"Mr. Thomas, I need to check her and while I do so, I need you to go to the office to ask them to call her parents" Ms. Riley, the nurse, told him with a stern look on her delicate face.

"Alright" I heard Eric said with hesitation and annoyance. Regardless his obvious need to stay with me he walked towards the door. He turned around and looked at me and his eyes found my feet as a worried expression covered his forehead. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something that could ease the pain.

"I'll be back" He assured me with a small smile "I will let him know you're here" And with that he walked out.

I tried to wiped off my tears away but the pain was horrible and they kept falling down. The nurse checked my ribs for any fractures, but I was only bruised. She delicately cleaned up the wound in my lower lip. I could feel it swelling and throbbing against my teeth.

"Could you please sit down?" Ms. Riley asked gently, giving me her hand to support myself. I reached the top of the bed as she sat down in front of me.

While she checked how was everything I wished it wasn't something too serious. I had an important audition for a scholarship in a dance school soon and I've been practicing for it. I knew I had a big chance to win the full scholarship and make it up for the last failed audition two years ago.

"Can you move your foot to the left?” her soft voice brought me back to reality.

"I'll try" I replied nervously and as I did, the pain spread all over my leg. "Oh God!" I whispered, feeling more tears falling down and hitting my hand.

"I know it hurts but I need you to try to hold on" she said while looking for a plastic ankle cast. She came back and slowly took my leg.

"Are you ready?" She asked with the cast on her hand.

"Yes," I said taking a deep breath as i felt my feet slide down inside the cast.

I was focus trying to control my pain, only trying by breathing in and out slowly. I felt the soft touch of a hand on mine and I immediately took it. I heard the deep breathing of his body when I opened my eyes. He felt nervous and uneasy and i knew he was worried.  I looked down at those long fingers caressing mine with a gentle touch while I remembered the last time I held his hand like this.

The night his mother died. 

"Mr. Johansen, what are you doing here?" The nurse asked, with such force in the unexpected silence, that made both of us jump a bit, taken aback by her question. 

I snapped my head up to catch a glimpse of his melting eyes. He was looking at me, his eyes lowered down until his gaze fell on our interviewed hands. I blushed and took my hand out of his grasp. He noticed my discomfort and with a playful smile that showed how comfortable he did felt with the intimacy, he took it again. This time Ms. Riley noticed and tried to cover the small sirk that formed in her lips. 

"Thomas told me she was here," he carried a frown that wasn't typical on his features. It made me feel some sort of nostalgia to see him worried about me.

"Oh! I understand! you're worried about your girlfriend." she replied, with the same hint of curiosity as everyone in school.

"We come to school together everyday. I thought she could use a ride home now," he looked at at me and winked, never letting go of my hand. He didn't deny her previous statement about us being a couple and that only made me more confused.

"No, my dad will come for me" I pointed out faster than I thought, taking my hand away from his. I didn't want him to feel obligated to take care of me for a stupid punishment.

Max stared blankly at me, a bit of confusion on his face as if trying to figure me out. It didn't last longer since Eric walked in with my permission to leave school earlier.

"Her dad is 45 minutes away." he said looking at Ms. Riley "He won't be able to come right now"

"I can take her home" Max insisted while leaning against the bed, crossing his well fit arms in front of his chest.

"She needs to go to the hospital," Ms. Riley said preoccupied as if she was pounding the decision to let me go with him or not.

"What?" I asked almost yelling "Why? I thought everything was fine" I freaked out and suddenly lost my natural ability to breath.  

I knew this meant something bad or else she would have let me go home and rest. Max tried to approached me to comfort me, but I shook my head. He went back to rest his body against the bed.

"It looks like a fracture, Jessica" She whispered "They need to take care of it"

The three of them stood there looking at me waiting for my reaction. My heart was beating fast not knowing what to do I searched for Eric's eyes and I saw him looking at me with concerned. Maxwell was tapping his foot on the floor waiting impatiently for my decision while he looked at me with a little frown between his thick eyebrows. He was impatient not because I haven't made my mind, but because he wanted me to let him help me.

"Can I call my dad with my phone?" I asked Ms. Riley for permission to use it.

"Yes, dear" she replied with a sad smile.

She turned to walk to the other room with the intention to give me some space. She turned around and coughed as a way to ask them to do the same. "Boys, let's give her a moment please"

They looked at each other as if they really had to leave me alone, but then they walked out behind her. I waited until they left to take my phone out and dialed my dad's number.

"Hey honey," he said and I could tell he was smiling as every time he picked up the phone.

"Dad, I need to go to the hospital. The nurse said it looks like it's a fracture. I'm trying not to freak out but I'm worried" I explained.  I tried hard to control my voice from breaking, the last thing I wanted was to worry him.

"What? The secretary didn't tell me this" he said, worried "I'm on my way, but I will get there in forty to forty-five minutes. Can you wait?" He asked, frustrated with hesitation in his voice.

"No, dad. It hurts so much" I complained with a soft voice. "Max will take me to the hospital and I'll wait for you there”

"Oh" he said "I'm not sure, Jess. Will he take care of you? I know you guys have been on a rocky path during the last years" he asked not sounding convinced. Sometimes he could be very overprotective of me.

" He will, dad. Please call the secretary and tell her I can go" I said still scared from the possible result and avoiding the tension Maxwell caused in me.

I did my best to sound calmed and cheerful as I tried to stand from the bed to walk by myself. The weight I put on my feet made me lose my balance and fall back in the bed. I felt worried about the situation wishing to get done with it fast.

"Alright. I will call the school and let them know" He said not very convinced. "See you in a while, little girl." He said with his soft fatherly voice.



I closed the call and took a deep breath before finally standing up by myself even when the pain made me almost fell. I continued walking, holding myself onto the objects on the room, a chair, a desk and finally the wall to open the door.

Eric immediately walked towards me. He placed  his arm around my waist and mine over his shoulder, taking all my weight to help me.

"Thanks" I whispered, smiling.

"You are very welcome" he said, helping me to get to a white comfy chair in the corner of Ms. Riley office, while the other two followed us.

"Ms.Riley, Maxwell will take me to the hospital. My dad must be authorizing by now" I said looking at her, trying not to sound too surprised at my own decision.  I could feel all eyes on me.

I looked around to see the reason of the sudden silence. Eric had a funny face between raising his eyebrow and a surprised look on his face. Ms. Riley nodded trying to hide a smile. Max on the other side mouthed a "Thank you". I didn't understand what he meant by it, but the grin that spread on his face was enough to know he wanted this.

"I bet Maxwell agree with your decision" She finally said looking back at Max who immediately stopped smiling at me.

"I do." Max said getting closer to us.

"Eric," I said while hopping one foot to stand in front of him. "Thank you so much, for helping me out there and avoiding my biggest embarrassing moment ever"

" I will punch whoever tries to laugh at you. I'm the only one allow to make fun of that fall," He said, laughing. Something I haven't seen in a long time. It almost startled me.I hit him on the arm while I gave him a threatening look. I looked towards Max who was watching us with an "awe" expression.

"Let's go," I told him after Ms. Riley made sure my dad called to allow us to go out. Maxwell didn't need to ask for permission since his father was the school principal. It was one of those things we all envy from Max. He had all sorts of privileges on his hand.

He took Eric's place and helped me to walk through the hall. He was taller than Eric and it was a bit harder for him to carry me. He wanted me to feel comfortable and managed to place all my weight on his arm around my waist.

"Does it hurt?" he asked looking down at me, his breath brushing my skin, sending a weird shiver down my spine.

"Yes, but not as before" I replied quick, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.

Without thinking he placed his arm under my legs and took me bridal style through the parking lot. I didn't say anything because it was better than walking with a broken ankle. We both stayed quiet. I stared at him in silence enjoying his cologne. He noticed I was staring at him but didn't say anything. He wasn't someone to brag about being good looking. Sometimes I thought he didn't know the real effect he had on the female population at school.

After he helped me to get in and he started driving, he broke the silence.

"Do you want to know what the coach told me this morning?" he asked still focus on the GPS telling directions.

"Oh God! I'm sorry," I said regretting being late this morning "What did he say?"

"I have to stay after basketball practice today. A special training session" he said, trying not sound pissed, but his tone was still harsh.

"That sounds dirty," I said with a small giggle "It sounds like an invitation to -"

"Ewk, Jessica!" He said interrupting me "I won't even think about it".

I was still making fun of him when we got to the hospital. We went to the emergency room and waited in silence until a nurse came and called my name. Maxwell had to stay out while she checked me because he was not a family member.

After taking some x rays she took me to a shared room and looked for a specialist while I waited there.

"Is everything okay?" Max asked appearing out of nowhere.

"Max! Don't do that! you scared me!" I said, trying to learn how to breath again. " I don't know she went to look for a specialist"

He sat down beside me on the bed keeping some distance between us. I was nervous. If it was only a little fracture I would be able to put a cast on for a while but what if it was something worse? I don't know what my reaction will be.

"Hi, Ms. Bradford," A young doctor said while coming inside. His eyes were behind a pair of glasses that made him look older. He kept looking at me while taking a seat next to the bed. His eyes scanned over my feet and then Max.

"Hi," I said and my voice shook while I read the tag name on his uniform "Dr. Johnson"

"Jessica, the nurse has medication for the pain. I already know you got an anti-inflammatory at school, but you need something stronger" He looked at my X-rays and then back at me.  "You have a displaced fracture on your ankle and for the looks of it I won't be able to realign it"

He looked at my confused expression and his eyes changed into tender look as he sat down in front of me.

"What does that means?" Max asked worried looking from my ankle to the doctor. The nurse came up to me and asked me to breathe deeply to put the medication. I saw the needle getting under my skin and reaching for my vein.

"It means, that you will need surgery Ms. Bradford," He said, looking at me with a sad smile.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to control the tears from falling down as I felt the nurse put the IV on.  This was worst than my nightmare after watching The evil dead.

"You will have a surgery and you won't be able to walk for a few weeks. After you recover you will need therapy" he explained. He took his time to explain how things will go from now on.

"Oh my God!" was the only thing I could say before starting to cry. Maxwell came closer to me and held me in his arms while massaging my back. He kept saying everything will be fine while I continued sobbing in his chest.

"Do you have any of your parents here?" Dr. Johnson asked after he made sure I've stopped crying.

"No, but my dad is on his way" I replied still wiping my tears away feeling the comfort of Max's hand on my back.

"Alright Jessica! We will wait until he is here to talk about the next steps. You can wait here," the doctor said before heading out. The nurse followed him with a slow pace.

Maxwell looked at me, waiting for me to break down again. I tried hard to contain the pain and anger but I couldn't help it. Max was silent while I cried and complained my heart out about what happened. I felt the need to explain why it was such a big deal.

"I have an audition in three weeks what am I going to do?" I said between sobs "It was so important to me and now this shit happened. I need that scholarship. I've been working so hard my entire life to miss this opportunity." I rambled feeling betrayed by life.



Max was still silent and the calm rhythm of his breathing helped me to calm down. I decided to look at him to compose myself but to see him so relax changed my helpless feeling for something else. Rage. He was the same guy I have been avoiding for years. The same guy that didn't care about our friendship years ago. Why would he care now?   

After feeling my constant stare Maxwell looked back at me with furrowed eyes confused, questioning me.  He wasn't sure of what to say and I knew it from the look on his eyes. After a moment that lasted forever he spoke.

"I'm glad it has a solution, Jess," he said, doubt filled his voice when he saw the shock on my face.

When he spoke his voice was so careless and emotionless that it made me immediately snap at him.

"What are you talking about?!" I said harshly.  "I knew you wouldn't understand how worried I am because you don't give a fuck. My entire career can end with this surgery and I know you don't care. Why are you still here?"

A part of me knew I was being a brat and that I wasn't thinking straight, but my brain needed someone to take all the rage I was feeling right now.

"Jessica, you need to calm down, I'm trying to help here," Max said standing from the bed, uncomfortable. His breathing increased, indicating he was getting mad at me. 

"You're not helping, Max. I can't see any hope in those words" My voice was trembling with rage. “It has solution? Yes, but one that could ruin my dreams”I reached the rim of the bed and laid down my legs. "I know you can't understand because you don't have something you had to work hard for. You always had the talent for basketball. Your dad is someone important and everyone thinks you are perfect. I know you don't care how hard is for others to get the talent they have" I said, anger filling my entire body.

I was too immerse in my own rant that I didn't see the hurt in his eyes. In my irrational state I didn't stop for a moment to witness the sadness and disappointment in his two seas of emotions. 

"Jessica, you don't know me, anymore. You think you do, but fuck! you don't have an idea of who I am. I have tried to show you and you never let me. You keep putting a wall because you are so convinced that I'm a piece of shit" He said pissed while getting close to me. His voice turn into a soft husky whisper as he intimidated me with his closeness. "I don't care about your dancer career, it is true. I care about you”

and to be honest you've been a little girl about this subject"

"It took me a whole year to be able to get an invitation" I explained, trying to not raise my voice again. I knew he was getting dangerous and serious.

"It is true that you will miss the audition but guess what? there will be more" he look at me with disbelief. It made so mad to know he couldn't understand me. 

"This is what I said. You don't understand how challenging and painful were all these years." I was still confronting him. I only saw him as an enemy. Maybe there was more in my words than the present situation. I still blamed him for our failed friendship.

"I should shut up" he murmur under his breath, but then his voice filled my ears again "Spend the next year trying again. You can get your scholarship for your grades, not for your dancing moves. You can't complicate your life that much. You've been working hard for something, but SHIT HAPPENS JESSICA!" he said raising both hands to the ceiling "Life change and what we want needs to change too. You either keep complaining about this surgery like a little bitch or do something about it"

"Excuse me! I’m being a what?" I said between my anger and the smallest of common sense I had left.

"A bitch, yes, because you are acting like one," He said as he pulled his hair while looking  into my eyes. I felt his burning gaze and for a few seconds I wished I could control my emotions around him. The world seemed to disappear when his eyes locked in mine and I saw for a fraction of a second the pain he hides behind his smile.

He was still broken, but that didn't help and I knew I was going to regret the next words that left my mouth.

"Get out, Maxwell," I said serious, giving him a hard look. "Get the fuck out of here and leave me alone"

He stood there for a few seconds his hands in fits, breathing deeply, trying to calm down. He didn't say anything before turning around leaving me there alone, waiting for my dad.