The Circle of Friends

I - The Incident-2

“I know it hurts, but you’re bleeding.”

He tried to catch her eyes, but Lori’s face was turned away from him. Her labored breath echoed loudly in the empty bathroom and her knuckles appeared white as she gripped the edge of the sink. Through his fingertips, Jason could feel her trembling like a leaf.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” he asked.

“No,” Lori replied, finding her voice at last. “I’ll be okay.”

“Okay?” demanded Jason, glancing at the bloody tissue in his hand. “You need to see the nurse.”

“No.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because they’ll get in trouble and everyone will know. I don’t want the attention,” she said.

“The attention...” he began, incredulous.

“It’ll just cause more problems. I don’t want anyone to know!” Lori protested, raising her voice.

Jason shook his head in confusion, not understanding her refusal to seek assistance. He looked around, trying to decide what to do with the injured girl. His eyes fell on the blunt instrument Joe had used, now lying in the corner. Jason wondered why they would hurt such a pretty girl. It occurred to him that he didn’t even know her name. He felt sure he remembered her picture from last year’s yearbook. Using his free hand to pull aside her hair, Jason finally caught a glimpse of her face just as a single tear slid down her cheek.

“You’re on the swim team, aren’t you?” he asked softly.

She nodded without raising her eyes. The girl continued to tremble in his arms.

“What’s your name?”

“Lori,” she whispered.

“Well, Lori, you really need to have someone look at this. And another shirt, because the blood is noticeable,” he said. Jason quietly thought for a moment. “We’re beside the locker rooms. Let me slip next door and get the first aid kit out of the coach’s office and a clean shirt from my locker. You stay right here, okay?”

She looked up hesitantly and decided to trust Jason. “Okay.”

He pulled the tissue away from her back and part stuck to her now dry wounds. Wadding it in his hand, Jason gave her arm a squeeze.

“I’ll be right back.”

Jason paused long enough to pick up the short metal piece on the floor and took it with him. He emerged from the bathroom and walked quickly to the locker room. Two boys brushed past him, scurrying to get to their gym class. Stepping inside, Jason surveyed the quiet locker room. No one else appeared to be present. Glancing into the coach’s office, he realized Coach Holt was at his desk. Jason hesitated for a moment before making his decision. Anxiously, he knocked on the door. The football coach looked up and gestured for him to enter.

“Coach, I need your help,” said Jason breathlessly.

He told the coach what had just occurred and showed him the bloody tissue and the metal rod. Jason asked if he could borrow the first aid kit.

“No, I’ll take care of that,” said the coach, rising to his feet. “Who is she?”

“Name’s Lori. She’s on the swim team.”

Coach Holt’s eyes grew wide. “Lori Anders? Jason, bring her in right now!”

Jason returned to the bathroom, hoping she had not departed during his absence. He discovered Lori standing in front of the mirror and peering at her back. He startled her with his abrupt entrance.

“Sorry,” he said, approaching her quickly. “Come on, we’re going to the coach’s office.”

“Why?” she asked, alarmed by this development.

He grabbed her hand. “It’s okay. He won’t tell anyone. But he wants to see you.”

She hesitated, her eyes full of fear. “Come on,” he said, gently pulling Lori toward the door. “He just wants to make sure you’re okay.”

Lori allowed herself to be led out of the bathroom and into the locker room. Despite her pain and uncertainty, an amusing thought crossed her mind. She had never seen the boy’s locker room, certainly not with the football team’s star quarterback holding her hand.

Jason led her into the office. The coach was rummaging through the medicine locker. He looked over his shoulder and smiled.

“Hi, Lori,” he said. “I hear we’ve had a bad experience.”

“Yes,” she answered shyly.

“Why don’t you sit up here on the platform so I can take a look at you?”

She walked over to the padded table next to the first aid cabinet. Jason helped her up onto the soft surface and turned her backside toward the coach. She pulled her long hair forward and out of the way and gripped the edge of the cushion.

“Lean forward a little,” said Coach Holt, his usual roughness absent. With gloved hands, he pushed her shirt aside and gently examined her back. “Well, it’s not as bad as it seems. Shallow cuts. Hope you’ve had a tetanus shot recently. I will have to clean them out though. May hurt a little.”

Lori nodded. Jason covered her hand with his, gently reassuring her. He had to admire her bravery. Most girls would have been hysterical after such an ordeal. Lori was handling herself very well.

Coach Holt soaked some gauze in antiseptic and began to clean her wounds. She flinched and sucked in her breath. Jason moved directly in front of her, taking both of her hands in his.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Look at me. Concentrate on me.”

She lifted her head and met his eyes for the first time. Lori slowly released her breath and the intensity of her expression faded. Jason found himself staring at the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Her eyes were an incredible blue, their innocence almost captivating. Lori appeared astonished to be looking at Jason and he smiled.

“That’s better,” he said. Jason decided to distract her with conversation. “What do you swim?”

She seemed surprised by his question. “The 100 and 200, freestyle.”

“Are you good?” he asked.

“Is she good?” guffawed the coach. “She holds the school record for both!”

“Really?” Jason asked incredulously.

“Yeah,” she answered, managing a weak smile.

“I didn’t know that. Guess I should come out to a swim meet this year.”

“You should,” she said quickly.

Jason’s smile grew. “I’ll have to,” he said, rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs. He was beginning to like this girl.

His eyes went to the mass of hair hanging over her right shoulder. “How do you get all that hair up under one of those little caps?”

“It’s not easy,” she answered, her smile growing.

“Jason,” said Coach Holt. “I need you to hold this.”

Stepping to the side, Jason reached around Lori. The coach pushed Jason’s hand up against a large piece of gauze covering her back.

“Hold,” he said, turning to retrieve the bandages. When the coach was ready, Jason slowly lowered the gauze. The coach proceeded to cover the cuts, gently blotting the wound one last time.

“That should do it,” he said, throwing the bloody scraps into the trash and removing his gloves. “You said she could use one of your shirts?”

“Yeah, let me get it.”

While Jason went to his gym locker, Coach Holt helped her down from the platform. “Lori,” he said in a serious voice, “I am going to have a talk with the boys who did this to you. I appreciate your willingness to let it go. But this is a criminal act. I won’t involve anyone else, but these boys will be dealt with. Understood?”

She nodded. “Yes. Thank you Coach Holt.”

“Anytime, Lori.”

Jason returned with a blue t-shirt and handed it to Lori. “Here. It’s probably a little big for you, but I promise it’s clean.”

“Thanks,” she said, clutching the shirt and smiling warmly at Jason.

“You can change here in the bathroom,” the coach said, gesturing toward the boy’s locker room.

When she had departed, Jason shook his head. “I can’t believe she doesn’t want to turn those guys in!”

“I can,” Coach Holt said, closing the medicine cabinet and returning to his desk. “She’s a rather shy girl,” he continued, leaning back in his chair, “or perhaps I should say reserved. Doesn’t like attention. But she has a great attitude and a positive outlook on life and people. Lori has a way of making people feel better about themselves. Hang around her a while and you’ll see what I mean.”

“Maybe I’ll just do that,” said Jason.

A few moments later, Lori returned. Jason’s shirt appeared huge on her thin frame, hanging almost to her knees. Her own shirt was wadded up tightly in her hand. Glancing at her new shirt, she regarded Jason anxiously.

“Just a little big,” she said with all seriousness and then smiled wryly. She held out her own shirt. “Can I throw this away? It’s trashed now.”

“I’ll take it,” said Mr. Holt. “Going straight home?”

When she nodded, he continued. “Two things then. One, put ice on your back immediately and stay out of the water tonight. That’s an order!” He pulled a small pad of forms out of his drawer. “And two, would you like me to write you an excuse for being out of class?”

‘Yes, please,” she said.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” offered Jason.

“Oh, you don’t have to.”

“I want to,” he countered.

Coach Holt finished writing the excuse. He ripped the slip off the pad and handed it to Lori.

“Probably a good idea. Those boys might wait for you.” The coach eyed Jason questioningly. “Are you going to class or coming back here?”

“I’ll come back.”

The coach reached over and patted Lori on the arm. “You, stay safe.”

“Thank you,” Lori said softly.

Jason escorted her from the coach’s office and held open the locker room door. They peered down the hallway, but there was no activity.

“I need to go to my locker,” she said in a hushed voice.

“Okay, lead the way.”

They walked quietly down the hall and up the first set of stairs. Two short halls later, they arrived at her locker. The commons was just visible from where they stood. Most of the seniors had lockers overlooking the commons and cafeteria. Jason and his friend’s lockers resided in the very center of the action.

Lori pulled out her book bag and stuffed two textbooks inside. She set it at her feet and reached for her car keys and a small wallet. Jason picked up her bag, his eye still on the empty hallway.

“You didn’t have anything with you when they cornered you in the bathroom, did you?” he asked.

“No,” she whispered, gently closing her locker door. “My friend, Sarah, had my book. She’ll hang on to it for me.”

“Okay. Where are you parked?”

She indicated the direction and Jason gestured for her to lead the way. Lori selected a path that would get them quickly out of the school. There was less chance of being observed outside. Once down a back stairway, they quietly exited the building and breathed a sigh of relief.

Jason slung her bag over his shoulder and fell in step beside Lori. Her stride was long and purposeful, and he was pleased to note that she stood at a good height for him. At six-foot-one and still growing, he tended to tower over girls. She was only five, maybe six inches shorter.

“You going to be okay?” he asked.

“I’ll be fine,” she answered.

Jason smiled. “My shirt really does look good on you.”

His observation caused her to laugh. Lori’s laughter was melodic and very pleasing to the ears. With a breeze blowing, her hair flowed out behind her like a scarf. This pulled it away from her pretty face and he could clearly see the laughter in her eyes.

“I’m Jason Phillips, by the way,” he said suddenly as he realized he had failed to introduce himself.

“I know,” she answered, casting a sideways glance at Jason. “I know who you are.”