Memory in a Bottle

Delilah

"This is probably going to hurt. But I have to clean your face, so I know if you need stitches." Dexter says putting hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel. He starts cleaning around the wound first. He looks at me worriedly. "I am so sorry. This is going to hurt." He dabs the towel on my eyebrow. It feels like someone is shoving a hot poker through my head. I bite my lip trying not to scream, but a small squeak slipped out. Dexter looks at me with worry. He removes the towel from my eyebrow, and I breathe out a calming breath.

"That wasn't so bad." I lie. He raises a brow.

"Really?" He asks. "The squeak says otherwise."

"Oh, shut up!" I say shoving his shoulder.

"Delilah, I can't seem to be able to wrap my head around you racing. Why did you race?"

"I... I don't know..." I tell him honestly. "I have always been like that. Every time me, dad and my mom would go to the amusement park Dad would want to go on the Go-Karts. I was always afraid of the Go-Karts; they were big and scary, and I didn't like them. So, one day dad convinced me to go with him. He told me that if I went with him then he'll buy me a triple scoop ice cream, so I went with him. He showed me how to drive it and then he went in his Kart and we raced. I loved it! It was incredibly fun and thrilling. I loved it so much that I would ask my dad every weekend if we could go and race. So, every Saturday me and him would go and race, sometimes I would win and other times I would lose." I don't say until I got kidnapped because I know Dex feels horrible about how he played a role in my kidnapping. He looks at his hands takes a deep breath and looks in his bag. I didn't notice that he brought a bag with him till now.

"Okay, so I'll prescribe you some pain medicine to help with-"

"Can I take some Ibuprofen? Or Tylenol?" I ask.

"Yeah, you can. Do you want to take that instead?"

"That's why I asked, Dex."

"Then yeah you can. The cut is a little smaller than I thought it would be. You don't need stitches; however, I don't want you to not take it easy. It doesn't look like you have a concussion or anything that can put you in danger or the hospital." He says putting his medical supplies into what I'm assuming his medical bag.

"Thank you, Dexter." I tell him sincerely. He looks up confused.

"For what?"

"For helping me and being here. I know you are trying to make it up to me. Thank you." His eyes soften.

"Always." He immediately looks away. I pretend to ignore him swiping tears off his face.

"Do you know anyone who can help get my car out of the ditch?" I ask changing the subject. He starts chuckling.

"Soften me up so you can use my knowledge." He jokes and I laugh.

"Well, yeah! I'm joking, I'm joking! Nah, I just want my car so I can try to work on it." He snorts.

"So, Jace and I can work on it. You'd make me and Jace work on it." I laugh and roll my eyes.

"Nah, I want to try and fix it." He raises an eyebrow. "Okay, fine with you two there to help me." He shakes his head.

"Yeah, I know a guy. Let me give him a call." I nod and look for Jace. I almost told Jace that I was distracting myself from him. I would've died of embarrassment if he found out. I hear voices downstairs and I walk towards them.

"-about tomorrow?" Jace's mom asks.

"Yeah, I hope she'll like it." Jace replies bashfully. Who is Jace talking about? What about tomorrow?

"I'm sure she will." I decided that it didn't matter, and I don't want to know. I walk out and head over to Jace.

"Hey," I say softly.

"Hey. Is everything okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?" He asks with concern laced in his voice.

"Nah, I don't. I just have a small cut. If I hurt, I'll take some Ibuprofen or Tylenol." I tell him wrapping my arms around his waist. Almost immediately he wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer. We stand there like that for a couple of minutes till we hear Dexter jogging downstairs.

"Okay, so I called my guy and he said that he can help bring your car out of the ditch. He'll bring it over here and I told him the damage and what could be wrong with the car and he said that he might have some parts for you guys to use." He says. I bite my lip.

"What about the um... cost of all of this?" I ask hesitantly.

"Don't worry about that. I helped him out a few years back and he told me he owed me a favor. Besides he's my friend and he'll be happy to help."

"Okay...." Dexter smiles and claps his hands while rubbing them together.

"So, what's for dinner?! I am hungry and Mrs. Young you make the best food I have ever had!" I laugh.

"That's because you make Ramen, Mac'n Cheese cups and Sandwiches." I say jokingly. Dex smirks and shrugs.

"Well, dinner should be done shortly." Jace's mom replies.

"Thank you, Dex." Jace says earnestly. Dex gives Jace a small sad smile.

"Always. It's what I'm here for."