The Guardians (The Highest Order, Book One)

CHAPTER 13

Bright white light blinds me as my eyes flicker open. I bring a hand to cover them as I try to make out where I am. There are bodies crowding over me, hair falling over my face. As my eyes begin to focus, I could make out a little more detail. Maia. Cassandra. Harlow. There are some other distinctly familiar faces as I scan my surroundings.

A groan leaves me as I try to lift my end, shooting pain coming through my temple, 'What the...' I begin to ask.

Coach speaks up, 'Can you move?' Almost abruptly, his voice rang with boredom. Maia's head turns towards him, no doubt scowling.

'Do you remember what happened?' Cassandra asks, brushing hair out of my face. My eyes still squinted adjusting to the light.

'Donovan.' I groan, 'Fucking asshole'

I sit up slightly, eyes more adjusted, with Cassandra pulling on one of my arms. Maia fusses about making sure I'm well rough to stay seated, 'You've been out a few minutes.' She says, panic evident in her, 'isn't there some kind of rule that if someone loses consciousness, we should call an ambulance?' She looks between Cassandra and me, my eyes widen.

'No,' I protest, 'No ambulance' I press, holding my hands up to stop her 'I'm fine, Maia, just a bump.'

'But...' She begins to protest.

'No ambulance Maia' I give her a pointed look, 'I've been hit over the head with enough balls to know when i need an ambulance'

She looks at me strangely, as if to ask if that was even possible. Both she and Cassandra grab one of my arms each, pulling me to my feet. I stumble slightly but quickly catch myself.

'Take her to the nurses office,' Coach orders, not looking up for him the sheets of paper in his hand. He was writing vigorously as he spoke. What had I missed?

The nurse's office is a small room, it had two bed like frames covered in white fabric. The room was painted an off-white colour and the flooring was like every other floor in the school. Although significantly smaller than any classroom, there is enough space in the room for two filing cabinets alongside a desk, where a woman in her late thirties sat, typing away as vigorous as Coach Morse had been writing.

The woman stands up, in a lab coat covering a mid-length pencil skirt and bright fuchsia blouse. She had her hair pulled up into a tight bun on top of her head with two pens sticking out of it. I'd bet good money that she'd forgotten they were there.

'Is this the girl that was hit?' She questions. I was shocked at how fast word had spread about the incident, 'Sit her on the bed next to the other one' She said, following us as Maia and Cassandra guide me to the bed, even though I was more than capable of walking there myself. I doubt they'd let me go either way. Harlow stands by the door, staring intently at the figure behind me.

I hadn't even realised she followed until I turned to sit. My eyes widen at the sight as I turn my head to take in the figure on the bed next to me, 'what happened to him?' I demand.

Donovan looked like he'd been run over by a bus. His face was black and blue, dried blood coating a thin layer over areas of his face. His t-shirt was soaked. 'Kaleb.' Maia answers simply in a nonchalant tone as she stroked my hair out of my face, not allowing herself to elaborate any further.

'What?' I question, no doubt looking at her as if she'd grown a second head.

'Lover boy came to save the day' Cassandra chimes, with a knowing smirk on her face, 'He is probably sitting in the principal's office as we speak, finding out his punishment.'

'You're kidding?' No way.

'Nope' Maia chimes, 'Mom is gonna kill him, I don't even want to think about what dad'll do' Her eyes widen as she takes a breath and shakes her head, 'he deserved it though' She nods her head in Donovan's direction.