Rancorous

Chapter 17

PRESENT

Herlina

I wrapped my arms against my body as the November air reddened my nose. It had been sunny this morning, where I could go without a jacket. The sun was starting to set behind the clouds in the distance, so that morning warmth had faded.

My right foot throbbed from Haley's hard stomp. Everytime I tried to put pressure on it, it felt like my foot was being mercilessly hammered.

Milo wrapped his jacket around my shoulders, and I smiled thanking him.

"I think you seriously need to get your foot checked, Herlina." Milo's features were etched with worry as he walked by my side. "I don't even think you'll be able to drive."

I sighed, realizing he might be right. I had hoped that by the time I walked out to my car, my foot would have already felt better. My coach had said I should see a doctor if the pain got unbearable.

Well, the pain was bearable, if I didn't put too much pressuring on it. All I really wanted to do at the moment was lie in bed instead. On top of that, I was in a sour mood after telling Milo about the Halloween party ordeal. Milo was a great friend, and yet I couldn't bring myself to mention Brevin.

I just couldn't. I didn't want to paint a villainous picture of him to anyone. Because for a larger and better part of my life I'd known him as someone different. To me, that was the real him, not the one he currently showed to the world.

"I think I'll be fine." I tried flashing a believable smile.

"Herlina," Milo warned.

"Fine, let's see how bad it could possibly be."

Balancing on my left foot, I took my white tennis shoe off. Milo held my arm as soon as I started to wobble. I embarrassingly thanked him as I took my sock off.

A purplish-green bruise was starting to form over the entire skin of the top of my foot, save for my toes. It looked swollen which only affirmed that I needed to seek medical attention. I didn't think so, but it was a possibility that I may have broken some small bones.

"If you say you're still fine after seeing that, I have no choice but to carry you to my car." Milo's voice held a serious finality to it, with a hint of a joke.

"Fine. But what about my car? I can't just leave it here." I also needed to call my parents. I knew my dad would be worried and I didn't want him to leave his accounting job early. He usually stayed a little later on Thursday nights.

"I can drive it." The deep voice made a confetti of butterflies swirl in my belly. I didn't need to turn around to see who it was.

Milo did. As soon as he saw Brevin, he provided a friendly smile. "Oh, hey. You're the guy with the arm of an MLB pitcher."

I turned around to see Brevin approaching us. In dark jeans and a neck-zipped beige sweater, he looked like he should be on the cover of a magazine declaring him the most beautiful young man alive. His eyes were trained on me, and it would have made me smile if the sting from yesterday's incident wasn't still fresh.

Brevin stopped so close to me, it made the two feet between Milo and me seem miles apart.

"In fact, I can drive her to the hospital with her car. It'll make things a lot easier."

I cleared my throat, apparently being the only one here with decent manners. "Brevin, this is Milo. Milo, this is Brevin."

I took a deep breath. Brevin's earthy cologne wafted in my nose in a delirious haze. I wanted the scent all around me. I wanted to bathe in a cloud full of it.