I woke with my head feeling like it was about to explode. It hurt so bad that I pulled the pillow from my bed and pressed it down over my head to push against the pressure I was feeling inside my skull.
"Are you ok?" Holly rolled over in the bed beside me. "Let me get you some painkillers."
Tears flowed out of my eyes. I really wanted to wake up and have this mess behind me. After I had told my dad and Nate's family about my competition, I had a renewed sense of motivation to amp up my training for the end of the month. And now Scotty has taken that away from me.
Holly re-entered the room with a glass of water, some painkillers and a plate of toast.
"I thought you should have something to eat with them too, so I made you some toast, if you're up to it."
"Thank you," I sat up to take the medication and put the plate of toast on my night stand.
"Your phone has beeping all morning," Holly pointed to the cell laying on my folded clothes on the ground. "I didn't mean to pry but I noticed they're all from Nate."
Nate. I had texted him when I left the pizzeria but nothing since. I had to tell him about Scotty but I didn't want to text him about it.
"Can you read them for me?" I asked. My voice sounded low and far away, like it wasn't even coming from my own body. I leaned back down onto the pillows and closed my eyes to listen.
Holly picked up my phone and grabbed my hand. "I need your fingerprint to unlock the screen."
I let her take my thumb to place over the sensor.
"Are you listening?"
"Mm-hmm," I responded.
"Jordy, I love you. You're so sexy. I can't wait to see you again."
"Stop!" I managed to smile through the pounding in my head. "He did not say that."
"Fine! He didn't say that... oh, he says, "Don't lie. I know you miss me, winky face emoji." Is he flirting with you, Jordan?"
"Don't ask questions. Just read," I said.
"Message number two: Specialist says I'll be good to start practice throws by end of week. Should be good for the last few games of the season..."
"Good."
"Message number three: My team won our game today. Day game tomorrow and then I'll be back in the evening. Message number four: Your dad told me what happened. Coach has given me the ok to miss today's game. My aunt and uncle are going to drive me back. I'll see you as soon as I can."
I opened my eyes at that last message.
"Aw, he's rushing back for you," Holly hugged the phone to her chest.
"No," I rocked my head on the pillow. "No, he should stay with his team. I don't want him to worry."
"Stop overthinking everything. He's coming because he cares and because he wants to. He's not obligated to do that, you know."
I closed my eyes again. Despite the pain in my head, I did feel a little flutter at the thought that he was going to be back sooner than expected. I just wish it wasn't under the present circumstances.
"I don't want him to see me like this."
"Like what? It's ok to be vulnerable."
"Who are you, Brene Brown?"
Holly laughed.
"When was the last time he wrote?" I asked.
"Two hours ago."
As if on cue, I heard the front door open and the muffled sounds of Nate's deep voice, his aunt's concerned voice and my dad talking in the living room.
Holly hopped off the bed and poked her head out of the door.
"Oh, hey big guy," I heard her say through the gap in the doorway.
"Is she awake?" Nate asked quietly from the hallway.
He was concerned but there was something else in his tone. He almost sounded angry.
"She's resting. She's awake but she still has a migraine," Holly opened the door a little bit more so that Nate could see inside.
I really didn't want him to see me all dishevelled. It was a stark difference to just two days before, when his family came to visit. I hadn't even taken a shower to wash away the blood that had seeped from the gash on my head.
"Can I come in?" He asked, speaking over Holly's head.
"Yes," I readjusted so that I was sitting more upright. I tried to finger comb through my hair so it didn't look like a bird's nest.
Nate stepped into the room. I never really thought of my bedroom as small but with him standing at the end of the bed, the ceiling seemed low and the space around me felt cramped.
"You got your hair cut!" Holly piped up, trying to sound cheerful. It came out sounding hollow and fake.
She was right though. His long blond locks were completely gone.
"I'm still getting used to it," Nate rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable with the attention to his hair, or lack thereof.
As much as I hated his long hair, I had started to grow fond of it. Sometimes I wondered what it would have felt like to run my hands through it.
He looked older and more mature with the short side part and fade. The skin on the back of his head and neck were much whiter compared to the tan of his face, which had been exposed to the summer sun. The short cut made his blonde seem darker, like a light brown.
"I like it," I said. His jaw line and the angles of his face looked sharper but he had a worried expression on his face as he looked at me.
"Thanks. But I didn't come here early to show off my hair cut," he moved to the side of the bed and sat down. "Your dad says you know who did this? Who was it?"
The angry edge had returned to his voice.
I looked out the window. I didn't know if I should tell him. The angry tone made me wonder if he was going to go looking for Scotty if I uttered his name.
"If I tell you, you have to promise you won't do anything rash," I said, meeting his eyes.
He clenched his jaw.
"Promise," I said more sternly. "The police are taking care of it."
"It was Scotty, wasn't it? The guy who assaulted you at the start of summer?" Nate's voice rose a few decibels and he stood up quickly. "I should have punched that guy a long time ago."
"Shh!" Holly reached out to touch his arm and continued in a motherly tone, "She has a mild concussion. Don't get her worked up and don't speak too loud."
"Sorry," Nate bowed his head. He took a deep breath in through his nose and I could tell he was practicing one of his calming techniques. I watched as he slowly let the breath out and tried to consciously release the tension in his body.
"The police are handling it," I repeated and closed my eyes. I was starting to feel very sleepy. "They know where to find him. Don't go starting trouble. He's not worth it."
"But you are," Nate sighed and took my hand in his. I hadn't realized before how protected I felt, just by his presence in the house.
I managed a smile before drifting back to sleep.
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