Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

23. Nurse's Office Encounter

Chapter 23: Nurse's Office Encounter

Sam

I woke up on one of the cots in the nurse's office. My head still hurt a bit, but I least I wasn't dizzy anymore. I felt incredibly embarrassed that I had passed out in the middle of class. I've never done that before. What was wrong with me?

The nurse, as soon as she realized I was awake and sitting up, came over with a little cup of water and a small packet of crackers. "Here, hun," she said. "Take these. Your father's on his way to pick you up."

I took the cup and crackers, but shook my head at her words. "I'm fine," I told her. "I don't need to go home. I'm okay."

"Sorry, hun. You passed out. Gotta send you home."

A small snicker from across the room made me look over to see Shawn. He was sitting in a chair with a wad of bloody paper towels pressed against his nose, but I could tell he was laughing at me. The nurse didn't seem to notice as she walked away an into the back room.

"Serves you right," Shawn said.

"Alright hun," the nurse said before I could figure out what to say to Shawn. She was holding a clipboard and a pen, looking down at that as she walked back over to me. I'm pretty sure she hadn't even realized Shawn had said anything. "I'm going to need to you tell me what happened."

"I hit my head on a locker," I said before glancing over at Shawn. He suddenly didn't look so arrogant anymore, realizing that I could get him in trouble right now if I wanted to.

I wasn't usually the type to want to get other people in trouble, even if they deserved it. But I think Shawn definitely deserved it today. "Actually, I was sort of shoved into the lockers and that's when I hit my head."

Shawn glared at me, but didn't say anything. The nurse was the one to speak up. "Someone did that to you? Who was it, hun?"

I gestured to Shawn. "Shawn did, actually." I wanted to look over at him, but I resisted the urge. I didn't want to see how mad he was. "That's why Ryan hit him - because he hurt me."

"That's not true!" Shawn exclaimed.

The nurse crossed her arms over her chest and looked at both of us. "Only one of you can be telling the truth. Should I bring Ryan in to get his side of the story?"

"Fine!" Shawn said, slouching in the chair and letting his hand that had been holding the paper to his nose fall into his lap. "Sam's right. But I didn't mean to hurt him. He only took what's mine."

"Ryan's not a thing," I shot back immediately. "He not something you can just have like that. I like Ryan, a lot more than I thought I did. And Ryan likes me. If you like Ryan so much, why can't you let him be happy, even if that means letting him be with me?"

I didn't want to take Shawn's opportunity to be with Ryan. That wasn't why I did what I did earlier. I did it because I realized I didn't want to lose my own opportunity to be with someone as amazing as Ryan. I was pushing him away because I was scared. I've never been in a real relationship before - I realized that now. Owen was just using me, which is something Ryan would never do. Meanwhile, Shawn was trying to use me. He wanted me to turn against my best friend and reject him, just so that he'd get his chance to date Ryan. Did I really want Ryan to be with someone like that? Someone like Owen?

I felt bad comparing Shawn to Owen, but honestly, I could see the similarities in their personalities, now that I've looked back at whatever happened between me and Owen. It was a mess and a disaster. I don't know how I ever thought that was love. Real love is what Ryan felt towards me - at least, I was pretty sure about that. He was someone I knew I'd be able to love too, but only if Shawn stopped trying to get in the middle of everything and I let myself love him.

The door to the nurse's office opened and the secretary popped her head in. "Sam?" she questioned, looking at me. "Your father's here, if you're ready to leave."

I sighed and looked up at the nurse for conformation. She nodded her head, so I quickly got off the cot and grabbed my things. Then I looked at Shawn, who was still sitting there glaring at me.

"I'm sorry," I said, suddenly feeling guilty about the whole situation. "I shouldn't have pulled him away from you in the middle of your conversation. You can still tell him the truth, although I honestly don't know how much good it'll do you. Actually, I think you should tell him, just so everything's out in the open."

He nodded stiffly but didn't say anything as I walked passed him and to the front office. Just like the secretary had said, Poppa was there waiting for me. He was talking with Ryan, who was sitting in one of the chairs we had to sit in yesterday.

As soon as I walked up to them, Ryan's eyes widened and he stood up. I was then encased in a huge hug. "Are you okay? I heard you passed out."

I stepped out of the hug, even though I honestly didn't want to. It felt nice to have him holding me like that. "I'm fine. But you... are you...?" I didn't want to say the words out loud, but thankfully he knew what I was asking anyway.

"Suspended." He sighed. "When my mom gets here, we'll figure out when I can come back. If I can come back. We'll see."

I shook my head, not wanting to think of that. Poppa was still standing there, looking impatient. He was probably heading to work when he was called here. I shouldn't make him wait any longer.

"Talk to Shawn," I told Ryan. "I shouldn't have interfered earlier. Listen to him and don't hit him again, okay?"

"What you said though, you still meant it?"

I gave him a small smile before leaning up and giving him a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. "Yeah." Then I turned around to see Poppa watching me with a small smirk on his face. I wish I knew what that meant. I looked back over at Ryan. "I'll talk to you later?"

He nodded weakly and sat back down. I really hoped he wasn't going to get expelled. I didn't know how I'd handle school every day if he wasn't here anymore.