The hospital lobby was practically empty when Georgie and Dustin wobbled into the building. There were people coughing and napping, but no one seemed to be bleeding. Maybe there was a chance she wouldn't be waiting around for hours. Right when she entered the lobby, she untied her windbreaker and thrust it into her brother's chest.
"Go rinse this off with cold water, the track pants are ruined but there's still hope for the jacket." She looked at him as he clutched the black garment. "Please." He rolled his eyes but headed to the bathroom anyway.
She got an administrative paper from the lady at the front desk who looked alarmingly casual about sending the bleeding teenager off to do paperwork.
Georgie flopped awkwardly into a seat, grabbing her thigh when the cut knocked against the edge of the seat. It was really throbbing at this point, but it seemed like the bleeding may have stopped. But it was hard to tell, she was pretty much covered in dried blood. It was everywhere. Her hands, her shirt and all over her car seat. She's going to have to clean that tomorrow, on top of homework, and looking for El.
And they still have to follow the compasses to the gate.
Georgie quickly scribbled down everything, and at some point doing the paperwork Dustin showed up beside her with a blood stained, soaking wet jacket. She shook her head, and Dustin threw it onto the seat next to him. She'd give their mom a go at it, she could get almost any stain out.
"Would you mind giving this to the nurse?" Georgie asked, handing him the papers. He nodded and rushed over, and walked back.
"They'll call you when they're ready."
"Great," she said, sarcastically. They'd be waiting for three hours at least.
Two hours and a quick nap later, Georgie was sitting on the uncomfortable table, in an uncomfortable gown getting her thigh stitched. She was hoping to avoid this. Stitches risked her spot on the team – and she really, really didn't want that. The team was her way into college (even though she still had next year) and it was one of the things she loved most in the world. And she had worked so hard for it. Soccer was something that she could grip onto when homework wasn't enough or she didn't have any.
Maybe Dustin was right.
Georgie did have control issues.
"I'm not on pain meds! I can still walk, I don't see why this is a big issue," Georgie said, getting agitated.
"It's policy," the nurse said.
Georgie rolled her eyes and looked over to Dustin who was trying to get in touch with their mother. The hospital staff wasn't letting Georgie drive herself home. She didn't understand why. She wasn't prescribed anything, she was allowed to walk. It didn't help that she was already mad.
Because she wasn't allowed to pay soccer until the stitches were completely healed. This day was a bitch.
"Your policy sucks," she said, walking over to her brother and leaning on the wall near him. "Any answer from mom?" He shook his head. "Damn, okay try the Byers' house. If Joyce or Jonathon are home I'm sure they'll drive us."
Georgie hadn't been stranded without a ride somewhere since her dad left her at the store once.
"You could call Steve," Dustin said, hanging the phone up after another unsuccessful attempt.
"Why? We're not friends," she said, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, but..." Dustin sighed, "he drives. And that's all we need so just, call him. I'm tired." She grabbed the phone from him, nodding silently before dialing the numbers. She appreciated that he didn't comment that she knew it already.
"Dustin, this is stupid – why would he do this?" Georgie hissing, gripping onto the phone.
"I don't know, but you don't have a lot of friends." Dustin flinched when Georgie hit him with the phone.
"Yes, I do, idiot!" Georgie put the phone back to her ear as she spoke. "Oh, hello. I was wondering if Steve was home? Oh, thank you."
"Was that him?" Dustin asked.
"If that was Steve, would I have asked for Steve?" Georgie perked up when Steve said hello on the other line. "Steve, hey. How are you?"
"Not in a great mood so can you make it quick?" Steve said, his tone laced with irritation. She knew this was a stupid idea.
"I didn't mean to catch you at a bad time, I can just figure it out myself – sorry for bothering..." She was cut off by Steve saying, "just tell me."
"I'm kind of stuck at the hospital and they won't let me drive myself home so I called everyone I know but they're all busy so... I called you." She hated that she rambled when she got nervous.
"You need a ride?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said. "But I can just call someone else if you don't want to. You're under no obligation or anything. Don't feel bad for saying no or anything."
"I'll do it," he said sharply, she heard his keys jingle over the phone. "Just be ready."
Georgie and Dustin sat on the curb outside the front doors of the hospital. Her car was within eye sight but this nurse was staring at them and he was staring at them like a hawk. And it's not like she could run to the car. And Steve would be even more pissed if he got there and they were gone. The nurse, Georgie overheard his name was Malcolm, scratched his beard and coughed – but it was a fake cough, almost like he could read her mind. It freaked her out a little and she turned away, wrapping her arm around Dustin. The younger Henderson was trying not to fall asleep.
The sky was beautiful. It was pitch black, but absolutely filled with stars. Almost as if they had tripled in number in the last few nights. Being exhausted and outside made her forget of the terrors in the town, or she may have been a little more afraid of the surrounding forest. She looked up, resting her head on top of her brother's. Staring into the peaceful sky for a few minutes before headlights turned into the parking lot. Steve turned his high beams off too late and Georgie has light imprinted on the inside of her eyes for a bit.
They stood up and said nothing to Malcolm. Georgie got into shotgun and Steve took a peek at the gauze wrapping around her leg through the long cut in her pants.
"That's too bad, those are nice pants." He put the car into drive and turned around.
"Yeah, my favourite."
"I know, you wear them all the time."
Something inside her stomach did a flip, and she considered actually punching her abdomen to highly recommend to her body that those types of feelings – about Steve – were absolutely unacceptable. Not only he was captain douchebag of the school: he was Nancy's boyfriend. And Georgie liked Nancy, so she wouldn't do anything like that.
The rest of the drive was silent, but the air told it's own story. It was tense, and Georgie knew that something was off with Steve. She turned around to see her brother was already sleeping, sprawled across the backseat. He wasn't wearing his seat belt, and that stressed Georgie out but ... she had to pick her hill to die on here, and she decided to let him sleep. Georgie turned back around, leaning back into her seat. It was a dangerous game, because she was so comfortable that she could've fallen asleep as well. And what if Steve didn't know where to go.
Actually...
They'd been driving the right way this whole time and Georgie had never told him where they lived.
Another stomach flip.
Fuck off, she thought, covering her stomach with her arms as if he could hear the butterflies. The feelings for him were gone. Her gut just needed a reminder.
Steve pulled into the driveway after another few minutes of driving. Georgie reached behind her seat and swatted Dustin a few times in the leg. As if on autopilot: he got up, thanked Steve, and got out of the car to rush into the house. Was the front door not even locked?
Georgie thanked him as well and was about to get out but Steve reached across her and pulled the door shut.
"Wait a minute," Steve said, gripping the steering wheel. "Sit with me a sec."
"Okay," she said, curious as to what this could be about, "but if you reach across me like that again I'll break your arm."
"You outta show a man who just picked you up a little more gratitude." He smiled slightly, as if showing her he was just kidding. As if he was trying to be friends with her.
It was weird.
"Are you okay? You seem irritated," she asked. Subtlety was never her strong suit.
"Would you know anything about Jonathon and Nancy having a tea party at this time of night?" Steve asked, sarcasm dripping off every word.
"Uh, no. Not a thing." The confused look on Georgie's face told Steve that she was telling the truth, and that she was confused about it too.
"Oh, well. That's why I'm mad I went to make sure she was okay and I saw that instead."
"Like... and actual tea party?"
"No," he said, giving her a look. "Not an actual tea party. Don't be ridiculous."
"Okay, I'm tired it's been a long day I have a leg full of stitches," she said, rubbing her temples. She was really tired.
"What happened anyway?" he asked, turning his car back on. This little hang out was clearly over.
"Monster hunting," she said. "Uh, Dustin and his friends wanted to play a game and I didn't want them to go alone..."
"You really care about him don't you? It's nice."
"Yeah," she said. "Thanks again, by the way. I really do appreciate it."
"I know you do. Because you're a good person," he said. Georgie nodded, and moved to get out of his car and that's when a jolt of stinging pain ran up her leg, ending at her hip.
"Shit," she hissed, grabbing onto her leg. Sitting still for a long time made the pain catch up to her. "Sorry." She kept trying to awkwardly.
"Don't try to do that again, just wait." Steve got out of the car and went around to her side. In his headlights, he looked like the Steve she knew when she was in the ninth grade and he was in the tenth. When he was nicer.
She looked up at him as he stood in the doorway. She reached around her and put his hand on her lower back, gently hoisting her out of the car. She wrapped her arms his shoulders and held on tightly. He got her onto her feet, and let her keep one arm around him as he guided her to the door.
"Do you want help in, or?"
She put pressure on her leg and felt the stinging again. Maybe this was why they didn't want her to drive. Because halfway home she would've been in too much pain to do it.
"Yes, please."
Steve opened the door and guided her down the hallway, and into the room she pointed at. He brought her over to the bed, and let her sit down.
"Do you want like better pants or something?" he asked, looking around. His hands were perched on his hips. She pointed at a pair of sweatpants on the floor. He grabbed them, handing them over and continuing to look at her.
"Uh, Steve?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind?" she asked, holding up the pants.
"Do you... uh, want help?"
"What? No, I want you to turn around a second."
"Oh, yeah. Okay." He turned around, scratching the back of his head.
As Georgie changed, she looked at Steve. She never imagined him standing in her bedroom. He was such a jerk. But he was beautiful. And she knew that. From his delicately styled hair to his effortless with effort style. She crawled back onto the bed and told him he could turn back around.
He looked at the scene in front of him. Georgie who was always so calm and collected, looked tired and completely run down. Her hair which was usually tight and neat was messy and baby hairs were clinging to her forehead. She kind of looked like shit. But still cute.
"Do you need anything else?" he asked, walking over to the bed.
"No, I'm okay I think. Thanks for everything, and for tucking me in." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. And it even felt genuine.
"You're welcome," he said, walking to the door to show himself out. "Oh, and uhm, don't be nervous. To call me for help or anything. We're friends, right?"
"I guess so," she said, laying down. "Goodnight, Steve"
"Goodnight, Georgie."
Steve flicked out her light and left. Almost as soon as she heard the front door close, she fell asleep.