Strong

Chapter 2

I wake up in the nurse’s office with a migraine. I hear Nurse Cary in the hall talking to someone. He has a deep voice and I can hear everything they’re saying. “When do you think she’s going to wake up?” I hear the male voice ask. “She could wake up any minute, be patient.” I hear Nurse Cary say and turn the doorknob to the room im in. I close my eyes, hoping to look asleep. Nurse Cary sets a glass of water on the table next to the bed, and feels my ribs. I purse my lips trying not to laugh and open my eyes. I look over to the person Nurse Cary was talking to and he smiles at me. “Hello, how do you feel,” he says in a deep voice. “Could be better,” I respond. He laughs “I bet, took quite a beating by those girls.” I try to sit up and he helps me up. “If I may ask, who are you,” I laugh a bit and look at his curly hair. “I’m Harry; I helped pull those girls off of you.” I nod “thanks, im Ryan,” I give a small wave and grab the glass of water beside me. He hands me an aspirin and I take the pill.

                “Thanks again Ms. Cary,” I wave from the door. “No problem sweetie be careful,” I nod “ok thank you.”

                I walk down the hallway and Harry follows, “can I help you,” I smile at him. “Did you need a ride home,” he asks and gestures to his black Mercedes. “Would it be a smart idea to trust a stranger?” He rolls his eyes, “we’re not strangers I know your name and you know mine,” he shrugs. “Were just like childhood friends,” I sarcastically remark and shake my head. “I should be fine thanks,” I start walking towards my car.

                I open the car door and throw my backpack in. Harry steps in front of me and hops into the car. “Hey!” I say and fold my arms over my chest. “Hop in short stuff,” I glare at him and walk to the passenger side door. “You’re lucky I didn’t really want to drive,” I buckle and look out the window.” He chuckles and takes my keys from my backpack. I hear the engine start and I groan. “Head hurt?” He asks and turns off the radio. I nod and hold my head in my hands. “Where is your house,” he asks and turns out of the school parking lot. “Just take a left at the next stop sign and keep going until you see a red Porsche,” I sigh and close my eyes. I hear rain drops hit the car roof and a few minutes later its pouring rain. “Great,” I laugh and open my eyes. “I love the rain,” he smiles and looks out the window. “I’d love it more if it didn’t mess up my hair,” he laughs and shakes his head. “I think you would look great either way,” he compliments. He has a look of fear as if he just realized what he said. I blush and look away I know it’s not true I would look like a total mess, uglier than I already am.

                Harry pulls up in front of the apartment complex behind my dad’s car. “Wait how are you going to get home,” I ask unbuckling myself from the seat. “I’ll just walk no big deal,” he shrugs and turns off the car. “Umm no, pretty big deal, it’s pouring outside, do you have anyone that you can call to pick you up,” I ask starting to get worried for this stranger. “I do but I don’t want them finding me, im sort of on vacation.” I nod “well I guess you’re going to have to come in and wait for the rain to stop.” He smiles from ear to ear, and hops out of the car. I’m just about to open the car door when Harry opens it for me and takes the umbrella I had in my hand. I smile and close the passenger door behind me. “Thanks, but you really don’t have to be so nice,” he shakes his head. “You should always try to be as nice as you possibly can,” he says and smiles at me.

We walk up to the door and I pull out my keys. “My parents should still be at work they don’t get home until 5,” I say and hang up my coat on the rack. “Where do your parents work?” I hear him ask after sitting on my dad’s recliner. “They’re doctors at the hospital down the street,” I say while opening a container of grapes. “That explains the Porsche,” he says while taking out his phone.

                “Do you want anything?” I ask and go to the doorway of the kitchen so I can see him. “Some water would be nice, thank you,” he smiles and looks back down at his phone. I grab the bowl of grapes and two glasses of water and make my way to the living room. “Here you go,” I say and hand him his glass. “Thank you,” he grabs the water and turns his phone off. Just as the screen of his phone turns black I hear my phone start to ring. I look at the caller ID and see a picture of Sophia and debate whether to answer and leave Harry alone or not. “I have to take this sorry,” I say and get up to answer the call.

                “Hi Sophie,” I say while walking into my bedroom. “Where are you, I couldn’t find you anywhere at lunch, I started to get worried,” she says as if she’s exhausted.  “I’m fine I ran into Katie’s gang after first period I was in the nurse’s office for awhile but im home now,” I put the phone on speaker and change my shirt so im in something warmer. “You drove home by yourself, you could’ve hurt yourself or others,” she nearly shouts. “Someone drove me home I guess he saved me from the fight,” I say trying to calm her down. “Who was it, do you know the person,” she says sounding worried. “I just met him but he seems trustworthy enough,” I say thinking about his very friendly smile. “Ok just be careful, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says. “Alright, I’ll try not to die before then,” I say half-jokingly. “Not funny,” she says and hangs up.  I shut my closet door and throw my wet shirt into the clothes hamper by my door.

                I walk out of my room and into the living room to see Harry looking at the family pictures and pictures of me on the mantel. I stand by the doorway and watch him pick up a picture of me holding a trophy and laughing, he laughs and looks at it for a bit longer. “That’s from when I won my team the play offs, ive never seen my dad so proud of me,” I say walking over to the mantel and standing next to Harry. “So why don’t you want anyone to find you,” I ask remembering what he said in the car. “I just wanted to get away you know, they always tell me what they think is best for me,  or they always want to know where I am every second, and it feels like im in a prison sometimes,” I nod. “Well you can camp out here for as long as you want I guess, my parents want me to make friends, so this is a perfect opportunity,” I ramble looking away. “Thank you I appreciate it,” I blush and walk over to the couch.

                “What brought you to Wilmslow High School?” I ask, “I used to go there I was saying hi to some old friends and my teachers, when I was walking to my old science teacher’s classroom I saw you fighting consciousness. I pulled them off of you, and carried you to the nurse,” I look up at him to see him already looking at me. “Thank you it’s something I’ve gotten use to though, the constant name calling, and physical violence.” I look down at my hands and try not to cry, “Hey, don’t cry its ok im here for you, you shouldn’t have to go through this, or even be used to it,” he wipes my cheek and pushes my hair back. “Thanks Harry,” I smile and he puts his arm around me. I hear the front door open and I jump pulling his arm away from me, “Ryan?”