Beauty and The Geek

Hurt Then Healed

Clove

"Oh! The nerve of him to say all that about me." I say to myself while walking through the woods. "That... that sweet, charming, handsome, country snake."

I can't say anything insulting about him. I think to myself. Ugh!

"Clove!" I hear a voice. "Clove!"

That sounds like Johanna. I think.

"Jo?" I call out.

"Yeah." She appears in front of me, emerging from a bush. She looks like she's been crying.

"Oh, honey, what's the matter?" I ask her.

"Gale," I all she says before crying. I've never seen Johanna cry. No. Not Johanna Mason. Something must be terribly wrong.

"Johanna?" I say. "Jo?" I get her attention.

"Hm?" She asks through sobs.

"Are you okay?"

"I guess." She wipes her eyes.

"Good. I guess we should get back." I start walking.

"Fine, but I don't want to." She walks along with me.

"Clove!" I hear a male voice shout.

"Johanna!" I hear another voice.

"Where are you two?" This one is feminine.

"Clove!"

"Johanna!"

We both start running but I trip on a rock and fall into a briar patch. "Agh!" I cry out in pain, rolling over on my back. "Agh!" I cry out again as even more briars stab into my body.

"What's wrong?" Johanna asks.

"I fell." Tears stream down my face. "I . . . I think I broke my ankle."

"Oh my God. Clove, you're bleeding!" Her eyes are as big as saucers.

"I know," I cry. "Please get help."

"Okay," she runs away for help.

"Clove?" I know the voice now; it's Cato.

"I'm over here," I croak out.

"Clove!" He must not have heard me.

"Cato!" I hear Johanna's cry. "Cato!"

Oh, please hurry. I think.

"Clove!" I hear Cato's shout, but it's closer now. "Clove!" I see him emerge from the woods. He gasps when he sees me. "Oh God!" He runs over to me and kneels at my side. "Clove. Are you okay?"

"I think my ankle's broken," I sob.

He places one arm under my knees and the other beneath my head and picks me up. I wince. "I know it hurts, but I'm just trying to help." He says, looking down at me while I'm in his arms.