"What's wrong? Are you okay?" She sounded like a concerned mother, and Jack noticed this, feeling embarrassed, so he tried to brush it off.
"Uh, its nothing... I'm fine."
The expression on her face told Jack she knew exactly what was happening and he hadn't pulled one over her. "Give it here," she instructed, holding her hand out towards him. Jack grudgingly placed his wrist softly in her outstretched hand. He silently noticed the red polish spread over her nails, and how small and delicate her hands were compared to his. He'd never noticed the smaller details like this about her, he thought to himself, but he liked discovering them.
"Okay, I want you to tell me if anything hurts." Again, she spoke like a mother would to a child, making Jack feel rather stupid and mad at himself for showing his pain.
She softly began to rub around his wrist, barely making contact with it, and although Jack said nothing, she could see the pained expression on his face, that he was desperately trying to hide from her. She tutted and released its grip, "It's broken."
"It's nothing." He repeated, whilst using his other hand to turn the light on, then headed through the hallway to the lounge, where he threw himself onto the couch, resting his hurting head on the large green cushions, not caring about the blood that was in the process of staining them.
Claudia was growing impatient. Lack of patience was a personality trait they shared. "It's not nothing Jack, you need to go to the hospital."
When hearing this remark he scoffed. The thought of him laughing at her for trying to help him made her angry, her voice conveyed this. "What Jack, what the hell is so funny? You are not with Hector and Ramon now, you can be yourself, you don't have to act like you are solid around me. Why don't you just admit that you need to go to the hospital?! Is that too hard for you Jack, or are you just an ungrateful bas***d, who wont accept the fact that you need help?"
The words hit Jack hard, but made him equally angry as she was, replying, "Maybe I don't need your help. Maybe you are over reacting, just because my arm is sore! I think that's a little over the top and maybe you should mind your own business!"
"No Jack, I don't think I am over reacting, and its not just your arm, you have two holes in your head, that are leaking blood all over your sofa you idiot!"
Calming himself down, Jack realised he was being harsh on her, she was only trying to help. He looked down at the floor and said quietly, "Look, if it will make you happy I will go. But just remember, the closest hospital is over an hour away, and its now 11.30."
Claudia placed her hands on her hips, getting ready to counter every problem he came up with, she knew him well enough to know he would not give in that easily. "That's okay, by the time we get there there will be no waiting que as the place will be empty."
Jack replied, "Fine. But do we have a ride?"
The fact that neither of them owned a vehicle had slipped her mind, but she quickly solved the problem. "We will take one of Ramon's," she said simply, pausing as she saw the look of surprise and fear in this suggestion. She continued on, "Don't worry, he was drinking in the house so he can't go anywhere in it anyway, and we will return it before he notices."
"How do we get the keys?"
"Leave it to me Jack."
"Okay, but when he sees me he is going to realise I have been to the hospital, how do we explain leaving this place without telling him, and what if he asks how we got there?"
"You worry too much Jack. We will say we didn't bother telling him because we thought he wouldn't want to be disturbed over such trivial things. If he wants to know how we got there... just say Lais gave us a ride. See, its simple!" She added playfully, giving him a innocent yet cheeky grin.
The pain in his head increasing, Jack deduced that maybe it would be better if he did see a doctor. If he did go he could also get his shoulder looked at from the other night. And Ramon was pretty simple, he could talk his way out of the situation later if needs be. He gave Claudia the smallest of nods, making her lean over and kiss him softly on the cheek.
"I'm glad you are seeing sense finally!" She whispered to him.
With that she moved away, embarrassed at her action, but smiling slightly to herself realising just how much she was taken with him. Trying to get rid of the butterflies in her stomach, she gave him a business like nod, which caused him to let out a small chuckle as he realised what she was doing. She turned to leave but before she did she informed him,
" I'm going to go get the car. You wait here, oh, and get a towel or something to stop the blood, don't want to ruin Ramon's upholstery do we?"
After she left Jack began to laugh to himself, she really was something, and for some reason, she liked him, of all people!
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