Chapter 8. More fun
Julie did manage to wrap her ankle and have her shower. She wrapped herself awkwardly in a towel and only then realized that the crutches must have fallen, for they lay along the far wall one atop the other.
Sighing she attempted to kneel on the side of the tub and reach them. She leaned over and rested a hand on the closed commode lid. Still she couldn't quite reach them. Just then she heard the knocking.
"Hold on!" She called even as her still damp hand slipped and she fell face forward on the toilet seat. She felt her ankle jar painfully and knew this was not a good time for a visitor. Still she'd have to get herself up before she could get rid of who ever it was.
Placing her hand on the lid again she pushed herself partway up and only then realized the impossibility of her predicament. She had no way to grab the stupid crutches unless she crawled and she'd have to shift again to do that.
"Great." She muttered and braced herself for the move when the door was flung wide and she found Portman standing in the doorway.
"Gees." He was at her side then lifting her up unconcerned by her half clad state as he picked her up and carried her from the room.
"Portman I can walk.' She informed him but he just gave her a look and headed back into the bathroom, coming back out with the crutches. He positioned them beside her and then started for the door. Then he stopped.
"Where are your clothes?" He asked and she frowned.
"Portman I…"
"Where?" He demanded and his tone brooked no argument.
"The first drawer on the right." She replied sighing as he pulled out a white t-shirt. He then crossed to her and handed it to her. Then he headed back to the dresser. Riffling he pulled out a pair of boxers. He brought then to her as if it were nothing.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked and he shrugged.
"It's better than spending another night in the hospital isn't it?"
"Well yes but…' She found herself talking to the door as he closed it silently behind himself.
"Ok…" Julie said uncertain at what had just happened. Had Portman just come to her rescue again? Had he just seen her in a towel and not even blinked? So much for the feeling that there was something starting between them.
***
Portman rested his back against the closed door. He pressed his hands to his closed eyes and realized that they were coated in a fine sheen of sweat. He'd not meant to see her like that, just to help if she was in trouble, but Dang… the girl was definitely one to look at. He'd noticed that as soon as he'd entered the bathroom. Not that he'd never noticed she was a looker before but the cat in a towel…
"Standing guard?" A voice asked and Portman lowered his hands to find his fellow bash brother standing a few feet away.
"I wanted to see if she was alright."
"And?"
"She had a little trouble.' Portman confessed.
"She ok?" Fulton asked frowning a little.
"Yeah just getting herself together." Portman replied even as there was the sound of a thud and a curse. This time he didn't open the door, he didn't want Fulton to see her in the towel if she'd not managed to get the clothes on. He knew it really wasn't his problem but she did deserve her modesty.
Against his will Portman's mind went back to just how the blonde had looked in her towel. She wasn't all flabby like a lot of preps or all muscular like some jocks but slender and very, very attractive. Why was it for the last few days she'd been so much on his mind? It wasn't like they had that much in common. Sure they liked some of the same music and had a few things in common. That didn't… Ok, who was he kidding? He had a big thing for the goalie. Why else would he really stayed with her? Sure he looked after his teammates but not to that level. Well not unless it was Fulton. His fellow bash brother had covered his back time and time again so he owed him.
"Right so you gonna ask her?" Fulton asked and Portman suddenly remembered whey he'd supposedly come down here. He was going to ask if she wanted to watch a movie up in their room.
'I'll give her a little time then yeah. Why don't you go grab some junk food and stuff." Portman suggested and Fulton studied his best friend a minute. There was something more going on, he knew it but if Portman didn't want to talk yet that was cool. He knew how matters of the heart could be.
"Cool, catch you in a little.'
***
Julie pulled on the shirt and was attempting to pull on the shorts she accidentally knocked down the crutches. Muttering to herself Julie finished dressing and leaned down to snag one of the crutches. Then she became aware of the voices in the hall. She listened but they'd gone silent. She frowned. Was Portman waiting out there incase something else went wrong? This was crazy. He didn't have to hover, she was a big girl. True she'd fallen but…
Sighing she knew he was only trying to help, not to be a nuisance. The least she could do was be nice. Besides he'd not made a big deal about it.
"You can come back in." She called and with in seconds the door swung in and there stood Portman as large as ever an almost bashful look on his rugged face.
"I came down to see if you want to come up to my room. Fulton and I are going to watch movies and veg out.' He explained.
"Oh, I…" She felt her heart leap at the very thought that he'd thought to ask her. Then again it was probably part of his protection idea. She still wouldn't mind the distraction. She'd have to take one of her pain pills first though, the jarring she'd gotten had aggravated it all over again. "I'd like that I just have to do something and I'll be right there." She said.
Portman let out the breath he didn't even realize he was holding. She'd said yes, gees you'd have thought he was asking for a date. Man he had to get it together.
"Right, I'll wait outside.' He said and she sighed.
"Portman I really can walk on my own." She told him but he'd already gone closing the door behind him.
Sighing she went to the dresser and reached into her drawer for the pills. She'd seen Connie slip them into it. Lifting them up she saw the dried petals, the brittle stem and…
TBC
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