Cheshire Girl

Ch. 30

Ethan stirred as he noticed the truck slow down.  "What're you doing?"

                I came to a full stop in front of my house and turned the engine off.  "No offense, but you look like crap… and a little scary.  We have a first aid kit inside.  At least clean yourself up before you go home."  I didn't want his mom to be worried, but there was little I could do.

                He looked annoyed, but he got out of the truck.  He didn't hesitate as he followed me through the door and I pointed him toward the kitchen.  I ran upstairs and got the first aid kid, along with a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, which was purple.

                Ethan was at the kitchen table with a paper towel draped over his face, slouched on a chair and his head tilted back, arms crossed.  Blood soaked into the towel.   Good absorption.

                "If that sticks," I said, making him jump, "it's going to hurt pulling it off."

                "Shit," he sighed.

                I gingerly removed the towel, wincing as it pulled away sticky with blood.  "So," I said, "how'd it start today?"  I went to the sink and soaked a few new paper towels.

                "Same as always," he sighed.  "I existed while they were around."

                That was depressing.  I started cleaning his face.  "Did they force you out of the truck?"

                He scoffed.  "Not even."

                "So you got out on your own," I concluded.  The path of nonviolence was not for this one.

                He opened his eyes and frowned at me.  "Are you making this my fault?"

                "No, I'm not."  If anyone's, it was mine.

                "So you wanted me to hide in my truck?"  He looked offended.

                "So you chose your pride over your face?" I shot back.

                Ethan frowned at me, and then let me continue cleaning, closing his eyes again.  "You don't understand."

                I chuckled humorlessly.  "After everything I told you today, you think I still don't understand?"  I scoffed.  I shook my head.  "You Cheshire people…."

                His eyebrows furrowed.  "Why did you jump in?"

                "Oh, I'm sorry.  Maybe I should've fetched us all some popcorn and a few lawn chairs so we could watch.  I didn't know you wanted me to join the crowd."

                "It'd be easier if you did," he sighed.

                "Sorry, but I don't fly that way.  We gotta get even with those Socs."  Ethan smirked. 

                I finished cleaning and found where the cuts were.  "This next part's going to sting."  I dampened a cotton ball with a little bit of rubbing alcohol and started dabbing over his eye.  "Sorry," I said as he winced.  I found a few other cuts and apologized whenever Ethan reacted.

                "Where's your mom?" he asked after a while.

                "She's at a publisher's meeting.  She'll be back sometime in the evening.  Do you want me to put this on?"  I held up the small bottle of hydrogen peroxide.