Marrying my high school bully

Lorraine

I refused to acknowledge how much Dexter’s worried expression affected me.

I thought we both loathed each other? How could my pain make him feel this way?

He flashed a reassuring stare at me, “How do you feel?” He didn’t even wait for me to respond when he bombarded me with another question. “Is it getting any worse? Don’t worry, we’ll soon arrive at the hospital.”

“Thank you.” I whispered as I willed myself to refrain from touching my ankle.

The pain increased by the minute but I suppressed the yelp that nearly burst out of my lips and thought of how to continue the conversation. “How did you know that I’d sprained my ankle?”

“I was about to enter the room to check on the progress of the training when I heard your scream. It really did something to me and I’d have lost my peace if I didn’t help out.” He responded with a little grudge.

A smile formed at the corner of my lips and butterflies fluttered in the pit of my stomach, knowing that he still cared a bit about me even though he was overbearing.

“Won’t the other models be surprised that you had to help me that way?” I asked fiddling with my fingers.

He huffed and rolled his eyes. I was able to see him through the driver’s mirror and a blush crept up to my cheeks, seeing how nonchalant he tried to be. “They know how kind I am so that won’t be an issue. Besides, they know better than to gossip about their boss.”

Having nothing else to say, I kept my lips shut and prayed that the drive to the hospital would become shorter as I couldn’t bear the pain any longer.

My prayers were answered when a hospital came into sight. Dexter hurriedly parked properly and helped me out of the car.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, while leading me carefully towards the entrance.

“Emergency!” He thundered, his loud voice producing a few nurses who came running towards us with a stretcher.

I nearly rolled my eyes, knowing that he was exaggerating and it wasn’t really an emergency. But when they helped onto the stretcher, the stabbing pain reinforced itself and then I understood the reason for his exaggeration.

The doctor met with us after the nurses administered some treatments on my ankle. What comforted me was how nice Dexter was during the session because I couldn’t imagine how I could have gone through it all alone.

“Do you feel any better?” He asked after scrutinising the bandaged part briefly.

I nodded in response, exhausted from all the massage and drugs I’d taken earlier. “I just hope it gets better soon.” I admitted.

“Uhh,” The doctor hesitated.

My tension heightened as I propped myself up on the bed. “Is there going to be any problem?”

Dexter gently caressed my back so that I could relax, but it wasn’t working. “You’ll be fine,” He whispered in my ear.

“The sprain is a bit complicated. It’s more serious than we thought.” He started explaining but my impatience didn’t allow him to continue.

“Excuse me, Doctor, but what are you trying to say?” My eyes were becoming glassy, my throat choked with several negative emotions.

He clasped his fingers and swallowed. “You fell so hard on your ankle together with the heel which led to a grade three type of ankle sprain. Your ligament is completely torn which means that you wouldn’t be able to use your leg until the next three months.” He announced.

I shook my head vehemently, unable to accept the information. I had an event to prepare for-it was going to be my debut and nothing would stop me, not even this freaking ankle sprain.

Showing off my anxiety wouldn’t increase my healing rate, so I dragged in a deep breath which helped to calm my nerves slightly. “Is there any drug I can take to speed up the healing rate of the injury?”

“There are drugs, but constant intake of them can cause adverse effects to your body. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” He asked penitently.

I sighed in resignation as he concluded his conversation with Dexter and left my ward. What was I going to do?

This was my moment and a sprain was going to come in my way?

Maybe if I’d have been more careful while walking on the blocks this wouldn’t have happened. Forfeiting my role at the event wasn’t an option, I just had to find a way out.

“What are we going to do, Dexter?” I cried in frustration. “The runway is in a month but I can’t even use my legs after that. Why does everything have to be against me at this time?”

He cast a light kiss on my forehead which numbed the pain for a moment and gave me something else to focus on. “You’re going to be fine, Lorraine, just focus on getting better.” He said softly, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“But the event? What am I going to do about it?” I stared at him hopefully, wishing that there was something he could do about it, but when I saw how sullen his countenance was, I knew that I’d have to take my destiny into my hands.

“You can always join during the next season.” He said tiredly.

*********

My life has been on a standstill ever since I was told that I couldn’t join the runway show. Each time I got a notification of the new clips the other models made while practicing, tears welled up my eyes.

The doctor was right when he said that I wouldn’t be able to move around because I could barely make a step without the aid of my crutches.

A knock sounded on the door, disrupting me from my depressing thoughts. Since I couldn’t get up, I encouraged the person to come in.

A wave of shock passed through me as Stefan made his way in with his briefcase. His smile was warm and filled with care, but it wasn’t warm enough to set my heart at ease.

“Hi, Stefan. It’s a huge surprise to see you.” I discarded my scared expression and replaced it with a happy one.

He walked towards me and gave me a side hug while I chuckled nervously. “I came on behalf of the other models to check on you. How have you been, Lorraine?”

“Bored. A bit depressed. It’s not easy to stay idle while watching your colleagues work.” I replied.

He patted my arm and dropped onto the chair beside me. “I’m so sorry about that. Stella sends her regards as well. I miss your daily routine of knocking on my door to tell me that you have arrived. But don’t worry, there’s good news.”

Good news?

My heart leaped for joy when he said that. “Tell me about it.” I demanded with a light tone, my body giddy with excitement.

“The event has been postponed to the next three months. I don’t know the reason for the adjournment, but a letter came to me this morning asking that we hold off the show so that the models can have adequate time to practice.” He announced, “I think fate is on your side.” He added.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I jumped on him immediately, unable to put my happiness into words. He was stiff at first but later on, the tension disappeared and he wrapped his arms around me.

If he came all the way here to tell me about the new development then he really deserved the hug. “Thank you so much, Stefan. You don’t know how happy I am right now.”

My moment of happiness was short lived as the entrance door pushed open again. I jerked out of the embrace in surprise, my eyes fixed on Dexter who stood by the door, his face blazing with anger.