The Only Exception

three

I had to get 7 stitches in my upper lip and cupid's bow. My lip was incredibly swollen and just like Hunter had said, I was getting a nasty bruise on my face. My dad parked the car in our driveway when we got back and carried my stuff in the house for me.

He grabbed an ice pack from the freezer while I went to plop down on the couch. I was in so much pain and all I felt like doing was taking a nap. The hospital, despite the small population in the town, was really backed up today because of some accident that had happened so we had to wait for hours to be seen.

My dad handed me the ice pack as well as a couple of pain pills that were prescribed to me.

"Thanks," I said and gave the best half-smile that I could.

"Of course. I already texted Quinn to tell her that you came home early. Your mother and I are supposed to go out with Jack's parents tonight, do you think you will be okay here?"

I nodded in response before taking the pills. My dad had to go back to work after that so I turned on a random movie and continued to ice my face. I was pretty irritated that I was missing classes when it was only my second week of school because I didn't want to be behind already, but there was nothing I could do about that until the next day.

It wasn't long before I ended up falling asleep on the couch. My nap didn't last very long though because soon enough Quinn came home from school. She slammed the front door and her obnoxiously loud voice could have been heard from anywhere in the house as she chatted on the phone.

I sat up reluctantly, knowing I wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon. Fortunately, Quinn ended her phone call just a few moments after stepping in. She then came storming into the living room where I was and it took a lot to stop my eyes from rolling.

"What happened today?!" Quinn shrieked.

I was instantly confused. Was she mad at me? What did I do?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"What do I mean? Um, I don't know D. How did your face get bashed in causing you to have to go get stitches? Was it Hunter?"

Instantly I was annoyed. Why was she so dead set on painting Hunter as a terrible person?

"No! Why would you even ask that? Nate shoved me into the lockers and Hunter was the one that stood up for me and took me to the nurse," I practically shouted back.

I wanted to scream that Hunter was the first person to ever stand up to Gemma and Nate for me. Quinn had seen some of the things they did to me and she always turned a blind eye. Some sister she was.

"Well everyone at school is saying that Hunter had something to do with it. I told you to stay away from him and I really mean it, Drew."

"You aren't the boss of me, Quinn! You are one year older than I am. Why don't you just focus on your own life, you're really good at that."

I used my finger tips to rub at my temples. All this arguing was giving me a headache and I just wanted her to leave me alone.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I didn't have time to answer because the doorbell rang. It had to be one of Quinn's friends because Hannah is the only one who would come here for me and she always goes through the window.

I let her go to answer it and I walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Quinn yelled.

I wasn't expecting her screech and I jumped, causing me to accidentally drop my glass of water onto the floor. The sound of glass shattering pierced my ears and I quickly covered them as water and pieces of the cup went all over the kitchen.