A hand shook Stacey awake and she groaned, feeling cold. She coughed and sneezed, burrowing back into the blankets and not wanting to get up.
"She must have been too tired," she heard Dr Jin's voice say. "She's got a low fever and might have caught a cold."
"Stacey, you need to get up," Zanity shook Stacey again. "We have to get ready to go to the auditorium. They're going to start filming soon. We're receiving our streaming results. The ranking competition is after that. You can't be sick."
Stacey slowly sat up with a groan.
"Here, take this tablet for your fever," Dr Jin put something in her hand and Stacey stared at it blankly.
Someone took it and pushed it into her mouth, bringing a cup of warm water to her lips. Stacey automatically drank and swallowed the tablet but it got stuck in her throat, making her choke. She drank more water and the pill went down her oesophagus, but it was painful, as if it kept getting stuck.
Stacey's head felt heavy and fuzzy.
"You need to get ready," said Dr Jin, "but if you feel too sick, we'll let you lie down afterwards until you have to go on stage."
"Oh."
Stacey stood up but her vision blanked without her losing consciousness, while lightheadedness and vertigo buzzed through her head. She stumbled and staggered, causing people to grab hold of her in consternation before she fell. People helped her get ready and changed. It was hard to tell who was and wasn't there.
Somehow, by the time she was ready, her head had cleared just a little bit and she was a bit steadier on her feet. Enough for her to sort of walk, anyway. Her roommates held onto her to keep her steady and guided her toward the big auditorium.
"What's wrong with Stacey? Is she sick again?" Stacey heard Hugh ask.
"What bad timing," said Phineas. "She's got the ranking and elimination competitions to get through today and tomorrow. Honestly, I don't know how she made it through the streaming exams in her condition."
"Will the paddling she has to go through later make her even worse?" Orlan asked.
"Hold her tight on the stairs," she heard Beryl's voice. "She's not very trustworthy on stairs when she's sick. We can't have her falling down them again."
"She didn't pass one of the stream exams?" Vera asked.
"Where's Landen? We should ask if there's any leeway for her, since she's so sick," said Telea.
"She didn't eat much for breakfast," said Melesse.
"Anyone seen Lord Huo? He should make the decision for his wife."
"Stacey, what do you want to do? Do you want to try and push through with the filming and competitions?"
"Never give in. Never lie down," Stacey puffed in a low voice.
"Alright then," said Landen's voice. "You girls help us keep an eye on her. Wave a crew member over if she gets worse."
"Here, Stacey. Sit here," said Chastity's voice and hands helped to guide her down onto a seat. Stacey leaned heavily against her shoulder. "You can lie down in my lap and sleep for a bit," Chastity told her. "If my legs go numb, you'll have to lie down on your other side to use Vera's lap."
"Oh. Thanks."
A cool hand touched her forehead after some time.
"Her fever's gone up," said Dr Jin.
Stacey was sat up and given another tablet to swallow.
"I'm fine," Stacey struggled to open her eyes. "Fine."
"You girls ok with her like this? You sure? Let us know if she gets any worse. We're going to start now. Try and keep her sitting up after the introductions, when the cameras sweep across."