What could go wrong?

Motherly Instinct

We walked back in, and Hannah Kate was staring at me. "Well you fixed that like a true mother." I shook my head. "Yeah, but I got one more child." I made a bee line for the bedroom Riane dragged River into. I walked in and saw her having a lecture with him. They both looked at me as I walked over. They both tried to speak, but I stopped them. "Wha bup bup. First, injuries. Talk to me River." He furrowed his eyebrows, but told me anyways. "Well, he hit me pretty hard in the jaw, but it's not broken. Plus a black eye." He finished, pointing to his left eye. "He really likes to go for the face, doesn't he?" I lightly touched it with my finger tips. He flinched back at first, but afterwards let me feel it. "It's not bad. Don't put pressure on it for a while." I scanned him. "Now that I see you're not hurt," I grabbed his collar "What were you thinking you idiot?!?!" I yell while shaking back and forth. He looks at me with wide eyes. "W-What do you mean?!" He asks, looking terrified. "You popped his shoulder out of place you knuckle head!! Idiot!! Numb skull!! Butt hole!!! What other clean things can I call you?!" I ask, putting a finger to my chin, clearly frustrated. I could tell he was holding back a laugh. I hit him in the back of the head. "Shut up snowflake!" That's what my mom called my little sister when she was a baby about things. Didn't really fit in this conversation, but I couldn't think of anything else.

"Snowflake?" I scowled at him. "Yes, now what was my point?" I ask, confused. "Uhh... Don't fight your friends?" He offered. I nod. "Yeah, that's good. Okay, I'm going home. Don't fight your friends!" I point at him, glaring. I keep this look up until I left the room, Hannah Kate behind me. "Again, handled like a true mother." I smiled, nodding and heading home.

At school on Monday I was ready to collapse. Exhaustion was over taking me, because of the party and studying for the multiple tests coming up. Why must school exist?! I had slammed my books down on my desk and collapsed into my seat, laying my head down and closing my eyes. Someone tapped my shoulder, and when I looked up Mason was standing right in front of me. I furrowed my eyebrows. "You're not in this class." He scoffed. "And you're not Cindy." I laughed nervously. "What are you talking about?" He crossed his arms. "I know Cindy Rich. You're not her." I shrugged. "Yeah. That's true. What are you going to do about it?" I stood up, but he had backed me up against the wall. "Get away from me." No one was in the room yet, so I knew I had to time everything just right, or else something would go terribly wrong. "Come on. You know you want me." He whispered, getting closer. Now was the time. I brought my knee up hard between his legs. He bent over, and I shoved him away while running out the door.

I got a teacher and explained what happened, and he ran off towards the classroom. I walked away, knowing there would be trouble in that period, so I would just spend it in the courtyard. I sat under a tree, away from the world, looking around at my surrounding. I was deep in thought, thinking about the past. The fights they had gotten into, the ones I broke up, my motherly instinct. I might be the mother of our friend group, it made sense. I leaned against the trunk of the tree, events spinning around in my mind. Then my eyes were covered by a big, warm hand. "Jake?" I question. I received his laugh in return. "Hey!" I turn around and wrap my arms around his torso, tackling him to the ground. It had only been the weekend, and I hadn't seen him since Friday, but even still I had missed him dearly. I guess that's what love does. He laughed as I hugged him. "I guess someone missed me." I released him and smiled. "Don't act like you didn't miss me." He chuckled. "It's been two days!" I raised my eyebrow. "And?" He did the same, then shook his head. "And I missed you like crazy." He brought me back to his chest, keeping his hands on my waist to keep me steady. He kissed my forehead.

"You're missing first period." I nodded. "I know. Mason figured out I lied, and tried to move in on me. I kneed him and shoved him away, and then got a teacher and fled the scene. I didn't want to see what happened after that." I said, disappointed a little in myself. "Maybe I should apologize." I sat up. "Apologize for what? Not offering your body to him?!" He asked, sitting up as well. My head whipped in his direction. "For lying to him." We were cut off by a high pitched scream. His eyes went wide. "Katie, don't you dare go after that..." It was too late. I had gotten to my feet and had taken off into the woods by our school. I could hear his pounding footsteps behind me. There was a hiking trail not too far off from the school. I turned my ankle so that my body rotated to the left, and took off in that direction, the direction of the scream. "Katie! Katie!" He called after me, but I saw a flash of pink on the ground a few yards away from me, and quickly ran there. There was a girl, long brown hair pulled back, and a hiking pack strapped to her back, writhing on the ground

I knelt down beside her. "What happened?" Jake's foot steps were still audible in the distance. Her hazel eyes were full of fear, but she began to speak. "A-A-A b-big cougar j-jumped out a-and attacked m-me. M-My arm." I looked at her arm, three long scratched on it. "That wasn't a cougar. It was a mountain lion. Now I'm going to help you, but you've got to let me." She looked like she was coming in and out of consciousness, but nodded anyway. I saw a knife dangling off of her pack. I yanked it off and cut off a long piece of my shirt. I ripped her boldly sleeve away from the wound and tied mine around it. "Jake!" I finally called. He found me and came to my side, the girl now unconscious. "She's lost a lot of blood. Pick her up, I'll call 911." He didn't ask any questions, just picked her up and started running with me out of the woods.

When we had reached our school and ambulance had already arrived. People and students were surrounding the edge. When we came out a gurney was already rushing towards us. "What happened?" A nurse questions. "Attacked by a mountain lion." She looked at my ripped shirt. "You get attacked as well?" I shook my head, then motioned to the green fabric wrapped around the girls arm. "No. That's where my shirt went." She glanced at it as they pushed her away. "You're very smart to know how to tie something like that. Did you take a lesson?" I shrug. "Something like that." Something flashed in my eyes, but I hid it before Jake noticed. "She'll probably want to know your name." I nod. "Katie Schwab." She cocked her head. "Schwab? Kind of like the cotton...?" "Yes kind of like the cotton swab. Heard that before." I walked away, remembering too much of my past. I pushed the crowd away from me as I rushed to the parking lot. Someone grabbed my wrist. "Hey. You just saved a life back there and now you're just walking away?" I turned to Jake. "Umm... Yeah. It's... Been a long day. I think I'll just... Go home." He started to protest, but I yanked my wrist away and got into the car, driving away.

I was sitting in a tree, drying my tears. The memory was now fresh in my mind. It was too horrifying. "Katie! Katie!" I heard Jake's voice, but I refused to call back. I couldn't. I took a look at my tattered shirt. I shivered as a breeze blew by, I forgot my jacket. I looked down and saw a very worried Jake stomping around the woods. He stopped near me, and I plucked an acorn from my brach. Squeezing my left eye shut, I aimed and tossed it down, and it hit him right on the top of his head. While he put his hand on his head, he looked up. I gave him a little wave. Even from where I was, I could see the relief flood his eyes. He began his climb up towards me. When he reached me, he sat down and heaved a heavy breath, reaching for my hand. I moved it away before he could grab it. "I-I have something t-to tell you." I stuttered. He was about to speak but I cut him off. "It's a long story." He closed his mouth and nodded. I took a deep breath and began my story.

"I learned everything I know from a girl named Logan. But she didn't... She didn't teach me. I had to teach myself. We went out on a hiking trip together, alone, because she was a close family friend. She stepped a little too close to the edge of a cliff, and fell off. I rushed after her, and she was seriously injured. I couldn't get her to help, I was too young and weak. I patched up all of her injuries, fixed everything that I could. She fell into a coma, because I couldn't save her. Someone eventually found us, and got immediate help. But, that was years ago. She's still in a coma." I twisted and untwisted my hands. "I could of saved her! I could of told her she was too close to the edge! I could of tried to catch her before she fell! I could of at least tried to drag her somewhere! I could of done better with her injuries! I could of..." Jake cut me off by hugging me close to his chest. "It's not your fault. You were too young." It was then I realized I was crying. "But I could of..." "Shh. You couldn't do anymore then you did." I hugged him tighter. "You know I visit her every month. I talk to her, tell her what's going on with the world. Her parents always tell me I saved her life by fixing her injuries, but I just think I slowed down her journey to death." He patted my hair. "No, you saved her life. She will wake up because of you." I buried my face in his neck. "Oh God I sure hope so."

When I pulled away he cupped my face. "I guess I've shown you all of my battle scars." I say. "And I don't love you any less." I brought my hand up to touch his. "Really?" His brown eyes filled with passion. "Of course. You'd do the same for me." I nodded. "I would." He smiled, leaning in and putting his lips on mine.
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Heylo!
Guess who hasn't updated in weeks? Me, that's who. I'm super sorry! It took a while to get my creative juices flowing, but hey, I got it eventually! So, how was it? Great, good, awesome?! Sorry, you can only choose from those three. Just kidding! I'm the crazy author that even appreciates the bad feedback! So tell me what you feel, I'll be glad to hear from you! Bye y'all!!
@KS