One Thousand Words

Chapter Four- Good News & Bad news

“Well, it doesn’t seem to be a major injury, and we got the blood to stop flowing,” Mrs. Randal comments, taking the tissue away from my nose and throwing it in the trash can near by the door. “Just try to be more careful next time,” she tells me and I want to explain to her that I was being very careful, and it’s just I have bad luck and the universe hates me but seems to love James, so therefore, I am screwed anyway.

 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see James leaning against the opposite wall, with his hands stuffed in his pockets, by a shelf with a bunch of medical books on it. He’s staring intently into the space in front of him, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. His brows are furrowed, as if thinking deeply about something that's bothering him. I wonder what it could be.

 

“Good to see you again, James,” she turns around and smiles at him and he nods to acknowledge her. I'm a little surprised by their formal exchange. “How are you doing? Anymore injuries I need to worry about,” she asks, raising her brows as if expecting him to fall on the floor and scream in pain. I almost laugh at the thought of that.

 

“I’m doing fine,” he responds.

She gives him a questionable look. "Don't overdo yourself on the field. I was really worried when you came in. Thought I'd have to explain another injury to your mother." I begin to dart my eyes from James to the nurse, wondering if they're maybe talking in secret codes or something.

"She worries too much," he comments dryly, pressing his lips together as he stares at the ground.

 

“Well if anything happens, come to me," she tells him. She opens her mouth to speak again, but before she can, James cuts her off.

 

“Actually if we’re all done here, I think we should go,” he states, and I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously. He’s acting really strange. The nurse seems to be familiar with him, which is weird. But then again, I find everything weird, and Mrs. Randalls is just a generally caring person, being a school nurse and all

 

James reluctantly helps me off the tall stool and we walk out of the small room together. It isn’t really so much walking out together, as it him hauling my dead weight body around. “What was that about?” I ask.

 

“What?” He asks, his tone void of emotions so I'm unable tell how he feels about it.

 

“The nurse. You interrupting her.”

 

“I can’t be late to Calculus,” he replies curtly, and there’s nothing in his expression that’s giving any hints of a lie.

 

“But she seemed to know you pretty well,” I press.

 

“I’m into sports. I get hurt a lot,” he pushes back and sighs. “Anything else you want to interrogate me on?” He asks.

 

I purse my lips together and stare at the floor, trying to conjure up another question but he seems to have everything covered. “But what about the part about your mom?” I continue, because for some reason James is answering and that’s the most I’ve gotten from him since we’ve met.