Chasing Sin

16

"What the fuck, Peyton?!" I shout, doubling over in pain.

I can't see anything, and my face feels as though it's on fire.

"Oh my god!" Peyton shouts back. I can hear the others moving around and rushing towards me, but I can't see anything.

"What the fuck did you spray me with?" I shout again, feeling a hand land on my arm. I can't open my eyes or shakes way the powerful pain in them.

"OH MY GOD," Peyton shouts, starting to freak out.

I start to recognize the chemical smell and put two and two together.

"Did you just pepper spray me?!"

I hear several different things from my friends around me, glad they're speaking since I can't see them. I hear a concerned "Haven, are you okay?" from Taylor, a sharp "Move your hands. Let me see," from Sin, and a confused "What the hell just happened?" from Kace.

"You sprayed her with pepper spray?!" Beckett shouts, clearly aiming that toward Peyton.

"I THOUGHT IT WAS SILLY STRING!"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I say, coughing now as the burning feeling spreads to my mouth and lungs. I feel as though I swallowed some, likely because I was talking when Peyton sprayed me. It doesn't seem like a good sign.

"I got it from the prank store over there!" Peyton explains. "The girl told me it was silly string, I swear!"

"Sounds like she was the one pranking you, dude," Beckett remarks.

"You can't read a fucking label?" Sin asks him. I wish I could see the argument laid out in front of me, almost as much as I wish the burning pain in my eyes would go away.

"She was kinda hot," Peyton says, now sheepish. "I didn't really look at the label."

"What do I do?" I ask anyone as the pain gets worse. I cough loudly as soon as the words leave my mouth.

"I don't know. I don't know!" Taylor says, freaking out. "Let me look it up!"

I cough some more and reach out, trying to find a chair so I can sit down.

"I can't see," I say, as if that's not obvious. "Where's my chair?"

I feel Sin and Kace push me lightly over to our table and help me to my chair.

"Haven, I'm so, so sorry!" Peyton apologizes. "I feel so bad. I had no idea, I swear. I just thought it would be funny to surprise you with silly string!"

"Well, I'm definitely surprised," I retort.

"Okay, this website said to find a place with fresh air and try to wash the area with water," Taylor announces. "Let's go outside and rinse your eyes."

"Oh my god, I really can't see," I say, trying not to freak out. I blink, hoping it will help, but it just burns more, and I still can't see anything.

"It's fine, I've got you!" Peytons shouts in my ear as I stand up.

He scoops me up, carrying me fireman-style in his arms. I can hear the rest of the group following us, but Peyton legitimately feels like he's running. He's probably freaking out.

"How long is this supposed to last?" I ask.

"The back of the can says it usually lasts around 30 minutes," Beckett tells me.

"30 minutes?!?"

Peyton continues apologizing as we walk through the mall, finding our way to an exit. Or I suppose, as Peyton finds out way to an exit.