The School of Lost Causes

Chapter 11

"Rox?" Noah's voice. "Roxi? Are you alright?" A voice. Jax. I opened my eyes not quite remembering when I closed them in the first place. I was greeted with ocean blue eyes and the concern in them threatened to pull me under the crashing waves that surrounded his iris. A light pressure around my waist made me snap out of the trance he had me under. It took me a second to realize  I was being held up by Noah, soft chocolate eyes studying my face. "I'm...dizzy... breathing hurts..." My voice was rough and so quiet I wasn't sure they could even hear me. As Jax stepped away to talk to the trainers the room finally stopped spinning.

As I moved to stand on my own I felt the hands on my waist tighten a bit and part of me considered just staying like this but the curious eyes to my side made me pull away anyway. "I'll be fine..." I could see the resistance in his eyes as he begrudgingly let me go still staying close. His voice was calm, showing no signs of stress or worry. "What happened Rox? We saw you take him down and next thing I know your almost passing out." Jax rejoined us standing on my side blocking the view of the other students and I relaxed, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. My ribs ached and I winced clutching my side. "He kicked me in the head when he fell. I got a bit dizzy but I'm fine now." Compared to Noah, you could tell Jax was on the verge of either freaking out or smaking the shit out of David as his voice wavered. "You don't look fine. Lillian said we should bring you to the nurse in case you have a head injury or something." I took another deep breath and immediate regret flooded my mind as a sharp pain shot through me coming from my ribs.

I hated hospitals and everything that was even remotely like them but before I could protest, I was already being escorted out of the training room by my friends. "Really guys... I'm fine, I just need some aspirin." Completely ignoring me they continued to lead me through the halls. I was completely honest, every step knocked the air out of my lungs and every new breath made pain shoot up my side, but I kept my mouth shut because the less injuries I had the shorter I would have to be in that horrible nurses office we were now standing in front of.

Quickly going through my escape plans, I straightened my spine, put on my best fake smile and opened the doors to what I could only describe as my worst nightmare.

Jax rushed to the first person he saw gesturing wildly while explaining what happened. Me and Noah on the other hand walked over to the ugly plastic chairs that were tucked in the corner. He sat down fully expecting for me to do the same but I just stood beside him knowing that if walking was already not great that sitting down would be down right torture. Giving me a quick glance he stayed silent is pokerface perfectly intact not giving me any insight on what he was thinking.

For the first time since the bus ride I actually considered him. On first glance he looked like your normal if maybe slightly "emo" teenager, but if you looked closer his bronzed skin, the bruises under his eyes that could only come from years of bad sleep mixed with the faint lines on his face made him look older. His behavior perfectly mirrored this. He had this cold pokerface, a seriousness and understanding of the world that only few people his age had, but he also had the playful mischievous side you would expect from a teenage boy.

Realizing I was staring I quickly averted my gaze, looking around the room searching for Jax. As if summoned by my thoughts he walked towards us, calmer than before but still not completely relaxed. "We're supposed to go to the room in the back the doctor or what ever is going to be here in just a second... apparently he's almost done with surgery." Doctor? Surgery? I knew this "nurses station" would be a bit more legit than in other schools but this was basically a full on hospital and my panic only increased. Keeping my smile intact I followed Jax into the room, Noah close behind me blocking any way of me sprinting out of here. The room looked like any other exam room a weird bed thing in the middle, a few chairs, a cabinet thing and a desk with a computer on it. Both of them sat on the chairs again expecting me to sit down on the bed,  but again I just stood next to it trying not to be obvious. Jax opened his mouth probably to ask the question I didn't know how to answer yet. Before he could the door opened and the doctor walked in, a pleasant smile on his lips.

"Hello my name is Dr. Cole pleasure to meet you. I've already been informed why your here, so I'll be doing some quick tests. You'll be out of here in no time. Just take a seat and will start." Gulping nervously I sat down on the bed and pain immediately started ripping through my body in waves but I kept my smile gritting my teeth until I was fully seated. Since neither the doctor nor my friends said anything it seemed I had been convincing enough and the doctor started his tests.

It was done quick and I was officially concussion free. I was already bracing myself for the pain of getting up and walking back when Noah's smooth voice rang through the room. "Hey doctor? Could you also take a look at Roxannes ribs? She was hit there yesterday and I just wan to make sure they didn't get injured more when fighting today." Is tone was a mix between knowing and accusing and I froze. He knew something was wrong. He saw through the fake smiles like it was glass. "My ribs are fine Noah." Liar. "I don't want to waste the doctors time." Both him and Jax were already standing next to me and I could tell he wasn't buying any of it. "It no problem better be safe than sorry. I'll need you to take of your shirt so would the two gentlemen please step out for a moment." Noah turned to leave but Jax grabbed his arm pulling him back. "We're staying." I turned o face them fully wincing from the pain even the small movement caused.

"You are not staying!" Noah's voice was still calm giving it this authority over my impulse shreek "We share a room, besides we need to know the full extent of your injuries and I know you'll never tell us how bad it actually is." Sighing I turned back around wincing once more. Dr. Cole looked at me silently asking if I was really okay with this and I nodded slightly. I pulled up the hem of my shirt clenching my teeth at the pain. Warm hands closed around mine, a second pair appearing on as well. Noah's voice was quiet, calm and gentle. "We got it Rox. Let us help." I let them help me guide the Shirt over my head both of them carefull and slow making sure they didn't hurt me.

As my ribs came into view I heard a hiss not sure who of the three males it came from. But guessing from the closeness it had to have been Jax. Once the Shirt was completely off I immediately understood why he reacted that way. The small bruise I found this morning now covered my entire side and instead of a light blue it was almost black. I gulped and averted my gaze not being able to look at it. Jax took my hand squeezing gently while the doctor started examining the bruise. I didn't watch him but from the cold gel I could guess he was doing an ultrasound.

Maybe Dr. Cole thought because I wasn't looking at him that I wasn't listening or that I couldn't handle it. But when he spoke again it wasn't directed at me anymore and it was like I wasn't in the room. "Her ribs are severely bruised but luckily none of them are broken. It has to heal so she should take it easy for at least a week, I'm also prescribing a cream and some stron pain medication. I'm going to show you how to apply the cream and bandage it to give some stability to the area. Make sure it's applied at least once per day even better twice."

A sudden surge of pain took over my mind and body and I tensed. "Ah! Shit rox my hand!" My mind clouded with pain, their voices barely reaching me. Someone asking what was wrong. A different voice explaining something about the adrenaline wearing off and my mind catching up with my injuries. A soothing voice telling me to breathe. Something cold on my ribs followed by fabric being wrapped around it. More voices. The doctor saying something about pain killers.

The pain slowly got less so I opened my eyes. Jax was still holding my hand rubbing patterns over my knuckles to calm me. Noah was studying my face his chocolate eyes full of concern. I was handed a cup of water and a small pill and swallowed it without asking. "It's not a good idea to force that top back over her head... Noah give me your jacked." Both me and Jax decided against the jackets that matched our "uniform" this morning considering it was quite warm and we hat training today but Noah insisted on wearing his. He shrugged it of, self-consciously rubbing his arms. Jax took it and wrapped it around my shoulders helping me get my arms in the sleeves.

The doctor mumbled some final instructions handing Noah some bandages the cream and the painkillers. Dr Cole paused for a second as Noah reached for the supplies but before he or I could as any questions Noah had already grab the stuff and was headed out of the door. Just as quickly was I picked up bridal style and carried out, I opened my mouth to ask but a quick look in Jax face made me shut it again. His message clear: "wrong time wrong place".