What Goes Around Comes Back Around

Chapter Seventeen

Somewhere in the back of my head I knew there must have been screams and shouting, but the white noise invading my head was all I could comprehend. I rushed forward, needing to be with him, to help him, only to be held back by no other than his parents. I tried to break out of their grasp, turning my head back to the ice just in time to see Nathan being taken away on a stretcher. I turned back to them, ready to raise hell for being held behind.

"What did you do that for?! Did you not see he was bleeding!? He needs me!" I yelled, pushing against them, losing the small amount of self control I still had after he had hit the ground. Before I could get very far a player came up to me, I remembered Nathan introducing him as Derek, came and pulled me away, telling me that they were taking him to Owatonna hospital, about 15 minutes away. I gave him a tight hug and thanked him a million times before he huffed a small laugh and pushed me towards the door.

I ran to my car, thankful that I decided to drive myself today. I sped all the way there, paying no attention the speed limits or stop signs. I parked crooked and sprinted through the doors, assuming he was taken into the emergency wing. I walked up to the receptionist with a shaky but warm smile.

"Hi I'm looking for Nathan Evans room please?" I asked sweetly.

She looked up from her computer after some typing with a bored expression, "relation?"

"Um girlfriend?" I said confused.

"You can't go in there." When she saw that I was still looking at her, she let out a sigh as if I was her biggest annoyance before continuing, "if you're not related to the patient then you're not permitted into the room." She returned her attention back to her work and completely ignored me. I rolled my eyes and stomped to a nearby seat, calling Nathan's mom. She didn't answer and before I could redial she bursts through the door, ran over to the receptionist, and was escorted to his room before I could even call out for her. His dad came next and walked over to me, but before he could get out a word I burst into tears and started to babble.

"Is he gonna be okay!?! He could die, did you see how much blood was coming out!? And I can't even see him I don't-"

He cut me off by wrapping his arms around me and tugging me close. I would've pushed him away had it not been for the much needed comfort.

"Listen everything's going to be fine, nothing serious. I'm gonna go back there and see what's going on, why don't you take a nap, yeah? When you wake up you'll be able to see him." He squeezed me one last time and walked in the back. I tried to do what he said, knowing there was nothing I could do for him, and fell asleep to nightmares of Nathan never waking up.

*

I was shook awake by Nathan's mom, who's eyes were red rimmed and her lips were wobbly. I immediately thought the worst, my natural pessimist coming out, and could feel my own eyes fill with tears. She must've read my mind because she immediately talked.

"No, no, no. Nathan's fine sweetie. Well, he's physically fine at least. He's pretty beat up about the game." She shrugged.

"What do you mean? What about the game?" I couldn't see how that was important after just witnessing Nathan fall and bleed.

"You don't know? They lost. By a large margin too. Nathan thinks it's his fault." She shook her head sadly.

I sighed because I knew exactly what she was talking about. Nathan sets his standard so high, and is always disappointing himself.

"Can I see him now?" I asked her, already standing on my feet.

"Of course, Jackson went home so I'm the only one here, but I'll give you two a minute." She said, heading off in the opposite direction.

After finding out the room number, I walked down the hallway and found it after a few minutes. There was a doctor standing outside his door, typing away on a tablet. I decided to ask him how well Nathan actually was, knowing that he would downplay everything he felt.

"Hi excuse me?" He turned to me and smiled. "Are you Nathan Evans' doctor?"

"Yes how can I help you?" He asked politely.

"Could you tell me how serious his injuries are? He won't want me to worry so he won't tell me how bad, if it is bad, he really is." I explained.

"Of course. He banged his head pretty hard, hard enough to cause brain damage." I gasped, hoping that there was no sign of that. "He's a lucky one though, just a serious concussion. All of his limbs okay besides some deep bruises. We're going to keep him overnight tonight, to ensure his concussion is just that. You're going in right?" He asks and I nod. "Just make sure he's not stressed and doesn't strain himself and he should be okay. Have a good day." He turned and walked the opposite way.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, expecting to find him sleeping. But he wasn't, he was sitting straight up, scrolling through his phone with a scowl on his face. He didn't even look up when I entered, and I could see the faint shadowing of bruises along his body that wasn't covered by the thin, hospital blanket.

"Baby." I exhaled, hating to see how hurt he was. "How're you feeling?"

He let out a bitter laugh, finally meeting my eyes. "How am I feeling?" He said mockingly, such a harsh tone I winced. "I feel like a fucking failure."

I was somewhat used to this though. Nathan always got upset after he thinks he's done something wrong, disappointed someone. He tone gets hard and his words aren't sweet. I've dealt with it after bad practices, but I think this time was different.

"It's not your fault Nathan. You got slammed to the ground, you weren't even looking." I tried to reason.

He seemed to think about it and that made me smile a bit. Usually he's more hard headed but maybe he actually believe that this wasn't his fault.

"You're right." And my smile got bigger. "It's yours." And it just dropped.

"My.. My fault?" I questioned, confused and hurt that he blamed me.

"Of course it's your fault. I would've been looking if I didn't have to look to you after every damn goal. You act like I make them for you, and I have no fucking idea why." Each word was a stab and he knew it.

"I never said anything like that. Where is this even coming from?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. Even if he was putting me down I couldn't stand making him feel worse.

"Because. Bethany, you cost us the fucking championship. God I can't even look at you. Leave. Now." He went back to his phone, completely ignoring me.

"No." I said.

"No? Get the fuck out of my room right now! You've already done enough today." He shouted, and I could hear his monitors beeping excessively. He was getting too worked up, and I knew if we kept arguing his injuries would become worse. So with tears in my eyes and tracks down my face I turned and left the room, and the emergency wing, and the hospital. I needed to get away.

*

Happy Thanksgiving guys! 😊