The Boy Who Broke My Leg

Chapter 5

I jerk up into a sitting position. Screaming. Somebody is screaming. Where am I. What's happening.

I blink a few times and stare confusedly at the pretty teenage girl standing in the doorway, who's staring back at me, looking equally confused and a little shocked.

Alistair's room. I'm in Alistair's room.

"Who are you?" mystery girl asks, suspiciously, as if I'm a robber, granted a stupid one who decided to take a nap in the middle of the heist. For some reason I'm reminded of Goldilocks waking up at the bear's home. I study the girl for a moment. Her brown eyes are the same color and shape as Alistair's and even though her hair is streaked a dark blonde, her roots are unmistakably brunette. This must be the owner of the pink flannel bottoms I'm currently wearing.

"Vanessa", I say.  "I'm ,um, a friend of your brother." Are we friends? More like acquaintances due to an accidental injury and he's obligated to be nice to me.

The way her eyes flash with recognition and shift to my half covered leg, I assume I've been a topic of a  few family discussions. Guilt replaces her suspicious expression.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry", she says quickly. "I didn't mean to wake you up I just came here to steal my brother's pencils cuz I lost all of mine and he always has stationary lying around so I just steal his and then there was just a random girl lying in his bed I'm so sorry not that you're random I was just surprised."

I blink sleepily again, having lost half of her rant. "It's fine I should be getting home anyways what time is-holy shit is it actually 5pm?" The clock opposite me had to be lying. I couldn't have slept for 5 hours straight.

"Yep, Ali's downstairs. I'm Aliyah by the way, his sister. Unfortunately." I half smile at that. "I'm a freshman but I don't think I've ever seen you around."

There isn't really an answer for this other than I'm just socially distant. I shrug.

Aliyah's voice grows sober then. "Ali didn't mean to hurt you. He can be an annoying pain in the posterior but he'd never willingly do that to someone. He's a good guy."

I nod. "I know." It's all I say but it's honest and I know she can tell because she smiles.

"I like your pants", she says with a grin.

I'm about to respond when Alistair's voice comes down the hall. "Is she awake?"

"Yep."

I manage to pull up into a half sitting position by the time he makes it to the door. 

"How are you feeling?", he asks, meeting my eyes.

"A lot better", I reply.

That's the moment when a women who I'm assuming is Alistair's mother, granted her common features to her children, comes into the picture.

"Vanessa, honey I'm so glad to finally meet you. Are you feeling alright? Can I get you anything? Have neither of you offered her water? I've raised you better than that", she addresses her kids.

"No, no I don't need anything I'm fine", I mumble uncomfortably at the sudden attention of three family members of the somewhat random house I'm in. "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs um LeBran. But I better be getting home now. I'm so sorry to have imposed like this-"

"Nonsense", Mrs LeBran cuts me off. "You have to stay for dinner it's already ready. I hope grilled chicken and asparagus is alright. Unless you're vegetarian? Or allergic to asparagus? I could whip something else up just tell me what you'd like."

I blink a few times.  "Um it's really alright I can go home and-". Microwave instant mac n cheese? Cooking for myself is going to be a problem now. I look at Alistair but he's just gazing at my leg with a guilty look on his face.

"You should save your breath", Aliyah interjects with a smirk. "When my mom gets something in her head she doesn't give it up."

I glance sideways at Alistair who interrupts his guilty stare to look up at me and nods. "There's no winning."

And that's how I end up seated at the LeBran family dinner table.

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I hate asparagus. Something about the texture and the bland taste no matter how much seasoning you put on it. Plus it takes a long time to cook and I generally stick to foods that can be cooked in 10 minutes. Obviously I don't say anything. I just chew while trying not to taste while reassuring Mrs LeBran that yes the garlic seasoning and lemon zest does bring out the earthy flavor. She asks me if I cook and I say yes although my menu is limited to various kinds of pasta, salads and sandwiches. Alistair's father walks through the door halfway through the meal. His mother makes a hasty introduction to which he smiles and asks me how I'm doing before leaving to get cleaned up. 

Mrs LeBran and Aliyah chatter animatedly about school and the weather and everything in between. Alistair and I remain quiet unless it's a direct question at one of us. I'm just generally quiet with new people and I have no idea what's up with Alistair.

"You've texted your parents to tell them where you are, haven't you? I didn't see them at the hospital. I'd love to meet them", Mrs LeBran says randomly and I freeze with a bite of chicken in my mouth. Well it probably wasn't random and ties into the conversation but I wasn't paying attention.

I slowly finish chewing my chicken staring at the table cloth and lift my eyes up. Mrs LeBran and Aliyah look at me curiously and Alistair's mouth is hanging open slightly and his eyes and filled with apology. I'm not sure whether I wish he had told them about my parental situation before hand or if I'm glad he didn't spill my info without permission. Again, this isn't his fault, I tell myself.

I've already dragged my response a few seconds too late. "My mother died of cancer a few years ago and my dad's away on business", I say, grateful that my voice is steady. There's a moment of silence and I drag my eyes back to the tablecloth and spear another piece of asparagus with my fork, trying to hide my awkwardness of sharing information with these practical strangers.

"I'm so sorry ", Mrs LeBran says softly. "I'm so sorry if there's anything you need just let me know."

I quietly breathe out a sigh of relief, glad that was it. "Thanks and I'm fi-"

"I have a cookbook on recipes that can be frozen oh that's a great idea I'll try out a few and bring them right over how much space to you think you have in your freezer, Vanessa?" her eyes are lit up thinking of all the possibilities. "How do you feel about lasagna? Do you prefer meat and veggies or just cheese?"

I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. I glance at Alistair frantically.

"Mom, I'm sure she'll ask if she needs anything", he says slowly.

"Yes, really, I'm fine but thank you so much for the offer", I say as gratefully as I can. And I am grateful, I really am. But I don't want her pity and guilt over her son to fill up my freezer with more food than I can possibly manage.

"It really would be no trouble. Maybe we could start out with a few and see how you like them? Or if you prefer fresh food-", she continues.

"I'll definitely let you know if I need anything", I repeat. "I really need to go it's getting late and um I haven't took my painkillers today." I know it's cheap lying about a not really there pain but I just have to get out of here before I make this worse.

"Oh alright then", Mrs LeBran says, subdued. "I've made way too much chicken and asparagus I'll just put some in a Tupperware container for you if you want to eat some later."

More asparagus. As a late night snack apparently. I'm too exhausted to fight it. "Thank you." She smiles and guilt twists my inside. Here she is trying to be nice and I'm rudely shooting her down.

"I'll go get your stuff", Aliyah says and heads upstairs. "Alistair will give you a ride home."