When I came to I was lying on the ground underneath the ropes course with everyone somewhat huddled around me. Watching. They all had looks of worry and a little shock on their faces. Peter was hovering over me. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?" he asked me almost the instant my eyes opened.
It took me a minute to remember what happened but when I did I quickly answered, "I made it down." and smiled. A few people laughed and i got serious again, "Yeah, I'm fine. My wrist and shoulder kind of hurt. . .and my ankle."
"Okay, we'll get you to the infirmary. Can you stand up?"
I nodded even though I wasn't that sure and I tried to stand. My ankle hurt like crazy but I stood up anyway, putting most of my weight on my right ankle. The one that didn't hurt. Peter held my arm and we all took a step forward but my ankle gave out. It felt like fire was shooting up my leg while a really cruel person stuck pins and needles in it. I would have collapsed if Peter hadn't of caught me. "Um . . .I can't walk."
"We couldn't tell, Captain Obvious." Ezra laughed.
I smiled and muttered, "Shut up." to him.
Peter was really serious, though, for some reason. I guess he couldn't see the humor in all of it. I mean, there I was paralyzed thirty feet above the ground. I black out, fall, and when I come to all I can do is state the obvious? It was kind of funny. "Okay, I'll carry you." he said. I kind of freaked about that. It was kind of wierd being carried through the woods by Peter but I was glad I didn't have to walk on my ankle.
When we got to the infirmary Peter set me down on the table and talked with the doctor for a while. The doctor walked over to me and did that whole 'this is serious but we'll laugh it off' routine that doctors do so little kids won't get scared. The whole time he was checking out my ankle, wrist, and shoulder he was telling this dumb (but a little bit funny) story about a friend of his who popped up out of nowhere and asked, "What?" all the time. I think it was funny because I was so tired.
After about forty-five minutes the exam was over and the doctor declared he thought I had a sprained ankle, mildly fractured wrist, and a bruised shoulder. He said I had to go to the emergency room for my injuries to be treated. Peter, Sophie, and I headed out to the van, Peter carrying me again. As he set me down in the car Ezra came running up to us and called for us to wait.
When he reached us he said, "Is it okay if I go with you guys?"
"I'm sorry, Ezra." Peter said, "You're going to have to stay here. You know the rules. No one goes off campus without a good cause."
Ezra was still persistent, 'Isn't the welfare of my friend a good cause?"
"Ezra." Sophie scolded.
"Okay, I'll stay here." Ezra said leaving. He turned around and asked hopefully, "There's no way I can go?" Peter shook his head no and Ezra grumbled walking away.
I smiled at how sweet Ezra was. He actually cared about me. I leaned back in my seat as the Horizon van sped off campus. Peter, Sophie, and I talked for most of the ride. Mostly about what happened and how I was doing. Peter told us he hoped we wouldn't have to wait for a long and that my ankle and wrist must be killing me. I told him no, they didn't hurt that bad but I don't think he believed me.
At the hospital we were taken in right away. The doctor at Horizon had already called the hospital and told the mwe were on our way. I'm pretty sure he made it sound worse then it was because we got a lot of attention while we were there.
A nurse walked over to us and had me sit in a wheelchair. I discovered being wheeled around in a wheelchair isn't that great. People stare at you, even if you're in a hospital and you feel really short. But they took me into the X-ray rom right away and I was done in there fairly quickly then the nurse took me to a room where Peter and Sophie were waiting.
We waited and waited and waited and finally the nurse returned with a doctor. They said I needed a cast on my wrist and an air cast on my ankle so I'd have to at least try to use crustches. I wasn't exactly sure how I'd do that but I didn't have much time to ponder it. Right away they started putting my cast on.
It was about 10:00 when we got back to the school. All my friends were sitting around in the room where we had group. They looked really tired. Scott was even asleep. We walked in and everyone stood up . . . except Scott. They walked over to us and Kat asked, "How was it?"
"A load of fun." I said sarcastically. The trip had made me irritable and even more tired then I was before. Everyone was asking me question after question and eventually Peter had to tell them it was getting past curfew and we should all head up to our dorms. I was hobbling out way behind everyone else . . . or so I thought. Ezra came up behind as I was about to start up the stairs.
"Hey. So, does it hurt?" he asked.
I took a breathe, ready to be obnoxious to him. But I changed mymind right at the last minute, "Like hell."
"I'm sorry about that." I nodded. He asked, "So, did they give you painkillers?" and he laughed.
I rolled my eyes. I should have known. In the few weeks I had been at Horizon I had learned Ezra would do practically anything to get his hands on some drugs. "So that's why you all of a sudden care. Yes, they gave me painkillers. Peter has them and I can only get them if I ask permission from Peter." I turned and started up the stairs. But he followed me.
"No, that's not why I care. And it's not all of a sudden." I was hobbling and tripping and trying to get up the stairs as fast as I could, "Do you need help?" Ezra asked seeming quite perturbed.
I took on a defiant attitude, "No, I'm fine." right on cue I fell flat on my face. I barred my teeth and tried to stand again but couldn't. Ezra pulled me up. "Thank you." I mumbled then tried again. I stopped and stared at the stairs before saying, "It's not all of a sudden?"
"What?" Ezra asked confused but then he got it, "Oh, no. It's not." I nodded. I was biting my cheek so hard I thought I would bite right through. That's how bad I wanted to keep back the tears. "Olivia, I do care about you. Ever since I first got to know you." I sniffed. I could feel the tears coming. They were coming so strongly . . . so strongly. I couldn't stand holding them back. I sat down on the stairs crying. "What's wrong?" Ezra asked concerned, "Are you all right? What did I say?"
I felt like a big baby blubbering and crying and I probably looked like a moron. "It's just . . . you care about me. It's totally pathetic but no one has cared about me since . . ." It was then that I realized Ezra had no idea about why I was here.
"Since when?" he asked softly.
"Since the accident. The reason I'm here." I could tell by looking in his eyes that he wanted more. He wanted to know my secrets. "My friend. She . . .I . . . I can't. I can't tell you right now. I'm sorry."
Ezra chuckled, "It's ok. You don't have to tell me anything."
"But . . . I want to. Just not right now." I was staring into his gorgeous eyes thinking that Crystal was right. I do fall for the nerdy guys.
Ezra smiled at me, "Ok." he said. We were getting closer. He was going to kiss me. We were going to kiss! Until Sophie came by and ruined it.
"What's going on?" She asked, "It's past curfew." she told us.
Being the imaculate lier that I am stated simply, "I was trying to get up the stairs. Ezra came and helped me because I fell. Sorry, we'll get going." I grabbed hold of the railing and hoisted myself up, Ezra following suit. We were trying not to laugh and started up the steps again. This time I made it without any trouble. Holding onto Ezra for support and strength.