The Demise of Megan Dewtrop

12.Don't

"Don't!" A quick hand darted from my right and grabbed hold of my swinging forearm. I felt one foot scramble in front of each other, trying to find steady ground to rebound off. I felt one of my ankles roll over with a sickening twist and I was falling, falling sideways towards the pavement. Suddenly my body fell into a warm wall and lanky arms folded around me, holding me upright. I breathed in clean, fruity scent and my hand felt his heart beating through the soft fabric of his shirt. His sure hands hooked me under the arms and pulled me up straight. I finally found the floor with my remaining foot. I felt the whoosh of the cars whistle past my cheek. We were inches from the main road.

"WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK WERE YOU THINKING!" I demanded into his neck, his height being much greater. His chocolate eyes melted into mine. "Are you following me or something?" I was still holding onto his arms to steady myself. I felt the tension in the muscle and a watched his jaw ripple.

"Woah, you were the one about to run into a main road!" He slung an arm around my waist and helped me hobble to a bench.

"Shit..." I stared down and my right foot, the ankle was the size of a grape fruit.

The conversation paused for a moment, then "at least you're not dead!" Jim gave a throaty chuckle, the velvet tone reverberated deeply through my chest.

"This is ridiculous..."

"Do you want a paracetamol?" He offered weakly, our shoulders touched for a second. We jerked away as if a small explosion had occurred. I glared viciously at him. "Can I offer you a lift?"

"Yeah, home would be nice, I was nearly there as well." I retorted. I felt my face flush hot and beads of sweat gathering on my brow as normally happened when I stopped running. I wiped them away with the sleeve of my coat, reminding myself to wash it.

"Err, I think you should go to the hospital..."

"Well, I think I should SUE you!" I hissed.

"Come on, I did just save your life." He cracked a smile, flashing his white teeth. I thought he looked like a shark.
"My car's around the corner."

After the first few meters we realised that I wouldn't be able to walk the rest of the way. We stopped, I was still panting, from the agonising pain that bloomed and throbbed in my ankle, as well as from my run. I clutched at him.

"You're gonna hate this," he started sternly, "but I'm going to have to carry you."

Realising I was beaten and nearly crying from the pain, I nodded. All of a sudden I was swung into the the air and Jim was carrying me like I was a baby. I wrapped my arms around his neck and accidentally grazed his stubble, he didn't look down.

It had been a long time since I was last carried. Being taller than a lot of men, it was totally out of the question. But Jim was taller, Jim was stronger. He carried me all the way to his car, and gently set me down in the passenger seat. I let my eyes flutter closed and rested my head against the plush headrest. Behind me, I heard the pop of the boot and a few moments later, felt the car lurch forwards around me as he slammed it shut. He swung himself into the drivers seat.

"Here," he muttered, shaking a plastic bag before passing it to me. "It's an ice pack, the ones you shake to activate."

"Yeah, I know." I remarked, then on reflection, "thanks."

When we drove, I felt each little stop and start and swerve as a painful jolt in my ankle. Looking at it, I wondered how I was going to get my bright yellow new balance off my foot. Damn it, I liked those ones.

When we pulled into the hospital car park, I offered some change to pay for the meter, Jim refused. "Nah uh, I can't accept that."

Rather than force it on him, I shrugged "As you wish.."