CIRCUS!

Chapter 5: Secrets out

_____

E D A

I dangled my legs out of the lofty bed as I hummed away my anxieties. I refused to lay down the hospital bed without throwing a fit. Finally, the nurses gave in and the attending physician sewed my arm up while I sit up and awake. Fudge.

For some reason, I also refused to have anesthesia injected into me. They thought I was crazy for a short time, but after seeing how persistent I was, they began to believe I was under a heavy panic attack. The fact that I'm at a hospital already has me in a state of terror. It would have been impossible for me to fall asleep in this appalling location.

"A-Are we done yet?" I cautiously asked. I could feel the needle pricking into my skin or the light tugging of the thread enclosing the cut. My heightened sense surprisingly calmed me down, if that even made sense. All I could think of was the uncomfortable pain I'm feeling and not the fact that I'm in a hospital. This should be good.

Inhale deeply. Exhale deeply. I am capable of accomplishing this, I cheered.

"You're one brave girl," the doctor complimented my foolishness.

I stutter a faint, "Thank you," before refocusing my gaze on the floor and away from her.

"We're nearly finished, honey. You're doing an excellent job!" she continued. Her words have a calming effect on me. My arm began to relax gradually. "Are the two Frankenstein lads with

with you?" she inquired, attempting to divert my attention away from the situation.

"Frankenstein?" I wondered.

"Yeah, both of them decided to get treated without anesthesia is what I'm hearing from the other nurses. What did Eastwood High do to its students that they refuse anesthesia?" she joked with a light laugh. "I'm impressed they haven't fainted. Do you guys even feel pain?"

"I—do. Yeah, I feel it," I winced.

"So which one from the two is your boyfriend?"

"Y-Yeah—No, I mean... we're schoolmates. Just schoolmates," I cleared my throat.

She nodded her head, but still looking unconvinced, "The boy who had his shoulder dislocated had to be drugged so the medics could snap him back to brand new," she chuckled. "Just because he refused to leave your side. He just wouldn't let you go, which is why I came into a conclusion that he cannot be just a mere classmate," she threw a cheeky grin at me.

"That is just how he is. He was simply concerned... for a classmate. Nothing more," I reasoned my way out. I'm almost definite Alexis would behave the same way regardless of which girl was brought to the E.R. with them.

"You're not stuttering anymore," she softly pointed out.

"W-hat?"

"Your face shines bright when you talk about him. You like him, don't you?"

"No!"

"That's a rather quick refusal. You certainly like him," she chuckled heartily as she expertly stitched my arm up while she chatted me away. Her subtle way of tearing my attention anywhere but the fact that I am in a hospital had actually worked.

For some reason, I have the impression that I could trust her. After all, this is likely to be the first and final time I see her. I am not, in any way, shape, or form, entering a hospital building following this. I guess, it wouldn't harm to share a secret with her.

"Yeah, I like him," I shyly confessed.

"I am certain he feels the same way—" I abruptly dismissed her.

"Yeah, but no. I would not gamble with my luck. That is being delusional. Alexis is the type of person you can only admire from afar. He is way over my league. I could never imagine of thinking that way," I corrected.

"What did you like about this boy called Alexis?" she asked.

There was a long pregnant pause before I gathered my wits and replied, "He's simply... him, and there's nobody else like him."

"That's it?" she playfully scoffed.

"Yes... is there anything else I should say?" I questioned truly out of curiosity.

"I'm not sure. There is a reason I am not married, honey," she laughed amusingly. "How about the other young man?"

"The one who came in with Alexis?" I asked, and her response was a simple nod "Geno is his name. They actually did such fractured collarbone and dislocated shoulder to one another. Geno has a short temper but a massive ego! He despises it when others perform better than he does. He desires to be perpetually on top—on top—atop? I'm not sure, just... above." I instantly repeated myself, but it made no difference, and so I resorted to criticizing his pals to conceal my shame, "He also has this band of muscly men following him around like sick pups wherever he goes. It was almost irritating—but I could never say that to him or let anyone to hear this from me," I giggled, delighted with my spontaneous venting.

It's exhilarating to rant to a doctor. Should I start seeking visitation sessions with Dr. Lacroix?

"So, you like Geno," she mumbled. Incorrect deduction!

"I like Alexis," I corrected.

"But you're not hiding your fondness for Geno either," she smirked as she walked to her cupboards in search of a roll of gauge.

"Not true," I grumbled.

"Ah, youthful love. Take advantage of high school as much as possible, love. It's normal to have feelings for two men at the same time!" She brightened up as she delicately treated my wound. Not too tight, but also not too loose. Just perfectly comfortable.

"I never said I liked two people," I whispered nervously before refocusing my eyes on the floor, the most fascinating object on Earth to stare at whenever I'm anxious. I'm far too uncomfortable with the atmosphere she's created in the room.

"There, there, you never denied liking the boy with the damaged collar bone either," she exclaimed out loud, her lips teasingly parted into a cunning smirk.

_____

A L E X I S

All it took was a hard yank to snap my shoulder back to normal. When I was able to move, I hurriedly jumped out of the holding area and ran to the emergency room to see Eda.

I cannot stop thinking about her and her damned arm. I am going crazy. My mind had been going around in circles thinking about her. What could she possibly had done?!

"Excuse me, you are not permitted to enter this area, Sir," A nurse blocked my path and repelled me with a lift of her arm.

"My..." Alec, come on. Think! "Sister. My sister, the girl with the wounded forearm, was taken to the emergency room. Our parents wanted to speak with her. I need to see her."

Really, Alec? Sister?

"Oh, I see. This way, please," she directed me down an empty corridor and to the last door, "Doctor Valera is stitching her up right now, but she'll be done shortly. Fret not. You may wait here, outside, in the meanwhile."

I gave her a stiff nod and waited for her to leave before twisting the knob and prying the door open. I'm far too worried to wait till she comes out. I'm barging in.

I came to a halt when I heard a couple of women giggling hysterically. To avoid making a scene, I paused halfway through the door's open frame. I was able to hear them well, even though I couldn't see them. It seemed as if they hadn't picked up on my presence yet. Good.

"How about the other young man?" I supposed, the doctor asked, with a hint of mischief in her tone.

"The one who came in with Alexis?" Eda retorted. "Geno is his name. They actually did such fractured collarbone and dislocated shoulder to one another. Geno has a short temper but a massive ego! He despises it when others perform better than he does. He desires to be perpetually on top—on top—atop? I'm not sure, just... above." Please, just stop talking about him, Eda.

My grip on the doorknob hardened, knuckles turning white by how tightly I was gripping on the handle. I hoped for this girl to stop talking about another man or so help me God. I normally don't get jealous of such trivial things but when Geno's involved, it gets me pissed.

"He also has this band of muscly men following him around like sick pups wherever he goes. It was almost irritating—but I could never say that to him or let anyone to hear this from me," she ended her little speech with soft giggles.

Calm down, Alec. I thumped my palm on my chest.

"So, you like Geno, I see," the female doctor pressed.

Which pressed my buttons as well. I stepped back and away from the door until I could no longer hear them. I needed to calm down.

_____

E D A

"Thank you, Dr. Valera!" As I studied my beautifully bandaged arm, I muttered gently with a ginger smile on my face. She also forced me to wear an arm sling, limiting my arm movement to a minimum until it healed completely.

"Remember to take your medicines, all right? And return for your follow-up checkup," she put an excessive stress on her last words.

"I-I have to return?" I inquired cautiously, befuddled and mostly terrified. I never considered returning to this dreaded hospital, but the look she's giving me has managed to melt my heart.

In the back of my mind, I was actually debating whether or not to return. I simply nodded at her before grabbing my belongings and bidding her a final goodbye as I exited through the heavy doors. This would definitely be the last time seeing her!

"Come with me," a deep voice muttered coldly, as soon as I stepped out of the room.

I moved my head to look at the source of the strained voice, only to see Alexis leaning against a wall, arms folded across his chest. He took a step closer, and I immediately recoiled, my hands tightening around the strap of my bag.

"W-Where?" I stammered; my gaze fixed on him at all times.

"Just come with me, please."

My cheeks became excessively hot; my palms grew clammy, and my throat went dry.

"W-What?" I nibbled on my lip to keep from bursting into a huge smiley i***t. Why do I find him hot when he looks like he would destroy anyone in his way into pieces.

Rather than responding, he hurriedly pulled my bag from my clutches and slung it over his shoulder, before walking down the corridor without looking back. I stared at his broad muscly back, too confused than necessary. He is a perfect balance of hot and cold.

Alexis Donovan, in my opinion, could not possibly do anything wrong so even against my better judgment, I quietly followed him without uttering another word.

_____

My legs were unexpectedly capable of keeping up with his long strides, just barely. I was a panting mess by the time we reached the E.R.'s exit, and to my surprise, I found my brother stood outside in the waiting lobby with Pam by his side. Both of them paced back and forth frantically like headless chickens. After all, Pam and Johnny became my parents the moment my biological parents died. I understand why they're on the verge of a breakdown.

I ran to Pam's side, and as soon as she recognized me, she immediately latched her arms around my frail body in a bone crushing hug. Her eyes were welling up with tears, and her nose had swollen and turned red like Rudolf.

"What did you f*****g do!" she sobbed into my shoulder as she caressed my hair,

"P-Pam, my arm—" she quickly released her grip on me and began apologizingly rubbing my upper arm. I smiled reassuringly at her and raised my hand to wipe her tear-stained face.

"You've scared me!" she hiccupped, causing me to cackle in amusement.

"You seem fine," Johnny intervened with a firm finger flick on my forehead; he almost sounded salty. I spun my head around to throw him a deadly scowl, but my features softened as I noticed his bloodshot eyes. My hands roughly wiped his flushed cheeks.

To calm myself down, I instinctively placed my good arm around his waist and buried my face in his chest. I burst into tears as soon as I saw his in pained face. His heart was beating so fast against his chest that I could feel it beating on my ear. Hospitals have the same effect on him as they have on me, if anything else, he even had it worse. He caressed my back carefully while trying to c***k a joke, but I could tell by the tremor in his voice that he cannot wait to leave this place.

The promise we made to our parents' graves was that we would never enter a hospital. Both of us had a rough time, but he suffered most. Our parents were at the brink of death and he was there, defenseless, watching them both to their final breath.

He may have gotten agitated after getting a call from the school telling him that his stupid sister had been taken to the hospital and I have to apologize for putting him in such situation that could trigger his trauma.

I absolutely forgot to tell Dr. Lacroix to keep my family in the dark about my E.R. visit. "I'm so sorry," I buried my tear stained face on his chest, I wept, and a fistful of his shirt was rolled up in my hands as I cried my lungs out.

I felt him growl, "That's enough, you're being too dramatic. Hey, I said enough—"

"Let her cry!" Pam reprimanded, hitting him on his shoulder.

"You're such a pig," Johnny faked disgust as he pulled a hanky from his pocket, holding it against my nose as I blow my snot. He animatedly gagged hearing the sound which made me feel slightly better.

His chest vibrated when he let out a soft chuckle, "I f*****g hate you. Please, don't scare us like that again, okay?" I could simply nod. "Is it bad?" he gently drew away and then motioned to my arm.

"No, I'm a bad cookie," I exclaimed hastily, shaking my head. " I'm perfectly fine. All I did was scrape my arm."

"You mean tough cookie?" he corrected with so much sass.

"Yeah, whatever," I purse my lips together. "I'm all better. Good as brand new. It was just a light gash, you know."

"Yeah, that's exactly what it looked like right? It didn't look like you grabbed a cutter and tried to vertically s***h your forearm down to your wrist. Yeah, it didn't really look like what it seems," he sarcastically remarked. "You're so dumb!" he shouted angrily, but his actions spoke for themselves as he embraced me once more. His hands patted me firmly on the back, causing me to choke and cough. "Don't terrify me like that!"

"What's up, bro!" From the other end of the room, another loud voice cried out. My eyes squinted shut in embarrassment.

Johnny sighed heavily with a throaty groan, "What is that kid doing here?" he pressed on his nose bridge with his thumb and forefinger.

As if Geno was being asked, he answered him as he limped his way over to us in his crutches. "I brought her here!" he yelled back, sounding too proud than necessary.

"Say that again?" Johnny faced Geno, his face inflamed with fury. Pam and I had to restrain him by his shirt to prevent him from lunging at the poor crutches-wielding boy wrapped in bandages. "What did you mean you brought her here?" he growled lowly.

"Could you please tell your brother to decompress?" Geno replied with a sardonic remark. Johnny towered above him, but that didn't stop Geno from delivering an attitude at my brother. I certainly would not expect anything less from Geno Barrueco. This boy always asks for trouble.

"What did you do to my sister?" Johnny gave him a scolding snarl.

"I did—"

"Lay another f*****g finger on her and I'm going to permanently break both of your legs and you're going to require a f*****g wheelchair instead of these crutches for the rest of your useless life," I tried to yank my brother away from him but to no avail.

Please, let's not cause trouble in a hospital. The curious stares we attracted from the couple of audiences made me feel conscious. Yeah, just a bunch of injured clowns out of the circus today.

"Wha—what! I am not responsible for your sister's wound. I did not hurt her. Why would I want to do something moronic to the girl I wanted to go out with?

"WHAT?!" we all yelled in unison.