How to Date a Nerd

Chapter 7 - We Ran Out of Apples

“Do I look pathetic in the video?” I asked frantically.

“Pretty much,” he admitted wryly.

I grunted exasperatedly. “Good. They’d probably cut me some slack this time.”

“Let’s hope. And Leon, you need to know something first. It’s about Sarah,” he said towing me to a wheelchair that was conveniently positioned near my bed.

“No wheelchair,” I argued. I didn’t want to look stupid in front of Sarah. The cast was nasty enough. “Why, is there something wrong? Is she sick?”

It took a few seconds before Dad could answer. “No. Not like that. Just… don’t panic, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m cool.” But in my head, I was running around screaming. My insides were squirming for some reason.

Once we were out of the room, I hurried my steps, the sling support making my shoulders ache. When we reached Sarah’s room, the door was already open. Freddy stepped out, a tired look on his face as he ran a hand over his curly dark hair.

“Way to go, kid,” he said exchanging uneasy smiles with Arthur. He eyed on my cast. “Looks good on you by the way. Gives you that new rough guy look.”

“I was thinking of changing my image anyway,” I grinned casually as my heart did cartwheels and hurdles inside my chest.

From the narrow gap of the door, I could hear several voices inside, talking, laughing. I saw Reed juggling oranges as Becky’s shrill laughter filled the air. Chuck was chortling by himself in a corner, his eyes fixed on the TV while Nathan shouted at him to keep it down. Matt sat silently on a padded chair. Weirdo.

I tuned them all out. All I wanted to hear was Sarah. I was about to go inside the room when Freddy took a hold of my shoulder and barred me from the door.

“Wait,” he started, letting out a sigh. “Sarah’s still… a little… disoriented. So please take it easy. And don’t panic, okay?”

Don’t panic. Why would I panic? Okay, maybe a little.

Without further ado, I nodded and went straight into the room. I must’ve looked like a big block of mess in blue PJs but it was too late to worry about that. All I wanted was to see her.

“Well, well. If you wanted so badly to live permanently in a hospital, you could’ve just told me. Nothing a good beating can’t fix, yes?” Nathan stood up and folded his arms, leaning on the wall as he eyed on my arm. “And Dad said I couldn’t get my driving license in a gazillion years. Considering you got yours, that must mean I still have a chance,” he added with a crooked smirk.

I held back a smile. Even he couldn’t spoil my good mood.

I found Sarah sitting on the side of the hospital bed, dangling her bare feet while looking at the floor. Her long wavy dark brown hair was tied back loosely, her face more pallid than the usual making her look breakable. She appeared like she lost a few pounds. Besides that, I couldn’t help but stare at her, unblinking, dead scared that I’d wake up soon only to find that everything was just a dream.

When she lifted her gaze up to me, her lips slowly curved into a shy smile.

“Hi,” I said, unable to think of a more sensible thing to say. My brain just went haywire. It felt like I haven’t seen her for years.

“Hi,” she replied. Her gray eyes had a hint of blue on them when they caught the light. “H-how’s your arm?” she stammered, dropping her gaze back to the floor.

Something was wrong with Sarah. I could just feel it. Maybe she was still upset. “Not too bad, actually.”

An awkward silence filled the room only to be broken by Chuck’s snickering laugh. He got dangerous stares from everyone after that. Cautiously, he turned off the TV.