Trace

Chapter 14

I tumble to the curb, as the truck comes to an immediate halt. I hear a cry, and someone jumps out of the car door to rush to my aid.

   "Ohh shit..shit..shit."

I hear him curse, running to me.

  I look down at the damage of my body and am relieved to have only recieved a bloody shin and knee from the fall.

  "Are you okay?"

At once, I notice this person's distinct Irish accent and look up to see an extremely attractive young man, maybe my age if not a year or two older.

  "Yeah, I'm fine," I mumble, ignoring his hand to help me up.

"I am so sorry, I was texting, and...oh, geez I didn't even...do you need a doctor..oh, man I'm so so sorry," he continues on guiltily and I can see the sincerity and fear in his eyes.

   "You're not from around here, are you?" I smile at him, hoping to lighten the unlikely event that is taking place.

      He sighs and shakes his head no, revealing a gorgeous smile.

"And no," I reassure him, "I don't need a doctor...just a bloody leg is all."

  I stretch out my leg so he can see and his eyes widen fearfully at the sight.

"STAY RIGHT HERE!" he shouts, sprinting back to his truck.

  I giggle at him, and assume he's not the one for emergencies, although this is far from one.

He returns swiftly with a water bottle and large bandages.

  He kneels down and lightly pours the water onto me, and wiping away the blood with a wipe he gets from his pocket.

I wince at the stinging sensation and the boy hushes me and continues to apologies over and over again.

   He soon is able to put on the bandages (only two are needed but he insists on wrapping on more) and he helps me up.

"I'm Niall. And I'm terribly sorry we had to meet this way. Is there anything I can get you? Take you any-"

     "No, no. This has been fine, thank you," I grin.

"And you are....?"

   "El," I say without thinking. I am not sure why I didn't tell him my name was Cae, but I guess I'm so used to that name even though Harry is the only one that calls me that along with Toby and even Ayla and Anne on occasion- although they joke around by it.

      Niall shakes my hand, and his blue eyes sparkle.

"Let me take you home...please?" he asks me, with pleading eyes.

    I give in, deciding he can't be dangerous and we make friendly conversation during the quick drive to my home.

   Once he pulls in, he gets out of the truck, and I don't wait for him to open my side of the door as I hop onto one leg out of the vehicle.

    "Here, El. Let me help you," he says, coming to my side and wrapping his arm around my waist.

I wrap my arm over his shoulder and limp to the house.

   "Geez, Niall. I would be able to walk if you hadn't wrapped the bandages so tight!" I say, teasingly.

He chuckles, nervously I can tell, and opens the door for me to my home.

    I invite him in, and we sit at the kitchen table and I pour us both some  iced tea. We continue to chat, and I find that he's an exceptionally hilarious boy, and a year older than me as I had predicted. At the end of it all, we exchange numbers and hug goodbye.