Kickoff

Chapter 10

His trunk is too big for his body

The sound of a muffled thump woke me up with a start. I looked at the time on my phone. One fifty-seven in the morning. It took me a moment to recall where I was.

I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes with my fists, on high alert, as I sat in the darkness. Perhaps Melinda had woken up to pee or grab another dose of painkillers because the fever had returned. Or she had fallen off her bed.

I was about to check on her when I heard it. Whimpering sounds coming from upstairs.

Jumping over the couch’s backrest, I climbed the stairs two at a time, and when I flicked the switch, the hallway light cast the house in a golden glow.

Curled up on her side on the wooden floor, I believed for a second Melinda had fainted. She looked so small and fragile right now.

“Mason—” My name sounded like a plea on her lips.

“Mel? You awake?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Sobs shook her. She hugged herself, rocking from side to side.

I rushed to her, squatting next to her, my hand flying to her forehead. “You’re burning up. Did you fall? Are you hurt? Talk to me.”

“It… It hurts. Inside. It… I can’t breathe, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

” She pushed a hand over her mouth. “Ohmygod…ouch. Make it stop. Mase, please. I’m dying.

They’re drilling…they’re drilling a hole inside me.

I-I can’t move. I tried to stand.” Her lips quivered.

“And I fell. Help me. Mase, do something. Ouch. I think I’m gonna pass out.

What is… What is wrong with me? Ouch. Mase, please. Don’t let me die.”

I pulled her into my arms, cradling her shivering body. “I’m driving you to the hospital. Unless you want me to call an ambulance.”

She shook her head. “No. You. Drive. Me.” She screamed when waves of agony radiated through her, piercing my very soul.

Her fingernails dug into my forearms. “Mase, I can’t bear it.

It…it hurts everywhere.” A loud cry left her lips and made my blood curdle.

“Tell me the truth. Am I going…am I going to die?” She lifted her head to look at me.

“Don’t move. Stay still. I’ll carry you. Mel, I’m here, okay? I won’t let anything bad happen to you. You have my word. Trust me.”

“Okay. Don’t…don’t leave me.”

As I made my way downstairs, Melinda’s body grew limp in my arms. Her skin was warm and sweaty from the fever.

As gently as possible, I placed her on the backseat of my car, pushing the strands of hair sticking to her face away with my fingers before rushing back inside to grab a blanket to cover her.

The entire drive, I talked to her, but only guttural sounds passed her lips.

At least she was still with me. Alive and breathing.

I strangled the steering wheel with a death grip.

I had no idea what was going on with her, but it appeared serious.

At a red light, I pivoted in my seat to watch her.

Once again, she was lying on her side, hugging herself.

“Mel, hang in there.” I stretched my hand to caress her shoulder. “We’ll be there in like five minutes, okay?”

No answer. Only growls of pain.

The light switched green, and I let go of her. “I’m doing my best to drive you there quickly, and in one piece. Don’t quit on me, okay? Be brave for just a little longer.”

After I parked at the emergency drop-off, I lifted a non-responsive Melinda in my arms. “We’re here.

I’m with you. I’m not going anywhere.” Her eyelids flickered but remained closed as we entered the hospital and fluorescent lights shone above us.

I pressed my lips to her forehead in a fervent prayer. “You are safe now.”

I was holding her hand when Melinda woke up almost three hours later. The adrenaline had worn off, and exhaustion had settled over me. I pushed it back at the sight of her regaining consciousness. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Shepard.”

“Mase? What—” She coughed, and I brought a cup of water with a straw to her lips.

“Drink this.”

She did, but her voice sounded hoarse when she asked, “Where am I?” Moisture filled her eyes, and they appeared bluer than their usual turquoise shade.

I traced the side of her face with my knuckles. “You had appendicitis. I drove you to the hospital, and you underwent emergency surgery. That’s why you may feel drowsy right now. They said you should come back to your senses soon. Your parents are on their way.”

Her gaze traveled around the room. “Appendicitis? Surgery?”

“Yes. You’re out of the woods now.”

She blinked, and I wondered if all the drugs in her system were affecting her understanding of the situation. “The woods? Were we outside?”

“Nah.” A hint of a smile tugged at my lips. “Just an expression.”

“Oh. How did you manage to be in this room by my side? I’m pretty sure it’s family only.”

“I told them I was your twin brother. No way would I have let you wake up alone after surgery. I thought you might like to see a familiar face.”

“I do. Gosh, I can’t believe you did that.” She laughed but stopped, wincing in pain. “It still hurts.”

“Take it slow so you don’t rip out your stitches.”

“Stitches? Mase, did you say I had surgery? Was I in an accident?”

Definitely the drugs. “No accident. Appendicitis.”

“Oh.” She yawned. “I’m tired.”

“Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Where are we?”

“Hospital. You had surgery.”

“I don’t like this dream.”

I squeezed her hand resting in mine. “Don’t worry. It’s gonna be okay.”

“I-I…” Her eyes closed, and her breathing evened before she could finish her thought. For the next hour, I watched her sleep, praying everything would really be okay after all.

An hour later, Melinda’s eyes opened, and she eyed me with a frown. “Am I still dreaming, or is this real?”

“All real.”

“So, we really were in the woods, and I had an accident.”

Our earlier conversation replayed in my mind. She was adorable and had no idea.

“No dreams and no woods. And no accident. You had an appendectomy… Huh, they took out your appendix earlier. You are safe and sound now.”

“A-appendectomy? No, it’s impossible.” New tears filled her eyes. “I can’t be sick. Not now. I have a meet next weekend. I need to qualify. This is senior year. I refuse to be on the sidelines.”

“Easy, tiger. You need the rest. Don’t stress over a meet. Now isn’t the time.” My fingers landed on hers in a gesture I hoped was comforting.

“You brought me here? I don’t recall a lot. All I can remember is the pain and that I was feverish and confused. But the pain…it was bad.”

“You were barely coherent on the way here. The doctor said another hour and your appendix would have burst. It was a close call, but I’m Nurse Pierce, and I told you I’d keep you safe. That’s my job.”

“Mase, you saved me… Again.” She flipped her hand around to intertwine our fingers. The tears pooling in her eyes looked different now, more like gratitude tears.

“I didn’t save you save you, but let’s just say I am glad I insisted on playing nurse tonight. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t been sleeping on your couch?”

“Thanks. For being there.” Her lips trembled. “I can’t believe I’ll miss the next meet. My team needs me.”

Melinda’s brain on painkillers was a fascinating thing. We were having two different conversations at once.

“Yeah, well, I know the feeling. When that concussion glued me to the bench last year, I became a lion in a cage after only two games. You’ll get through this.

You’re stronger than appendicitis. If it brings you some sort of peace, I’ll check with your coach.

To make sure it doesn’t affect your college offers, the rest of your season, or anything else. ”

“You would do that for me?”

“Yes. As long as you take the required time to heal and don’t rush back.”

“Oh…okay. I can’t believe I had surgery. I really thought I had food poisoning or a virus. Thank you for bringing me here.”

I nodded, watching her. My lips parted. I had so much to tell her but changed my mind. Now wasn’t the moment to spill the contents of my heart. “I’m relieved you’re out of danger.”

“Me too.”

“I have something for you. It’s not much, but I hope it will bring you some comfort.”

She frowned, and I fetched the stuffed animal I’d bought from the hospital gift shop while she was undergoing surgery.

Her face lit up. “Wow, it is adorable.” I had chosen a pastel-blue and lilac stuffed baby elephant. She twisted the animal in her hand and looked at me with a quizzical gaze. “Mase, are the drugs playing tricks on my mind, or is Mason written on its foot?”

I gave her a half-shrug. “I promised you earlier I would get you a prize if you were a good girl and listened to Nurse Pierce’s orders. There were none with the name Melinda. What can I say? Now, you’ll think of me each time you cuddle with it.”

“It’s not the medication messing with my brain.

You still are terrible, but somehow it suits you.

” Her eyes sparkled with emotion. “Thank you. I love it. Very much.” She kissed the elephant’s head and brought it to her heart like it really comforted her.

“I almost died tonight. And I didn’t, because of you.

I will make Mason the elephant a superhero cape. ”

“I’m sure he’d like that.”

“Do you want one too?”

“Nah. Thanks, I’ll pass. You could get me a trophy, though.”

“I’ll think about it.” We exchanged small smiles. “Do you think I’ll be able to swim again?”

“Yeah. You just need to take a little break.”

“Okay.” We stayed silent for a full minute. “I’m so tired. It’s like I’ve been buried alive after being stomped over by a mammoth. Everything is heavy and hurts. Not like before, but still, every inch of me is sore.”

“You should sleep it off.” I glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. “They’ll come to inject you with another dose of painkillers soon. I’ll talk to Paige and visit you after school if you’re still here.”

“That is nice of you. I like this version of you.”

Yeah, well, me too.

I moved closer and kissed her forehead. “Rest.” My entire body woke up at the contact.

I’d just kissed Melinda Shepard. Well, her forehead, but still, my lips were on her skin.

This night was nothing like I expected, but I wished to be nowhere else.

“I’ll watch over you. I’m not leaving your side unless I have to. ”

She extended her arm to clutch my hand, and seconds later, her steady breaths informed me she was asleep.

A knock resonated on the door sometime later, and I presumed it to be the medical team, but instead, Mr. and Mrs. Shepard walked in, followed by Dr. Shinde, the surgeon who had operated on Melinda.

“Melinda, honey,” her mother said nearing the bed while her dad stayed by the door to talk to the surgeon. Tears shone in her eyes as she took her daughter’s other hand between hers.

Melinda’s eyelids fluttered open, and she squinted, looking confused. “Mom?”

“I’m here, honey. How are you doing?”

“Huh...I’m okay…I think.” She closed one eyelid as if keeping both open took too much energy from her.

“I-I had surgery… That’s what the real Mason said.

” She winced. “My brain is made of jelly... I…huh…I can’t remember how I got here, and I won’t be able to swim next weekend.

Mason is a hero, and I’ll make him a superhero cape.

But not the real Mason…the other Mason. The one with the big purple trunk. ”

Mrs. Shepard gasped, her attention ping-ponging between her daughter and me, her gaze filled with questions. From where she stood, she couldn’t see my namesake because he was hidden under the covers.

“It’s true. He’s like an elephant, and his trunk is too big for his body. I love him because he’s my gift. For being a good girl. Mason said so.”

“Mason said so?”

“Yes. He tucked me in bed earlier. And I fell asleep on his lap. Why is my stomach so sore?”

I buried my face in my free hand. Mr. Shepard would have kicked me out of his daughter’s room without a second thought if he had caught even a fragment of what she had just told his wife.

Mrs. Shepard blinked a few times, looking like she swallowed a sour pill. “Melinda, honey. Let’s forget about elephants and big trunks for now, okay? I’m so relieved you’re all right and out of danger, and this is what matters. The rest, we’ll deal with it later.”

I leaned toward the bed. “Jesus, Mel. You can’t say stuff like that. Not in front of your mom.” I turned to face her mother. “All that she said was only about Mason the elephant. Not the me-Mason. He’s a stuffed animal I gave her after the surgery. We just happen to have the same name.”

Mrs. Shepard nodded and dropped her shoulders. “Thanks for clarifying, Mason. I appreciate it.”

“It’s hard to keep up with her pain-med brain. She’s quite entertaining. Anyway, I should go.” I stood up and neared the bed, her hand still nestled in mine. “Mel, I’ll see you later, okay?”

Sadness took over her features. “No, Mase. You can’t go. You didn’t get your trophy.”

“We have all the time in the world to figure it out once you’re back on your feet. There’s no rush.”

“Oh…okay. You sure?”

“Yeah. Rest for now.” I kissed her forehead and walked away, releasing her fingers. A void opened inside my chest, and I missed the connection of our joined hands.

Dr. Shinde took my spot next to Melinda’s bed.

“Did you make a hole in my body?” she asked him.

“Yes, I did.” He offered her a small, comforting smile. “Let me run you through the procedure, and then I’ll answer all your questions…”

I blocked out the surgeon’s voice and turned to leave when Mr. Shepard stopped my escape. “Thank you, son. For everything.” He held out his hand to shake mine. “You should go home and get some sleep. You did good last night.”

“I did what anyone else would have done in the same situation.”

“No. You saved our daughter’s life.”

“Thanks.” I bowed my head, feeling vulnerable as he watched me with a gleam in his eyes before pulling me into a hug.

“I’m proud of you, son. You should be proud of yourself too.”

He released me, and I coughed to chase the ball of emotions lodged in my throat. “I’ll talk to all of you later and will come back to visit her after practice.” I spun on my heel to watch Melinda one last time.

Her eyes met mine and stayed locked there for a long moment, sending my heart into overdrive.

“Night, Mason not-the-elephant,” she said after a while. It wasn’t the middle of the night anymore, rather early morning, but I didn’t correct her.

“Good night, Mel.” I broke eye contact and made my exit. The door clicked behind me, and I released a shaky breath. “I love you,” I murmured, looking at the door.

When we’d arrived at the hospital earlier, my stomach had knotted and my heart had capsized in my chest, because I thought I might lose her.

It made me realize, for the first time, that what I felt for her was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.

It was love, a feeling foreign but all-consuming at the same time.

A feeling I hoped she would reciprocate one day.