What to do when your lies start unfolding
As it turns out, getting an ambulance wasn't fun, surprisingly enough. Jack was pretty certain he wasn't going to die but apparently his lack of a medical degree was against him.
I mean, his ribs were aching but he would know if it were broken, wouldn't he? It was the sort of thing he assumed he would know about. And yeah his ankle was in excruciating pain but obviously it was, it was in tatters and there wasn't a lot a hospital could do except put a name on it.
But the nurse was freaked out. Jack could see that. He was worried so Jack decided to avoid eye contact with him because he hated being pitied. But that didn't go too well either because he closed his eyes and the nurse shook him out of it, afraid he was going to fall asleep or something along those lines. Which he would have loved to have done but he knew better that to sleep.
The nurse called Julia, explaining that Jack's injuries were 'concerning' and that she should meet them at Cartally General Hospital. Jack couldn't hear Julia's side of things but he knew she mentioned him being sick yesterday because the nurse asked about what his temperature was the night before.
And then he sat and waited for the ambulance. It was boring because every time Jack would move or re-position himself, he would be shot a glare which clearly said 'Don't you even think about moving'
And those nurse beds were not comfortable. He wondered if the hospital beds would be any better but he shook his head. No, he wouldn't be there long enough to see if they were comfortable. It would be a flying visit. Just staying long enough for them to give him the all clear. That would be all.
Finally the ambulance arrived. Jack cringed when he heard the sirens not because it hurt but because he knew everyone in the entire school would hear it and ask questions. I mean its not everyday someone gets taken to hospital.
Jack was humiliated, especially when the nurse told the paramedics about the cringe saying he must be sound sensitive. Jack couldn't even bare to actually tell them the truth in the end. He just went along with it.
Thankfully enough they took him out the side door so no one would see him. I mean, that wasn't their reason for doing it but it worked for Jack, he wasn't going to argue with them
He wondered what Julia would say when she seen the shape of him. It wasn't a pretty sight he would sure.
The paramedics didn't really talk to Jack, they asked him a few questions at the start but after that, they just seemed to talk between themselves leaving Jack to his own thoughts.
He felt embarrased by the whole situation and he knew he couldn't actually tell anyone how his injuries had started out. It just wouldn't work. Because if Damien knew that he had told, well lets just say that Jack would be lucky if he made it to an ambulance.
He knew all this and yet he knew that he had to say something. This wasn't just going to be forgotten. They weren't going to bandage his foot and send him on his merry way, no questions asked.
No, there were going to be questions, lots of them. He would be lucky if the police weren't involved. Because he knew what the situation looked like.
A child, in foster care, ending up with strange injuries and refusing to admit where they came from.
No, Jack knew exactly how it would play out. It would be an investigation into Julia and Max. All the children would be more than likely moved out during this time. It wouldn't just be his life he'd be upturning but everyone's.
Jack was honestly at a loss. He couldn't tell the truth but he couldn't lie really either. It would have to be believable, and people would know that he didn't get as injured as he did while playing dodge ball. There had to have been something else.
But what could he actually do? Maybe if he stayed quiet they'd leave him alone for long enough to figure something out.
Or maybe, they'd take his silence to mean something else entirely and rush him off for some sort of emergency surgery.
Jack was interrupted from his thoughts by a paramedic securing a oxygen mask to his face. Jack shot him a confused look as he honestly did not know why it was needed.
Seeing this look the paramedic explained. "Just in case there is liquid in your lungs, this should take some of the stress off of them, at least for a while."
Jack shrugged and nodded. At this rate, there was no point arguing. It would be easier to just sit there and let them do their jobs. Also, he had to admit that while the mask irritated him, it did make breathing easier. Which he supposed that was what it was there for.
It didn't take long to reach the hospital, and as they went in the door, Jack prayed he wouldn't see anyone he knew.
They directed him to a free bed, which was actually comfier than the bed in the nurses office, thankfully. Jack considered sleeping but he knew that if he really was concussed, it wouldn't be the best shout, so he sat and just looked around him. He wondered what was wrong with the people around them but knew better than to stare at anyone.
A doctor came over to him a while after that and checked to see if he was concussed. He was told he was slightly concussed but that sleep would not worsen it. He was then informed that he would be taken for an x-ray for both his ankle and his ribs.
After the doctor left, Jack decided that it would do no harm to take a nap, maybe an amazing idea would come to him whilst he slept.
That was his last thought until he woke up to the bed being moved into the radiology department. Jack looked around him groggily and through tired eyes he thought he could see some police men standing against a wall, he wondered if there had been a murder or a mugging or something. Then again he was sure the police were in hospitals every other minute.
They were the ones that confirmed deaths to families. He knew that from personal experience. It wasn't something he needed confirmation on but yet he got it.
He remembered it clear as day.
The snow had frozen to his eyelids, merging with the tears. His face felt tight, unemotional, but inside he was dying. He felt like he was underwater, he could breathe, he couldn't catch his breath.
He was gasping for breath by the time someone approached him. A police officer was coming over, a gentle smile of his face. For half a second Jack hoped he would awaken before the police man could speak. He shut his eyes tight and willed himself to wake up.
But things never worked out for him, starting from then.
"You alright there son?" The police officer asked putting out his hand to help up the teenager who was still lying in the snow, his lips turning blue and his hair white with snow.
And Jack laughed. The police officer looked confused and concerned. Jack knew he was wondering if he had gone into to shock. It took Jack a while but when he finally stopped laughing he looked at the officer and cleared his throat.
"Sorry, sorry, I just found it funny that you called me son, when you came over to me to tell me I'm no longer anyone's son. Not anymore."
Jack cringed slightly remembering how strangely he had acted but he supposed, he had enough reason to act the way he had.
But the scary thing with memories is that once you start remembering, it is often hard to stop remembering. And unfortunately for Jack, this brought up a memory, so far repressed that he hadn't thought about it in nearly a year.
"This is all your fault. I hope you realise it. No ifs or buts about it. This is 110% your fault. You wonder why no one likes you? This should be your proof." The words had been screamed at him and yet the voice remained at a low volume. But to Jack they rang in his ears. It was true after all,
"Your fault." For months those were the words that would keep Jack awake at night. Wake him from his sleep, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead and tears wetting his cheeks.
"All you fault. If it weren't for you." If it wasn't for Jack things would be different. "If it weren't for you mum and dad would still be alive and even better, you wouldn't be."
Those had been the last words Jacks sister had said to him. Jack had already blamed himself but that was the icing on top of the cake. Rose had looked at him, her eyes cold and full of anger, no love at all in them as she had spoken the words before turning on her heel and leaving Jack with tears wetting his t-shirt so badly that it was stiff with salt and his eyes had stung.
Rose had been eighteen when their parents had died, she was left the house, and the money. Jack had expected that she would be the one who would be responsible for him but that would be too good to be true. And if his very own sister couldn't bear to look at him then how could he expect any other member of his family to put up with him?
And so, he ended up in foster care, a new school, and family-less. And Jack guessed in a round a bout way, how he ended up being wheeled in for an x-ray. But Jack didn't blame Rose for what she had done. Jack didn't think he deserved the time of day either, but he missed his sister.
He wondered what she was doing now before realising, there was no point wondering, it wasn't like he'd ever actually find out
(Hey guys, sorry if this story is really slow paced, I genuinely don't think I know how to tell a story quickly but I do know where this is going, so I promise there is a plot. Thank you so much to all you that followed, favourited and reviewed, it means the world to me and I hope you continue to do so. This chapter is slightly different I feel, but I hope yous don't mind. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed.)