3. Just Like in the Movies

Chapter Four

“I’m hungry.”

“Thought you liked the chicken spaghetti.”

“I did but they gave me portions for a little kid.”

Jason sighed. “Let me guess, you want me to go get you some barbecue potato chips and a Mountain Dew?”

“I’d love you forever.”

Jason grunted. “I’d rather you owe me the five dollars it’s going to cost. I’m keeping tabs you know.”

“Fine with me, but you can’t make me pay unless you take me to court.”

“Watch me.”

“Idle threats.”

Jason shook his head. “I’ll be back.”

“Oh, that was horrible,” Chris called after his brother. He shook his head. “Horrible, not even Schwarzenegger’s accent.”

He flipped channels because he was bored. He wondered how long it would take his brother to find the nearest vending machines or if he’d have to go all the way to the cafeteria. “Man, if he’s going all the way down there, he just could have gotten me another lunch. That stuff was almost as good as Mom’s.”

Chris took a deep breath and promptly sneezed. He jumped when he realized there were tiny blood spatters on his hospital gown. The last time he got a nosebleed, he’d been hit in the face with a basketball over a year ago. 

He punched the nurse’s call button and after a few minutes, a nurse came in. She saw the blood and frowned. “Let me get Dr. Benson.” She handed him a box of tissues. “Keep your head level, don’t tilt it back or you’ll swallow blood which isn’t good.”

Chris crammed tissues against his nose and waited. The doctor came and showed a light up his nose. “It’s fragmented from the plaster. You have lots of tiny capillaries in your nostrils. It should stop soon but it’s good you’re getting the particles out. Even if it causes another nosebleed, you should be fine. You won’t bleed out.”

“Oh, thanks.”  Chris’ voice was muffled by the tissues stuffed in his nose. “I remember a Calvin and Hobbes story…” He blinked. “Did you see Jason, he’s on a food run.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back in a second. Keep the pressure on and you’ll be fine. Do you want a new gown? Fresh sheets?”

“I’d rather my clothes so I can go home.”

“Nice try.” Dr. Benson headed to the door. “You never give up, do you?”

“Never.”

“We’re not in the pediatric wing anymore.”

“You’re not helping,” Chris muttered under his breath as the doctor left. He turned off the TV and watched the clock. He figured it had been two minutes when the doctor had come, so now it was five minutes.

He moved to get out of the bed and discard the tissues. His nose had stopped bleeding and he needed to go to the bathroom anyway. Just then the door swung open and a fair-haired nurse came in. “I came to check on you.”

“I’m good, nose stopped bleeding. Have you seen Jason?”

She shook her head carefully like her neck hurt her. She moved closer, practically pushing him back into the bed. “Let me check.”

She tilted his head back and he felt something cold touch his neck. He tried to move but she wouldn’t let him. “You should be dead,” she said softly. “You’re getting in my way. He’s mine. You won’t stop me.”