A/N: Hello everyone :) My updates are getting later every time! Two hours until Friday ends! :o But thankfully this chapter's up! I really don't want to delay my posts because I enjoy writing this story and some lovely people enjoy reading it too! This month has been pretty hectic but that shouldn't delay posts. This chapter may not be as interesting as others (especially our lovely dramatic previous chapter) but it all leads up to stuff in the future. As usual, enjoy! :D
Chapter 9: Guilt
Lysander's jaw dropped as he saw Lucy fall face first outside the window and flip in the air before landing with a thud on the top of the gym. It happened so fast and the thud had knocked the wind out of her. "AH! FUCK!" He heard Lucy yell. Lysander stood in place, shocked until he gathered his wits. Right now, Lucy needed help. "Lucy! Don't move!" Lysander ordered, running towards the gym. "I'll get help! Just stay there!" Lysander hurried into the gym to look for a ladder when he was stopped by Dajan.
"What was that noise?" Dajan asked. "Lucy just fell from the second floor." Lysander replied. Dajan dropped the ball he was holding. "WHAT!?" He exclaimed. "I'm getting a ladder. Could you call a teacher?" Lysander asked. "Sure. I'll be back as quick as I can!" Dajan said, sprinting towards the school.
On the roof of the gym Lucy was moaning in pain. There was a sharp pain in her right side where she had tried to break her fall, a rather burning sensation rushing in her arm. When Lucy tried to position herself in an upright position everything seemed to ache and she slumped back down. Her right wrist wasn't straight and she couldn't move it – when she tried the pain made her want to yell.. "Fucking Nathaniel." Lucy said through gritted teeth. Then she sighed in anger. This was not his fault. "Fuck me…" She said silently to herself.
This was the first time Lucy had felt so guilty in a long time and it hurt her heart to think that she had put Nathaniel in that much danger, as unintentional as it was. She didn't care who she upset in her life as long as they didn't get hurt as a result of her actions. Lucy felt so useless and horrible at the moment, wanting to punch herself for being so oblivious.
"Lucy, you still up there?" Lysander called from below as he leaned a ladder against the wall of the gym. It made a tapping nose as it hit the roof, just tall enough to reach the top of the gym. "Where the fuck else would I go?" Lucy snapped in anger, head throbbing as she yelled. She still couldn't get herself into a sitting position, moaning in agony. Clenching her teeth she gave up trying to sit up and instead dragged her aching body across the roof, trying as best she could without moving her right wrist. "Can you get down? Do you want me to help?" Lysander asked. Lucy shook her head and she tried to position herself on the ladder. "Just… hold it still." She called.
Her whole body hurt and she winced in pain with every movement she made. Tears were brimming in her eyes but she refused to let them pour. Instead she bit her quivering lower lip as she tried to twist her body to climb down the ladder.
But she couldn't do it.
Lucy froze. She couldn't get down. For the first time in a long time, she was scared. For herself. For Nathaniel. Her limbs refused to listen to her. "Lucy, I'm coming up!" Lysander called. He could see that she was in no position to do anything at the moment. The last thing he'd want to happen right now was that Lucy would fall again. She may not be so lucky a second time.
Thankfully, Dajan reappeared with Mr Faraize who was in a complete panic. "Dajan, Mr Faraize, could you please hold onto the ladder?" Lysander asked. Dajan nodded and after a few seconds to overcome his shock so did Mr Faraize. They held the ladder on either side while Lysander climbed up.
When he reached the top of the gym Lysander let out relieved breath when he saw Lucy was in one piece, albeit she looked like she was in immense pain. "Lucy… what were you thinking?" Lysander asked. Lucy bit her lip and looked away. "I didn't fall on purpose." She said. "Let's get you down." Lysander said softly. "Get on my back." Lucy hesitated, knowing she couldn't get down by herself. She slowly tried to climb onto Lysander's back and he helped by trying to position her comfortably.
Lucy winced at every movement she made and yelled when Lysander accidently pulled on her arm. "Fuck…" Lucy drew out the word, eyes beginning to brim with tears again. "I'm sorry." Lysander said when he finally had Lucy on his back. He slowly made his way to the ladder, taking each step down with caution until he reached the bottom.
"Lucy! Thank goodness you're okay!" Mr Faraize exclaimed when Lucy was on solid ground, sliding off Lysander's back. Her legs were shaking and Lysander held onto her so she could stand properly. "Did the Principal get to Nathan?" Lucy asked breathlessly. "Nathan? Do you mean Nathaniel?" Lysander asked her. "Yes, we were locked in. He was having an asthma attack so I…" Lucy took in a sharp breath. "Fuck. His inhaler."
Although she felt like every bone in her body was about to break Lucy brushed Lysander off her arm and began limping slowly towards the school. "Lucy, stop it!" Dajan said, easily catching up to the limping Lucy and grabbing hold of her right arm. Lucy yelled in pain and in a reactive response she balled her left hand in a fist, ready to knock Dajan out. "Let, the fuck, go!" She yelled.
Dajan released Lucy and she cradled her right arm close to her body as her legs gave way. Dajan held onto her for support. Lysander caught up and placed his arms across Lucy's shoulders. "Lucy, calm down!" Mr Faraize squeaked. "Easier said than done!" She spat out in reply. "Lucy, you said Nathaniel had an inhaler. Where is it?" Lysander asked. "In the student council room. I… I don't know where exactly." She replied with a shaky breath, allowing Lysander and Dajan to help her stand. "He's on the second floor right?" Dajan asked. Lucy nodded. "Alright. I'll go on ahead and look for the inhaler with Mr Faraize. Then we'll get it to Nathaniel." He said firmly, Mr Faraize bobbing his head up and down in a violent nod. "You can count on us!" He called, running after Dajan.
"I didn't know Nathaniel had asthma…" Lysander said silently. "Neither did I…" Lucy said, sinking a little. Lysander led Lucy to a bench in the courtyard and set her down. "Thanks." She mumbled, cradling her arm again. "Where does it hurt?" Lysander asked when he noticed her grimace. "Everywhere." Lucy replied. "Tell me what happened." Lysander said. Lucy looked at him before beginning to explain everything.
She didn't tell Lysander about the bruises. Nathaniel was not a clumsy person so he would not have gotten those bruises by bumping into things or falling down. Plus, there were too much of them to be coincidences. It had to be a regular thing. Was he getting bullied? Even the thought of Nathaniel being pushed around made Lucy's blood boil. She couldn't stand the guy but he was genuinely a nice person. He didn't deserve those bruises.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, the Principal had opened the door of the storage room and shrieked when she saw Nathaniel collapsed on the ground. Miss Principal had whipped out her cell phone, dialling the emergency number for the ambulance1 while propping the door open with a heavy box so that it wouldn't close the two in.
"Oh Nathaniel!" The Principal exclaimed with worry as she fell to her knees to examine the boy. She knew about his asthma and scanned the floor to see if his inhaler was around. Nathaniel's eyes were shut and his eyebrows were creased, his face was pale and he was gasping for air. The Principal positioned Nathaniel on his side in a lateral position, a first aid manoeuvre, to clear his airway. "Stay with me, keep breathing. Help will be here soon." She assured both herself and Nathaniel while she supported his head. Miss Principal scanned the small room for Lucy and her heart skipped when she could see her anywhere. How did she get out? Miss Principal's eyes were drawn to the window.
That's when Miss Principal realised what Lucy was trying to do by sticking her head out of the building; she was trying to call for help. The Principal had been talking to Lysander (he asked her if she had seen his notepad, which he continually lost) when he had heard yelling from outside and the two rushed out to see Lucy hanging from the side of the building. She had been calling for help because Nathaniel was having an asthma attack but Miss Principal was so surprised that she had assumed Lucy was causing trouble or looking for attention.
"Nathaniel!" A male voice called. Dajan had appeared in the doorway, a small container in his hand. "I have his inhaler." He told the principal as he entered the room. "Good. Hopefully he'll be okay. I've called for an ambulance, it should be here soon." Miss Principal said.
The two got to work trying to get Nathaniel to breathe in the puffs of his inhaler, panic rising when they didn't know if it was working or not. They were relieved to hear the sirens of an ambulance in the distance, growing louder as it approached the school. "Lysander's with Lucy. He'll bring the paramedics up here." Dajan told the principal. "What happened to Lucy? How did she get down?" She inquired. "She fell out of the window." Dajan answered. "WHAT!?" "She's alright though. When the paramedics get here they'll treat her."
In a matter of time the professionals arrived. One stayed with Lucy while the other was led by Lysander up to the storage room, wheeling a gurney. Nathaniel managed to open his eyes but he looked like would pass out any second. Mr Faraize helped the paramedic place Nathaniel on the gurney and they began their careful descent down the stairs to get back to the ambulance.
Down in the courtyard Lucy was being tested by a paramedic who introduced himself as Bill. When the two professionals arrived she had yelled at both of them to get to Nathaniel first but one still insisted on staying with her. He asked for her name and tested her for concussion, shining a light in her eye and asking her to follow where his finger went as he waved it around in her face.
"You fell down a storey?" The paramedic exclaimed when Lucy once again recounted what happened. "Yes. Is Nathaniel okay?" Lucy replied. "Nathaniel? The boy with the asthma? He should be fine. My partner will have him in the ambulance in no time. Now let me see your right wrist. Can you move it at all?" Bill asked. Lucy shook her head, feeling pain in her wrist when she held it out to Bill. "You landed on your right side to break the fall huh?" Bill asked. "Your wrist is definitely broken, but I'd like to take a few x-rays in a few more places, especially around you spine, neck and head. Can you walk?" Lucy nodded. "I'll give you something for the pain when we get to the ambulance."
The doors of the school opened and the second paramedic appeared, pushing Nathaniel to the ambulance. Mr Faraize and Miss Principal were by his side and Lysander and Dajan followed out, carrying Lucy and Nathaniel's school bags. Bill aided Lucy in steading herself and walked her towards the ambulance where Nathaniel was being pushed into the back.
Lucy's heart raced and she tried to quicken her pace, despite the pain coursing through her body and Bill trying to hold her back. She felt like she was going to pass out. "Up you go." Bill said as he helped her get into the ambulance.
The back of the ambulance was cramped with Lucy, Nathaniel and the two paramedics. There was a bench which Lucy was told to lie down on while Bill strapped a neck brace onto her for safety measures. Next to her was Nathaniel lying in the gurney, lids half open as the second paramedic set him up with airway equipment.
"Alright Lucy, I'm going to give you some pain medication. You'll feel a little pinch. Ready?" Bill asked. Lucy replied with a quick 'yes' and Bill injected a needle into her left arm. It took a while for the medication to kick in but once it did Lucy felt drowsy as a numb sensation filled her. Her eyes fluttered and soon all she saw was darkness.
"Can I see him now?" Lucy asked the nurse in front of her bed. "Hold on, I'll get approval from the doctor later. For now I need to make sure you're okay. You fell out of a window." The nurse reminded Lucy. Lucy leaned back into the upright pillow on her hospital bed, narrowing her eyes at the nurse who was shaking her head at her difficult patient.
In truth, Lucy didn't need any reminding because she was sporting a broken wrist and a bunch of bruises all over her right side. Her right thigh also hurt which is why it was difficult for her to walk properly but nothing in her leg was broken. Her skull and spine were intact but that didn't stop her head from throbbing every so often.
It was three days after the incident at school occurred and Lucy had been assigned a room in the hospital. After tests and surgery on her broken wrist, she was lying in the white bed being checked on by nurses and doctors in the hospital. Lucy's Auntie Agatha, being the emergency contact as she was the closest relative to Lucy, had been notified and was at her niece's side as soon as her surgery was over.
Lucy was more concerned for Nathaniel than herself, who she had yet to see. "Is he awake at least?" Lucy asked. "He should be, but I'm not sure. Let me wait for approval." The nurse repeated irritably. She was learning the hard way how impatient Lucy could be. "They'll let you see him soon sweetie." Agatha said, taking Lucy's left hand and squeezing it.
The doctor walked in and greeted the nurse and Agatha, smiling at Lucy who waited for him to finish with his medical lingo that made absolutely no sense to her. "Can I see Nathaniel now?" Lucy asked when he was done. "Yes, if you want to. His family is with him too, if you'd like to speak with them." The doctor replied. That was enough confirmation for Lucy to spring out of her bed as best she could without feeling pain. The doctor led the way to Nathaniel's room while Agatha held onto a still sore Lucy in support.
The first person Lucy saw was Amber who was sitting in the corridor, fumbling with her phone. She jumped when she saw Lucy. "Y-you saved him…" Were the first words that came out of her mouth. To Lucy's surprise Amber wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. "Hey, get off me!" Lucy said. "We don't get along too well but… I don't what I would've done if… if…" She didn't finish and instead hugged Lucy tighter. "I'm so sorry for everything I did! I really mean it! I'm sorry for posting those posters! And for being the reason all the students are calling you Lucifer! And for spreading the rumours that you got kicked out of your old school because you dealt drugs!" Lucy hadn't heard of that last one and felt like punching Amber out despite her efforts to make nice. Thanks to Amber she was a devil drug dealer. Great.
And since when did Amber actually care about her brother anyway? Lucy remembered to how Amber had made Nathaniel hand in her incident report over the fight with Lucy and how she wouldn't even stay back to help her brother organise things in the student council room. She had never seen her lift a single finger to help her brother. Was this all an act? Or was Amber really concerned?
The door to the room Nathaniel was in opened. A woman walked out and the first word Lucy could think of was beautiful. She had the same golden eyes and blonde hair as Amber and Nathaniel, so Lucy assumed that this was their mother. Her eyes were baggy and she looked terribly tired, but that did not take away any of her beauty, her face clear without a blemish or wrinkle and her eyes glistening and soft.
When she saw Lucy who had been (thankfully) released from Amber's constricting hug, she smiled. "You're Lucy, aren't you?" The woman said. She moved in for a hug. "Thank you so much! You risked yourself to save my son!" Lucy felt Nathaniel's mother choke on her words as she thanked her repeatedly. Lucy felt extremely guilty. Sure, she 'saved' Nathaniel but she had put him in that dangerous position in the first place.
After she had broken the embrace, Nathaniel's mother made her acquaintance with Agatha. "You can go in if you like, Lucy. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." She said.
Lucy took a breath as Amber held the door open for her…
A/N: 1. In America the emergency number is usually 9-1-1. In Australia it's 0-0-0. I didn't put it in the story 'cause I don't want people to be confused when they see a completely random number and be like "WTF, that's not the emergency number :O" so I decided to leave it in the authors note as a little fact :D I really hope I've gotten all the medical and hospital right. I read articles and watched a video to make sure I wasn't waaaaaaaaaay off in the whole ambulance thing, haha! Anyway, thank you to my lovely reviewers Gossip Girl, ZorraVixen (who is the seriously the best person to have a conversation with ^^) and Smartie184 (sorry I made you wait!) Jeez, my A/N's are getting really long o.o" See you all soon! 3