The Tale Must Go On

Chapter 9: Broken ankles and toddlers

Jamie rushed through the halls and stairs, trying to get to the infirmary before curfew.

"Move it Granny! I could walk myself faster!!!" Willow yelled.

"Well, you try carrying a girl who didn't listen to her friends, who warned her, while trying to get her to the infirmary without passing curfew!"

"Welp, ya can't blame me for being stubborn!!" Willow insisted. "I was trying to be self-reliant."

Jamie just sighed and opened the door to the infirmary.

The nurse gave them a weird look and they didn't blame her.

Two teenagers coming in, just a few minutes before curfew, one carrying the other. If only she knew the story behind Willow's injury, and she would have looked at them even weirder.

"She broke her ankle," Jamie summarized, putting Willow on the nearest bed. "And so I brought her here."

"I see. Well, let me take a look." The nurse inspected her ankle, prodding it at times. "Geez, what did you do to this thing?"

"Um... Weeeeeellllllllllllllll........" Willow started.

"Wait, actually, no, I don't want to know that." The nurse sighed. She then went over to a cabinet and brought out a potion. It was a bone healing one.

"Do you want to stay with your girlfriend or go to your dorm?" The nurse asked, giving Willow a cup of the potion that was a smokey gray.

Jamie's face reddened.

"Uh- she's- I don't know. I'll stay if she wants me to." Jamie replied, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

Willow noticed how he didn't really object to the "girlfriend" label.

"You can stay but be prepared for constant teasing." Willow told him.

She turned to the nurse and said, "Last time I checked, he was just my friend, who just happens to be a boy, but... I guess he thinks otherwise?" She raised one eyebrow, finding amusement in Jamie's discomfort.

"I don't leave here much, there's always students coming in, especially the Everboys after Swordplay." The nurse told them. "Excuse me for the misunderstanding."

"It's okay, I don't know that Jamie minded..." Willow stared at Jamie, who was getting redder and redder.

"I meant like- female friend, you know?" He said. "Like you're a girl and you're my friend, that's what I meant."

"Hmmm.... Suuuuuuure. Very convincing. Alright then, should I call you my boy friend from here on out? You know, like, my friend, who's a boy." Willow teased mercilessly.

Jamie's face coloured again. He composed himself and replied with a tease. "Well.... I'll call you girl friend, shall I?"

"Woah woah woah... NO." Willow joked

Jamie threw his head back and laughed, showing pearly white teeth. "Your face, The way you said that. I'm sorry. It's just hilarious."

"You know what is really funny? How you thought I wouldn't tease you for calling me your girlfriend." Willow replied.

"Are you sure you two aren't a couple?!?" The nurse asked.

"Nope. Not yet anyway." Jamie said, eyes twinkling with laughter.

"Wait... Shouldn't we talk about that before you say that?!?" Willow said, pretending to be offended. "I've known him for MAYBE 48 hours." She told the nurse.

Jamie sighed. "Some people." He murmured to himself. Then, he flashed a sweet, bright smile at the nurse and Willow. "I'll be going now then. By your tone, it sounds like you're comfortable without me." He joked.