Surgically Remove This Chair Please

[Tadhg Kelly]

Tadhg had been left with only one choice. No one was coming to class for another 30 minutes at least. . .and he didn't feel like waiting that long. He'd hopped the chair all the way to the nurses office. There was only the occasional person who saw him as classes were in session now, but they were so surprised that they diodn't even think to help him.

He went inside only to find that the nurse wasn't there. Instead a boy was sitting on the waiting couch.

"I had an accident in art class," he said. "I'm not very talented."

[Elliott James]

Elliott, who was looking over the sign-in sheet, did a double take as Tad entered the room. His jaw dropped as soon as he set sights on this boy, and couldn't help but laugh hysterically after he spoke.

When he'd regained his breath, he looked at the guy in the eyes apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself... I've been in the same situation more than once, myself..." he started, pulling a penknife out of his back pocket. "You'll learn to carry one of these around." He cut the duct tape loose, careful around the boy's injuries. "Are you all right?" he asked, after catching a glimpse of a particularly painful-looking bruise on his cheekbone.

[Tadhg Kelly]

Tadhg felt himself grin when the boy laughed.

"No, it's cool," he said. "I've been picturing what I look like for the past 15 minutes. Thanks."

The last part was said after his arms were free to move again. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, before tenderly touching his face and stomache.

"I'll live," he said finally. "But some neosporin or ice would be great right now. I feel like I've just been shot repeatedly by a cannon ball."

[Elliott James]

Elliott grinned, nodded, and wadded up the duct tape he'd been peeling off of the boy, tossing it in a nearby garbage can. Knowledgeably, he went into one of the cabinets and retrieved the neosporin and some bandages, and rifled in the top drawer of the desk before locating the aspirin.

"Here," he said, handing these to the boy before going to the refrigerator to retrieve ice. "What's your name?" he asked, hastily shoving some ice in a plastic bag.

[Tadhg Kelly]

"Hey thanks," he said, taking the aspirin, filling a cup and drinking them quickly.

He proceeded to look at his refelection in the metal towel despenser so he could apply the neosporin. Great, he thought, assessing the damage. They had bruised his face. .and there was blood on his upper lip and chin from his nose and a split lip. He washed off the blood before putting the neosporing on.

"It's Tadhg," he said. "Yeah it's gaelic don't ask. Most people call me Tad."

He lifted his hirt up in the front and saw at lesat five lovely bruises forming on his chest and stomache. He wondered if it was possible to learn martial arts in a day.

"What about you? What's your name?"

[Elliott James]

Elliott approached Tad with the ice, wrapped in a couple of paper towels, and winced when he saw the bruises on his midsection. Those were going to hurt like hell in the morning. He handed the ice over and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm Elliott," he replied, sitting on the counter. He couldn't help grimacing every time he noticed another of Tad's injuries.

[Tadhg Kelly]

He nodded his thanks when Elliott handed him the ice. He placed it gingerly on his stomache and sighed with relief. He then noticed him wincing and grinned awkwardly.

"I'm sure it looks a lot worse than it is," he said, wincing himself as he pressed too hard with the ice. "Thanks again for your help. I was beginning to think all the kids here were deuschebags."

[Elliott James]

Elliott raised his eyebrows at that.

"I wouldn't be too relieved... most of them are. Was Blane the one you met?" he asked, picking at an imaginary spot of dirt on his pants. He himself wasn't quite sure what life for him was going to be like now that Thomas was gone. Thomas had always looked out for him...

[Tadhg Kelly]

"I'm not sure," he said. "Does Blane refer to himself as the king?"

[Elliott James]

Elliott smirked.

"I wouldn't put it past him," he replied, looking over at the kid again. He had this air about him... but no, he had to stop thinking that way. Damn.

He hopped off of the counter, feeling too close and a little self-conscious. Crossing his arms over his chest again, he moved back to his original seat on the waiting sofa, not sure of what to say.

[Tadhg Kelly]

"Technically I met a lot of them," he said with a shrug. "I'd guess about four or so."

He watched the guy, Elliott, change positions. . he sure shifted a lot.

"So are you viloently ill or something?" he asked. "What are you down here for?"

[Elliott James]

Elliott laughed.

"Yes, obviously I'm violently ill. That's why I'm getting sick all over the place and unable to help you..." he trailed off. Usually he was so quiet. Where was this sarcasm bit coming from? "I help the school doctor out during my free periods. He has his lunch now."

[Tadhg Kelly]

Taghg grinned and laughed sligthly at Elliott's response.

"Well played," he said. "Oh."

He helped out the doctor? Different, but not unheard of. Her grabbed a few paper towels for the road and turned to face Elliott with his hand extended.

"It was nice meeting you Elliott," he said. "I'll be back tomorrow sometime. . .I can almost guarentee it. "

Tadhg thought it over carefully before adding the next part, not wanting to sound creepy or anything. He just thought it might be nice to actually have a friend at this school.

"I'm heading out to grab something to eat after school, wanna come?"

[Elliott James]

"It was nice to meet you too... but I hope I don't see you tomorrow, at least in here. Unless you're duct taped again, that was kinda funny," he added, a playful grin on his face.

When Tad asked him to go eat with him, he was a little shocked at first, but then he happily agreed.

"Yeah, sure, sounds good," he replied. Perhaps Thomas leaving wouldn't be too terrible after all.

[Tadhg Kelly]

"Oh sure. .. laugh at my misfortune," Tad said with a look of mock hurt on his face.

"I've got a black mercedes loads of bumperstickers, you can't miss it," he said exiting the nurse's office.