So this one is set sometime after they met, I imagine a solid 6 months later, at least. As usual, please review and also feel free to leave me some prompts if you feel that way inclined.
Tiny bit of language in this one (literally one word), so my apologies if you're offended by it.
"This is ridiculous, Pieter," Holle called from the ground. "It's just a ball." She laughed as Pieter received a branch to the face for his efforts at further scaling the tree. "We can get a new one!"
"That's not the point," Pieter grunted as his fingers slipped from the branch he was reaching for.
"What is the point?" Holle called back up, exasperated at Pieter's fruitless attempts to reach the ball.
"The point is, you said that I couldn't climb this tree," Pieter finally reached the branch he wanted and hoisted himself higher in the tree. "So I will prove you wrong."
Holle laughed.
"You can't climb this tree," she repeated. "You are too big!" Pieter ignored her and searched for his next branch. Holle sighed and watched as he determinedly pulled himself further up the tree. She took a step towards the tree as she noticed some of the branches starting to bend under his weight.
"Pieter, please be careful," Pieter glanced down at Holle, noting the concern on her face.
"It is fine, Holle," he called as he continued climbing. "I've had plenty of practice at climbing trees."
"That's not what I me-" Holle's reply was cut off by Pieter's loud grunt as he missed the branch he was reaching for at the same time as the branch he was standing on cracked and fell. Pieter barely had time to react to the fact he was falling before he had hit the ground. He closed his eyes and groaned, holding his ribs as he rolled onto his back.
"As much as it pains me to say it," he managed to cough out. "You may have been right." Pieter expected to hear Holle's laughter, but was instead met by a quiet groan and otherwise silence. His eyes snapped open. "Holle?"
Pieter scrambled to his feet when he was met with the sight of Holle lying on the ground beside him, eyes squeezed shut, clutching her arm to her chest. "Holle, are you alright?" He was met with another groan.
"Fuck," she spat out. "Pieter Kramer, I'm going to kill you." Holle carefully cracked one eye open. "You're bleeding," she lamely pointed out, nodding toward Pieter's nose.
"So are you," Pieter had only just noticed the patch of blood staining her usually blonde hair. He bent down and gently tilted her head to the side. "It doesn't look too bad," he said. "Just bleeding a lot." Holle groaned again.
"That's wonderful," she spat out, closing her eyes as a wave of pain rolled through her. "But I think you broke my arm." Wincing again and opening her eyes, she watched as Pieter straightened up and jogged over to their abandoned belongings, shoving textbooks and pens into his backpack before slinging the bag over his shoulder and jogging back over to Holle.
"Can you sit up?" He asked, dropping the backpack on the ground next to him and bending down again. Holle tried, but fell back onto the ground almost immediately, biting back a cry. She shook her head.
"I don't think so," Pieter quickly moved in front of her, and offered his hand. Holle gingerly released her grip on her injured arm and put her hand in Pieter's. He squeezed once, then pulled, levering her into a sitting position. Holle spat out a string of curses, and exhaled heavily.
"Alright?" Pieter asked when she reopened her eyes. Holle nodded, and tightened her grip on Pieter's hand until the pain died down a little. "Do you think you can walk?" Holle bit her lip, but nodded. Pieter gave her hand another small squeeze. She took a deep breath and Pieter pulled. As soon as she was stable on her feet, she let go of Pieter's hand, and held her arm against her chest again, silent tears streaming down her face. Pieter gently placed a hand on her back and they began walking towards her car.
Pieter dug around in his backpack, finding where Holle had stashed her keys before opening the door and helping her in. He threw his backpack into the back of the car and hurried around to the driver's seat. Holle laughed as Pieter grunted, struggling to get his long legs in the door.
"Why is your seat so far forward," he groaned, unable to find the latch to move the seat.
"I think it's your legs that are the problem," Holle replied, a smile spreading across her face. "And it's under the seat." Pieter let out an excited bark when he located the latch and slid the seat back before starting the car and heading for the nearest hospital.
"Holle?" A few hours later, Pieter peeked his head around the curtain sectioning off her bed from the others in the cramped ward. She barely reacted, and Pieter called her name again. This time, she inhaled sharply and her eyes cracked open. She blinked a few times before her eyes focused on Pieter. She smiled and waved him in.
With one arm hidden behind his back, he pulled the curtain closed behind him and flopped down in the chair beside her bed. Slowly, Pieter pulled his arm into view and placed a "Get Well Soon" teddy bear, complete with sling, down on her blanket covered thigh. Holle's face lit up, and she pulled the bear closer to her, taking a closer look before tucking it under her arm.
"That's a nice cast you've got going on," Pieter said, pulling the chair closer to the bed. Holle crinkled her nose up at the sight of it.
"I blame you," she mumbled, scrubbing her good hand tiredly over her face. Pieter grinned.
"I blame me too," Holle grinned back at him, and reached up to his face. She pushed his chin to the side so she could get a better look at his previously broken nose.
"You deserve that," Holle said, smiling again at Pieter's outraged look.
"Hey!'" He frowned. "That is really ruining my image." He almost looked serious.
"Your image," Holle laughed. "Of what, a giant teenager that can't climb a tree?" Pieter abruptly stood.
"I'm leaving, if that's how you're treating me," Pieter joked, before sitting himself down again. Holle watched as he slung his feet up on her bed and leant back in the chair. He awkwardly cleared his throat. "I really am sorry," Pieter said, his eyes dropping to the floor.
"Pieter," Holle said, moving her hand to rest on top of his. "It's OK," she said when his eyes finally met hers. "I'll be fine." Pieter smiled sadly.
"You warned me to be careful though," he sighed looking down again, "And it's my fault you got hurt." Holle just smiled.
"I forgive you, Pieter." He looked up again. "Will you sign my cast?" Pieter grinned, and pulled a pen from his backpack. He moved to the other side of the bed and began doodling, stopping only briefly when a nurse came in to check on Holle's vitals and give her some more pain medication.
When he was done, he sat back in his chair and looked at the now half asleep Holle. He reached forwards and gently smoothed back her hair, smiling as she instinctively leaned into his hand. Pieter tucked a loose strand of blonde behind her ear before leaning back into his chair, folding his arms over his chest, and closing his eyes.
Please review!
