“It’s all right. I’ve got you.” I scoop her off the ground and begin to walk out of the room.
“Crew, what’s going on?” Coach Rose asks as he jogs over to the exit.
“Amber busted her nose. I’m taking her to the nurse.” I’m not asking for permission, and I’m not waiting around for it either.
“Good man,” Coach says and pats me on the back.
“I can walk,” Celeste says, but it’s hard to hear her.
“It will be quicker this way.”
“I doubt that.” She rolls her eyes, and I smile.
“Okay.” I stop and look at her. “Tell me, which way do I turn to get to the infirmary?” I raise an eyebrow and wait a beat. “That’s what I thought.”
“I told you I was bad at sports.”
“Celeste.” I try to keep the laughter in my voice because the bigger part of me is worried that she’s not okay, and I don’t want to scare her. “That wasn’t a sport. That was a game of toss in a safe space. It’s not like you were rock climbing Mt. Rainier.”
“It might as well have been.” She shrugs, and I hold her close as I turn in to the nurse’s office. “Mrs. Swain, she’s had an accident.”
The nurse takes one look at Celeste, and her eyes widen. “Coordination test?” she asks, and I nod. “Coach Rose is a sadist.”
“See?” Celeste looks at me and raises her eyebrow this time.
“Bring her over here.” Mrs. Swain walks around to the long tabletop bed in the room and pulls out a sheet of fresh crinkle paper to go across it.
I place her down on top of the table and then take a step back. I pull out my phone and text the freshman rowing team that someone needs to get Celeste’s gym bag along with mine and bring them to the infirmary. First one to do it gets to pick rowing positions on Junior Varsity at next practice. After I send that text, I tuck my phone in my gym shorts and cross my arms over my chest.
“You can go back to class, Crew,” Mrs. Swain says, but I shake my head.
“Coach Rose wants me to stay with her to make sure it’s not a concussion.” Both Celeste and Mrs. Swain turn their eyes on me, but I just shrug. I’m not going anywhere.
“All right, let’s see what we’ve got here,” Mrs. Swain says as she pulls Celeste’s hands away.
There’s blood on her nose and mouth and down her chin, but it doesn’t look like anything is broken.
“Any tenderness here?” the nurse asks as she pulls on her gloves and begins to touch Celeste’s nose.
“No, I think it’s okay. I just got popped pretty hard.”
“Amber was being a bitch.”
“Crew,” Mrs. Swain warns, and I shrug.
“Just stating facts, ma’am.”
Mrs. Swain turns away from me, but I see her fighting a smile. “It doesn’t appear to be broken, but if you experience any pain later on today, significant swelling, anything at all, go to the emergency room, okay?” She brings a couple of clean bandages over to the bed and begins to wipe away the blood. It’s stopped bleeding already and only a little got on her shirt.
“Crew,” I hear from behind me, and I turn around to see one of the freshman rowers. He holds out both of our bags eagerly, and I nod at him.
“Good job, Callum. You call next positions.” The kid beams as he takes off down the hall, and I shake my head. Freshmen.
“Well, there’s only about half an hour left in class. Do you want to stay here until the last bell?” Mrs. Swain asks Celeste.
“I’ll make sure she gets home safe.” I hold up her bag, and Mrs. Swain looks back to Celeste.
“Do you want to go with this turkey or stay with me?” She gives me a sly smile. “I’ve got a bag of chocolate I might share.”
“I’ll take the turkey,” Celeste says as she gets down off the tabletop bed.
“I don’t blame you.” Mrs. Swain sighs and shakes her head. “Be careful, Crew, and don’t get caught.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I wink at her, and she waves her hand at me as I take Celeste’s elbow and lead her out of the infirmary. “Are you okay to walk?” I ask as I thread my fingers with hers.
“Um yeah, I’m fine. I can call my mom to come get me. It’s totally fine.” She tries to protest, and I shake my head.
“Medically speaking, I should make sure you get home safe.” I give her my best cocky grin, and she bites her lip. “I told Mrs. Swain I'd get you home safe, and I’m no liar.”
“All right,” she concedes, and I lead us to the parking lot.
“Look at you with a fancy front row spot,” she says as I go around to the passenger door and open it for her.