Teenage Wasteland

Chapter 2: Oh No!

For a minute, I swear I'm dead.

It's cold and dark and I think that maybe even if I'm not I definitely want to be because there's no way I'll be able to endure another minute of this.

It feels like an eternity has passed before I'm blearily opening my eyes and blinking owlishly upon seeing a bright fluorescent light above me. There's a resounding ache in my head, and I don't care to move. It feels like every muscle in my body is on fire, and it's not like I have any intention of stupidly moving and making it worse.

Then a shrill voice fills my ears and I realize that no amount of moving would compare to the painfulness of that.

"Victoriaaaa! How are we feeling, hmmm?" It's Nurse Creely, a stout middle aged woman with a voice like nails on a chalkboard. I cringe.

My throat feels like sandpaper but I manage to squeak out a few words. "I'm fine." I say. "what happened?"

Nurse Creely tuts and sticks a thermometer under my tongue. "You poor dear. Had an accident with a dodgeball in gym. Do you not remember?"

Oh no. I definitely remember that. My cheeks flush scarlet and I look away. She grabs my chin and pulls me back to her with a flashlight in hand. I follow the light with my eyes, and satisfied, she sets it down and starts filling out a slip.

The door opens and in steps a cautious looking Natalie, that guy from my algebra class trailing along behind her. I gulp when she glances in my direction and shoots me a wearily smile.

There's that guilt again, settling deep in the pit of my stomach. I haven't even done anything yet. Surely it must be too soon to feel this guilty.

"Can I help you, Miss Amundsen?" Nurse Creely asks as she tears off the slip and hands it to me.

"Just wanted to make sure Victoria here is okay. It was kind of my fault."

Nope. Not you're fault at all, it was my fault it's always my fault. Don't worry about it, please.

"She's doing just fine. No fatal injuries, just a little bit shaken up. Natalie, would you be a dear and take her back to class?"

Natalie nods and gestures for me to follow her. I get up from the cot, thank the nurse, and follow her and the other guy into the hallway. She seems a little...nervous, and I don't really know why. If anyone should be nervous, it's me. I mean, I did hit her in the face first and start the whole thing.

She swallows thickly and plays with the end of her braid, eyes downcast. "Um, I'm sorry, by the way. Cece freaked out and she...yeah."

"It's fine. I'm sorry, too." I don't like saying I'm sorry. Not for prideful reasons, but because the word has so little meaning. You say the same words to someone you bumped into on the street to someone who's dad just died. I don't think that's really fair. But I say it anyway, because I'm gonna have a lot I have a lot of "I'm sorry's" to say to her.

Her eyes widen and she frowns slightly. "For what? You didn't do anything."

"I hit you first."

Natalie presses her lips together and doesn't say anything for a long time. "It's fine." She echoes my words from earlier with a nonchalant shrug and faint smile. "Um, you missed lunch, but the offer still stands. Tomorrow. If you want." Her smile is a little shy but bright, and only widens when I nod. 

And it makes me smile a little, too.

But it also makes me wonder. "Hey, Natalie? Can I ask you something?" She nods, and I can continue. I'm surprised I don't stutter with how nervous I am about asking her this. My words come out surprisingly smooth. "Why are you so nice to me?