Chapter 7

Enjoy my loves.

Chapter 7~ Kelly
Kelly heard a crash behind her in the hallway and turned to see Alex sitting by the lockers, his books scattered on the floor. She rushed to him, dropping her own books in the process. Before she got there, the bell rang and the hallway emptied. She knelt down next to him. “Alex? Alex? Can you hear me? What happened?” Alex’s breath was coming in quick gasps. Tears rolled down his face. “Alex? Talk to me!” Kelly was almost shouting. She grabbed his arm and shook it. “Ow!” he cried. “Oh my god, oh my god. It hurts so bad.” His voice shook, his whole body shook. “What hurts? Is it your shoulder?” “Yes! Oh god, ow, ow” His breathing was so jagged she thought he might hyperventilate if he didn’t clam down.
Kelly scanned the hall for a teacher. Finding none, she turned back to Alex. “Don’t move, I’m going to get a teacher okay?” Alex nodded feebly. “Try to breathe okay love?” More nodding. “I’ll be right back.”
Kelly rushed down the hall, headed for the nearest classroom. However she was intercepted halfway there by the teacher on hall duty. “Where’s your pass young lady?” the teacher inquired. Kelly fought to keep her voice under control. “I don’t have one, my friend Alex is around the corner, and he’s on the floor by the lockers and in a lot of pain. Can you help him?” The teacher had already set off. Kelly followed briskly. “What happened to him?” the teacher asked. “I’m not sure, I didn’t see. I know his shoulder has been hurting for a few days, but it seems really bad now. Can we hurry? I told him I’d be right back.” The teacher (her badge said Mrs. Tameron) picked up her pace.
When they reached Alex, he had propped himself against the lockers. His breathing had regulated slightly, but he still looked tense and shaken. “How are you Alex?” Mrs. Tameron asked. Kelly saw Alex fight to keep his voice steady. “I’m…better. Not great,” he replied. “I think I’d like to call my mom.” “I think that would be best,” Mrs. Tameron agreed. “Do you need help getting up?” “No, I’m fine,” Alex said, and pulled himself to a standing position, using the lockers for support. Kelly noticed his body was still trembling. Wow, she thought, he must be in a lot of pain. His knees buckled suddenly, and Mrs. Tameron instinctively reached out to grab him by the shoulder. Kelly saw the look of agony on his face. “Stop it! You’re hurting him!” she cried, reaching out to catch Alex around the waist. “Sorry,” Mrs. Tameron said ashamedly. Alex nodded that it was okay. “Alex, why don’t you and Kelly stay here, I’ll go phone your mom and get Kelly a late slip so she can head to class.” The two nodded, and Mrs. Tameron walked off.
“Does it still hurt a lot?” “Yeah,” Alex grimaced. “I wish I knew why.” “Me too, then I could make you feel better,” Kelly said quietly. Alex smiled weakly. “Kelly, you already made it better. I was in so much pain it hurt to move, it hurt to breathe! It still does! It was scary as hell! But you were there, you never left me. I was more terrified than I have ever been in my entire life, and you were right there by my side. Thank you.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way Alex, I love you.” “I love you too Kel.”
At that moment, Mrs. Tameron came back around the corner. “Alex? Your mom will be in the office in ten minutes. Come with me. Kelly? Here’s your late slip, you can go to class now, I’ll take it from here.” Kelly squeezed Alex’s hand gently. “Call me later if you’re up to it.” “Will do Kel, see ya later.”
Kelly headed toward the stairs; her next class was a floor up. She didn’t notice until halfway up the steps that her heart was pounding furiously and her hands were quivering. She had been probably as scared as Alex. She bit her lip and leaned against the wall, trying to compose herself before heading to English class. Alex will be okay, she told herself firmly. It can’t be anything serious. Just a pulled muscle, happens to dancers all the time. That’s all it is, right?