Paramedics and Love

I woke up in the back of the Jeep. I was laying on someone’s chest. I could smell cologne and feel warmth on my cheek. Did Jeff ride home with us? I was in such a state of confusion.

“She is up,” I heard a voice say. “Brees, you ok Squirt?” It was Keegan.

I was laying on KEEGAN’S chest and he had his arm around me. Baylen was frantically driving me home and Jada was in the front seat by him.

“How is she Keegan?” I heard her say, as I still was trying to figure out what was going on.

“Brees, someone hit you in the head with a football and you blacked out. We are taking you home and the paramedics are meeting us there. It was quicker this way,” Keegan said.

He pushed my hair out of my face and pulled my chin up so that my eyes were facing his. His eyes were stricken with angst and concern. I didn’t like to see those baby blues anything other than happy.

“You gave us a real scare, kiddo. I’m glad you are awake now,” he said softly, kissing my hairline.

Keegan always kissed my hairline and ruffled my hair. It’s what he did. Why did this feel different? Why did his lips linger there for so long and why did his voice sound so serious? He kept caressing my face.

“I can’t lose one of my best friends, Squirt. I love you,” he said, squeezing my shoulders.

I laid my head back down on his chest. I was too tired and groggy to try and play the Keegan game right now. Even if it wasn’t real, I felt like he was holding me, like he was mine and like I was his. Is this what it would feel like to be his girlfriend, to be loved back by Keegan Patts?

As I felt the car come to a stop, the doors were thrust open quickly. Paramedics were there already and ready to check me out.

“I am fine,” I insisted.

However, my mom wasn’t having it. She made me sit in the back of the ambulance despite my pleas.

“Can I sit with her?” I heard Keegan ask.

“No sweetie, you and Bay get Jada home. We have got this sweet boy,” my mom said, hopping into the ambulance along with Casey.

I locked eyes with him and I could see the desperation in his gaze. He shook his head as if to shake off our trance. As they checked my vitals I couldn’t help but smile. Did Casey see what I saw? Sense what I felt? What he and I were for a moment in time? I needed to know right away. I looked at her face for any signs that she saw it too, but all I saw was fear.

My best friend was afraid for my life and all I could do was sit and think about a boy that has a girlfriend. Maybe this was karma telling me to sit the hell down and reevaluate my life. I keep making things up in my mind and I know they aren’t real.

The paramedics let me go into my house and my mom finished up with the insurance and whatever else adults do to ensure we aren’t billed the million dollar hospital bill. Casey walked me to my room.

“I’m going to lay down Case if you don’t want to stay over, you don’t have to,” I said, hugging her arm as she helped me walk.