Cecelia's POV:
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"Touch my leg one more time and I will snap," I threaten the male nurse trying to do an X-ray. I would laugh at the horrible pun I just made if I wasn't in so much pain.
"Would you just cooperate, I'm trying my best! Sooner we get this done, the sooner the pain can go away."
I huff, but comply anyway because I'm about to pass out if he keeps touching it. Finally I'm allowed back to my room and flip the nurse off as he leaves. Grace scolds me playfully and I roll my eyes which earns me a look. I've never figured out why she hates that.
"The game finished, Ashton should be here any minute sweetie," Grace informs me.
"Who won?" I ask nervously.
"Sorry, he didn't say."
I pout and lean against the bed. Stupid boys, what are they good for? I glance down at my leg, but avert my eyes because it looks deformed. I'm about to put it back into place myself if the doctor doesn't get here soon. Grace eyes me, like she knows what I'm thinking.
"Hopefully there's no permanent damage," Grace worries.
"I'll be fine," I promise her. "Can anyone get ahold of my dad?"
"I can't directly, but the message is on its way."
I hum in response as Ashton and Archer walk through the door. My nose crinkles at Ashton's sweaty uniform. I look over at Grace and we give each other the silent 'ugh boys' look.
"You could've changed," Grace scolds.
"And showered," I add.
He rolls his eyes. "Sorry, wasn't my biggest concern."
Grace quietly awes and I laugh. "Well, you smell horrible," I inform him.
"I smell like roses," he decides cockily.
I ignore him and turn to Archer, who has what I think is my bag in his hands. "I thought you might want to change," he tells me sheepishly.
"Thank you," I tell him. "Grace will you help me."
"No fair," Ashton protests. "I want to help."
Grace smacks his head and grabs my bag from Archer. "Go get changed yourself. At least try smelling like a civilized person."
He pouts, but leaves with Archer following behind. Grace locks the door so no one walks in. After an awkward and painful ten minutes, I'm out of my uniform and into shorts and Ashton's old hoodie. She helps me sit back down and goes to unlock the door that Ashton has been knocking incessantly for the last two minutes.
He smiles at me when he enters, but immediately frowns when he gets a good look at my leg. It's swollen and bruised with some blood from minor scrapes. He eases me over and sits down on the edge of the bed to take a closer look. When his hand starts moving towards it I slap it. He holds it dramatically like it actually affected him.
"What was that for?" He asks incredulously.
"You touch my leg and I will cut you," I threaten.
"Don't be so dramatic, I wouldn't hurt you," he assures.
"And I say that I don't watch Pretty Little Liars, but hey, we all lie," I fire back.
"You said you didn't watch it! You're telling me that I could've been watching it at your house this entire time? What a friend you are," he grumps. He then smiles at me mischievously. "Or should I say, girlfriend."
I glance at Grace to see if she heard. She doesn't seem to be paying attention, but she has a small smile and I know she's eavesdropping. I catch her eye, but she casually looks out the window as if she's found interest in something. I look back at Ashton who's glancing between me and Grace like a kid waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning.
"She already knows dipshit."
"Darn, I was kind of excited to tell her," he admits.
"Really?" I gasp dramatically. "I could not tell."
"If it makes you feel any better, I've known this would happen since you were five," she tells him.
"No actually, that doesn't make me feel any better," he clarifies sarcastically.
"Hello!" The doctor chirps excitedly as he enters. "You must be Cecelia," he greets.
Ashton gets off the bed and stands by Grace and a confused Archer. Guess we better fill him in later. The doctor goes through a few doctorly things, making notes along the way, before finally pulling up a chair next to the bed.
"Well, I have good news. It's a clean break, so it will require no surgery and most likely no therapy. I'm going to set it and then we can go ahead and put your cast on today if you'd like."
"How tall is this thing gonna be?" I ask.
"Just below your knee."
"She'll be able to play after it heals?" Ashton asks.
"Yes, she should be good to go. I'll be right back to put the cast on. Is there any particular colors?"
"Red."
"Archer honey, you look a little pale," Grace informs.
"Hospitals make me queasy," he admits.
"How about we go sit in the waiting room. Will you be alright?" She asks me.
"Yea, we'll be right out when we're done," I assure her.
"I'm so sorry," Ashton says as soon as they're gone.
"What do you have to be sorry about?"
He moves to sit on the edge of the bed and holds my hand. "I should've stopped them. It's my job to protect you and I failed."
"It's not your fault, nobody saw them. I'm not too worried about it anyway. It's the end of the season. I'll be healed and ready to go next season. Now, who won?" I ask nervously.
He gives me a big smile. "Of course we won. Did you think we were letting those assholes get away with that? They didn't have a chance."
"I figured, but you never know," I joke.
"Oh, I always know," he say cockily and winks at me.
The doctor puts the cast on and gives me the dos and don'ts. Ashton, Archer and I drive home in a comfortable silence. I contemplate telling him about Ashton and I, but I'm too tired. Ashton carries me downstairs to the couch with Archer carrying my crutches.
"I'm gonna head up to bed. If you, uh, need anything, you know," he tells me awkwardly.
I nod and watch him disappear upstairs. I'm hoping he starts opening up because this is just weird for the both of us. I don't know how to act around him and I don't think he does either. We need to bond.
"Do you want me to get you anything?" Ashton asks.
I shake my head no and pat the seat beside me. He sits and wraps me into his side. I surf through the channels, finally landing on Castle when I've grown too tired to keep my hand pointed towards the tv.
"The boys wanna throw a party to celebrate. You know, just the team and Coach. What do you think?" He asks as he combs his hand through my hair.
"That's fine, but I'm assuming you're asking if they can have it here."
His laughter vibrates through me. "Pretty much."
"That's fine," I tell him. "When though?"
"I think Saturday was the final verdict."
"You're giving me two days!" I exclaim.
"You're not going to have to do anything. The guys have it handled," he assures me.
"My house will burn," I mutter.
"ITS GOING DOWN, IM YELLING TIMBER!" Ashton's sings loudly and if I might add, off key, in my ear.
"Shut up," I whine. "You sound horrible."
"I happen to be a very good singer," he informs me cockily.
I roll my eyes and elbow him in the side. He laughs and pulls a cover over both of us. I snuggle into him and rest my head on his chest. I start drawing random patterns on his chest as I'm falling asleep.
"Night, love you," I tell him.
"Love you too."
I'm almost asleep when I hear him whisper to me. "It's going down, I'm yelling timber."
"Shut up ashhole," I mumble tiredly.