The Pond

Chapter Seven: Black Outs And Black Eyes

Tuesday Morning
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The bell rings and I take Quinn by the arm, pulling her up the stairs.

     "So, you excited for Friday?" Quinn winks at me and I roll my eyes. I had to tell her about it because I was elated.

     "I don't know, he's still-"

     "Why do you always say that Zoey! You're giving me no hope. I just want you to go out with him already!" Quinn whined and I laughed, knowing she loves the situation I'm in.

     "Oh hush. You know how confused I am about this." I look down at the ground and instantly fall into deep thought.

     Could I be wrong about him? He seems so different thank what I thought he was...

     I'm so deep in thought I lose track of the scene around me. Im daydreaming until I feel my body slipping and the ground comes up to my face and I hit the ground with a thump.

With a look around, I see Roy and my blood boils in my veins. I grab my book bag and pull it up before standing- or should I say trying. As soon as I sit up, I feel pulled back to the ground. My head is pounding so hard when the world starts to spin and fades slowly around me. The last thing I see before total darkness is Quinn, shaking me like I'm lost.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I open my eyes, I'm in the nurses office. I take a quick look around and see the nurse, across the room with another student, who's face I can't see quite clearly.

I feel at my head, that is pounding, which is cool with an ice pack. Pulling my hand back down by my side, I feel a sharp pain in my wrist and groan, making the nurse, and the student turn to me.

"Oh! Excuse me, Jackson." The nurse politely dismisses the student for a moment, who I now know is named Jackson, and approaches me.

"How are you feeling dear?" She puts a caring hand on my arm and examines me closely.

I open my eyes a little wider and turn my head slightly to look at her. "A little dizzy to be honest." I mumble out the words and as soon as they leave my lips, she grabs a pillow off of another small bed beside me, and stacks them behind me to help me sit up straight.

"I'm going to help you sit up, but I need you to close your eyes and stay as relaxed as possible," the nurse gives me a sweet smile and puts a hand behind my back, helping me up.

"Excuse me," I hear a deep voice speak up from beyond us, and remembering what the nurse said, I try my best not to open my eyes and look. After I'm comfortable and settled, the nurse turns to Jackson and I open my eyes to look around again.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" The boy leans forward and I get a better look at him. His hair is dark, and falls over his eyes in a messy way. His eyes are kind and give off a soothing feeling when he looks at the nurse, obviously trying not to glance at me to avoid awkward eye contact.

     But with a first look, I notice why he is here. He has a black eye and an ice pack in his hand. It looks like it's melting and water trembles down his hand slowly.

The nurse looks back at her phone on her desk and turns to Jackson. "Actually, I need to do a quick run for the secretary if you wouldn't mind sitting next to Zoey here and making sure nothing bad happens, yeah?"

Jackson glances over at me, smiling slightly, not to make it too obvious to the nurse in between us. Rising from his seat, he nods his head at the nurse, "I'd be happy to." And with that, the nurse left the room with nothing but a stack of papers, a wave and a smile.