It might be best to get out of the house for a bit, you decide, so you leave and head over to your aunt's place. It's a harder trip than you expected, because now you're really starting to feel the hurt from the fight earlier. Mostly stubbornness gets you to your destination.
You come in through the back door into the kitchen, as you always do, not bothering to knock. Your cousin Gwen is there, dressed in a t-shirt and white cotton shorts that are both maybe just a little too tight on her.
Gwen's face brightens as you walk into the house, and then suddenly her mouth opens in surprise. "Oh my god, Max, what happened to your face?"
You bring your hand up to your face, and wince at the soreness radiating from your nose that somehow seems to permeate your entire face. You're wondering what it looks like at the moment to cause Gwen such genuine concern. You're also suspecting that Gwen, being such close friends with Sam, might not react all that well to a completely true account of how it happened.
"Oh, that..." You try to be nonchalant. "Sam needed someone to spar against, and I guess I may have taken a good hit or two." Far from accurate, but it will do.
Gwen comes over to you slowly. "Oh, poor baby. You shouldn't fight with Sam. I don't think anyone's ever beaten her."
Well, you did, you think ruefully. Fat lot of good that did you though. Although... Gwen does seem concerned about your health. Perhaps you could use that in your favor?
As if someone, somewhere, were reading your mind, Gwen grabs you hand and start tugging you towards the stairs. "Come up to my room, Max. I have a first aid kit there." |