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day 6: liz's house

liz teaches me math, the least i can do is check up on her, sam thought.

so she made the short walk to liz's house. she knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

"come on, liz, open up!" sam called out, knocking again. "it's me, sam!"

there was movement inside the house, and soon liz was opening up the front door.

"hey sam," liz greeted, her voice scratchy.

"hey liz, can i come in?"

"sure," liz replied, stepping aside to let sam enter.

sam frowned a bit without meaning to. liz was pale. very pale. the dark circles under her eyes only made her skin seem more colorless.

"are you okay?" sam asked. "have you eaten anything yet? i could make you soup?"

liz shook her head. "no thanks, i'm not really hungry."

they went into the living room and sat down.

"have you seen a doctor yet?" sam asked.

"no, no, i don't need a doctor," liz replied, coughing a little. "i'm not that bad. my parents said if this doesn't go away in a few days, they'll take me to the doctor. but i'm sure i'll be feeling better before then."

sam just nodded. she decided to keep her friend company, at least until her parents got back. they talked and sam put on a movie to try to cheer liz up a bit.

"i think i like the pennies better over there," liz blurted out halfway into the movie.

... "what?" sam asked.

"they worked better over there," liz said, her eyes glazing over.

"i think you need something to eat," sam said, standing up.

"i can't eat that if it's not fresh," liz replied. "flesh and fresh and i really don't think my stomach wants it."

"at least let me make you some tea, then," sam said, going into the kitchen. she put the teapot on the stove and made liz a cup of hot chamomile tea. she really hoped it would help her friend feel better.

she carried the steaming cup back into the living room, liz still sitting on the couch. she turned to look at sam and-

"ohmigod, liz!" sam cried out, dropping the cup and rushing to the couch. "my god, liz, are you okay?"

blood trickled from liz's nose and ears. she opened her mouth as if to speak, and blood flowed out instead of sound. sam looked down to see the crotch of liz's pants stained red.

"oh god, liz, i'm gonna call an ambulance."

sam reached for the phone, but liz grabbed her wrist.

"your throat is bleeding tea," liz gurgled, smiling, as she pulled herself closer to sam.

sam threw herself backwards and out of liz's grasp. she scrambled up off the floor and ran out of the house. as she ran down the street, she tried to pull her cell phone out of her pocket to call an ambulance. just as she finally got her cell phone out, she saw liz's father driving down the street towards his house.

thank god, sam thought, putting her phone back in her pocket. he'll be able to help her.

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