Chapter Three: Hold On 2/2

I laid perfectly still in the school infirmary.

I was getting a tingling sensation throughout my body, but other than that, I pretty much had full movement back in my body.

I felt grateful that the numbness didn’t last very long. More than anything else, though, I was frustrated with myself for being so damn stupid. Why didn’t anybody say anything about that gate before?

It’s already tall enough, and sharp enough at the top. Did they really need to run an electrical current through it?

I shook my head in hopes of shaking the thoughts, but my head began to throb. The only thing I could do now was sigh and feel sorry for myself.

Turns out it was Mr. Roberts who brought me here, he wasn’t my teacher, but he was kind enough not to leave me there.

The school nurse occasionally hovers over me and smiles.

“Are you getting any feeling back?” she asked, politely lifting my arm off the bed.

“Yeah,” I said even though it felt like I swallowed nails. “Everything is tingly.”

Shaking or nodding my head wasn’t an option. It hurt too much.

I showed her that I could move my hands and wiggle my toes.

She smiled wide “That’s great.”

I licked my lips in hopes of getting a little more moisture in my mouth.

“How much longer do I have to stay here?” I asked her.

“When the tingling sensation goes away.”

I heard a loud voice, and I think I made a face.

The nurse opened the door, and I could hear Benny talking quickly.

“Is she in there?” she asked, “She wants to see me!”

“Do you want me to send her away?” the nurse asked.

“No,” I said, “Let her come in, please.”

She nodded reluctantly before stepping aside so Benny could enter the room.

“Thank you!” Benny snapped.

Once she was in the room, she was on me, hugging me.

“Oh, Ren!” she shouted, “What happened?”

I think Michael told her what happened.

“I touched the gate,” I admitted, “I didn’t know it would do this.”

“The gate is always on,” she said, “That is something your teacher is supposed to tell you, fitness is the only class the other school is practically involved with.”

I felt like an idiot, I should have heard the humming before. The electrical current going through the gate should most definitely be changed. It was painful when I tried to move.

“Michael told me what happened,” she said, “He said he tried to help, but a teacher made him back off.”

“Yeah,” I said.

I don’t really remember why I was angry. I knew I was angry. I just didn’t feel it anymore, I should, but I really didn’t.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.

“Absolutely not!” Benny shouted.

“Keep your voice down,” the nurse hissed.

Benny was quick to shut her mouth.

That woman even startled me with her tone.

“Can you move?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Then why are you still in here?” she asked in a whisper, before glancing over at the nurse.

“I just need to wait for the tingling sensation to go away,” I told her.

“And here I was, thinking that was a good feeling,” she chuckled.

I laughed, and it hurt.

“Sorry,” she giggled “But that’s fantastic, you’re okay.”

I lifted my hand, and she was quick to grab it.

It felt strange when she touched me, I didn’t have the full sensation in my hand. Right now, I wasn’t focused too much on how my hand felt.

It was a great feeling, having her worry about me.

I felt like I was going to cry, but I willed the tears away. This was a good thing, I reminded myself. Someone actually gives a damn about my well-being.

We laid there in silence, and I couldn’t help but wonder about not being able to get my uniform if it came today.

“Are the uniforms here yet?” I asked her.

“No,” I heard her chuckle, “We should get them on Wednesday. How long do you think you were out for?”

I shrugged, feeling a little silly, but she smiled at me.

“I got you a fitness uniform,” Benny stated.

“I could have done that,” I said.

“Not while you are recovering, you can’t,” she stated.

“Thank you, Benny,” I said.

“I’m your friend,” she said, “It’s what friends do for each other.”

“I’ll pay you back,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, “It wasn’t my money.”

I glanced down at her.

“The King can be quite generous,” she said, “He told me not to say anything, but I could care less.”

“Thank you anyway,” I said.

“You a very welcome,” she said, “The boys are both worried about you too, Maybe I can Skype in here?”

She said it, but I saw her gaze going to the nurse again.

“Keep it G rated,” the nurse said as she got to her feet, and she walked out of the room.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Benny sat up next to me and helped me sit up too. She took the pillows from the other four beds and put them behind me to help keep me up.

“Thank you,” I said again.

She smiled at me and sat as close to me as she could.

I could hear the beeping from the app on her phone as a worried looking Gus came into view.

Benny smiled “She is alive!”

I smiled sheepishly.

“You scared me,” Gus said before sighing, “When Michael told me what happened, I wasn’t sure…”

“I’m alright,” I said.

“Someone on this side died from that gate last year,” he said, “The jolt just stopped his heart.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

“I didn’t know,” I said.

“It is the schools’ responsibility to tell you that kind of thing,” he said.

He sounded like a worried father.

There was small noise from behind Gus, so he turned around.

“Is that them?” I heard a quiet voice.

“Ren is alright,” Gus said.

The other occupant walked up to the computer and leaned down to look into the camera.

Michael sighed before showing a small smile, “Damn, way to fucking scare a guy.”

“I’m alright,” I said, “Thank you.”

“That teacher was a fuck face,” he shook his head. “He filed a complaint, and I can’t leave campus until Thursday.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I didn’t know.”

“Clearly,” he said, sounding irritated, “The teachers obviously stopped telling students about that fucking Gate.”

I didn’t know what to say. All I’ve been saying are the same three things. I’m sorry, thank you, and I didn’t know.

I really didn’t, but I heard his voice telling me, no, but I didn’t listen because I was mad at him.

“Ren?”

I looked up to smile lightly.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Can you move alright?” Gus asked.

I nodded, “I’m a little sore, but I can move.”

I watched them both nod and let out a breath. They were really this worried about me?

My hand went up to cover my eyes.

“Ren?” Benny asked.

I shook my head.

Her arm wrapped around me. I think I was shaking.

“Is she alright?” Michael asked in a tone I haven’t heard from him; he sounded a little more than just worried.

I couldn’t will them away this time. I cried, and I didn’t want them to see me cry.

“Oh honey,” Benny said.

“What’s wrong?” Gus asked, “Is the pain that bad?”

“I can get you something,” Michael stated.

I shook my head, “Thank you.”

My voice cracked, but I meant it.

I barely had my mom. My little sister and I weren’t close anymore. I hadn’t spoken to my father in a while. I didn’t have anyone.

I leaned into Benny, and I cried into her shoulder.

The hand she held her phone with, she turned to only towards her.

“I think she is a little overwhelmed,” she said.

“Strangers worrying about you can do that,” Michael stated, “But I get the feeling that isn’t the whole thing.”

I wiped my eyes, and I smiled at them through the camera on her phone.

“It’s been a long time since someone had worried about me,” I said, wiping more tears away “I am very happy.”

Benny hugged me tighter, and I watched as Gus grinned. Michael stood there, and I couldn’t read his expression, he looked kind of lost.

Here I was thinking that moving here was going to be the worst experience of my life, but I was very wrong.