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Tucking the ball under his arm, Reed jogs up to me, his cleats sloshing through the wet field. "Hey, Cal, does it seem like we're short?"
"I mean, I didn't want to say anything, but my neck gets sore always looking down at you."
Rolling his eyes, he laughs. "You're so funny, Calvin. No, but seriously, are we missing people?"
I look around the field and scratch my head. I notice Rose on the bleachers. "I can't think of who's missing. If we are then they just must be sick."
"We know most everyone on this team. We'd know which ones of us are missing, right?"
"Then I guess everyone is here, and we're losing it." I run backward, opening up my arms. "Ball."
Reed steps back a few feet before launching the ball into the air. Looking upward, I run to catch it. The ball about to drop into my hands, I slip on the wet turf and crash to the ground, landing on top of my right wrist.
I feel nothing, and that's the scary part. Slowly though an intense pain spreads over my wrist, and I push myself up using my other arm. Reed, Camden, and Tyler rush over to me.
Bending down next to me, Tyler asks, "What was that epic fail?"
I grimace, clutching my wrist. "I think I broke it."
Camden and Tyler swear.
Reed offers his arm and pulls me up. "How are you going to be able to play?"
"Coach is going to kill me."
"I'll drive you to the clinic." Reed motions for me to start walking.
Camden jogs in front of us. "We should tell Coach first."
"He's inside and even after we track him down he'll have to fill out a form and more garbage. Let's go, Cal."
Rose joins us from her spot on the bleachers. "I'll come with you."
"Fine." Reed motions with his head to follow us. "Make sure he doesn't trip on anything else."
In Reed's car I sit in the front with him while Rose sits in the back. I text Mom about what happened, using my left hand to do so. She says she'll get there as soon as she can but her boss is being difficult and an accident is blocking the road outside her office. Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the window, the pain becoming unbearable.
Rose begins humming, her voice soothing.
As we near the clinic Reed asks Rose, "Can I drop you two off?"
Rose agrees and Reed pulls up under the overhang. Once inside the man at the desk stands when he sees me clutching my wrist. "What happened?" he asks.
"I fell on it during practice. I think it's broken."
"Do you have a parent with you?"
"She's at work."
He sighs, typing on the keyboard. "Unfortunately, unless the injury is serious a doctor can't see you without a parent present."
Rose glances at me before shuffling through stacks of pamphlets on the counter. She starts up her humming again.
"A broken wrist isn't serious?" I ask him.
"You said you thought it was broken."
"Fine." I throw up my arms, immediately regretting it due to the onslaught of pain. "It's broken."
"I'm sorry, but there are too many potential areas for lawsuits. Do you know your social security number?"
"Do people even memorize those things?"
He folds his hands, not liking my attitude. "Is a parent on their way?"
I squeeze my eyes, the pain growing worse. "She's stuck at work trying to leave."
Rose stops humming.
"Actually," he moves the computer mouse around, "I think we should see you now. Please take a seat, and we'll call you as soon as a nurse is available."
What? "Uhh...thanks."
Rose is already crossing the floor to sit down. Weird how he changed his mind like that, but hey, if it means I'll get some painkillers sooner then I don't care.
Only a minute passes before a nurse takes us back to a room. I'm not sure how Rose is allowed to come with me, but I'm in too much pain to spend long wondering about that. The doctor looks confused when he walks into the room, but Rose hums again, and it seems to calm him down.
I end up only having to have a cast around my wrist, and I'm back in the waiting room before I have much time to process anything. The pain makes everything blurry.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Mom:
I'm getting in the car.
I sit down in the corner of the waiting room and set my phone on my lap. The red cast rests awkwardly on my leg. Nothing feels comfortable.
Rose sits adjacent from me.
"I suppose you've already pieced together that I won't be going tonight," I say.
Rose frowns. "I've gathered."
I drum on my thigh. "Do you think it's weird I can't remember anything?"
"I guess so." She stares off into space.
"Mind if I take a nap? The painkillers are putting me to sleep."
"Sure."
I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes, but I have a hard time finding a comfortable position. I don't know how much time passes before a phone buzzes and Rose says, "I know we're running out of time...He cannot come tonight. Tomorrow, yes, I'll make sure it's finished."
Whatever she means by finished, I'm not too keen on finding out the answer for it.
"I'll still be there tonight," she continues. "I'm just waiting for his mom...I'm not." She sounds annoyed. "I know we have to make up for what we did. I'm not going to be selfish about this. I'm close to completing it." She sighs. "He's asleep. Violet, I can handle it."
I know I wasn't supposed to hear any of that.
"Calvin?"
I crack an eye at the sound of Mom's frantic voice. She's at the entrance, the sliding doors refusing to close because she's too near them. Her head whips side to side and her purse's contents threaten to spill out from the straps sliding down her arm. I wave to get her attention.
She shoves her way past the legs of the other occupants of the waiting room; a couple of which are broken. "Calvin, sweetie, how are you feeling?"
"It hurts, but I'm alive."
She places her cold hand on my cheek and frowns. "I know it hurts, honey."
Rose stands up and holds out her hand. "Hi, I'm Rose."
Mom shakes it, taking in Rose's bright red hair. "Ms. Finnick. Are you one of the girls teaching Cal and his team ballet?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm afraid Cal will have to miss it for a while."
"I understand. I wouldn't want him to hurt himself farther." When she was on the phone it sounded like she had plans for something tomorrow, and that something seemed to be about me.
"Do you need a ride back home?" Mom asks her.
She smiles, looking regretful for having to cause any trouble. "Actually, yes. That would be amazing."
"Let me pay the bill, and then we'll be on our way."
Mom paying the bill takes longer than I was expecting. There is confusion on how I was allowed to be seen and taken care of without Mom being present. She gets it somewhat straightened out and afterwards takes us to her car. I sit in the back with Rose.
Rose gives Mom directions to her house and says to me, "You know, Cal, you could still come tomorrow and watch."
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Mom's eyes flick up to the rearview mirror to look at Rose. She's not thrilled with her dyed hair. "I doubt Cal will be feeling up to it."
"Right," Rose says. "I want Cal to be sure to get better."
We sit in a tight silence for a few minutes before Rose starts humming.
I turn to Mom. "How was work?"
"Long. Especially knowing my little boy was stuck at the clinic without me." Does she have to embarrass me in front of Rose? "I think you should go tomorrow night."
I blink. "You're fine with that now?"
She nods. "Rose is right, you can still watch."
I know a few minutes ago I wasn't up for going at all, and now, well now I'm okay with going.
Rose is completely silent.