pretending, acting as if I belonged here at a riding stable, of all the ridiculous places, one that catered to a bunch of spoiled rich kids.
“Let me call your mother, then,” the woman who ran the concession said. “Just lie back there and breathe until she gets here.”
“My name is Jay Nazzaro. I’m at Huntington Stables. Today is Friday, October twenty-second. I’m alert and oriented with no signs of physical trauma or amnesia. I was eating fries, and I had a seizure. I know the drill, okay? By law you have to let me go.” I left.
Nicole followed. “Can I at least take you to the hospital? My father’ll pay, Jay.”
“No way. Can you pop the hatchback?” We were at her Subaru, or her maid’s.
“You’re not seriously thinking of skateboarding?”
“Could you just open the door, please?” I clicked the autolock dangling from her bandaged finger. The hatchback popped. I grabbed my backpack, dropped my board and kicked off on legs that would have been a lot wobblier if I weren’t so mad at myself, at Nicole, for bringing me down here, into her pain, looking for a shoulder to cry on. Like I didn’t have enough hassle in my life without pulling hers into it. She tried to follow me, but I rode into the shoulder of oncoming traffic and lost her in the side streets. My phone rang. I turned it off. I went to Barnes amp; Noble but was too mad to read. I wandered the mall, hitting the electronics spots, first Radio Shack, Best Buy, moving my way up to the Apple Store, coveting things I’d never be able to afford.