Wanderers (1st Draft)

The Library

Rixton

Rixton moves back to the house the next evening. The doctor wanted him to stay one more day, but Rixton whined enough and the doc practically threw him out the door. The whole trip home was painful and full of James fussing over him. Making sure he was comfortable and that the seat belt wasn't too tight. James had insisted that they take Rixton's dad's old car back to the house. Rixton protested until talking sent waves of pain shooting up his side. Then he just grumbled about the pain and the car. He hated the car. It was a public display of how rich his dad was and how poor the rest of the town was. The only people who could afford cars were the crime bosses. And the only reason they could afford cars was because they took everyone else's money.

Back at the house Rixton felt like sleeping on the hard wood floor when he looked at the stairs. He was about to suggest he just sleep on the couch when James offered to carry him up the stairs. In reply Rixton made the first painful step up the stairs. When he finally got to his room he collapsed on his bed. And being completely out of energy he let James take off his shoes and "tuck him in." He made James swear to secrecy and threatened to tell all of his secrets if he told anyone about it. Before James even got his second shoe off, Rixton was out.

Rixton wakes up the next day in pain. He moans and the next second he hears James voice somewhere above him.

"You okay?" James asks, concern thick in his voice.

"Pain." Rixton moans. He blinks open his eyes to see bright light shining in through the window curtains. He starts to roll on his side, to get away from the light, but the pain gets worse. "Close the curtain." Rixton mumbles.

James walks over to the window and closes the curtains. "Let's get you sitting up." He helps Rixton sit up, fluffing the pillows behind him. Rixton tries to hide the pain as he sits up right.

"Here." James hands him a white pill. 'Pain killer."

Rixton snatches the pill and pops it into his mouth. "Why didn't you give me that sooner?" Rixton demands after he swallows.

"You wanted the curtains shut." James says as he sits on the edge of the bed.

Rixton glares at him. "You could have tossed me the pill first, then shut the curtains."

James frowns at him. "Are you really going to whine and complain?"

Rixton pretends to think for a minute, then says. "Yes."

James rolls his eyes. He reaches to the bedside table and grabs a plate of food. "Breakfast. Well, I guess it's more of lunch now."

"Thanks." Rixton takes the plate and starts eating. After a few bites he says, "Um...how's..."

"Alice?" James guesses.

Rixton nods his head.