Things are Complicated

Chapter 9: Concussion

“Cute PJ’s,”

Sprawled out over the ridiculously large couch in our tv room, I readjusted the melting ice pack over my chin and ignored D’Angelo. My head wouldn’t stop hurting, even after four Tylenols. I could blink and miss an entire chunk of time.

“You can go home now,” I tell D’Angelo.

“Nope,” he wiped his hair dry with a fluffy brown towel. “I’m staying the night in case your concussion worsens.”

He leaned over the back of the couch and stared at the little green aliens on my fuzzy pajama bottoms. The bastard already took me to the doctor, now he’s staying over? I’d rather chance it with wolves.

Ever since I stormed out, he’s stuck to me like a vulture, hovering over me like prey. After he took me to get my head checked- which confirmed I had a concussion- we returned to my house so we could clean up. When I took my shower, he waited outside the entire time, just listening to hear if I fell or something. Talk about awkward. D borrowed a few of my brother’s clothes and took a quick shower only after I was safely tucked away on the couch.

 “So, would you prefer pizza or chicken for dinner?” he snatched the phone off the table and began dialing.

My only response is to only groan. The mere thought of food made me want to hurl.

“Oh that’s right,” D hung up the phone. “You can’t stomach food for a while. I guess I’ll just help myself to whatever is in the fridge.”

Closing my eyes to the sweet bliss of silence and being alone, I pondered the reality of having Jefferson High’s “it” kid doting on me. The mere fact that he’s even here would stir up enough rumors to fire a raging boner for my head among the females at our school, I can’t imagine the guys’ reaction.

Whatever people saw in his six foot, tan, muscular frame I’ll never know. Ever since I was young, others have always told me that my brothers are good-looking; since I’ve grown up with them I guess you could say I’m immune to appearances. So D’s green eyes, charming smile and all-around friendly nature does little to persuade me that this is his true character. In truth, I saw the dark underbelly of my brothers personalities and most of their friends- they farted, cursed, talked crudely about each other and females body parts, the list could go on.

From down the hall I hear the doorbell ring, but my body remained catatonic on the couch. Whoever it is will not get me to move even if they offer me money and hit man to off everyone that’s ever looked at me sideways.

I hear D jog down the hall to answer it, if I weren’t so tired I’d have yelled for him to ignore it.

“Hey Leah,” D probably didn’t realize the mistake, but he shouldn’t have answered the door. “You got Jett I see, thanks.”

“Yeah sure…” She hesitated, most likely looking for me or an explanation. Or both. “Where’s Jed? I heard she hit her head pretty hard.”

“She’s been sleeping for about an hour,” He tells her, which is news to me. I peak open my eyes at the clock on the wall and he’s right. “The doctor said she has a concussion and she might fall asleep a lot, so I’m not going to wake her. They said sleep helps heal the brain after an accident.”

“Did you take her?” Leah asked, sounding surprised and suspicious. “Where’s her mom?”

“Last I checked, she’s in court and you’re not allowed to bring your phone in during a session.”

“Um… D?”

“Yeah?” He sounded rather cheery for a fellow about to realize his own mistake.