All American: Winter Break

Chapter Three: R.I.C.E

Spencer couldn't sleep through the night. And with the little sleep, he did get, he was abruptly awoken by the nurses checking on him. Like clockwork at the same time every hour on the dot. Although he'd been uncomfortable and in pain for most of the night, Olivia having stayed the night with him, made him feel better. He'd always felt safe and at home with her. Spencer also had been nervous to fall asleep thinking he'd still been dreaming. That he would wake back at the Baker house once again.

Even when his eyes would drift heavy, his body shook violently waking him up and causing pain to shoot across his ribs. He was glad Olivia had been a deep sleeper and only stirred a couple of times through the night. So for most of the night, Spencer stared up at the hospital ceiling, listening to the sounds of his girlfriend softly snoring and the machines he was hooked up to beeping every so often. He drifted in and out of sleep, fighting it off until he couldn't fight it anymore, and was able to get enough rest until the nurse would come in again.

The emptiness of the bed beside him left an ache in his heart already missing Olivia. Spencer thought to himself that she must have left before the day shift nurses would come in, leaving him alone in the hospital room. Spencer had felt restless laying in the bed, he'd never been one to sleep in past eight, and with every minute that passed was another minute he could've been on the field practicing.

He needed to stand and stretch his legs at least, after laying in the bed for who knows how long, Spencer was ready to get up and leave. He felt better and was able to take in more oxygen than yesterday. With no one in his room to help him up, Spencer inched his way to the edge of the bed, convincing himself that he had been okay. But he knew the longer he prolonged lying in bed, the longer he would have to stay in the hospital. That his bruised ribs weren't going to stop him from playing the game he loved.

With the All-American football game coming up in the next few months. Spencer still hadn't received his letter yet, but knew when he did, he needed to be ready to play his best game. Laying in the hospital wasn't going to help, and thought taking small steps around his room wouldn't hurt. Now sitting, Spencer slowly breathed through the pain he'd felt taking a hold of the monitor. The door to his hospital room opened when he heard a clear of a throat stop him from continuing.

"Spencer James now I hope I'm not seeing what I'm actually seeing right? That you weren't about to stand up without a nurse present? Are you really trying to break another rib, and prolong your stay with us? Now I know you love me, but I didn't know you loved me that much to stay another few nights,". Nurse Joy swiftly walked over to Spencer helping him lay back in bed. Spencer let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.

"Good morning to you too Nurse Joy. I just thought..." Spencer trailed. Nurse Joy cut him off from continuing. Fluffing his pillows, she placed them behind him, to sit him upright, and get him as comfortable as he could get. "You thought walking around would help? What if you would have fallen? You really want to test your chances?". Spencer shook his head when Nurse Joy sighed. She softened her eyes placing her hand on top of his shoulder.

"I know you are eager to get back onto that field but if you don't let your body rest. You are only prolonging your recovery,". Spencer laid his head back against the pillow letting out a groan. Nurse joy watched him closely when she grabbed his chart. The both of them stayed silent for a brief moment before Nurse Joy spoke again trying to lighten the conversation.

"How did you sleep?". Spencer stirred in the bed, trying to get comfortable when he shrugged. "As best as I could in a hospital. You know it's kind of hard to get any sleep when you guys come in every hour,". Nurse Joy softly laughed. A sentence she has heard daily since becoming a nurse. Usually the first thing a patient would tell her in the early mornings. Today had been no different.