Being The New Girl

18: Cheers

Luke pulls me to my feet, and says, "We should really get some ice on that. Want to try the nurse's office?"

I nod slowly, noticing that my head hurts if I move my head too fast. Gingerly, I press a finger to the skin around my eye and wince at the sting. Luke notices, and pulls my hand away from my face, taking a second to get a closer look.

"It hurts that bad, huh? Here?" He brushes a finger against my cheekbone. I shake my head. "What about here?" He moves his touch to the inside corner of my eye and I flinch away from him in pain.

"Yes, it hurts there, you idiot!" I hiss, cupping my palm over my eye.

"Hey, I didn't mean to." When he reaches out to touch me, I back away. "Look, I'm really sorry. I know it hurts. The faster we get ice on it, the better, so just trust me, okay?"

I don't say anything, but I don't argue when he takes my free hand and guides me across the field quietly.

Then, he breaks the silence. "Do you need me to carry you? In case you fall and hurt yourself more?"

Glancing at him and seeing his hopeful grin, I reply, "Sure. If you want a black eye to match mine."

He shuts up after that.

When we reach the nurse's office, Luke lets go of my hand to try the doorknob. He jiggles it. "Locked."

"Are you sure?" Pushing past him, I grab the door handle for myself, and all I end up with is a metallic smell on my hand.

"Don't trust me?" I gesture to my eye. "Hey, it was an accident, remember? And don't worry. I've got another idea." I groan, refusing to budge when he pulls on my hand. He tries again. "What's wrong?"

"This isn't working, I can just get some ice at my house."

I start to walk away but barely make it a step before I feel two hands on my waist that lift me up, and then, the idiot throws me over his shoulder. He starts walking down the hallway casually, as if he does this kind of thing everyday, making me bounce up and down with every step he takes.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking you to my idea."

"I can walk, you know."

"Doesn't seem like you want to."

"So what if I don't? Just put me down."

"Only if you say please."

I bring my fist down on his back. "What happened to nice Luke?"

"Say please."

I can't. I won't. "Please." I hate myself.

"You know what? I changed my mind."

"What- Luke-" I decide to try the guilt card. "Please put me down. This is giving me a headache...?"

He contemplates it for a second before deciding, "You'll live."

I scoff, punch him one last time before propping my elbow on his back and resting my chin in my palm as I resign myself to watching his shoes squeak on the tiled floor of the empty hallway.

After a few minutes of walking, he finally stops, puts his hands back on my waist, and sets me down. I'm not standing, though. I'm sitting on a white counter that matches the white floor, ceiling, and rest of the room.

Blinking at the blinding color of my surroundings, I glare at Luke. "I could've walked like a normal person, but no. You had to carry me."

"Don't lie and say you didn't like it." He starts to turn away from me, but pauses, leaning closer to my face. "Wait, are you... blushing?"

I ignore the heat that rushes to my face. "No. Where are we?"