Tattered Beauty (Watty Awards 2011)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

            “Sorry about all of this.” Daniel said. He took a stark white cloth from a cabinet next to the mini bar and held it to my forehead. I was a natural clean freak and the thought of staining the perfect towel caused me physical pain. It could never be perfect again!

            “I’m okay.” I assured him.

            We pulled up to the emergency room doors, “Here you are, sir.” Laurence announced. Thank you, captain obvious. “I’ll be circling around the area.”

            “Thank you, Laurence.”

            I tried to slip out of the vehicle and as a result I stumbled. “Blood loss can uncoordinated you, that’s for sure.” I put my klutziness off with a light laugh.

            “Not a problem.” Daniel retrieved a wheelchair from just inside the doors. I plopped down on it, still holding the bloody cloth to my head. “Away we go!” He wheeled me to the front desk, swerving this way and that, making me giggle childishly. With a smile he said to the nurse, “I think we need some stitches for this one.”

            The nurse’s eyes widened at the sight of him; they widened even more at the sight of me being with him. “Straight this way!” Shouts of outrage rang out amongst the people in chairs, some of them more badly injured and sick than me. Obviously being rich and famous could get you places…

            “It’ll be alright.” Daniel whispered reassuringly. “I had stitches when I was younger, once. I was at my grandmother’s estate and I fell off my bike, head butting the fence. I cried like a baby.”

            “Aww, how old were you?”

            “Fourteen.” He grinned and I laughed. “Really though, it doesn’t hurt. They numb it all up so you cannot feel a thing!”

            I half smiled. “You know, you don’t have to stay here with me. You can go on your merry way, if you would prefer.” I just realized that I had absolutely no way to pay for this bill when it came. There was about $100 in my bank account, and I doubted that would be enough. My parents took me off their health insurance policy the night I left. I did not want to go into debt.

            “I’m not going to leave you here by yourself, are you crazy?” He vowed, his eyes piercing through mine; I felt like he could read my mind. My heart even did a little flip—how cheesy is that?

            A doctor came in and started checking out the cut. He didn’t even shake my hand before he began to poke and prod me. I’d hate to have this guy as my doctor if I were in labor… “How did this happen, Miss—” he checked the chart, “—Jameson?”

            Daniel answered for me, “I accidentally hit her with my limo.” The nurse standing in the back of the room snorted. I shot her a glare straight from Hell and she her insensitive laughter ceased. Something about having blood dripping down your face can give you a menacing appearance. I certainly would not mess with anyone covered in blood. “She hit her head on the hood. Nothing major.”

            “Sir, she could have died from an accident like this. It is major.” All was silent in the room as he stitched up the wound—twenty five stitches! “Be more careful when crossing the street.  You, drive safely. You are lucky if she does not sue you.” The doctor said with a final serious look at the two of us.

            The nurse trailed behind him out of the room. “Bye, Daniel! It was very nice to meet you.” She said with a wink. The nerve of some people…

            Daniel insisted on paying my hospital bill in full. He’d said, “I’ve got more money than I know what to do with—please, allow me.” It was a sweet gesture.

            Outside the doors, time was still going. Time seems to stop sometimes, why is that? What makes us feel like the world has stopped spinning and our lives are to be frozen in the state they are? I do not think I’ll ever figure that out. Anyway, the sun had come out, bright and shinning through the thin, fading clouds. Being blinded and dizzy, I fell. Daniel—the boy had fast reflexes—stealthily caught me, his arm hooking around my back, and the other hand supporting my neck. His beautiful face was only inches from mine. I felt his warm, sweet breath on my face. “Careful now.” He whispered. It was a surprisingly intimate moment. I was compelled to move my lips just an inch to kiss that fantastic mouth of his, but I felt it would be just a bit too much. “I’ll just carry you.” In once swift movement he slid me into his arms, my legs dangling off the ground. I didn’t object. Would you object if a total stud wanted to carry you around?  “I apologize…” he started to say.

            I rolled my eyes. “Please stop apologizing! I am fine!”

            Daniel smirked. “I meant I’m sorry I never caught your name.”

            I blushed. “I’m Hailey Jameson. I would shake your hand, but they’re a bit busy holding me up.”

            “Indeed they are,” he laughed. “I’m Daniel King.”

            “Nice to meet you.” I smiled. I summoned up the courage to wrap my arms around his neck. I knew it might be a little weird, but this whole day was bizarre in itself. And it was about to get even stranger.