I walked into the school the next day looking as if I had just come back from Iraq. The doctors Halie had handed me over to had put my sliced shoulder in a sling after a couple dozen painful stitched were sewn into my skin. The cut Fang had inflicted on my neck was bandaged heavily, as were the bruises on my face. My torso was also bandaged and cushioned. The doctors said I must have had about three broken ribs. Other than that, I was completely fine. The shoulder injury was the most severe, and even the slightest shrug sent me reeling with pain, my arm stinging with agony.
"Oh my gosh, honey! I told you to be careful on those stairs yesterday," said Jessica hurriedly. She rushed me past the staring people. Most people were stupid enough to believe that stairs were what had injured me so badly, but Jessica knew that I had gotten in another scuffle at my job. Thankfully, she was sympathetic enough to me that she had decided to save the lecture for when she came over to my house after school.
"You're lucky you have me to back you up, Josh—look a little happier with your 'girlfriend'," she whispered to me furiously, pulling of the worried-girlfriend look while chastising me under her breath. I gave her a small smile.
"Thanks Jess...I owe you one," I said to her. She smirked at me, entwining my hand with her fingers.
"Hey, come over to my house tonight, 'kay?" she asked me. I nodded at her, forcing a smile on my face.
"You've got it, babe," I told her, projecting my voice as loudly as I could. She giggled, kissing my cheek. I would have smiled at her if I hadn't seen Sam staring at me from under a tree, and he was not happy. I paled.
"Um...actually, I might get stuck in detention today," I told her under my breath. She nodded at me. "I got it. I'll just go home without you," she told me, completely understanding the implications. I looked at her with shock, and she shrugged.
"I'll just make up some excuse in case someone asks. No big deal, Josh," she promised me. I kissed her forehead. This notion wasn't meant to be romantic, merely friendly. I wanted to put all of my love for her into that simple motion. Jessica was the best friend I could have ever hoped for.
* * *
I sat at my desk nervously. Unfortunately, Sam and I were left alone in the classroom once again for after school detention. Sam was reading his book, staring at his pages without really seeing them. The reason I knew this—his eyes were either blank and far away, or flickering back to me. I couldn't look at him. I knew that I had run out rather rudely on Sam, and he knew that I had not gotten those injuries from stairs.
"How's the arm?" asked Sam softly. I couldn't find the strength to look at him still, and I made an excuse to adjust my bandages around my arm better.
"Uh...fine...just kinda painful if I move them," I said, reminding myself not to shrug a moment after I had already done so. A new wave of pain coursed up my arm. I couldn't stop the growl of pain from escaping my lips. In a flash, Sam was at my side, his hands on my arm gently, being careful not to touch my bandaged area.
"Where does it hurt?" he asked quickly. I looked away from him.
"It's nothing...I'm fine!" I told him hurriedly. Sam grabbed my chin and pulled my face towards his so I was forced to look him straight into the eyes. The effort made my wound sting in my neck, and I couldn't help but wince at his touch. Sam's furious gaze softened to worry.
"Sorry...I'm just worried about you," he admitted, slowly releasing his grip on me. He leaned against my desk, looking down at me in my chair.
"You didn't get those injuries at work," said Sam. I swallowed it guilt. He glared at me.
YOU ARE READING
In the Classroom
Romance(Rated R for mature themes.) Joshua Brown is a boy with many secrets. Life hasn't exactly been a bowl of cherries for him. His parents are dead. His brother has run off on him. His grades are horrible at school. This is only the tip of the iceberg f...
