"I'm fine, Eddie, will you stop fussing?"
"Rachel, your right hand's twice the size of the left, you are not fine, and I am taking you to hospital."
"But-"
"No arguments. Come on, in my car, now." Rachel rolled her eyes, slinging her bag over her shoulder, wincing at the pain as Eddie raised an eyebrow. She sulked the whole car ride to the hospital, occasionally snapping at Eddie when he looked to check on her.
Rachel trailed behind Eddie as they arrived at A&E. She stood behind him, flustered, as he explained what had happened to the receptionist.
"We've got to go and sit down. And you need to put this on." He passed Rachel a wristband with her medical details on.
"Oh, for heavens sake, I do not need to wear a hospital band. I'm not dying, and it's not even that bad." Eddie playfully tried to catch her good wrist with the band, and she continued to pull it away from him.
"You know, I'd expect this kind of behaviour from one of the Year Eights, surely their headmistress could set a better example?" At this, Rachel snatched the wristband from Eddie and aggressively put it on her own wrist.
"Rachel Mason?" A nurse called.
"Do you want me to come in with you?" Eddie asked. Rachel panicked, and nodded.
After they'd been seen by the nurse, and informed that she would need an X-ray, the pair went to sit back in the waiting area.
"Oh…" Eddie sighed.
"What?"
"I've worked it out now."
"What?!"
"You're scared!"
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
"That's why you're being so silly about all of this, and why you wanted me in with you for the examination. You're scared of hospitals, aren't you?"
Rachel stared intently at her shoes. "Well, nobody likes being at hospital, do they?"
"It's okay to admit you're scared. Remember when I had to take Ellie Oxley to hospital? She was so scared she wouldn't even sit in the waiting room, I had to sit in there for her while she sat outside."
"Yes, but she's a Year Ten. I'm an adult…"
Eddie laughed, and put an arm around her.
"I'm fine, Eddie." she grumbled, shrugging him off.
"When are you ever going to let me in?" Before she could reply, they called her in for an X-ray.
"It's just soft tissue damage." she announced, brandishing a sling holding her hand to her shoulder. "They want me to wear this for a bit. Can we go home now?"
Eddie laughed quietly. "I'll go anywhere you tell me to, Miss Mason."
Rachel smiled, and attempted to put her handbag over her good arm.
"Here, let me take that."
"I can do it!" she exclaimed. As she tried again, the contents of her bag spilled onto the floor, and she swore under her breath. Eddie instantly picked up the items, and took her bag from her.
"Right. We're going home, and I'm picking up a takeaway en route. You're not cooking, not like that." he added, noticing her wanting to challenge him.
"You're too good to me, Eddie." she mumbled, hiding her blushing cheeks as they got into the car.
"You're worth it. Every moment. I'd sit in hospital all day if it meant being with you." She leaned over and quickly buried her face in his chest.
"Thank you. You know, for coming with me, and putting up with me being a stubborn cow." Pulling away from him, she planted a soft kiss on his lips as he stroked the back of her head.
"Come on. Let's get home. I'm looking after you tonight."
She looked out of the window and smiled. Eddie made her feel warm and worth something, and if letting him in meant more of that, she would never put her guard up again.