Chapter 9: Nate Gets Hurt
"Let's go West!" screams Caitlyn.
"Okay, guys. You can get some water." Mitchie says with a smile on her face.
Mitchie made captain.
The seven cheerleaders grab their water bottles happily. Sarah glares at Caitlyn. After taking a few sips, Caitlyn marches over to Sarah angrily.
"What the crap is your problem, Sarah?"
Sarah just rolls her eyes and says, "I just can't believe you made cheerleader. You can't even do a cartwheel."
Caitlyn puts her water down and stands back.
"Oh yeah? Watch and be amazed."
She does a cartwheel- with no hands. Sarah looks at her in shock. Caitlyn feels proud of herself as the crowd cheers for her.
"Thanks!" Caitlyn yells back.
Caitlyn picks up her water bottle and walks back over to her spot.
"Actually, Caitlyn, I do have a problem. I know how you managed to get Nate to go out with you."
Caitlyn's heart beats loudly in her chest.
"Oh, yeah? How? By actually not looking like I want to kill someone everyday?"
The cheerleaders all go 'ooh, that was a burn, Sarah.'
"Shut up!" Sarah snaps at them.
Mitchie comes in between the two girls now facing each other.
"Come on, guys. Let's not do this on our first game." Mitchie says, trying to make peace.
"Fine." They both say and turn to face the crowd.
Nate looks out at the crowd wanting to see his brother's there for support. He shakes his head sadly, knowing they aren't here. Nate hardly even recognizes himself anymore. The coach pulls him into the game and he slaps on his helmet. Nate runs out onto the field and calls the play. Someone from the other team comes directly at Nate. Nate tries to avoid hitting him, but the other guy slams him into the ground. Nate lies on the field, trying not to make a big scene. He tries to get up.
It's the first game and I manage to get hurt. Great. His thoughts are nothing but sarcastic as he tries to get up again, once again failing. They send out paramedics and both crowds are silent.
"Where does it hurt, son?"
Nate groans and says, "my chest and my head."
They examine him and come to a conclusion.
"We need to get you to a hospital, son."
I'm not his son. Heck, my dad doesn't even come to these games anymore.
"Okay." Is all Nate says as they help him up. The coach is running towards them.
"Are you okay, Nate?" he asks sincerely.
"I'll be fine, Coach."
Nate tries to look for a familiar face and sees Caitlyn in her cheerleading uniform watching his every move. His girlfriend is here, but where is his family?
Probably sitting at home watching reruns of I Love Lucy, He thinks bitterly.
He sees Mitchie on the phone with somebody and they load him into the ambulance. Nate feels this overwhelming need to sleep. His eyes slowly close and blackness surrounds him.
"Shane. It's about Nate. They're taking him to the hospital."
"Hospital? What? I didn't see that. I went to get some popcorn."
Mitchie smiles to herself, "You're here?"
"Um.. no. Football games are stupid. Yeah that's right lady! I said it! Excuse me.. I need to get down the stairs.."
"So, if you're not here, then I wouldn't be able to see you coming down the stairs right now, would I?"
Mitchie watches her boyfriend freeze and smile slightly at her. He pulls some other guy along with him. He closes his phone when they get on the sidelines with the cheerleaders.
"Caitlyn, this is Jason. My other brother." Shane introduces.
Jason shakes Caitlyn's hand.
"So, she's the girl who gets Nate to stop being a jerk, huh?"
Caitlyn blushes and says quietly, "I guess so.."
Mitchie and Shane laugh.
"so.. they took him to Westbrook hospital, I think."
"Thanks, Mitch. You guys want to come?" Shane asks hopefully.
Mitchie shakes her head, but Caitlyn looks at her with sad puppy dog eyes.
"Caitlyn can. But I'm the captain so I have to stay for the rest of the game. I'll meet ya there."
Mitchie, Caitlyn, Shane, and Jason all look at the scoreboard. 35-0. West winning. The clock was running out at this minute. 3… 2…. 1… The loud buzzer announces the end of the game.
"Okay. I guess I can go now." Mitchie says with a smile.
Caitlyn and Mitchie pack up their things and head towards the hospital in Shane's car. Jason drove his car to the game.
When Nate wakes up, he's out of his football uniform and lying on a hospital bed. He opens his eyes and looks around the room. His door opens and he hears footsteps. He quickly closes his eyes again. The light from the hallway brings another headache.
"The doctor said he just had a concussion and a couple of broken ribs." He hears someone whisper.
"We're going to give you guys a minute with your brother. We'll be right outside."
Brother? Shane and Jason are here?
Nate listens to the door open quietly again and shut just as quickly. He hears footsteps coming over to his bedside.
After all the crap of be ignoring them, they're still here? Why?
Nate starts breathing heavily and feels a panic attack coming on.
If they're here, then why aren't mom and dad here? Why won't they come to see me play a football game? Why won't they come and see me in the hospital?
Shane and Jason listen as their brother's breathing gets heavier and heavier. They both know what's coming. A panic attack, they both think simultaneously.
Shane sprints out of the hospital room and yells for a nurse, while Jason tries to get Nate to open his eyes and calm down.
"Nate, It's okay. Shane and I are here. You know what happens if you don't calm down. Shhh." Jason tries.
Nate opens his eyes, but still doesn't calm down.
"I… can't… breathe…." Nate says weakly.
"Hang on, little bro Shane and the nurse just came in the room."
The nurse gives Nate a shot in the arm and that seems to calm him down.
"What'd you give him?"
The nurse smiles at the two older boys and says, "It's just a relaxer. He'll fall asleep for about half an hour then he'll wake up less jittery."
"Oh, thank you." Shane says sincerely.
The nurse nods and says, "If you boys need anything just let me know. My name's Ashley, by the way."
Jason smiles at her and says, "I'm… I'm…."
Shane replies for him, "He's Jason and I'm Shane."
The young nurse smiles and says, "It's nice meeting you. I'll be checking on Nate later."
The boys wave as she walks out the door.
"Looks like someone's got a crush." Shane teases his older brother.
Surprisingly, Jason blushes and punches Shane lightly in the chest.
"Shut up. She's cute."
Shane laughs and pulls up a chair beside Nate's bed. Jason does the same as they both wait patiently for their little brother to wake up and explain what was going through his mind.
AN: I know, not a lot of Naitlyn, in fact, not really any, but I had to get some brotherly love in there. Review please!