Prank Me Love

When Trouble Comes I'll Be Here

"It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you."

-line by August from the novel "The Fault In Our Stars" by John Green

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

"Where is she?"

I hear James' voice demanding this from a distance while I sat on one of those single beds in the emergency room. Dad showed up, moments ago, when he heard what happened. Since he's already a doctor, the hospital didn't take that long enough to inform him about what happened. Dad was very worried when he saw me but was then relieved after finding out that I only got some minor bruises and a little scratch on the forehead. The ER doctor told me I just needed some rest for the painkillers and clean gauzes for the next three days to replace the one they put on me today.

"Shane?" James appeared in my vision. He had pushed aside the green curtains that were covering me as he stood beside my bed.

"Hey," I gave him a smile from where I sat.

"Oh, god," his voice sounded rasp and vulnerable as he stared down at my current state. "This is my fault. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have--"

"James, stop." I stop him, putting a hand above his one that is cupping my cheek. "I am fine now. The doctor already said there's nothing to be worried about. They're just some scratches."

Suddenly, a loud beeping sound went off, coming from somewhere near us. The noise instantly startled James as he alarmingly looks around with panic shown in his eyes. He quickly moved towards me, covering my ears tightly with his hands for some unknown reason.

"James?" I ask, frowning at his sudden action while I put his hands down. "What are you doing?"

"Let's go home, now," he tells me frantically, grabbing my shoulders. "Can she go home now?" He impatiently asks the nurse who had suddenly appeared from the curtains to check on me. 

"Oh, yes. Are you family?" the nurse asks James.

"Actually," I responded instead, and the nurse looks down at me, "He's my boyfriend."

"Oh, well. Yes, she's been discharged," she tells James then turns to me again reaching out a small bag of medical pills towards my direction, "Your dad had already signed your papers. So, here are your painkillers. The dosage is already written on the prescription paper inside the bag. You just need to clean that wound on your forehead once you change the gauze."

I nodded back and smiled. "Thank you."

"I see you've got one good boyfriend here, miss. He can't even keep his hands off of you," The nurse smirks at me as she looks from me to James standing beside my bed with his arms around me. I instantly blushed quickly glance up at James, but only to find his attention not really focused on me but around us. His eyes are darting all around the room, looking so scared of something.

"James?" I pat both of his hands that were grabbing my shoulders with my own, "What's wrong? You look so scared."

James looks down, distracted with his eyes looking so intense and very serious. "Let's just get out of here now. Come on."

I nodded silently and he helped me out of the bed. He took one wheelchair to put me on and brought out his phone to tell dad we're already leaving. He seems to be in a rush, as he pushes the wheelchair out of the room faster than needed.

"Whoa, slow down, James," I tell him jokingly, "We've got all the time in the world."

"I need to get you home now--safe and away here," James responds but he wasn't smiling back. He looks so worried and I feel bad all of a sudden.

When we got to the parking lot, I frown when we stopped in front of a black Sedan car. "What happened to Belle?"

"She's being taken care of. Don't worry. She'll be back after a week," James tells me while he carries me in his arms, to settle me inside the car.

"Whose car is this?" I ask him.

"I kind of borrowed a car from a pal I met at the counseling appointment after your call. He's a good guy, he told me I can just give it back to him tomorrow when I go back there again to re-schedule."

"Wait..." I touched his shoulder just before he closes the car door on my side, "So, you didn't finish the appointment?"

 "I wouldn't be in the right mood if I took the counseling instead," he tells me, "I'll be too nervous and scared thinking about you the whole time," his eyes were looking a little wild as he looks at me.

I cup his cheek and he exhaled, "I'm fine now, James. There's no reason for you to be worried now."

"Thank God, you are," he says, breathing deeply. "I don't know what will happen to me if I lose you again..."

Again? What did he mean by that? I tried to ignore that word he just blurted out as I try to reassure him instead. He closes the door and quickly moves around to the driver's seat.

"Let's just go home," I say to him, smiling.

"Yeah, I want you out of here. You and hospitals scare the hell out of me." he agrees, starting the car. "I don't want another episode of that."

"What are you talking about? Do you have traumas in hospitals?" I ask him worriedly.

"I..." he trailed off, his eyes turning very serious all of a sudden. I thought he wasn't going to say anything next until I heard a faint whisper.

"I lost someone here before," he glances at me, the intensity in his eyes undid me and I gulped down the big lump that had formed in my throat.

"But I'm not going to let that happen again," he says this after as he turned his eyes back to the road. I remained silent as I reach out my hand to touch one of his that was resting on the console. I watch him quietly from my seat with worry and sympathy. He looked so vulnerable, like someone who is in the middle of breaking any minute.

It must have been a really painful memory. But I didn't question anything further about it. I was too scared that he might shut me out if I do. So, I tried to comfort him instead by gripping his hand beneath mine.

You won't lose me, I tried to tell him through it. We won't lose each other.

James took care of me for the next three days, changing the gauze of my wound and making sure I don't overwork myself too much. He was so weirdly overcaring that sometimes I find it funny that he's way too paranoid. It was just some scratches but he's acting like I had a major car accident and I couldn't walk on my own.

"When's your re-schedule appointment at the college?" I ask him one time while he makes a milkshake in the kitchen. Beth and Evan already knew what happened to me but aside from their obligatory concerned calls, the two seemed to be far too busy with their own lives. I still haven't asked Beth how her date had gone nor I even ask for any updates from Evan about our school project in English where we were partners. They were both MIA this day at lunch, leaving me alone to have my snack at our table, thinking what had happened to the both of them.

"Next week Tuesday," James tells me. It's Friday afternoon and we just got home from school. 

"You better attend it now, promise me," I demanded, watching him move through the kitchen with ease. He was wearing an apron, the one dad usually wears with a picture of a cupcake on it. He looks so cute but somehow still manly in it, making me sigh in admiration because not all guys look good in a girly apron. Not even dad, to be honest. But still, dad can pull it off.

"Promise, princess," James says, turning around with two glasses filled with a milkshake.

"Good," I grin at him, taking a sip on the milkshake he put in front of me. 

"How's school?" he asks me. He leans on the counter with interested eyes on me. I blushed because he was too close. Sometimes, I still forget that he's my boyfriend and I'm not just some silly girl with a huge crush on him anymore.

"Are you blushing?" he asks, "Why? What makes thinking of school bring out that blush, huh? Don't tell me you've met a guy..." he says, totally misunderstanding my whole 'fangirling' expression to him. I laughed at his jealousy, finding it funny that he even has the urge to be jealous.

"No," I tell him, shaking my head. "It's not a school that's making me blush."

"Then what is? Don't tell me that blush is just there because of no reason," he says, smiling then suddenly frowning, "Wait... Do you feel sick? Are you fine? Is it because of the wound? Come here."

He tries to touch my forehead and I gently swat his hand away, "James, stop it. I'm fine, I'm not sick. It's you that's making me blush, okay?" I reply, blushing worst.

"Oh," James smirks back, and his total smug look appears, "Well, then it's good you're blushing, princess."

"Ugh," I groaned, dropping my head down on the counter with my utter humiliation, "You're impossible."

My phone chooses that moment to ring and I quickly answered it to have a reason to ignore the annoying smirk James is giving me.

"Hello?" I say, without checking the caller ID.

"Please tell me, you're not mad at me," Beth's voice greeted me from the other line and I suddenly recalled my lone moment back at the cafeteria. We didn't even have the chance to talk at our History class because Beth showed up at the last minute and she walked out so fast after dismissal I didn't manage to chase her.

"Are you and Evan both avoiding me?" I ask, offended. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Oh no, Shai," Beth replies back immediately, "You didn't do anything. This is just... I thought you've talked to Evan at lunch and he might have said something that I... I don't know, I'm just too paranoid. I thought you would ask questions and..."

"What are you talking about?" I frowned, "What's with Evan and you? Why would I ask you questions? About what?"

"It's..." Beth sighs heavily, "It's just... Have you talked to Evan?"

"No, I didn't see him today," I said, "Why?"

"Did he call?"

"No," I reply, frowning harder, "Beth, what's wrong?"

"Shai..." Beth hesitates then sighs again, "I'll call you later, okay? Bye."

Then, she hung up, making me frown more, staring deeply down the phone.

"What's wrong with Beth?" James asks me as he looks at me across the kitchen counter.

"I don't know," I told him, "She won't tell me but I think it's about Evan."

"Are they two still in a fight?"

"I'm not really sure," I say, feeling suddenly worried, "But it seems really serious."

"Then, we'll visit Evan," James tells me, making me look at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Let's go to Evan and see him. You didn't see him today, right?"

I nodded.

"Then, let's see what happened to him and why he was missing at school today," James says, smiling at me as he takes off the apron he was wearing then picks up my keys above the fridge. I watch him as I quickly finish my drink and stand up when he gestures me to follow him out of the house.

Evan wasn't home when we got there. His parents were both on an out-of-town business trip while his older sister was staying in Michigan over the weekend at her dorm. Only their house helper was the one who answered the door when James and I came.

"I'll call him," James offers as we stood in front of Evan's house, and I nod. Silently, I began wondering how they got to exchange numbers without me knowing. Were they like hanging-out buddies now? Have they really become that close?

"Hey, man," I hear James speaks through the phone and I was again, relieved that he got a response.

"It's me, James. Just wondering where you are?" My hopeful eyes went sour when I realized James only got to reach Evan's voicemail instead. "Shai wants to talk to you about something. It's kind of urgent, man. Just call me back once you get this message. See you."

"He's even turning down calls..." I mutter, "What is happening to him?"

"Hey," James gently puts his arm around my shoulder, giving me a side hug, "Don't worry. He'll come around. Maybe he's just not in a good mood right now. But I'm sure he'll see you once he becomes fine, okay?"

I nod back at him and he kisses me on the forehead. I sigh in relief... At least he was here to make me feel better. His hugs make me feel better.

"Shane?" A voice interrupts us and both James and I turn around, only to see Miranda standing beside her car. She had parked on the driveway of the big house in front of Evan's, staring straight to us. I forgot she also lives here, so was Peter. Peter used to bring me here on weekends and the three of us would always bond together by their front yard—just talking or making fun of each other. It was those days when everything was good and Peter was still fine. Miranda was Peter's younger sister and she was also my ex-best friend... Miranda used to be nice and shy before but after Peter's death, she had changed. And that was also the death of the relationship between Miranda and me. Our friendship was broken because Miranda blamed me for Peter's death... And I suffered blaming myself for everything that had ruined us too.

Their house still looked the same as before. Those roses by the front porch and the big oak tree beside their house. I suddenly recall all the old memories... Good old memories also brought pain and longing back into my chest.

"Miranda," I say and I felt James tensed from behind my back.

"So surprising to see you here, Shai," Miranda says, but I know she was only saying that out of sarcasm. "I was going to invite you for a drink inside but I don't think that'll be good right now, don't you think?"

I scowl back at her. She doesn't have to act like this.

"Oh, come on, Shai. You know you don't really hate it inside. Have you missed the cookies my mom used to bake? What about those books Peter used to lend to you? Why don't you also bring James in too? I'm sure he'll be happy to have some sweet treats."

"Shut up, Miranda," I hissed at her. "Just shut up."

She didn't have to mention Peter. Peter was already gone... We need to move on.

"I can't believe you even have the nerve to go here with your boyfriend." Miranda turns her glare at James. "You've just crossed the line."

"Miranda..." James says and I was surprised to hear that they were even that familiar to call each other's first names as if they've been doing it for so long.

"No, James. Why don't you shut up?! After everything... I thought when you showed up at school two months ago, you would have wanted to talk! But what? What did you do!? You embarrassed me! Over her?! I had loved you! And now, you choose this s**t over me! Go f**k yourselves. You two deserve each other!"

Miranda leaves us as she stomps towards their house with tears in her eyes. I was too startled to even look at James and ask him... Why does Miranda know him? What did they have? She loved him... What did that mean?

"Shai..." I hear James calls me faintly and I felt numb all of a sudden.

"Just take me home now..." I say, still not turning to him. "Please."