REMI HOOD

Chapter 23

Will

"This isn't Animal Planet, you buffoons," Richard says, dragging us back into the hospital, while a bunch of people stare. "When a conflict happens, we settle it with words," he slightly chuckles. "You should learn a thing or two from women, at least they don't kill each other when they get mad."

Finn stays quiet. I try to mutter something, with a shred of my dignity, "Richard, your house... I'm so-"

"No need to be sorry," he sighs sadly. "It is what it is. I have the insurance money, we'll find somewhere else to live, probably rent out an apartment."

We arrive at the reception. "You really don't have to help us." I blurt.

"Nonsense," he exclaims and turns to the receptionist. "Hi."

"My goodness, what happened???" The receptionist dumbfoundedly asks, looking us up and down. Richard replies, "These two young men got in a fight, isn't that right?"

"Good God, go to the ER, it's over there," she points behind her to a hallway and shakes her head in frustration. "Toxic masculinity even these days, I swear..."

Richard does what is told and takes us to the busy ER. A nurse rushes towards us and hands us ice packs. He wipes the blood from our faces and bandages our wounds. This takes a few minutes. Finn and I are silent, though Richard goes on with his lecture about how violence is stupid and all.

The nurse later instructs us to go to the X-ray room. We step into the hallway, but Richard suddenly jolts. "I just remembered, I need to do something important. I'll be back."

By saying that, he anxiously heads to the lobby, and out of the hospital. An awkwardness is left between Finn and I as we walk to the X-ray room.

There, I spot someone familiar; someone gorgeous with brown hair.

Remi Hood!

She seems to be walking out with a doctor, maybe after getting a scan of her broken hand. She spots us and gasps.

"Will?! Finn?" Remi exclaims, astonished. "Wait, doc, let me talk to them."

The doctor nods and leaves. "Are you okay?!" Remi puts a hand on my arm worriedly. "I'm fine." I say, staring once again into her warm eyes and forcing a smile.

"You guys are beaten up, what happened?!"

Finn glances at me for a second, expecting me to explain. I hesitate. "We... Erh... We fought."

"What, why???"

"Long story short, we got in a bit of a quarrel and-"

"Will started it," Finn interrupts me. "He got jealous because we danced."

Remi groans. "What the hell, Will?!"

"I thought that he was trying to steal you from me, Remi," I explain and hold her hand. "I got upset."

"What are you even saying???" Finn raises his eyebrows, puzzled.

Remi shrugs my hand off. "Firstly, I'm not an object that can be 'stolen'. Secondly, Finn and I were just having FUN, as FRIENDS, 'cause I was so damn depressed."

"Yeah, exactly," Finn agrees. "I don't know where you got that idea from. Quite frankly, I don't fancy Remi at all."

"And neither do I like Finn." Remi finishes.

"Really?" I am shocked and confused. He wasn't making a move on her?

"Jeez, why did you have to fight?" she paces around. "See, you could've just talked it out. It's that easy."