I saw fire spew out of the house like an angry dragon. I ran downstairs immediately and got the portable fire extinguisher from the kitchen and ran outside. As I was running I popped the pin for the extinguisher for immediate use. Luckily the door was unlocked as I barged in but when I saw Jeff, I completely froze.
He was lying at the bottom of the stairs almost completely on fire with adults trying to put it out. I saw bits of his skin through all the commotion. Some parts pink, some parts charred, but it was all covered in red. At the sight of all this I screamed and then I passed out. Last thing I remember is some of the adults running towards me. Whether it was to help me or get the fire extinguisher I don't know.
When I came to I was in a hospital bed wearing one of those gowns that a patient wears. A nurse came in a few moments later. She had long brown hair in a bun hidden under her hat. She looked like she didn't want to be there. I asked her what happened.
"All I know is that you were brought in with a few other kids because you fell and hit your head on a fire extinguisher." she said, annoyed.
"A fire extinguisher?" I reached up my hand and touched my head. I felt bandages and a large bump the size of a orange. Then I remembered Jeff. "One of the guys that came in here with me, the one with the burns, is he going to be alright?"
She sighed, "Listen, there was two boys that were brought in with you that had burns, and no I'm not letting you see him just because he's your boyfriend."
I felt the heat rise in my face. "He isn't my boyfriend! I'm just worried about him! Wouldn't you be worried about someone who you just saw burning alive in front of you?!" I tried to keep my voice steady, but my voice quivered enough to make it sound like I was lying.
"Whatever. Your parents are here by the way. Wanna see them?" she asked.
"Yes, of course!" anything to get me away from that nurse.
My parents came in and the nurse finally left. They asked what happened. I told them everything. The fight, the note, all of it.
"I knew that Randy was no good!" my mom said.
"So have you heard anything about Jeff's condition?" I asked.
"No, not a thing," said my dad, "we just got here as soon as we heard about what happened to you."
"But who told you?" I asked. I didn't think I saw anyone at the party that my family knew.
"The hospital called us." mom said.
"Well I guess that makes sense." it made absolutely no sense to me of course. How would someone be able identify me without me having any form of identification.
I looked in the doorway and saw a man and a woman standing in there. My parents followed my gaze and saw them too.
"Excuse me, but is this Jane Arkensaw's room?" the woman asked.
"Yes." my mother answered, "Who are you?"
"I'm Margret, and this is Peter, my husband." she gestured to the man beside her. "We're Jeff's parents."
I sat up in my bed.
"I'm Isabelle, this is my husband Greg, and our daughter Jane." mom gestured to me.
"So, you're the girl who ran in with the fire extinguisher." Margret said.
"Yes." I replied quietly, embarrassed. "Is your son alright?"
"He just came out of surgery a few hours ago. The doctors said he will be fine."
I relaxed at that thought. "That's good." I said. "Listen. I know what happened to Jeff and Liu on their first day of school..." then I told Jeff's parents what really happened to Randy and his crew.
"We had no idea that Jeff was capable of something like this." Peter said.
"I am willing to testify that Liu didn't beat up anyone and that Jeff only beat up Randy and his gang in self-defense."
"No need," said Margret, "Liu is being released from jail after what happened to those boys."
"That's good." I said.
"We just came to say thank you for trying to help our son, Jane. It warms my heart to see selfless people in your generation."
I blushed, "I did anything anyone would have done in my situation." I looked down, "I'm not a hero."
"Nonsense!" Margret said, "The least we can do is invite you over to our place for dinner when Jeff gets out of the hospital!"
I looked at mom and dad. "It would be an honor." My mom said.
"It's settled then! We'll call you as soon as Jeff gets out of the hospital." we said our goodbyes and then they left.
