Chapter 2: Band Aids and Washcloths
Angel sat Collins down on his neatly-made bed, and left to get a First-Aid kit. He returned moments later with a red box. He pulled a chair over so that he was sitting across from his classmate.
"You're knee is bleeding," he told the nervous man sitting on his bed, "I'll get a band-aid."
He reached in the box and pulled out a box of band-aids.
"I can do it," Collins told him, pulling up his pant leg.
"Honey, I can bet that I know more about First-Aid than you do about...whatever it is that you know a lot about," Angel laughed, and propped Collins' leg up on this chair.
First, he took out some spray-on anti-septic. After one squirt, the man began to howl. Angel just giggled, and held on to his leg. He leaned forward and blew on the cut, making it feel cool.
Then, he took out a band-aid, and opened it up. Gently, he laid it over the cut, and smoothed down the sides. His gentle, slow movements comforted Collins, but also made him more nervous.
"You're good at that," he told Angel, who smiled.
"Now for your nose," was his only response. "It's stopped bleeding," he reported, "but we still need to clean you up." He thought for a moment, before getting an idea. "I'll be right back," he said, and left again.
He came back soon, with a towel and washcloth in one hand, and a small bowl of warm water in the other. This time, when he sat down, he sat right next to Collins on the bed.
He placed the towel on the comforter between them, and dipped the cloth into the water.
"Tilt your head back," he instructed, and Collins did so, this time without offering to do it himself.
Angel squeezed the excess water out of the cloth, and dabbed Collins' upper lip lightly. After a moment, he got it wet again, and repeated the motion.
"There," Angel said softly, "all clean."
Collins, with his head still back, tilted it slightly to look at his nurse. Angel, who was sitting very close to him, gazed into his eyes. Before he knew what he was doing, Collins leaned in, touching his lips to Angel's.