Chapter Text
Julie Molina has POTs, it’s a fact. A fact she had yet to share with the boys, despite the fact that there’s a very real chance that she could have a syncope episode during practice. Right now, she’s laying on her bed, eyes closed, munching on a bag of original lays to get some salt in her system. It’s definitely a flare day. The first in a while. The first to fall on a day where she and the boys have practice. School was absolute hell, Julie had too many pre-syncope episodes and one syncope episode. She was dizzy all day, and no amount of salt or water helped. Every time she stood the room spun. She eventually just went home early. Her dad picked her up just before fifth period, deciding after the tenth text from Flynn that Julie was not well enough for school. Opening her eyes and looking at her phone she sees that it’s ten minutes until practice. Getting up slowly, Julie grabs her emotional support water bottle and heads to the studio.
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Walking into the studio Julie is enthusiastically greeted by Luke shoving a piece of paper in her face, “Look! I wrote a new song for us.”
Julie smiles. Despite the over enthusiastic greeting, she really likes Luke. “Let me take a look at it tonight and we can rehearse it at our next practice.”
Luke smiles and hugs her tightly. “You’re the best, boss.”
Julie hugs him back and says, “Let’s get to practice.”
Julie sets up her keyboard and microphone and takes a minute to breathe deeply. She will not pass out during practice. She refuses. Flynn waltzes into the studio and up to Julie before whispering in her ear, “Are you sure you’re okay to practice, I mean you went home from school early.”
Julie shakes her head, “I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Flynn looks like she doesn’t believe her but says, “Okay.”
Julie finishes setting up and looks to the boys, “You guys ready?”
Alex nods, Luke gives a thumbs up, and Reggie says, “Yup!”
Julie nods and says, “Let’s start with Flying Solo.” She heads to her keyboard and looks at the guys all in position and starts playing the opening beats. It’s around when she says “I know all your secrets, you know all my deep-dish” that she starts to get dizzy. It’s when she starts the chorus that she starts to sway on her feet. It’s at the end of the chorus that she stops singing and sits down.
Flynn is immediately by her side with her water bottle and a salt packet. Julie takes the salt packet first before washing it down with her water. Luke is by her side next rubbing her back and asking, “What’s going on Julie?”
Julie shakes her head, which makes her even more dizzy. She takes another sip of water before laying back and closing her eyes. She sits there for a few minutes before Alex, surprisingly, is the one that gets impatient, “Okay, can someone tell us what is going on here?”
Julie opens her eyes but doesn’t sit up. “I have a condition that affects my autonomic nervous system called POTs, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It basically means if I stand for too long, I get dizzy or pass out. Among other things, we can discuss it more later but today was a flare day. I passed out at school, so I came home early.”
Reggie looks hurt, “Why wouldn’t you tell us about this? We would have helped.”
Julie finally sits up slowly and looks at Reggie resting her head on her fisted hand. God this is nerve wracking, but it needs to be done. “I uh, I was diagnosed six months after my mom died and was still figuring out how to manage it. Then you guys showed up and I had it under control. I’ve uh, never actually told anyone about this. Not even Flynn, she was there when I got the diagnosis.”
Reggie looks less hurt now. Alex looks sympathetic. And Luke looks like he’d do anything in the world for Julie. Nothing’s changed there at least.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys.” Julie apologizes.
“Ah we don’t care about that; we just wish we knew so we could support you in all the ways you need us too.” Luke says.
Flynn finally speaks up, “I think Julie needs to rest but you guys can definitely talk more later.” She helps Julie up and takes her to her room.
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Julie wakes up to the boys sitting at the edge of her bed. “AAAAH!” She scrambles back against her headboard and holds a hand against her chest. “Boundaries guys.”
Alex winces. “Sorry.”
Luke raises his hand, “I’m not. We need to talk, boss.”
Julie scrubs her face with her hands and says, “Yeah, we do.” She sits up a little more and looks at Luke, “What do you want to know?” Alex raises his hand. “You don’t need to raise your hand Alex, but what’s up?”
“What are the technical terms for your uh episodes.” He asks.
Julie sighs, “So when I do pass out, that’s called a syncope episode. But when I almost pass out or sit down just after standing up because I feel like I need to pass out, that's called presyncope.”
Alex nods and smiles. Luke speaks up next, “What are somethings that help?”
Julie smiles, “So the things that help me the most are increased salt intake, compression socks, and lots and lots of water.”
Reggie asks, “What are your favorite salty snacks?”
Julie laughs, “My all-time favorite is definitely Original Lays potato chips, pretzel sticks and just straight up salt packets.” Julie pauses and laughs again, “I also like my spaghetti really really salty.”
Luke smiles. “That’s really good to know.”
Julie smiles and lays back down. “Now go back to the studio, I’m tired and want to sleep more.”
Reggie and Alex poof out while Luke says, “You got it boss.” Before poofing out after them.
Julie smiles relieved the boys finally know. It was hard to keep it a secret but like she had said, she had never told anyone before. It was even harder to tell people that she’s chronically ill rather than acting normal. Turning over in her bed she falls back asleep with a smile on her face.