Love Songs

Chapter Ten

Jessica - Thursday, 1:00pm.

"What do you mean she's unconscious?" Allie was screaming at Darius minutes after he'd entered.

"She got in a fight with Bella," he said, sounding frightened, distant, and disengaged. "I broke it up, but her head..."

"What?" Allie demanded. "What happened?"

"She was bleeding, a lot, and then she passed out. I brought her to the infirmary, but..."

"But what?" she questioned. "What's going on? Where is she?"

My head was spinning. What did he mean Shay got hurt? Shay was never hurt. Shay got in fights all the time, and she always won. Shay's entire life was a fight, but she was the strong one. Shay got attacked for her sexuality, but she always came out on top. Shay got trashed for sleeping around, but she always knew who she was. As much as I fought with her, Shay was a superhero. I couldn't picture her getting hurt. The idea scared me.

It fell upon me to be the only level headed person in the room. Allie was hysterical, and Darius acted like he'd just discovered a dead body. "Okay," I exhaled, putting my arms around Allie. "Both of you take a breath. Shay's going to be fine. We'll all go down to the infirmary to see her, and I'm sure she'll be okay. Alright?" I reasoned, trying not to let on that I was absolutely terrified.

______

"Shay Thaller," Darius repeated to the receptionist at the school's infirmary. The place was small, only about two rooms, as it was rarely ever used. Mostly just for ballet injuries such as ingrown toenails or sprained ankles. Never anything as serious as Shay's state seemed to be, and I wondered if they were competent to handle her, but of course I didn't voice that fear.

"Shane Thaller?" the receptionist repeated.

"No, Shay!" he said, growing in hysteria. "Damn it, I brought her here like five minutes ago!"

"Oh, the bleeding girl," she said. "Why didn't you just say so?"

I brought a palm to my face as the incompetent secretary shuffled through papers.

"She's awake," she said, sounding bored. "You can go see her."

For the first time since Darius first came to get us, Allie breathed. We all let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, and none of us, me included, could get through that door fast enough. Allie didn't bother asking why I was so eager to see her sister, and I was glad for that. It was a question I myself couldn't answer.

When we got in, Shay was sitting up in bed, a white strip of gauze around her forehead like a sweatband. I wondered how she still managed to look cool, even with her head bandaged. She wore her playful, cryptic smile, even now. 

"Oh my God, Shay," Allie exhaled, rushing to her side.

"Don't cry, kid," she dismissed, looking at all of us.

We didn't say anything. We all just kind of stared at her.

"What the hell is the matter with you guys? Did you just witness a murder?"

"You were...you were unconscious," Darius stuttered. "We didn't know, if...I mean..."

"I passed out because I saw the blood," Shay said. "It's no big deal."

"It's a huge deal," Allie said. "Shay, why did you fight her?"

"She called me a slut," Shay said simply. "And a dyke. Do I have permission now?"

"God, what a fucking bitch," I spat, a little too angrily. They all stared blankly at me for my language.

"Damn, Jess," Shay laughed, breaking the silence. "You sound like me."