Hunter left early that morning. I watched from my bedroom window as the taxi pulled up. He put all his luggage in the trunk and left for the airport. It was still early, around five, so I had another hour or so to get some more sleep before school.
My alarm clock went off, and I smacked the snooze button. I didn’t want to get up and go to school. In fact, I didn’t want to do anything.
‘He’ll be back in a few days.’
I mentally slapped myself: “I need to quit acting like a heartbroken adolescent.” I figured if I said the words out loud, maybe they would make more sense to me, and I would listen.
Unfortunately, that didn’t work too well. I couldn’t help that this was the first guy that I had these kinds of feelings for. What made it even worse was that I could sense he felt the same way but wasn’t allowing anything to come between him and the band’s chance at stardom.
After I’d gotten ready, with just the basic jeans and t-shirt, I went out to the kitchen to see if Joshua was ready yet. He wasn’t sitting at the kitchen bar like he did every morning, but there was a piece of paper lying on the counter where his juice cup usually sat. I read the note. It seemed Joshua had already been up and left for the campus. I silently cursed at him for making me miss my first two classes. I went into the living room to kill some time. It seemed Crystal, who didn’t leave for another two hours, would have to be the one to give me a ride.
“Hey, wait up.” I saw Joshua walking at a fast pace across the parking lot.
I’d been able to attend my last two classes and was waiting for Joshua’s last class to get out, which usually ran fifteen minutes behind mine. It seemed he was in a hurry and didn’t even stop when I yelled for him. I did a quick sprint and was able to make it to his car before he had the chance to pull out.
“I yelled for you, didn’t you hear me?” I leaned on the driver’s side of the car and hoped he wouldn’t pull away, because I would most likely fall. My breaths were coming in short pants and I knew I had outdone my aerobic capabilities trying to get to him before he left.
“Yeah, I heard you.” Joshua didn’t even look at me. It seemed he was pissed off about something.
I kept thinking back to what I could’ve done to make him act this way. I let out a frustrated sigh. “Then why didn’t you stop? I just about had a heart attack running across the parking lot.” I noticed that he wasn’t smiling, laughing, or even looking at me. “Joshua, what’s wrong?”
He was just staring straight ahead, like in a zombie state of mind. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit, something happened. Why can’t you tell me?” I’d never seen him act like this, especially around me.
“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Joshua hit the steering wheel. “I have to get going.” He tried to inch the car forward a bit, just enough to make me lose my grip but not enough that I would get hurt.
The car sped up too fast, and before he could slam on the brakes, I let out a scream. “Fuck Joshua, back the fucking car up!” My foot had been twisted underneath the tire as he tried to pull away. It felt like hours, but Joshua finally backed the car up to its original space. I collapsed on the side and grabbed my foot and ankle.
Joshua hurried out of the car and knelt beside me on the ground.
There were a few other students gathered around who must have heard me scream. A girl asked if she should call security or nine-one-one, but Joshua told them he was going to take me to the hospital himself.
I saw that my ankle was already swelling, and it looked like it was probably broken.
“Put your arms around my neck, so I can carry you to the passenger seat.” He had one arm under my knees and the other behind my back.
I winced as he picked me up. I let out a large gasp when he placed me in the seat. It was like I’d been holding my breath in to help control the pain.
Joshua hurried around to the other side and headed for the hospital that was closest to the university.
Two hours later, I was wheeled out to the waiting area. I had my ankle wrapped tightly up and a pair of crutches, just in case I needed them.
Joshua was seated in the row of chairs, looking at some health magazine. He heard his name being called and glanced up from the magazine.
The nurse pushing my wheelchair waved him over as we got closer to him. She asked if he was parked close, and he pointed to the emergency room parking lot that was right outside. The nurse nodded and pushed my chair in that direction.
Joshua hurried ahead of her and opened the passenger door to his car. He helped me in, put the crutches on the back seat, and thanked the nurse as she left.
“Is it broken?” he asked, pointing to my foot and ankle, which were wrapped in white.
I shook my head. “No, just severely sprained with a hairline fracture.” I’d never been hurt like this. This was my first experience in the emergency room, except for the times that my momma had gone because she got hurt when she was drunk. I hoped I never had to go through this experience again. They had given me medication for the pain, and I was starting to feel the effects. I turned towards Joshua, who was watching me with sorrow in his eyes. “Why did you try to get away from me?”
The red light at the hospital entrance turned green, and Joshua turned left so we could go back home. “I don’t wanna talk about it right now.”
“Please?” I reached over and rubbed his hand. “I don’t want you to be mad at me.” I started to cry a little bit, and I was aware that whatever medication the hospital had given me was in full effect for me to be acting this way.
“I’m not mad at you. We’ll talk about it after you sleep, okay?” He picked up my hand, which was still rubbing his arm, and placed it on my lap.
“Can’t we talk now, please? Just tell me what’s wrong, Joshie.” I put my hand back on his arm.
We were almost home, and it seemed Joshua couldn’t wait to get me out of the car. My head was bobbing around, and my eyes kept closing. I was mumbling about him being mad and still calling him by that dreaded nickname of ‘Joshie.’
“Okay, we’re back.” The car pulled into its usual spot, and Joshua turned off the ignition.
I was still muttering about something and looking more like I was going to fall over and sleep right there.
Joshua hurried around and opened the car door on my side. He lifted me off the seat and kicked the door shut with his foot. “Hold on a little more tightly,” he whispered into my ear.
I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and buried my face on his shoulder.
It's a good thing I was light since he had to fish the house key out of his pocket and unlock the front door while still trying to keep a good hold on me.
Joshua managed to get me back to my room and stretch me out on the bed. My eyes were still closed, but I could still sense what was going on.
As he tiptoed away, I grabbed hold of his shirt. I muttered for him to stay and not leave me. I heard him let out a deep sigh and then sit down on my bed. I curled up next to him for comfort and warmth. The last thing I remember before I succumbed to sleep was that I said I loved him.
But did I mean Joshua, Hunter, or both?
Well, my ankle hurts after reading this, but at least she called him "Joshie"-- there's still hope!! 👍😊