Walking Away

#HSIEM

Kenny

Raven rushed out, leaving me and Jonah behind. He went to go after her, but I grabbed his arm.

"Woah, hold on." I said, pulling him back. "I was serious about you seeing the nurse. Raven needs to breathe for a minute. Possibly scream."

Jonah gave me a look. "Overprotective much?"

"Very funny." I deadpanned. "Let's go." He walked with me to the nurses office, if a little grudgingly.

Mrs. Molly looked startled when we walked in. "How can I help you boys?"

Jonah gave her one of his 'it's all good' smiles. "Hi Mrs. Molly. We're only here because Kenny is practicing to be a mother hen one day. I hit my head earlier."

"Uh, no." I interjected. "He got semi-tackled and his head collided with a huge block of wood and metal at super speed. I don't even know how he's alive. Like, I think his shoulder dented the thing."

Dramatic? Yes. But also? Effective.

Jonah glared, but I made the decision not to care. I know he won't complain even if his head does hurt like hell.

But I didn't really drag him here about his head. From what I could tell, he didn't have a concussion. I wanted him here because he'd been favoring his right arm for about a week now and it was worrying me. And because Ali told me, with a little prompting, that there had been, and I quote, "a huge, awful ton of blood everywhere".

Mrs. Molly went to move closer to him, and he protested. "You don't need to worry about me, really."

I sent a text to his phone, glaring at him.

Take the jacket off or I swear I'll tell Raven the most embarrassing story I can think up.

He glanced at his phone and then up at me. It wasn't really a valid threat, but I was hoping it would get the point across.

Jonah turned to Mrs. Molly with a smile. "Here, let me at least make it a little easier for you." He unzipped his hoodie, sliding it off and folding it before setting it down beside him.

Mrs. Molly gasped, and I was suddenly glad Raven wasn't here.

"Jonah!" Mrs. Molly gently touched the blood-spotted bandage on his arm. "What happened?"

Jonah blinked once, fast. It was the one tell he had ever since he was a kid. "A broken window. I was trying to get the ball when I fell into the glass." He shrugged. "It isn't as bad as it looks, really."

I narrowed my eyes. I was worried that after I left, Meredith had gotten violent. He never mentioned it, so I figured I was wrong. But I know there was no broken window.

Mrs. Molly unwrapped the bandage, revealing around ten slices of different lengths on his arm. A couple of them looked deep - I'm guessing that's what stained the bandage today. He must have hurt his arm when he and Raven fell.

"Let's just clean these up for you." Mrs. Molly told him. She got to work with disinfectant and bandages while Jonah smiled and asked about her daughter. Putting her at ease. Making sure she bought his story.

It was a pattern we'd both learned as kids, but Jonah had always been a little more efficient at it. Unfortunately for him, I could see right through it. I know all of his tricks.

Mrs. Molly gave us each a piece of chocolate before we left, promising to come visit her and Maddie soon.

Unconsciously, we headed towards the track. It was something we'd done for years when something serious came up. We'd walk in circles and talk.