My Brother, The Dentist

Chapter 13

I awoke the next morning to find my pillow soaking wet with tears. I'd cried myself to sleep without any dinner. I quickly got dressed and combed my hair to the side producing a messy quiff then headed downstairs with my backpack. I was already running incredibly late. Sam was in the kitchen sipping coffee, so I joined him on the barstools.

"Sam, I'd like to apologise for how I acted last night" I said, true to my every word.

He looked me up and down then let a smile slip from the corner of his mouth.

"It's okay Billy, sometimes we get emotional and that's fine, love you."

"Love you too" I said hugging him tight. I quickly gobbled down a slice of toast then began the walk to school, twice as happy for the end of the day than usual.

~

The bell for home time rung and I'd never been more excited in my life! I darted out of the classroom leaving a dash of smoke behind, and bolted to the school dates, where my lady friend was waiting!

I halted at the gates, then turned around to see Lola's dazzling face beside me. She was a beauty, and I wanted her to be mine!

"Hey Billy!" she smiled, pulling me into a quick hug. I warmly hugged her back.

"How are you Lola?" I grinned, showing my metal mouth.

"Amazing thank you" she responded, showing hers. She had baby pink rubber bands tied around her brackets, cute! "So, what would you like to do?" she asked.

I thought for a second, "well, we could go for a walk down to the park? If you like?" I nervously asked, hoping for a positive answer.

"Sounds great, let's go!" she responded, so we set off on our trek, together.

The walk to the park consisted of light natter, and giggles of all sizes. When we arrived, we took a seat on a sturdy, wooden bench, when all of a sudden I felt an urge. It was unlike any urge ever felt before, I felt tingly, and ready and....

I lent in for a kiss.

My brain prepared for the automatic rejection, yet it never came. Instead, Lola pulled me in closer and contributed to the kiss. It felt so wrong, yet so right at the same time. This was our first ever 'date', but it felt so amazing. After what seemed like only a few seconds, a sharp pain hit my mouth. I tried to move away from Lola, but she came with me as if she was attached. But for a matter of fact, she was attached to me. Our braces had interlocked!!

We tugged and tugged, but it was no use- they were well and truly stuck! It was almost impossible to speak, but I managed to mumble a few words out. Words that didn't want to fall out of my mouth, but there was no other way round it.

"Comon Lola, my brufer dentit thi way."

She understood my attempt at contact, and soon enough we were walking face to face, looking like crazed loonatics. People stopped and stared, wondering if we were aliens who had been transported from Mars, or just so madly in love we weren't able to stop snogging each other's faces off. Both options made me want to cry, and I was close to it! What I'd planned out to be a romantic date with my crush, had ended up being a bus trip to hell!

We flopped through the double doors of my brother's dental office, and were stood eye to eye with my brother.

"Billy?"

"Billy, what's happened?!" Sam asked in pity, as he came running towards me and Lola.

"Bwaces stuck wit Lola" I managed to say in agony.

"Alright you two follow me" said Sam as he led us into his examination room and closed the door. He looked confused as well as angry.

"Now i'm not sure how this has happened" he began, "but i'm going to get you unstuck, and find out what has happened later. Both of your braces are going to be a real mess after this, so Lola I'll fix yours and then I need to have a chat with you Billy."

This scared me. The first reason being that Sam was going to find out about the kiss. The kiss with the girl I'd only just started talking to. It was a rookie mistake to take, but at least I enjoyed it. It was only me who could be blamed for this too. I was the one who leant in for the kiss and I was the one who'd gotten Lola into this horrible position. I'd be lucky if she ever wanted to speak to me again! The second reason being that it sounded like Lola and I were about to be put through a lot of pain. Not because Sam wanted to hurt us, but because we'd gotten ourselves into this sticky situation, and needed help to escape it. And the third reason being that Sam wanted to have a chat later. Now, your elder asking for a chat is never a good sign, which put me on edge. As if I needed that sudden piece of anxiety added on top of the current worries I had held inside my brain!

"Okay let's get you two unstuck. You can't both sit down so you'll have to remain standing" Sam said as he walked over to a cupboard to grab a mask and some gloves. He pulled the gloves on, stretching them over his whole hands, and hooked the mask over his ears and pulled it up to cover his face.

"Now let's see how we can resolve this" he informed us, as he walked up close. He used both his thumbs to lift up mine and Lola's top lips and then our bottom lips. I could tell Lola felt so uncomfortable, but there was nothing I could do for her, or for me too.

"Luckily only the top braces are stuck together at the front so it shouldn't be too difficult." Sam walked over to another cupboard and pulled out a thin pair of pliers, at least that's what it looked like.

"Alright guys stay nice and still okay. I'm just going to cut the wire in two places on both your upper braces so they're no longer attached. Then I'm going to pop off both your top four front brackets. Be brave though okay, it may hurt since you're interlocked with each other." Sam started with Lola, he lifted up her top lip while she closed her eyes tight, she seemed terrified. He then cut the wire in one place, then moved round to the other side of us and cut the other side. Then with careful precision he popped off her front four brackets, but she made no complaints. And alas, Lola was free!! Me on the other hand, I was still standing there, with part of Lola's braces still stuck to mine. I couldn't even close my mouth, so I had to stand there with it wide open!

"Alright, good girl Lola, you can take a seat in the chair, let me just get that unstuck for you Billy." Sam did the same for me, lifted up my top lip and managed to get Lola's braces free from mine. Now neither of us had any brackets on our front four teeth, we looked weird!

"Thank you Sam" I said cowardly, but as I spoke, the cut wire from my braces dug into my upper lip, it hurt so bad. I yelled in pain and covered my mouth.

"Billy what's wrong?" Sam asked as he forced me to move my hands and lifted up my lip. "Ah yes, I see. I'll put some wax on those cut ends for the time being. Carefully just switch places in the seat with Lola for a second Billy."

I nodded, not wanting that sharp pain jolting through my head again, and soon enough I'd switched places with Lola who was now awkwardly sitting on a padded chair in the corner of the room. Sam applied a small ball of wax to either side of my pokey wire without having to lower the chair or switch the light on. The only problem was that he was very close to my face in order to see, awkward!

"Alright Billy, swap seats with Lola again please" Sam said as he took off his gloves and scattered out a few tools on the tray.

"Lay back in the chair for me Lola" Sam said softly. "I'm going to call your mum and ask her to pick you up in about 15 minutes from here, I'll leave you to explain to her what's happened."

Lola nodded her head slowly leading Sam to swiftly leave the room. Now was my chance to speak to Lola alone, I had to make it fast though!

"Lola, I wouldn't speak right now because the wire will cut your mouth" I explained to Lola as I walked over to the chair and looked down at her. "But I'd really like to apologise. I've gotten you into this mess and it was unfair, none of this would've happened if I hadn't of leaned in for the kiss."

Lola smiled at me gently, then began to speak carefully, attempting to avoid the pain.

"It's okay Billy, I'll call you tonight" she smiled.

I nodded my head and kissed her slowly on the forehead. She stroked my cheek and let out a tiny little giggle which was ever so cute. Wow, maybe my luck wasn't all gone after all!

After a few seconds and once I'd sat back in the corner of the room, Sam returned. Yet, he wasn't alone. Oh no, Adam was behind him!

I'd forgotten all about Adam! Lola had made me so happy and I was in love. I knew I'd have to face Adam again one day, he was my brother's co-worker after all. Luckily, no body else knew I once had feelings for him so nothing was suspicious. I'd just have to forget about it and act normal around Adam, everything would be fine.

"Adam is here to assist me" Sam declared as they both wandered into the room shutting the door behind them.

"Hey guys" Adam smiled at us.

"Hi Adam" I smiled back, acting as natural as always. "It's great to see you, but Sam, why do you need assistance? You usually do things on your own?" I asked curiously.

Sam seemed reluctant to say! "Well," he began, "I'm going to have to drill the glue off both your four front teeth so I can glue on new brackets."

Lola and I looked up at Sam in pure worry.

"Drill?!" I shouted, suddenly scared for both Lola and I.

"Trust me though, it doesn't hurt okay?" Sam smiled.

"I don't think I want this" I exclaimed, standing up wanting to leave the room.

"Honestly Billy, I promise it won't hurt. It may feel uncomfortable, but you won't feel any pain. In some ways, it's like an ice cube rubbing on your teeth. Quite tickly really" Sam explained, trying to calm me down.

"Why an ice cube?" I asked, cautiously sitting back in the corner of the room.

"Because it's cold" Sam told me as he walked back over to Lola.

"You two will be absolutely fine" Adam added, as him and my brother got prepared. They both pulled on a pair of gloves and Sam pulled his mask back over his face, which had been sitting below his chin. Adam then pointed the overhead light towards Lola's mouth whilst Sam grabbed the drill.

"I'm going to get this glue off your teeth now Lola, Adam here is just going to spray water and use the suction. You ready?" Sam said as he rolled his stool behind Lola's head.

Lola nodded her head nervously, I just wanted to be able to help her, but I knew I couldn't get in the way. I'd already messed enough up today, I couldn't afford to screw up anything else.

"Chin up for me please" Sam said as he lifted Lola's chin up for her, and then the drilling began.

Lola looked so small and vulnerable in that huge chair whilst the earbuzzing sound of the drill echoed around the room. Adam was stood up and was towering over the little damsel in distress and followed Sam around in Lola's mouth with the suction. I just sat back and watched, feeling sick with guilt as two fully grown men fixed the mess that I'd made which Lola didn't deserve. After a few minutes, the drill was switched off and my ears finally stopped buzzing.

"You did fantastic Lola" Sam praised as he put the drill away. Adam raised his hand for a high five from Lola and she returned a small one.

"If Lola can do it, then you can do it Billy" Sam smirked at me. What a git.

"Thanks for the help Adam" Sam smiled.

"No problem" Adam returned. "I'll be sorting some files, come grab me when it's Billy's turn."

Ooooh, that feeling made me feel sick inside. I knew Lola had just gotten through it without dying, but I was so scared for the drill! Who was to say I'd make it out alive?

"Now I'm gonna glue four new brackets on your teeth just like when you first got your braces" Sam explained to Lola.

This was done very quickly, Sam made us both close our eyes shut when he cured the glue for the brackets. Sam then removed the remaining wire from Lola's top teeth and gave them a small clean for her.

"Same colour as what you have on the bottom, or a different colour for the top?" Sam asked as he pulled out the box of coloured bands.

"I think Billy should choose" Lola smiled, sitting up to look at me.

Sam also turned his attention to me, beckoning me over with an excited facial expression. I stumbled over to look at the box of colours and then to Lola's smiling face. I smiled down at her then made my decision.

"I think baby blue on the top teeth" I pointed to Sam and he nodded in agreement.

"Good choice Billy, they'll look dashing on young Lola here" he said playfully rubbing Lola's lips with his gloved finger and causing her to blush.

After a few minutes the new wire was tied in place and Lola was finally free, which meant it was almost my turn!

Sam returned the seat to it's normal state and pulled off his mask and gloves.

"Good job darling, you look lovely as ever once again" Sam smiled as Lola hopped out of the seat and pulled me into a tight hug.

"You were so brave Lola" I whispered in her ear.

"Thanks Billy, I tried to act brave in front of you, but inside I was actually peeing my panties!" she giggled.

"Aw, well you did fab" I winked at her.

"Thank you for fixing my braces Doctor" Lola said to Sam.

"Just call him Sam" I laughed, leading Lola into the waiting room to meet her mum. Sam followed us out to wave them off.

"No problem at all Lola, you were very good" he smiled. "See you soon."

And then they were gone.

"Okay Billy, your turn."

-

It was my turn, oh dear. I already knew I wasn't ready for this!

"Adam, we're ready now" Sam yelled out in his deep masculine voice, and soon enough Adam had entered the room where he got prepared with Sam, whilst I stood at the door frame and watched.

"You gonna sit in the chair Billy?" Sam smiled, gesturing towards the chair.

Without saying a word, I cautiously laid in the chair and in a tick it began to slowly decline.

"Open up then Billy, let's get this show on the road!" Sam laughed, trying to make me smile, but obviously it didn't work; I was dead nervous!

I gripped tightly onto the arms of the chair, ceased my eyes shut and opened my mouth wide- I didn't stop this until it was all over, which didn't take half as long as expected! The tools were pulled out of my mouth and I was free! I decreased my grip from the arm rests and in it's place sat a film of sweat, gross!

"Good lad Billy" Sam smiled, "I'm proud of how well you handled that!" This caused me to return my very own smile, which was a rare thing to witness.

"Thanks for the help, Adam" Sam proclaimed as he whipped off his mask and gloves as the chair returned to its normal state.

"No issue Sam, and good job Billy" Adam beamed, as he headed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Sam rolled his stool around to sit in front of me and gently smiled, as if he was ashamed of what was about to arrive out of his mouth.

"Alright Billy, I have something to tell you. I want you to be brave about this, okay?"

This sounded misfortunate...

I nodded my head.

"Unfortunately, you're going to need a tooth removed" Sam sighed.

"You've got to be joking me" I laughed, getting up out of the chair.

"I wish I was Billy, but I'm not. I'm sorry buddy."

"But... but... why?" I stuttered, as the thought finally started to kick in.

"There's not enough room in your mouth for your teeth to become straight enough. I decided to put your braces on before telling you so you got used to them and also so your teeth had already started to straighten out" Sam declared in deep sorrow.

"Well, I won't let you!" I yelled, sprinting out the door and slamming it behind me. I ran straight to Sam's office and hid under his computer desk, sobbing into my knees. Why would he only just tell me about this now? What a horrible devil he was!

"Billy! Billy!?" Sam yelled from the corridors, luckily he couldn't find where I was, well that's what I thought anyway.

Sam walked past his office, then backtracked his steps as our eyes met. He crept into the room and slowly shut the door behind him, all while I was still cowering under his desk.

"Come out Billy, it's okay" my brother whispered as he got down on his hands and knees, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yes you are!" I sobbed. "You're going to yank my tooth out, how will that not hurt me?!"

"Billy, please listen to me. I'm not going to hurt you on purpose, you'll be numbed" Sam said softly.

"No, go away Samuel, leave me alone" I whimpered, pulling the desk chair closer in.

"Come on buddy, let's just go chat, okay?"

There was no use hiding, I couldn't sit there for the rest of my life, it wasn't worth the fight. I knew it'd have to happen sooner or later. I carefully crawled out from under the desk and landed in my brother's arms, who hugged me tighter than ever and stroked my messy hair.

"We're going to get through this Billy, me and you. Together."