Chapter 13: Thirteen

“I’m fine now,” I glared at my mother for letting Benjamin in but she thought I wanted to be alone with him; she made some lame excuse about losing something somewhere and going to look for it. She winked at me before closing the door.

I sighed.

“I’m really sorry about what happened.”

I raised my hand to stop him. “No, it’s no big deal.”

“Bradley.” He spat the word. “He hurt you. I shouldn’t have let him take you.”

“Actually, he was great.”

He shook his head. “No! Don’t make excuses for him. What he did was wrong.”

As I was about to answer, the door opened and the same nurse who’d brought me the menu walked in, she wheeled a tray of bottled water and a sandwich.

“But I told you I’m fine.”

She smiled. “Mrs. White’s orders,”

Ugh mothers! Why do they always have to embarrass us?

I rolled my eyes. “Well, thanks.”

She nodded and closed the door behind her.

“You are suddenly playing best friends with the Bradley fellow, why” Benjamin asked suspiciously. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“I was way out of it. Probably he took me to one of the classrooms” I lied.

“Mm.” he didn’t seem convinced. “He didn’t try anything did he?”

“What?” I was outraged. “No, how could you even ask that.”

He shrugged.

I sighed and drank my water.

“Your mom is beautiful.” He added.

I frowned. That was so random, “Yeah.”

“So Bradley is here.” He said scornfully.

My eyes shot up and automatically I sat up straight in bed, “Really?”

“Unfortunately.” he mumbled.

I couldn’t help wondering why he disliked them so much. I tried to come up with possible explanations but failed.

“I’d like to be alone please.”

“Ar, came at a bad time I see.” My eyes flew to the door. The musical voice spoke again with humour touching the edges. “Mind if I come in, do you?” Bradley’s eyes turned to look beside my bed at Benjamin and the welcoming friendly smirk vanished. In its place was a scowl and his black eyes turned ginger for a second but when I blinked, they were black again. I must’ve imagined it.

For a second I was glad that hostile gaze wasn’t directed at me. I realised that Benjamin and Bradley hated each other. The feeling was mutual. I wondered why.

“Guess I’ll see you later.” Bradley said through gritted teeth.

“No no, come in.” I protested. No matter how angry I was at him for making me go to the hospital I could never pass up on the opportunity to unravel the mysteries behind his intelligent eyes.

He smirked. “I bought you a burger and some fries.” He winked and my stomach felt weird. “I heard hospital food could be poisonous.” He laughed, flashing his brilliant whites.

My stomach growled its approval. “Thank you.”

“I thought you were full.” Benjamin said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m always full when people offer me hospital food.”

“Oh.” His voice lost its usual confidence and his shoulders slacked. He seemed dejected

Bradley unwrapped the burger he’d bought me and sat on my bed. He didn’t say anything as he put a fried chip in my mouth.

I shook my head, slapping the fry out of his hand. “My hands work just fine.” I complained, scowling at Bradley as he dazzled me with his smile.

“If I do this, we’ll play twenty questions.” The awkwardness in the room was so thick even a sharp sword wouldn't be able to penetrate through it but Bradley was choosing to ignore it.

This was too good a deal to miss. I had millions of questions for him. I nodded and opened my mouth.

When I had downed everything, he made me drink some soda. I was staffed. Benjamin had stormed out of the room half an hour earlier. The look he gave me before he disappeared through the rooms swinging doors promised a lecture later.

I wasn’t looking forward to that.

“Only two fries left.” Bradley said.

I purged my lips. “One more and my stomach will burst.”

He cringed. “What an awful sight.”

I took a fried chip and dipped it in hot tomato sauce. “Now it’s your turn.”

“No.” he smiled smugly. “We had a deal remember?”

I bit my bottom lip in thought. “If you let me do this, then you have a chance to back out of our deal.”

He nodded. And as I fed him, my finger brushed his bottom lip; he visibly tensed and I hissed, cringing away from his touch.

“I’m sorry.” I said.

His face hardened. “I have to go.”

Before I could protest Janice walked in.

“I guess I should take you home.”

“No please don’t.” I shook my head disapprovingly. “It’s still early. I have to go back to school.” I wanted an excuse to spend time with Bradley.

“Your grades won’t suffer in just one day.”

“But I’m perfectly fine.”

She gave me a look. I wanted to roll my eyes but instead, I bit my bottom lip.

“I might as well ask the doctor keep you in for the night.” She threatened with a smile. She knew she had won. “Your leg does require supervision and I’m not sure it’s something painkillers can take care of.”

“Okay okay.” I gave in, glaring at her. I’d rather go home then spend some more time in the creepy hospital.

Janice disappeared. A nurse came in with a wheelchair and with Bradley’s help loaded me into it. I felt humiliated. I mumbled complaints all the way to the parking lot.

Bradley couldn’t hide his amusement. I tried to glare at him over my shoulder – it was impossible. Not when he was smiling at my misery so contagiously. I fought to keep my face straight.

“My backpack,” I said.

“Your mother asked Benjamin to take it home.” Bradley mumbled.

I groaned. Considering my lack of luck, Benjamin was still at my house and I was hoping to see him in four decades. I sighed, might as well prepare myself.

Janice drove with caution back to the house. She said she didn’t want to drive too fast or I’d hurt my leg again. I wanted to thank her, for possibly delaying my confrontation with Benjamin.

The old three story house came to view. I was sure that Janice could see my anxiety

But she mistook it for something else. “I’m sure you can’t wait to see Ben.”

Of course, that’s what she’d think this whole ordeal was about. “I didn’t realise you guys were on first name basis.

She chuckled. “He’s a nice young man.

“Mom please,”

She smiled. “Oh, come on.” she edged. “You must admit he is a catch.”

“I am not looking for a boyfriend.”

She gave me a knowing smile. “We’ll see.”

“Don’t try to play cupid please.”

She laughed.

“You’d be forcing me to do the same.

Her laughter died and she glared at me through sad eyes. “I could never disrespect your father’s memory like that.”

“Mom, he’s been gone for years.”

She shook her head. “You don’t just stop loving someone because you don’t see them. He was my life.”

“He’d want you to be happy.”

I knew by the sharp tone of her voice that this conversation was over. “My job keeps me occupied."

I tried not to show it on my face. I tried to act as though I didn’t care but the reality of the situation was; I wished she could be happy, and that she loved Zack and me and that love could be enough for her

Frustrated I wiped a lone tear from my left cheek and I slammed the door hard as I jumped out of her car. The Mazda was parked in the front porch, the front door held ajar by Benjamin. I was not in the mood for him or my mother for that matter. I pushed past him and went straight for the kitchen to get started with dinner. I ignored my throbbing leg and tried not to wince in pain.

I tried not to wince as I put my full weight on my left leg

"So... You’re now friends with Bradley.” Benjamin accused.

“I don’t do friends.

“I just need you to sign.” He continued changing the subject so abruptly.

I decided it’d be better if I just ignored him.

“I need more time.

“Time is a fool’s game, I’m afraid; your brother is against it.” His eyes were round when he spoke, darker. “In the rate you’re going you’ll be counting body bags.”

“The implication is complex.”

I turned away from cutting the onions and stared at him with his arms crossed over his chest. He was leaning against the door frame.

“Tsk tsk.” He shook his head twirling a sharp knife I hadn’t seen before between his fingers. “Don’t worry; I’ll help mommy dearest with funeral arrangements, that is, if she’s not involved in some scandalous drunken driving. We all know mommy is a drunkard, is she not? And it won't raise suspicion when she drives off a cliff, too drunk to handle a speeding car, no?"

“Is that a threat?

“Threat?” he craned his neck to the side, smiling so wide that his grin turned into a sneer. “Mm... see... no need for that. I’m merely stating facts.” He voice was lazy, the kind of voice you’d normally hear advertising a luxurious sports car.