Dude, I love you

Chapter Six

Jack Johnson's POV

I’m currently at the hospital. As if things couldn’t get any worse I’m now costing my parents money for the unnecessary ambulance ride and check-up. I could hear the heart rate monitor increasing in speed with my thoughts.

On my way home from school after leaving Jack, crying and feeling overwhelmed I started feeling dizzy and my nose bleed started up again. I vaguely remember falling to the ground in the field through park and then I remember someone, a woman with a dog, kneeling over me holding my head when I regained consciousness. She told me the paramedics were on the way, before I could protest she called some other people over to watch me as she went to wait to flag the ambulance. I still felt weak and fell asleep again. When I woke up again I was being lifted onto a gurney and put into the back of the truck. I tried to protest and tell them I was fine and needed to get home. However I’m a minor and couldn’t be left alone at home in this state as they told me.

I told them what happened earlier during gym class and that I was a bit high strung later and explained that was the cause for the nosebleed and fainting I had experienced. However they still wished to have the ER examine me for any other possible causes or complications.

The doctor who examined me just finished telling me what I already knew, that it ‘wasn’t out of the ordinary’ after examining my nose and the dilation of my pupils and that I ‘need to get something in my stomach’. I told him that’s what the school nurse said and he stated that he would contact my school to try and get some coverage for the insurance charge. He understood that I knew I was fine and didn’t need all of this pressure about the costs.

My mom was on her way to pick me up. She was freaking out when I texted her. She said she started crying at work and left so fast her boss didn’t have time to stop her. Now she was angry at the school and the nurse who ‘just let me go’. I told her it wasn’t Jade’s fault and that I went home without telling the school I was leaving. She phoned my dad and Jack when she was freaking out. Jack didn’t answer though because he probably had his phone on silent during class. She phoned his parents too, who then sent him a load of texts. So now my phone is going off the hook now with texts from my parents, Jeff, Jack and his parents, even Laura, Jack’s sister, texted and asked if I was okay.

I replied to all of them except jack saying I was fine and just fainted because I had a bad nose bleed earlier. I didn’t know how to reply to Jack. I avoided opening his chat because it would send a read receipt.

My mom said she was nearby now and so I decided to answer Jack. I couldn’t just leave him hanging after what happened at school that would be cruel.

Me: I’m fine. – Delivered. – Read

Jack#1: I know my parents told me. But thank god I felt like shit.

Jack#1: Want me stop by after school?

Me: No don’t come. – Delivered. – Read.

Jack#1: K…

Me: ttyl.. – Delivered. – Read.

Jack#1: JJ

Me: Don’t. okay? – Delivered. – Read.

Jack#1: okay fine… ttyl. Luv you bro.

I feel like an ass but I’m still mad at him. Did he really have to add that last bit though. I’m sure he got my read receipt already and is waiting for some sort of reply. Feeling utterly guilty and also like a complete douchebag I lock my phone and continue to wait for my mom to get here.

My mom came in and nearly broke down seeing me hooked up to the machines that were taking my vitals and came and crushed me with a mom hug. Hugging her made some of the overwhelming feelings subside.

“Mom I’m fine, really I just need to eat something they said.” My voice was muffled slightly by her arm. She let go and grabbed my face, examining for herself that I was fine.

“Oh my baby. Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked as she licked her finger and wiped some dirt off the side of my face. Could she be any more of a mom? Like really?

“I’m sorry mom, I know the ambulance and the hospital are going to cost you guys on the insurance.” I say sheepishly.

“Oh don’t worry Jack, we’ll just dip into your college fund.” She says flatly.

“Mom?” I say questioningly and with a sense of urgency.

“Oh Jack you should know I’m kidding.” Waving her hand dismissively as she speaks. I felt relieved.

“I mean you don’t even have a college fund.” She says smiling.

“Mom.” I say rolling my eyes, calling her bluff.

“Well you are feeling better that’s for sure. I’ll go sign the papers. Get your things and we’ll go eat someplace. You pick.” She states walking toward the main desk.

A nurse came in and removed the heart rate monitor from my finger and the blood pressure cuff from my arm. I grabbed my bag and went to meet my mom at the main desk. Once she signed the discharge papers we walked out to where she parked on the street. 

I decided I wanted subway because I felt like I could eat a horse. The lunch I ate earlier didn’t satisfy me for long. I ended up buying a foot long sandwich, cookies and a bag of chips with a large drink while my mom got soup and just had a few bites of my sandwich. We sat and had some of the food but packed up the rest to go.

I was debating texting Jack. It was just after three o’clock and school would be over soon. I had conflicted feelings about his offer to come by. Part of me wanted him to come see me, badly, so we could make up and the other part of me wanted to punish him for being blind and for defending Justin.

Before today I didn’t necessarily have anything against Justin, he did make a few funny jokes here and there that made me smile but mostly I didn’t think much of him, besides he was someone who was now constantly with Jack so I thought if Jack liked him I could too. However he was one of the few people that ignored me in the beginning. When I would say something he would kind of intercept my words by saying something to the group we were with. At first I didn’t think it was on purpose but then I started to notice that it was.

I voted to let Jack figure it out for himself while I did the same. We need to take a break. Right now I just want to get home and eat myself into a food coma.