- Adrenaline -

Chapter 16: Bathroom Stall.

So, there is good news. I got to stay home again Wednesday, and I get to stay out of gym for the next week, or until further notice. The bad news is, I fucked up my ribs, more so than before.
Everyone who asked got the same answer. 'I fell down the stairs.'
So, my mom decided the best action would be to wrap my chest, to stabilize it and prevent any further damage. Truth be told, there were no stairs involved. I wasn't going to let anyone know that, though.
I can't help but recount the situation, silently in my head, every time my movement is inhibited by the damn bandages. Which was a lot. I never noticed how much I slouched and hunched and twisted my body before now. You don't know what you have until it's gone, I guess.
The stairs in this equation aren't actually stairs, but instead a variable for a big, gentle giant. The falling happens to be me, getting crushed by him.
He didn't mean it though, and I refuse to let him take the blame for it. The kiss we shared had... escalated. Only slightly. John had moved on top of me, applying pressure to the right side of my rib cage.
I suck in through my teeth, "Ow- fuck- John, John, please-"
Kennedy hops up instantly, straddling my tiny legs. "What happened? Oh shit your ribs- I'll go get some ice!"
It was a nice gesture, but I didn't want him to leave.
"No, stay, it's alright." I tell him, reaching out to grab his big hand. "Just lay with me for now."
His lips were so warm and comforting— much more than any ice pack could ever dream of being. So, in the end, it was my fault. I'm okay with that, because I got to spend time with him more.
The stupid idiot wouldn't stop apologizing. Kept talking about how he hurt me and how he never meant to hurt me, and how this was the last thing he ever wanted to happen. That night I learned that kissing his nose helps him when he gets like that.
That was another thing I learned: John is a very sensitive guy. Or, he can be. I don't think I had ever seen or even heard of John getting upset over hurting someone.

Things were pretty tame. As tame as they can get. You want to know the truth, though? In an entire school of clones of the greatest minds the world has ever known, we are still all assholes.

3rd period gym started it, as well as a growing hatred and stirring violent thoughts towards Ms. Roosevelt. I thought me handing her a note, written by my mother, would be enough to shut her up and let me be on my own. I told her, I wasn't going to get dressed, and I certainly wasn't going to show her the ace bandages, so she can either take my word for it, or she can call my mom and get confirmation from her.
The whole class heard the phone call. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Like I said before, even in a school of heros, every teenager is an asshole.
So I got up and I left. I didn't need to be around that, and I didn't even need to be in that class to begin with. I caught eyes with John just a second before I pushed myself through the big double doors of the gym.
Now I'm in the bathroom. Lord knows what kind of bullshit those whispering narcissists are brewing up.
I'd do anything for a smoke. A cigarette, a blunt, maybe just a huff of paint. I'm just so mad. No one in this school can mind their own business. Slamming the accessible stall door behind me, I lock it and hope no one comes in here.
Hopes don't last long. They never have. The door to the restroom opens, and I hear warn sneakers squeak across the tiled floor. With my luck, it's probably a kid from gym, looking to cause more issues. Everyone probably knows why I've been out of school. That just makes me more of a stupid target. I can't wait to run away-

"Vin?"
"John?" Was an instinctive response.
"Hey man. I saw you run out. What was that about?"
I sigh. "Just the teacher giving me a hard time."
"Can I come in?"
I shift up from where I was sitting and unlock the door. Johns in his gym uniform. I don't give myself another minute to analyze him, or I'd overthink. I just sit back down on the floor, against the cold tiled walls. It feels good on my aching back. John closes the door behind him and sits beside me.
"How're your uh, your... your..."
"My ribs?"
"Yeah, how're your ribs doing?"
"They're fine, my chest is all wrapped up so there's no way I can hurt them anymore. Which is good for me, I'm pretty tragedy prone."
"You mean accident prone?"
"I said what I said."
John watches me for a bit, before scooping me up into his lap with a c'mere. Somehow, it always surprises me when he can just move me around like that.
"What are you doing?"
"I just wanna hold ya." He says, slowly wrapping his arms around me, resting his chin in the crook of my neck.
"I'm sorry you're hurtin', sunflower." John kisses my cheek.
He's always taking me by surprise. He kisses me again.
"You're going to get in trouble."
He kisses me again.
"I don't mind."
I kiss him back.
There are no words to describe how exciting it is to have a secret makeout session in the accessibility stall of your high school, when you should be in class.
The restroom door opens.
We should be in class.
John scoops me up, and I cover my mouth.
We should be in class.
And we sit there on the toilet, my feet hooked over his knees in case someone looks under the stall. Five minutes, we sit, staring into each other's eyes. I have to keep my hand over my mouth to quiet my heavy breathing.
Johns so cool about it. He's probably done this a million times.
The sink turns on, and there's a slam of the restroom door again. The kids gone.
"You should go back."
"Yeah, just.. give it a few. A few seconds. Don't wanna look suspicious, right?"
"I'm gonna stay in here until the next period. She doesn't need me anyway."
"Okay, little man." He says, kissing my forehead. "I'll text you after school."

And I became more proud than ever. Wearing these bandages felt like wearing my heart on my sleeve- a reminder of the night we spent together, a reminder of him, running off to check on me, hiding from strangers just to sneak a kiss. I think I'm very happy with where I am right now.

[[ a little bit shorter. The next chapters gonna be a little angstier too. Why? Because I said so. Happy New Years!!!]]