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I sat under a tree, biting my lip and playing with my jaw breaker. My side was hurting, but really it was to be expected. Phillip had thrown me to the ground a few days ago, angry when I wouldn't do what he wanted. I'd landed on a sharp rock, slicing my side. If I had been smarter I would have just handed over the goodie bag I was bringing to Teasers. Maybe then he wouldn't have left me on the ground, still having ended up with the bag.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Rocco had happened by. Seeing me laying in my weakened state, he kicked my side, threw dirt in my face, and spat on me before walking off, crazy laughter trailing behind him.
I had changed the dressing on the wound this morning. It was an ugly yellowish-green semi-scabbed thing and oozed when ever it was exposed. If it got jostled, it would split and bleed again. It had already bled through three makeshift bandages. Hopefully nobody had noticed the blood on my shirt. The wound was.... what was the word Falcon had called it when he had an injury that looked like this? Festering. That was it. My side was festering.
Teasers would flip if he knew. Well after he passed out. That's why I hadn't told him about what had happened. I hadn't told Stasia either, knowing she would definitely tell Teasers. In fact, nobody but me, Rocco, and Phillip (both of whom probably didn't know the extent of it or even cared about the extent of it) knew. I wanted to keep it that way. Telling them would make them feel that they had to fix me. It would make me more of a burden than normal. I hated being a burden to anyone, especially Teasers. He already did too much for me. The only reason I regretted that decision was I didn't know how to care for the wound. The current covering I had on it was just some tissues held in place with the only thing I could find, painters tape, which had the unfortunate effect of making my skin really itchy.
A shadow fell on me. Looking up I saw my red haired friend. "You wanna play tag with us Razzie?" Gryphon gave me an excited look.
I quickly pulled my hand away from my side. "Uh...Who'th pwaying?"
"Lanie." Gryph replied, offering his hand to pull me up.
Hesitantly, I accepted it and got to my feet, trying not to make a pained groan. "Who ewth?"
"Me, Rills, Veloci, Ricky, Lyrica, Fiann, Rita, Esmerelda," Gryph listed. "With you there'd be 10. Lanie's it."
"Thath p-p-p-people a wot of." I gulped and looked down at the ground. Why is speaking so hard? I knew the words I wanted to say and the order I wanted to say them in. I knew how they should sound but I could never make them fall out that way. There were four-year-olds that talked better than me.
"It's okay Razzie. You don't have to play." Gryph shifted anxiously from foot to foot. "I just wanted to make sure you knew you were invited. If you want to stay here and draw or something, that'd be fine to."
"I onwy weawy kn-n-know you and Wana. What if they d-d-d-don't undewthand m-m-m-me?"
Gryphon pondered my words. "Then I'll help them." He decided. "Your speech is different, but they'll get over that."
"Dif-f-f-fewent?" I gulped, scared that he was going to tell me I was too strange to be included.
Gryphon back pedaled. "Not different in a bad way. You're unique. And unique people are my favorite! They're the best ones to make friends with! Can you imagine if we were all the same?"
"At weast then they'd undewthand m-m-m-m-me."
"I'll help you. That's a great thing about tag; you don't have to talk. So do you want to?"
"Otay." I pasted a smile on my face , but let it fall as soon as Gryph turned and started up the hill to scout out where Lana was. I was probably going to regret running, but maybe the rush of tag would distract me from the pain.
"Great!" I could hear the smile in Gryph's voice as I followed him up the hill.
Not really moving from the hill's crest, I watched the game unfold. Lana tagged Ricky, who I knew by sight. Ricky chased after a girl that looked similar to him. That girl managed to tag a short girl who was somehow running in 7 inch heels.
Back and forth they all went, tagging each other and laughing as they ran away. Despite the fact that I told Gryphon I'd play, I stayed right at the edge of the playing field. I couldn't bring myself to get any closer to anybody. Gryphon had claimed that you didn't really have to talk in tag, but all I could hear was mixed conversations and loud laughter. Even standing at the edge, the noise made me really nervous.
Thankfully, nobody seemed to know I was actually playing. Or if they did, they didn't want to tag me. I watched everyone else cycle through, each being "it" at least twice, some being "it" up to five times. After staring for 15 minutes, I decided it would be less awkward and nerve racking for everyone if I just went and sat back down. I spun around, my final glimpse of the game involving Gryph getting tagged for the third time, the girl who did so leaving a sparkly hand print on his jacket.
My side ached as I started down the slight incline. Once again I wondered what more I could do for it. Would ice help? Heat? I had literally no idea.
There was a slight, unexpected pressure on my back, and I was sent tumbling down the same hill I had so recently climbed. I yelped. My side screamed in protest, suddenly warm and sticky. Even without looking, I knew it had just split open again.
At the bottom of the hill, I landed on my injured side. I curled into a ball, hoping that would help stop the pain. No such luck. If anything, it made the wound hurt worse, but by now I was in too much pain to straighten back out.
The sound of muffled footsteps fled down the hill, stopping right beside me. "Razzles! I'm sorry! Are you okay? I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to push you that hard. I thought I had controlled my strength enough!"
My eyes were closed, but I knew who it was. The only person who it could be.
"I just wanted to get you more involved with the game. Please tell me I didn't break you!"
"I otay Gwyph. It'th n-n-not yoooouw fauwt." I opened my eyes, Gryph's frantic face swimming in my vision.
"It was my fault! I pushed you down a hill!" Gryphon started to pull me back to a sitting position, but froze as I groaned. "You're hurt!"
"I f-f-f-fine." My body objected with agony but I couldn't let Gryphon know that. He was always so sensitive about hurting people. It was one of his most endearing qualities.
"Razzles, don't lie. I can see the pain in your eyes." Gryphon's lower lip quivered. He was most definitely trying not to cry.
"It wathn't you." I finally conceded.
"But you are hurt. What happened?"
I bit my lip. How far would the story spread if I told Gryph? He'd tell Eros, Eros would tell Teasers, and Teasers would go nuclear. He would never forgive Phillip, and would be hurt that I hadn't told him. He'd probably try to take revenge himself, and might even get sent back to the isle. I can't do that to him. Teasers loves being in Auradon. He loves meeting new people and hanging out with his friends.
All these thoughts crashed around my head, smashing into each other, almost as painful as my side. What lie can I tell Gryph that he would believe? I'd never been good at lying.
I was saved from answering by something almost worse. Gryph's eyes widened as he stared at me. "You're bleeding!"
Was it really already noticeable? I looked down and sure enough my yellow shirt was slowly being covered with a red stain. I tried to deny it, to claim it was ketchup, but the weak words barely got through my lips. Why did it hurt so much?
"It'll be okay, Razzie. I'm going to take you to the nurse, okay?"
"N-n-n-no! You c-c-c-can't!"
Gryphon ignored my protests. He threaded one arm under my knees, the other supporting my neck, and scooped me up as if I were nothing but a rag doll. He ran back up the hill.
Ricky tried to jog beside Gryphon. As per usual, I only understood about a third of what he said, his strong Spanish accent overpowering his words. "Gryphón are joo still plahing? Todavía lo eres, ¿verdad? ¿O etiquetaste a la chica en tus brazos? Vhy are joo carrhing her? ¡Estas corriendo almost tan rápido como Mi Héroe!"
"I gotta help Razzles. Tell Lyrica she can be it." Without so much as waiting for a reply, Gryphon veered away from the field, aiming toward the main building.
"P-p-p-put m-m-m-me p-p-p-put m-m-m-me d-d-d-down!" The frustration made my words almost indecipherable. I balled my fist and tried to hit Gryph's shoulder. If I go to the nurse I'll never be able to keep it from Teasers.
"Sorry Raz. I'm not sure what you said, but this is for your own good."
I pouted. I didn't have the strength to fight my way down. Granted, most people didn't have the strength to beat Gryphon in a fight, but it was 20 different levels of humiliating to be carried like a baby by a cute boy.
Gryphon burst through the doors, storming down the hall. He seemed to inexplicably know when to lean as he rounded corners to provide a fairly smooth ride. I tried to watch for somebody who could help talk Gryphon out of this plan. The only person I saw was the worst one we could have run into. Instinctively, I pulled my face closer to Gryphon's chest, listening to his pounding heart. Maybe he wouldn't notice us.
No such luck. "Yo Gryph," the boy called, "where's the fire?"
Gryphon skidded to a stop. "Malt? Is that you?"
"Who else would it be?" Teasers audibly tossed something into his mouth. "So the fire? Where--"
I could feel the exact moment his eyes landed on me and realized who I was. I risked peeking over my shoulder to see his reaction. Emotions flashed across his face at a furious speed. Someone less acquainted with him wouldn't be able to place them fast enough to know what they were, let alone why he was feeling them. They'd just be curious as to why he dropped his Skittles.
I, however, knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Overprotectivness at realizing someone was holding his sister. Anger at the fact that somebody thought they could do that. Suspicion at why I would need to be carried. Shame at feeling suspicious of Gryphon. Finally his face settled on concern.
"Are you alright Jellybean?"
Before I could assure him that I was, indeed, all right, Gryphon answered for me. "She needs to see the nurse. She's bleeding." He started running again before Teasers fully understood what he'd said.
"Bleeding? Why is my sister bleeding!?"
Gryphon slowed to speed walking and tried to explain, though his disjointed sentences were hard to understand. "Playing tag...I was it...accident... as fast as I could... bottom of the hill... refused to tell me...trying to include...feel terrible...never wanted to hurt Razzie... too strong...just wanted to tag her."
Thankfully Teasers had a lot of experience deciphering speech that wasn't quite as clear as it should be. "I'm sure it wasn't your fault Gryph."
"I f-f-f-fine. Can I g-g-get d-down pweath?"
Gryphon looked at Teasers, his face pleading with him to explain to me it was a bad idea. I tried to give him my best pleading look as well, but it wasn't as convincing as I had hoped since I had to bite my lip to keep it from trembling with pain.
Teasers looked at my expression, then quickly looked back at Gryphon. "How badly is she bleeding? Is it like a little scrape? If so, I have a bandaid in my bag."
Gryphon flushed. "I haven't seen the actual area; its on her side. She didn't tell me she was hurt. I only know because I saw the blood seeping through her shirt."
Teasers naturally pale face lost even more color. I bet there were ghosts darker than he was right then. "I'm sorry I stopped you. Can you continue running her to the nurse's office? I'll run too, but I think you're faster than me."
Gryphon gave a quick nod. He shifted his hold on me, holding me higher and tighter than before.
Teasers watched, and his eyes went wide as he saw the small spot of red my side had started to rub onto Gryphon's shirt. Instantly his hand went to his mouth. He whirled around, and lunged toward an unfortunate potted plant.
Gryphon had started running again, but I could still hear the sounds of my poor brother losing his lunch. It brought tears to my eyes. Was he okay?
When we got to the nurse's office, Nurse Hattie was exasperatedly wrapping Falcon's elbow. Neither of them noticed us initially, as Nurse Hattie was gently scolding him. "Maybe you should consider less active hobbies. Like reading. Reading is a lot safer than mountain biking."
Falcon pulled up his arm, the one that wasn't being wrapped, and tapped his chin. "I broke my tibia reading once. And a different time I broke my radius reading. And then there was that time I sprained my wrist catching a book as it slid off my lap--"
"Ok," Nurse Hattie laughed. "I get it. Reading is a bad example. We'll find some hobby for you that is impossible for even you to get hurt at. For now though, take this gym excuse note, rest your elbow, and try not to hyper extend anything else, at least not today."
"No promises." Falcon said, his grin splitting his face. He finally seemed to realize they weren't alone. "But in the meantime I think Gryphon is going to explode if you don't help--" his face fell. "Is that Razzles?"
With a worried nod, the panting Gryphon laid me on the other small army cot in the room.
"Does Teasers know she's in here?"
I didn't hear the reply as Nurse Hattie started asking me questions.
"What happened?"
I bit my lip, not wanting to get anyone in trouble.
"Razzles you have to tell me, dear. It will help me treat you, and stop it from happening to anyone else."
"I f-f-fell," I said, not looking at her. "On a wock."
"Okay. I can tell that's not the full story, but I'll let it side for now. Boys I need you out so I can take off Miss Candy's shirt and inspect her wound."
Without a word of protest, they both left. Gingerly, and with hands so gentle I almost didn't feel them, Nurse Hattie took off my shirt, thankfully leaving my bra (Okay training bra but still) where it sat. My side looked more awful than it had this morning. It was still bleeding freely, the tissue/tape combo soaked and barely hanging on. Blood was dripping down my side, almost to my underwear waistband.
Nurse Hattie's sharp inhale told me it was much worse than I had thought. "It's so infected. And," she prodded it, causing me to gasp with pain, "much deeper than I would expect. When did you say this happened?"
"T-t-uethday."
I could see Nurse Hattie thinking back. She spun to her computer, and clicked a few times. "You didn't come in on Tuesday. That was 4 days ago. Is this the first time you're seeking help?"
I nodded.
"Why?"
"I didn't want to in-in-in-incon-con-in--- twouble anyone."
Nurse Hattie started to explain why that was a terrible idea, but was interrupted by the door behind her being flung open, slamming into the wall. She spun to see who was in such a rush.
"Is she okay? Is my sister okay?" Teasers' shirt had a wet mark down the front.
"She will be. I have to clean her wound and she might need stitches." Nurse Hattie gestured to the blood puddling next to me. "Did you know about this?"
"Stitches?! Is it really that bad?" His eyes followed her hand before realizing what was on the white bed next to me. "Is that-- is that blood?" His eyes rolled backwards and he crumpled to the floor.
Nurse Hattie sighed. She handed me a sheet. "Hold this up so I can have Falcon help wake up your brother," She said, then walked back into the hallway.
Gryphon and Falcon followed her back in. They stood over Teasers. Falcon whistled. "He saw the blood, didn't he? Dude you think you can move him?"
Gryphon cast me a quick look. He looked like he had so much he wanted to say but couldn't get the words out. Instead he just nodded and carefully picked Teasers up in a fireman's hold. All three boys left the room again.
Nurse Hattie turned back to me. "We're going to clean it, which might hurt but will help me determine if you need stitches. It will also help with the infection forming."
~~time skip to after procedure~~
Nurse Hattie moved me into her private office, geturing to her chair to sit on. "You have some visitors. Do you feel up to it?"
"Who awe they?"
"Malteasers and Gryphon for sure. I think Falcon stuck around, bless his heart, and your brother said he was 'alerting the gang' whatever that means."
I gulped. "Can we juth stawt with Tweasers and Gwyph?"
"Of course."
A few minutes later, she came back ushering the two boys behind her into the room. Both looked relieved to see me sitting in the chair. They started talking over each other.
"Yay! I didn't kill you!"
"Bean you can't scare me like that!"
"Nurse Hattie said you weren't broken! But she did say you had to get stitches?"
"I really didn't mean to faint, and I'm sorry I wasn't in there with you, but there was so much blood."
"Did it hurt? How many stitches did you get?"
"The doc said you claimed it happened Tuesday. Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"
"If you boys don't calm down I will have to ask you to leave." Despite her stern voice, Nurse Hattie had a twinkle in her eye.
"Sorry ma'am! We'll calm down," Gryph said. "Razzles, do you feel up to answering the questions? If not don't worry about it."
"I thiw awaive. I had to g-g-get ten thitcheth. And som-m-m-me awewgy m-m-m-medth. Fwom the ad-d-dhethive."
"I'm so sorry Jell--" Teasers quickly looked at Nurse Hattie before turning back to me. "I mean Raz. I feel like I failed when you needed me most."
"No you d-d-didn't! I knew you needed to n-n-not be in with m-m-m-me."
"I should have been. But we'll worry about that later. What happened on Tuesday that led to this?"
"I fell." I bit my lip and stared at the floor.
Teasers came over and gently lifted my chin, giving me a pout. "Raz, please?"
"F-f-f-iwip. He puthed m-m-me. To get your gwoodie bag."
Teasers leapt up, swearing. "I will destroy him! Then kill him! And all his buddies too."
"Tweasers no! I can't wothe you!"
"You won't lose me, I promise. But Phillip needs to pay for hurting you. For causing you to get stitches."
"Mr. Candy! How dare you threaten another student? I should report you to the headmistress!" Nurse Hattie put her fists on her hips.
"I'm not going to apologize for protecting my sister." Teasers stubbornly folded his arms.
Nurse Hattie looked back and forth between us. "Fine I'll let it slide this time. But I am going to have to ask you to leave. You're being much too hyper to be in the room with a recovering patient."
Teasers face became horror struck. "No please! I'll settle down. I'll behave. Please don't make me leave her."
"One more outburst and I won't ask." Nurse Hattie glared at him. "This is your final warning."
Teasers gave a solemn nod before squishing into the chair next to me. His hand found mine and started to rub. Teasers' eyes were clouded and I could tell he wasn't fully paying attention to what he was doing. If I had to guess, I would say he was still mentally beating himself up for fainting and still planning revenge on Phillip.
I laid my head on his chest. "N-n-nurse Hattwie said you wewe aweeting the g-g-gang. What did that m-m-m-mean?"
Teasers rested his chin on my head, shifting his arms so he was hugging me. "I was telling a few people that you were hurt."
"Who?"
"Well Stasia. She sees you as a sister and so I had to let her know. And if I had kept it from Eros, we both would have never heard the end of it."
"I let my mom know too, because she had given me a time to be home, but I couldn't leave without confirming you were okay." Gryphon looked at his watch. "Now that I know though, I'm supposed to go help with the twins. I'll see you later, okay Razzie?"
"Otay Gwyph. It weawy wathn't youw fauwt."
"I understand. Bye Malt."
"Later dude."
Gryphon walked out the door. I snuggled further into Teasers chest, the smell of buttercream frosting masked slightly by the smell of stale puke. He must have just gotten off work when we'd run into him in the hall, and he hadn't changed from tossing his cookies.
"Ith that aww who knowth?" I asked timidly.
"Well, Ellie knows something is up. I was supposed to go shopping with her today and kinda sent a jumbled text."
"Jum-m-m-mbwed?"
"Yeah I wasn't exactly coherent. Ill explain it to her later. She'll understand."
There was a cheery knock at the door. Nurse Hattie cracked it open, standing in such a way that we couldn't see out and whomever it was couldn't see in. She started to have a whispered conversation with the person.
After about a minute, she peeked over her shoulder. "Miss Kawena has a get well package for you. Can she come in?"
"Who?" I asked, confused. In response Nurse Hattie stepped slightly to the side, giving me a view of Ellie standing in the door frame.
"Ellie! What are you doing here? How'd you know we were here?" Teasers asked.
"You texted me something along the lines of 'Razzles trouble, blood. No shopping.' So I figured I better come check on you both, and this seemed like the most likely spot." Ellie shrugged, then slunk around Nurse Hattie.
"Why check on both of us?" Teasers asked.
"Because I knew if Razzles was hurt, you wouldn't be able to do the basics, like remind yourself to eat. So I brought you a burger." She handed him a paper sack.
"I didn't forget to eat!" The statement lost power as Teasers' stomach growled. Loudly. He grinned sheepishly. "Okay maybe I did."
"And I brought something for you Razzles." Ellie handed me a small gift bag. "They only had fruit ones, and only three at that, pineapple, orange, and strawberry. I hope its okay."
I pulled out the tissue paper and peered inside. A small pineapple squishmallow stared back at me. I giggled and pulled it out. "A tuffie!! Thankth Ewwie! It'th pewfect."