I sped all the way to the hospital, leapt off my bike, began to take off my helmet and decided against it. I just hobbled inside as fast as I could. Once I was inside the doors, I took a deep breath and began to take off my riding clothes. I signed in and rushed to my office, where I slowly and painfully crawled under my desk.
I heard the door open and close a few minutes later, but I didn't say anything. After a minute, Chase said, "House, your cane is here. Where are you?"
I reluctantly put my hand up, and he crouched down next to the desk. "House," he said eventually, "what the hell are you doing under the desk? The nurse at the front desk said you came in this morning as though the devil himself was at your heels."
"I'm hiding, duh," I hissed, trying to get him to lower his own volume.
He rolled his eyes and whispered, "From what, I mean."
I glanced from side to side, then leaned forward. "It's the thirteenth chapter, right? I've been cursed. Something bad is bound to happen."
He sighed and stood up again. One of the other conspirators was in the doorway, because Chase said, "Nothing's wrong, it's the normal kid of crazy."
"By our standards or his?" Cameron said.
"Has he ever done something to our standards?"
I yelled, "You just don't know it yet! I'll bet there's going to be an anti-ducky hailstorm in the next few minutes!"
Cameron said, "I find it easier not to ask," just before the door shut and I was alone again.
I just knew it. Something bad would happen, and I needed it to not be during dinner that night. This actually counted as a date, and damn it, it was going to go perfectly!
I sat back and waited for the thirteenth chapter to end, making myself more and more anxious about my last chance to make something work.