Caged

38

"Izzy, get up. I'm not gonna carry you," Ethan's voice was starting to convey his irritation with me as I refused to get up from the ice.

I scowled at him, cradling my arm against my body. "What's wrong with you? My wrist could be broken! I could make it worse by moving."

Ethan scoffed. "Last time I checked, you don't need your wrist to walk," he studied my wrist and raised an eyebrow. "Also, that's your finger that looks out of place, not your wrist."

"I need it to help me get up," I shot back, wincing as another spark of pain shot through my arm. I looked down at it, almost feeling sick at the way it stuck out. "And it's hurting my wrist, so it's both."

Ethan had warned me that I wasn't paying enough attention to where I was skating, but I ignored him. I should've listened because this was the first time in months that I'd been on the ice, and I'd been too confident in myself until I fell.

My entire body had landed on my wrist as it took the brunt of the fall.

I'd whipped it out on the ice at the last second, trying to save my head from slamming into the ground. I swore I heard a crack in my hand as it twisted in a way that I didn't think was possible, but it was better than hitting my head again.

I didn't think my brain could handle another head injury.

Ethan drew out a long breath and crouched down next to me, reaching out to grab the hand that was hurting.

I immediately snatched it back in alarm and instantly regretted it because the pain that shot through made everything spin for a moment. I cried out and Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Why would you do that?" He asked. "If you have a dislocated wrist or finger the last thing you wanna do is move it, you fucking idiot."

I glowered at him and almost considered using my skate to kick him, but I didn't wanna risk moving. "Can you just help. I can't get up."

"That's what I was trying to do." I didn't argue as he used my other arm to pull me up roughly.

I held onto his sleeve as he dragged me off the ice and helped me get off, while I held my wrist to my chest, the throbbing getting worse with every second that passed on.

"You know Elijah's gonna have to fix it, right?" Ethan commented as we walked to where my shoes were.

I halted, the blood draining from my face and he glanced over at me. "Fix it? But that's gonna hurt. Why can't I just ice it or something?"

Ethan's lips twitched into an amused grin as I took a seat on the bench. "I think all the head injuries are finally starting to get to you, Izzy."

I rolled my eyes and gestured to my skates. Surprisingly, Ethan crouched down to take them off without protest and I smiled in victory as he pulled each one off. I knew I could do it, but I didn't feel like putting in much effort for anything right now. I'd been awake for more than a day, and I was so exhausted I felt like I'd fall over any second.

But as tired as I was, I was happy because it was fun. I didn't remember the last time I considered something fun.

"Tie my laces," I ordered and Ethan gave me a long look, but I simply stared back at him. After a few moments, he sighed and reached down again to tie them. "Grab my things, please," I added over my shoulder as I hopped up, still cradling my wrist against my body.

"Whatever the princess wants," Ethan mocked from behind me, and I heard shuffling which told me that he'd complied. I grinned to myself as we walked back to the car.

He threw my stuff in the back and got in the driver's seat. It was almost six in the morning now, and Ethan seemed like his usual self now.

"You wanna check your phone first or should I?" He asked, turning the car on and I froze, turning to look at him with wide eyes.