The rulebreaker ✔

Chapter 8: Don't accept favors

"A concussion, six cuts, and four scratches not to mention a sprained ankle." The principal said. He was a tall balding man and was wearing a black suit and red tie and was looking extremely flustered.

I was half asleep, lying on the hospital bed. My body was completely numb, and I couldn't feel anything except the sharp jabs of pain in my skull.

"Breaking curfew rules, going into an abandoned forest and climbing up a dangerous tree and then arguing and shouting up there. How did this happen Austin? Surely you could have stopped a foolish freshman?"

"I'm sorry sir it was my fault," I heard Austin say. I peered through my blanket and saw his face flush red, "I forced her to come," I startled. I couldn't believe Austin was lying for me. Guilt rushed through me as I remembered what I had said to him last night.

"Austin! I am so disappointed in you. I expected better from you. Do you realize what you have done? You have put her life in danger. What will I tell her parents?" he sighed, "If you can be that careless then I think it is for the best that you should be dismissed from the post of the swim team captain,"

Austin said nothing but continued staring at the floor.

I gasped. They both turned around to look at me.

Austin rushed over while the principal muttered thank god and ran outside to call my parents.

He sat down on my bed awkwardly and didn't say anything. I figured I owed him an explanation especially after what he just sacrificed for me.

"Austin, I just wanted to let you know that I'm extremely sor-"

"Forget it, you're not well right now," he muttered not meeting my eyes. He was still mad at me and wanted nothing to do with me.

"No, I think that I do need to explain some things to you,"

He didn't say anything which I took as a 'go on'.

"Austin I'm really sorry about everything I said to you last night. I didn't mean any of it and you're right I've only been a jerk to you even though you've been really kind to me and tried to help me and it's just that I find it really hard to trust people and it's nothing personal,"

"What do I have to do to earn your trust?" he asked.

"You've already earned it," I gave him a small smile, "But Austin it wasn't your fault I swea-"

"I know it's not my fault,"

"Then why did you tel-"

"He would have expelled you,"

"But he took away your captainship,"

"It's ok," he sighed but I could feel the sadness in his voice.

Gratitude rushed through me and I couldn't even believe the magnitude of the sacrifice he was willing to make for me.

Wanting to offer him some sort of comfort, I reached for his hand before I realised what I did. I quickly pulled my hand back and saw the amused expression on his face.

A short and chubby nurse came rushing in. She had rosy cheeks and smiled at me, "Good news dear, you can be discharged today itself. Get adequate rest for your concussion it's just a minor one. No physical activity for at least a week. I've applied a crepe bandage for your sprained ankle, and I've cleaned and applied dressing on your wounds. Now before you leave, I'll just give you two tetanus shots to prevent infection, and then you can get going. If your friend here could sign the papers on your behalf, only then we can proceed.

Then she rushed out of the room as the doctor yelled for her.

I turned white. I was extremely scared of injections.