The New KISS High School

Ch 13: Ouch (Ace)

I meandered through the bleachers, sitting in one of the front rows with a sigh. Peter had said he was busy, Gene was out with Leeta, and who the hell knew where Eric and Eric were. But even if I didn't have any of my friends going with, I still made it a goal to go to every football game I could. Paulie was my friend, and he was always sad that his parents never seemed to make it, so I made certain he would never have to play a game without anyone there watching him. And besides, he looked cute in the tight football uniform which always seemed to ride up on his midriff. 

We were halfway through the third quarter and ahead by six points, seven depending on what Paul did next. I watched as he drew back, waiting for the ball to be snapped. At last the center snapped the ball and Paul ran forward, booting it cleanly through the field goal posts for an extra point. It was a nice play, a perfect kick from him like always, and it would've been just fine had someone from the defense not soared over the offensive line and slammed into him. They both tumbled to the ground and I bit back a smile. He hated getting tackled and no doubt would be bitching up a storm once I caught up with him after the game. My smile wavered a bit as I watched the defense scramble to his feet right away while Paul just sort of sat on the ground. The placeholder walked over, holding out a hand and pulling Paul to his feet. Paul exchanged a few words with him before limping over to the sidelines, arm around his shoulders as he leaned against him.

My smile slipped away completely and I watched as he gingerly sat down on the bench, pulling off his helmet as some of the trainers walked over to him. I took it upon myself to walk over to him too, heading down the bleachers and vaulting over the railing. "Hey Paulie, you alright?" I asked. He jerked his head up, looking at me, and I felt my heart sink a bit. His face was really pale, sweat on his brow, and he accepted the bag of ice the trainer handed him, immediately holding it against his knee. "Can you call Gene for me?" he asked, slightly out of breath. 

"Gene? Don't you want me to call like your parents or something in case you gotta see a doctor?" I asked in confusion, but he shook his head. "No, call Gene. My parents aren't home this week, can you just call him? I'd have you drive me to the ER but last time you were behind the wheel you landed yourself there," he said with a grin. I rolled my eyes, flipping him off and pulling out my phone, absentmindedly reaching up and running a finger along the stitches on my face as I waited for Gene to answer. It took him a minute to answer and he let out a sigh once he picked up. "This better be good, I'm on a date." "Can you come to school?" "What part of I'm on a date did you not get through your head?" he asked. "Okay well tell Leeta I say hi and then tell her you say goodbye cause you gotta get to school and take Paul to the ER," I said simply.

"What?! Why, what happened? Is he okay?!" he asked, panic already creeping into his voice. "He...wait hold on, lemme ask him. Paulie what happened?" I asked, pulling the phone away from my face. He shrugged. "I dunno. Messed up my knee I think. If he's on a date it's fine I'll just call someone else." Nodding, I turned back to the phone. "Okay he said he messed up his knee he thinks but he also says that if you're on a date it's fine and he can just call someone else so--" "No! No don't call anyone else, I'll come to school. Just tell him to relax and give me like twenty minutes," he said. "Alright thanks a million curly, we'll see you then," I said, hanging up and turning to Paul.

"He said he'll be here in like twenty minutes," I said, and he nodded, beckoning me over and patting the bench next to him. "Cool, thanks. Really appreciate that," he muttered. I smiled, patting him on the shoulder. To anyone else it would've sounded sarcastic as hell, but I had known Paul for years. That's just how he was. "Anyone else at the game tonight?" he asked after a pause. I shook my head. "Nah, just me. Gene's on a date, Peter's at work I think he said, and Eric is...where did he say he was? Oh yeah! He's at home asleep. Said he was worn out from the week." 

Paul nodded, eyes sad. "Oh. I'm glad you came tonight at least," he mumbled. I slipped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him against my side. "Of course! You're my friend, and I like watching you play football. You look cute in the uniform anyway," I said with a grin. He gave me a thin smile back. "Hah. Thanks," he said. I searched desperately for a way to cheer him up or at least take his mind off things, but I kept coming up empty handed. "Uh...it-it was a nice kick! You did well tonight, aside from uh...I-I mean you know like your extra points and all that were good!" I said. 

He let out a weak chuckle. "Thanks. Hope it wasn't my last game." "I'm sure it won't be," I said, patting him on the shoulder. We sat together on the bench, with him still icing his knee, before at last Gene came jogging over to us. "What the hell did you do?" he asked. Paul gave him a frown. "I didn't do anything. Some guy on the other team nailed me in the leg. Can you take me to the ER? Or urgent care? Or something? Coach said it's fine if I leave with you, I told him my parents are out of down." "Have you called them?" Gene asked, and I shook my head. "Nah, he told me not to," I said, and Paul nodded. "I'll call them when I figure out if I need to."

"Sounds good. Can you walk?" Gene asked, holding out a hand and helping Paul to his feet. "Not on my own. Or on both legs. I can limp," he said, slipping his arm around Gene's shoulders while Gene's went around his waist. I bit back a smile. It was amazing how much Paul perked up whenever Gene was around. "Alright then we'll head out. Thanks for helping him," Gene said, giving me a smile, and I grinned. "Well of course! I was the only one here, I had to. He's my friend too ya know curly. I'll let you know if we win if you let me know what's up with you," I said. Paul nodded, giving me a wave. "Sounds like a plan. Thanks!" he said, walking slowly off with Gene while I returned to the bleachers, certain that Paul was at the very least grateful for the opportunity to wrap his arm around Gene like that.