Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:40:25 -0700
From: K_V D <concertoind@gmail.com>
Subject: Under My Skin - 21

This is a work of fiction. All the resemblances are completely accidental.
Don't read it if you are not supposed to. You know the drill. My e-mail is
ConcertoInD@Gmail.com if you want to tell me something (insults, praises,
and whatnot). Thanks!



				  - VII -



            Oh, son of a bitch! I am so late right now that Hailey will kill
me for sure! I was positive that I missed my first two finals and when
Hailey sees me waltzing into the school building, she'll be beyond pale. I
tried to jump out of the bed but realized that something was pinning me
down. What the hell? I opened my eyes and almost hissed when the bright
light hurt me worse than a razor blade would.

"Jake..."

   I coughed and it felt like my insides were filled with a zillion of tiny
and very sharp needles. Jesus, what happened?

"Bailey", I croaked. "What did you do to me?"

   She started to cry and I finally was able to tint my head slightly and
look at her. I blinked when I realized that I wasn't home. It looked like I
was in a hospital or something. I carefully looked around, trying not to
move my head. Yup, definitely the hospital.

"Bailey", I muttered. "Stop wailing, please... What happened?"

   Christy looked at me, tears shimmering on her eyelashes.

"You don't remember?" she asked incredulously.

"No", I frowned. "Did I get into a car wreck?..."

"No", she said. "Oh Jake, it's all my fault! If I wouldn't make you go out
for that stupid ice cream..."

   Ice cream. There was something about ice cream. Something about Christy's
metabolism... Mary eats like a horse... Pizzas... Something about the dumpster and
my father... Ugh, my head started to hurt. I closed my eyes and Christy
whispered:

"I thought he killed you, Jake... I thought he killed you when that gun
fired..."

   Gun. There was a gun?... Did I get a gun? Or did Sam? The thought of Sam
immediately sent a jolt of cold refreshing pulse down my spine and my eyes
flew open. I remembered.

"Oh God..." I muttered and stared at Christy with horror. "Oh God, Chris... I
killed him, didn't I? Oh, Jesus... I killed him, didn't I? Chris!!"

   She looked at me and shook her head. And then she started to cry again.

"No", she managed to say. "You didn't... You were fighting and you tried to
get the gun away from him but then it went off..."

   I kept staring at her. Jesus, we were fighting for the damn gun, it went
off and it killed Landon.

"...And it got him in the chest... I think it almost got his lung but not enough
to kill him", she said.

"He's not dead?" I muttered numbly and she shook her head.

"No", she sobbed quietly. "He's not dead, Jake..."

"What day is it?" I whispered.

"Sunday", she sniffed. "Sunday morning. You were out for almost twelve
hours."

   Twelve hours? That's it? Felt like it was at least three days.

"I called Matt last night", Christy said. "Him and Sam are coming back
today..."

   I looked at her.

"What's..." I coughed again. "What's wrong with me? When I cough it hurts like
hell..."

   She sniffled again.

"You have three broken ribs", she said.

 Ah, okay. That explains the pain.

"And a mild concussion", Christy kept saying. "Also when he shot for the
first time, he got your ear."

"Huh?" I was confused. "For the first time?"

"Before you guys started fighting", she said. "Remember he fired?"

"He missed..." I muttered.

"Kinda..." Christy said quietly. "He got your ear. Just a little..."

   I winced.

"Just a little", Christy repeated quickly, seeing my expression. "It's like
a piece is missing..."

   I almost started to laugh but at the last second I remembered how much
pain that will cause me and tried to stop. Great, a little piece of my ear
is now missing. This was too funny and I started to shake from laughter.

"Ow..." I breathed but I couldn't stop laughing. "Ow! Son of a... Ow!!"

"Jake, you okay?" Christy looked scared. "Do you want me to call the nurse?
Jake!"

"I am fine, Bailey..." I muttered finally. "It's just funny... Now I am
disfigured for life... Ow!... What's gonna happen to Landon?"

   Christy's eyes darkened.

"Good things", she said evenly and I blinked. "He turned eighteen last week.
So he'll go in for an attempted murder, I hope..."

"That *is* a good thing", I agreed wholeheartedly. "Bailey, you never told
him about me, huh?"

"Of course not", she looked at me with reproach.

   I grinned.

"He'll think that you and I are together, you know..."

   That got her smile.

"I should tell him that we are getting married", she muttered.

   I growled.

"Stop making me laugh..." I said tightly. "Do you have a slightest idea how
much it hurts?... Ow!... Bailey! I am serious, knock it... Ow!!... Knock it off..."