Dreamcatcher

Chapter Eleven: The Rebel In Me

The two boys seated in the nurse's office touched the most excruciating sores on their faces from the fight they just had. Neither boy dared to spare the other a glance as they sat in dead silence while the nurse treated them individually. 

"Out of everybody who walks into my office, I did not expect you to appear in here, Clark. But it surprises me more that Mr North is here for something he's normally the cause of." The nurse commented sourly. 

"He started it," both boys said at once, pointing accusingly at the other.

"I don't want to hear it. Drew. I'll see you first."

The jock got up and dragged his feet towards the medical bed where the thirty-four year-old nurse looked after Drew.

Patiently, Clark waited for his turn.

He could hear Drew squirm as the nurse treated him. The disinfectant she added onto a cotton ball and dabbed and scraped on Drew's fresh cuts didn't help either as she did all that she could to ease Drew's pain before she would have to do the same for Clark.

It was a bit of waiting but eventually Clark was allowed to see the nurse.

The curtain was pulled open to reveal Drew with a slightly less beaten face as he walked towards the door, shooting a death glare Clark's way on his way out. Clark didn't find comfort in that as he watched his enemy disappear from the room. He then made his way to the bed and sat down on it while he was analysed by the nurse and treated the same way.

Outside of the office waited Clark's friends. It wasn't too obvious but Rachel was quite worried about Clark - Chloe was the most suspicious about Rachel's behaviour but was nothing for her to go off of at the moment but she was very keen to see whether her suspicions were true or not.

Nearly thirty minutes of waiting was worth the wait when Clark exited the nurse's office.

His friends keenly jumped up to their feet and assessed Clark's visible injuries. Any form of reprieve for his getting himself hurt was vanquished. 

Chloe threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug. This shocked Clark but he accepted the embrace nonetheless.

"Thanks," groaned Clark.

"Why?" Chloe asked curiously.

"For finally caring."

Chloe rolled her eyes and stopped hugging him. "Since when have I not cared about my brother? You're still an asshole though."

"Hey. You encouraged me to get my ass beat by Drew North, remember?"

"Touché. But you did kick his ass though. Sorta."

Clark let out a short laugh as he held his side where the pain struck him the most. Concern was written across their faces. He deeply appreciated their concern, but what he found lacking was Rachel's voice of concern for his wellbeing.

He looked at her closely but found it difficult to determine whether she was truly worried about him or she was putting on a brave face to hide her true feelings.

Nonetheless, Clark was grateful to have friends like them.

Time flew by as reaching the last lesson for the day brought impatience to all who were keen to finally get out of class for the day; only just that bit closer to the weekend.

Clark was having another lesson with his high school crush, Rachel Amber in their drama class. It was a free lesson where the cast of tomorrow evening's play rehearsed their lines for the second-last time altogether.

In Clark's company sat Rachel beside him in the seat to his left. The pair shared his earphones as they listened to music on his laptop while they caught up on other work - had they not been as confident in their acting skills, they'd be as petrified as the rest.