AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So let them eat me alive. C’mon, man. We’re taking you to the 24-hour clinic. C’mon, c’mon!”
19
The laceration is deeper than it looks.
My forearm does an impressive job of turning Mack’s light-blue t-shirt completely red by the time we make it to the Mayville clinic. The nurse who stitches my arm up, a man with handsome dimples and full, plump lips, is astonished I haven’t passed out from the loss of blood. I shrug at him and say it’s no big deal, then Mack goes off on how strong a stomach I have and brags to the nurse that I’m going to be a big-shot animal surgeon someday.
One of these times, Mack will get it right what I’m actually studying to become.
“Who did this?” asks another nurse later after I’m patched up, a tall, round, older gentleman with a big Santa beard. “Jealous ex-lover? Stalker?”
I chuckle. I told the story already to the doctor and another nurse, as they of course were just as concerned. “I wish it was that interesting. It was just someone who … clearly needed my money more than I do. I guess.” I glide my fingertips along the bandages, feeling the dull ache that lives beyond the topical anesthetic I was given. It’s going to hurt later when the meds wear off, I’m sure of it.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do a report?” he asks gently. “You know, we can have the cops here in a snap to help catch this guy.”
I wonder if he says that to every mugging victim. “Nah. No need for a manhunt. I’m sure the dude has enough troubles of his own. And if the spooked look in his eyes was any indication,” I add with a dry snort, “I’m sure he won’t be assaulting anyone else anytime soon.”
The nurse studies me a moment. “There aren’t many people with such an open heart like yours.”
I appreciate the nurse’s sweet sentiment, but if I’m being honest, I’m tired of hearing how “open” of a heart I have. I’ve never felt special or unique.
I’m just being the decent way I think every human ought to be.
Lex arrives at the clinic in a panic—summoned by Mack, who texted him everything—as well as an equally-distraught Connor and Alan, who left the party the instant they heard. “Is he okay??” cries Lex to Mack before he sees me. “I freaked when I heard about Zak’s attack!”
We’re on our way out at this point, standing in the lobby near the door. I eye Mack across the room and wonder if he’s about to make a “Zak Attack getting attacked” joke, which would normally be on the tip of his tongue by now, but something in his eyes is stone hard and sober, like this whole thing shook him to the core somehow.
Also, the guy’s still shirtless and getting a lot of attention in the waiting room.
It isn’t much longer before we’ve left the clinic and are walking—now a group of five—the leisurely way down every well-lit road all the way back to Piazza Place. “Ugh, this never happens in Mayville! I swear!” Lex is busy being overdramatic. “That punk must’ve been lost. Does it sting? Your battle wound? Did you see your life flash before your eyes? Are you having second thoughts about how you’ve spent your time here on Earth and what else you could be doing with your mortal life?”
Leaving Lex to spiral out on his own profound tangent, I turn to Connor, who walks next to me, and quietly ask, “Are you really leaving Mayville?”
He gives Alan at his side a meaningful glance, then nods somberly at me. “Yeah, I am.”
I smile. “Don’t be down about it. I understand. You gotta move on and move up, right?” I smirk. “Though I gotta say, I was getting used to the idea of having someone like you across the hall.”
“Someone like me …?” Connor appears to find that funny. “I seem to remember fondly you telling me that I should head back to Kansas. This isn’t a place for a ‘naïve little country boy’ like me.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t call you naïve.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I appreciate the sentiment anyway. This place sure isn’t for the softhearted.” Connor smiles at me. “I’m going to miss living here with all you guys, but at least it’s just a short train ride away. I’m still here in spirit.”
I peer at him appraisingly. “I was wrong about you, country boy. Way wrong. And I’m proud that you found your place here after all.”
“I’m just lucky.” He gives his boyfriend Alan’s hand a squeeze. “It wasn’t just me who got offered a permanent position, either. My friend Bree, and Jay, who sorta used to hate me, got offers too. I was thinking maybe my first assignment could be a piece on my time at Aubergines … since I’ll have to give the bad news to Larry, too.” Connor lifts his eyebrows. “Oh, would you be willing to contribute to my first piece with an interview? I’d be honored to include words from the Zak Attack!”
