Confessions

Chapter Twenty

      The bell had just rang. I was at my locker getting my things together. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw someone rushing towards the place I was standing. Henry. The boy I loved.
     I wanted anything in the world other than an awkward encounter with him. I tugged my bag out of the tiny locker and shoved my things into it. I slammed my locker and began pulling on the zipper. Except that it was stuck. Forgetting about my open bag I picked it up and ran full on down the hall. I had been ignoring Henry for the past week and, well, karma's a bitch. The contents of my bag toppled out and flew across the floor. I hurried to gather my books, and what a cliche... My hand reached down to pick up the last one at the same time another hand reached down to help. I tried to take it, but the helper didn't expect that, so their grasp held firm. When I attempted to yank the book away, I slipped and fell face forward in the floor. The strangers shoes I broke my nose on was... Jackson Brahall. Not Henry, (Thank God)... I felt as if I was safe for a moment. That ended when Henry's voice appeared. Jackson was shyly trying to see if I was okay. Henry knelt down beside me.
     "I got it. Go ahead, it was an accident." He dismissed the shy gamer with jet black hair and viper bites, then turned to me. "Oh my god Sarah are you okay?" He pulled me upright and witnessed my nose. Which was crooked and bleeding freely. We've gotta get you to the hospital! C'mon, my cars out front." I decided to follow him as he snatched up my things and rushed to his car. It was either that or objecting and walking home. I slid into the passengers seat.
     "There's some napkins in the glove compartment." Henry said as he started the car. I held the clump of paper to my tender nose and we reached the hospital easily. Luckily they weren't busy.
     "Name?" The strict receptionist asked without looking up.
     "Sarah Stindz" Henry answered for me.
     "What's the problem?" She asked, also without a glance.
     "Um... I'm not sure. You see, the patient seems to be showing major bleeding in the nose area. Now, I'm not a doctor, but the signs seem to vaguely point to a broken nose. But then again she could just have a tumor in her left kidney..." Henry retorted. I couldn't help but laugh at his smart ass comment. That was a bad idea, blood escaped the napkin wad and splattered the desk top.
     "I see" the lady snapped. "Take a seat." We obeyed as the woman phoned the upper floor. "We've got a patient with a broke nose. And we're going to need a janitor down here."
     "Someone's grumpy..." Henry said
     "Someone's a smart ass..." I mumbled through the blood sodden paper. He laughed and I managed to refrain from the temptation of joining in.
     Minutes later a nurse came out of a set of doors and called for a Sarah Stinz. Henry stood up and guided me to the lady. He was about to come in with me when the nurse stopped him.
     "Sorry, you'll have to wait out here."
     "But I-"
     "Look, I'm really sorry, honest, but I can't bend the rules..." He nodded and the nurse took my arm and led me into a brightly lit hallway. "Right through here" she said, opening a door. She nodded towards a stiff black chair and I took a seat.
     "Okay, let's get you something else to stop that up with. She dug through a cabinet and handed me some gauze, taking the napkin in her gloved hand.
     "So, how did this happen?"
     "I fell..."
     "Really? Did you fall into something?"
     "Well, someone's shoes."
     "Oh, okay then. Given the information you just gave me. I'm required to ask you if this was a result of physical abuse."
     "No! Sorry, no, I just, you see, someone was handing me something and I slipped fell. Onto their shoes..."
     "Oh my. Okay. The doctor should be in here any moment now.
     She was right, just minutes after the lady left, a tall young man in a white coat came in.
     "Okay Sarah... Broken nose?"
I nodded. Okay, can you remove that gauze please?" I obeyed and he felt around the area.
     "Ooh..."
     "Is it bad?" I mumbled
     "No, not to bad, but we are going to have to preform a procedure.
     "Surgery?" I asked
     "Not quite. But it's going to hurt like hell. We just have to set it back in place." He smiled reassuringly.
     "Okay." I nodded.
     The procedure went quicker than I thought. One minute I was laying down on a hospital bed facing a brightly lit ceiling, the next minute I was being walked out into the waiting room to see a waiting Henry. He jumped up at the sight of me.
     "She might be a little nauseous, but she's all fixed up." The nurse told him.
     "Does it hurt?" His finger tips lightly brushed my nose.
     "Not too bad..." I responded. I felt my nose. A metal band was bent around the bridge.
     "Let's get you home, your shirt is covered in blood." I hadn't realized how red soaked the front was. "I called your mom, she's working, but she said your insurance will cover the whole thing." We returned to his car and began the trip home.
     Henry pulled up in front of my house and put it in park.
     "Here you are." I hesitated a moment, then asked timidly,
     "Do you, uh, wanna come in maybe...?" Shit! Why'd I do that?
     "Yeah, yeah sure..." We both got out and walked awkwardly to the door. I got two cokes and we sat down in the couch.
     "Um... Thanks. For taking me to the hospital and all."
     "No problem. I'll always be there to help you."
     "As a friend." I accidentally spoke out loud.
     "Yeah, friend..."
     "Friends an interesting word..." I continued. "It can mean so many things. Friends, friend zone, boyfriend..."
     "Yeah, but they're all the same really."
     "I wouldn't be so sure. When your friends, you can't do this..."
     "Do what-" I leaned in and our lips met. Almost instantaneously, Henry's hands were at my waist and mine were caressing his hair. Our noses were side to side, the cool medal of my brace pressing into his skin.
     "You know, you're still beautiful with that brace." He said when we parted. I chuckled. "Can I ask you something...?"
     "Yeah, I nodded.
     "Why have you been ignoring me the past week?"
     "Because I love you dumbass." I didn't hesitate. "Now kiss me." We both leaned in again and our kiss continued.
     "Hey Henry..." I whispered into his lips.
     "Yeah?" He replied without parting.
     "I'm sorry"
     "For what." He asked skeptically. I chuckled.
     "I got blood all over your car..."
     "I love you too Sarah."