Be My Juliet [on hold]

Chapter 30

“Dan,” I sigh, studying him and taking in the amount of damage that has been done.  “You’re bleeding.”  I stand up and walk closer to him, stopping halfway between the couch and him.  His lip has a gash in it, with blood trickling ever so slightly down.  He has the beginnings of a black eye forming, as well as a bruise budding on his cheek.  He has small open cuts scattered around his face, too small to result in a trip to the emergency room.  I hear Phil get up from behind me, and he walks over to Dan.

“Where did you go?” he asks.

“I went over to James’ flat, and we had a chat.”

“A chat.” Phil repeats.

“Maybe a bit more than a chat…” Dan chuckles, running his fingers through his hair quickly to fix it.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I ask, stepping closer to him.  Dan’s face lights up at the sound of my voice.

“Well I wasn’t about to let him get away with lying like that, now was I?”  He grins, a dimple emerging on his cheek.

“We should get you cleaned up.”  Phil says, turning to go into a different room.  Dan and I stay in the lounge.  He grabs my shoulder and leans on me for support.  That’s when I realize he must be really hurt, and putting up this tough-guy-‘I’m not in pain at all’ face.  I wrap my arm around his waist, not asking any questions yet.  I lead him to the sofa, and he sits, dragging me down to be next to him.

Before a single word can be exchanged between us, Phil comes back with paper towels, pill bottles, and a glass of water in hand.  He dumps everything on the coffee table, and sits on the other side of Dan.  He grabs a spray bottle from the counter, and sprays the cuts.  I take a paper towel and start dabbing the blood away gently, not wanting to hurt him.  “Guys, I’m fine.” Dan insists.

“Yeah, right.” Phil laughs, looking over the things he brought back.  “Pen, do you think I need anything else?  I brought everything we have, but I can go get something if you think we’ll need it.”

“I’m not sure…” I reply, still clearing away the blood.  “The cuts aren’t bad, but I’m not sure about his lip, and I think he’s more hurt than he’s letting on.” 

I go to focus on his mouth, the paper towel turning a deep crimson color almost instantly.  I frown, my eyebrows knitting together.  “Why do you think I’m in pain?” Dan asks, brushing a piece of my hair that had fallen into my face behind my ear.

I raise an eyebrow at him, silently replying.  “Phil, can you go get some ice?” I say finally, and he nods before going off to the kitchen.  “What happened, Dan?” I ask as soon as Phil leaves.  “Don’t act all tough around me, I know you’re hurt.”

“My head is throbbing,” he tells me.

“Do you want to go to the ER?  Or, A&E rather?” I add, remembering they call it something different.

“No, I’ll be fine.”  He notices that I don’t believe him, so he continues, “Besides, I’d much rather you take care of me.  I hate the hospital.  If it’ll make you feel better, we have a neighbor who is a doctor.  I can call him up and he’ll be over in a minute; we’re friends.”

“Can you?” I ask.  He nods, pulling out his phone.

“Hey, Jim!  How are you? …” Phil comes back, a packet of frozen peas with a paper towel wrapped around it in hand.  “Listen, I have a favor, can you come over and check something out for me?  I tripped and hit my head, and my girlfriend’s worried…  Great.  See you in a bit.”

I take the peas from Phil and place it on Dan’s lip, trying to reduce the swelling.  “Jim’s coming over?” Phil asks, and I nod.  We sit in silence until the doorbell rings, and Phil runs off to get it.