Untouchable - Chapter 11 #2
“Ow.” My face felt like it had been squashed. There was someone on the other side that should be a major league pitcher.
A ball hit the back of Felix’s head while he was crouched down with me, but he didn’t even flinch.
Coach Carter blew his whistle. “Felix, take her to the nurse!” he called then blew his whistle again.
The game restarted around us as Felix helped me to my feet.
“Is my nose broken?” I asked.
“I don’t think so.” His arm wrapped around me like I needed his assistance walking. I didn’t. But I didn’t push him away either.
“What the hell, Cupcake?” Felix said to the captain on the other side. “She was five feet in front of you, why’d you throw it like she was a mile away?”
The captain laughed.
“Idiot,” Felix said.
“What’d you say to me?” the captain said. “You wanna take this shit outside?”
Coach Carter blew his whistle again. “Nurse. Now. Cool your loins, Joe. There’s no cursing in my gymnasium.”
Felix mumbled something under his breath as he walked me out of the gym.
“I think I have a concussion,” I said.
“I doubt Cupcake is that strong. He was just standing really freaking close to you. That guy is such an ass.”
“Cupcake?” I shook my head. “I definitely have a concussion.”
“You really never heard Joe’s nickname before?”
“How on earth is someone with the name Cupcake not the least popular person at this school?” I asked.
Felix laughed. “Cupcake’s father owns Dickson & Son’s Sugarcakes and he always brings in samples. He’s a jerk, but his cupcakes are good.”
“Private school is so much different than public school. Someone with that nickname would have gotten eaten alive at my old high school. Yet, I’m the loser here. Figures. And what the hell is a sugarcake?”
“You’re not a loser, Brooklyn.”
“I would have gotten chosen last if it wasn’t for you.
Everyone at this school pretends I’m invisible or ridicules me.
They don’t even try to get to know me because I don’t have money and prestige like they do.
And the only reason I ever attend fancy events on the weekends is because I’m catering them. I’m a social pariah.”
“Don’t forget the fact that you’ve never been kissed,” Felix added as we walked into the nurse’s office.
I was pretty sure it was his new mission to mortify me. I could feel my cheeks flushing. “God, please stop reminding me.”
He laughed.
“Oh my, your face is beet red,” the nurse said and rushed over to me. “What hurts?” She put her hand on my forehead. “Hm, I don’t feel a temperature.”
I could feel my face turning even redder.
“She got hit in the face with a dodgeball,” Felix said. “She mentioned that her nose hurt.”
“I’ve been telling Coach Carter to outlaw that blasted game. You don’t know how many times I get students in here with dodgeball injuries.” She grabbed an icepack from the freezer. “You’re sure nothing else is wrong? Your face is so very red.”
Every time she said it, I’m pretty sure I blushed harder. I placed the ice on my nose. Luckily the icepack was big enough to pretty much cover my entire face. “Nope, I’m good otherwise,” I said.
“Alright. Sit down for a minute and ice your nose then.”
I sat down on the little cot in the corner of her office. The thin mattress sagged as Felix sat down beside me.
“Seriously though,” Felix said. “Money doesn’t make up for a bad character. It doesn’t make up for anything. And I don’t think you’re a loser. You’re kind. And sweet. And funny. And easy to talk to.”
I placed my hand down on the cot between us. I was a coward earlier. But when there was an icepack hiding my face, I found it a lot easier to be brave. One of the things that stuck with me the most about Friday night was how comforting it was when Felix held my hand.
“And beautiful.” He placed his hand down on top of mine. “You’re really beautiful, Brooklyn.”
I was glad the ice pack was hiding my eyes, because they were tearing up. He’d called me beautiful on Friday night. I’d forgotten that underneath all the embarrassing things that had happened.
Our fingers intertwined. And for a few minutes we just sat in silence. I was pretty sure they were the best few minutes of my life.
He reached over and pulled the icepack down from my face. “And one day when your nose isn’t hurting, I’d really like to kiss you, newb.”
I stared into his blue eyes. I wanted to focus on the fact that he wanted to kiss me as badly as I wanted to kiss him, but a question in the back of my mind was suddenly all I could think about.
What if? I didn’t know my father. What if? I knew I looked nothing like Felix. I mean, Felix was Felix. What if? But my mind had already started racing. What if? It was possible. It was horribly possible. What if Felix and I were related?
I swallowed hard and forced myself to smile before I pulled the icepack back over my face.
I needed to talk to my uncle before I accidentally kissed someone who could be my half-brother.
Or cousin. Or…nephew? Was that even possible?
I was horrified by the fact that Felix could be in any way related to me.
But more so by the fact that I wanted for him to be my first kiss without even knowing the truth.
Please God, don’t let Felix be related to me.