Someone's bound to get burned

Chloé was lying face down on the ground, the fresh feeling of the pavement against her cheek. She was nervous to get up and assesses the results of this surprise meeting of her body with the ground; spasms of pain were already starting to erupt from her palms and knees. She was managing a first effort to get up when heard footsteps and voicing coming right in her direction.

‘’Jesus fucking Christ, Kaner, you already destroyed the lamp, it wasn’t necessary to tackle joggers to the ground to!’’
‘’I did not see her, I swear I didn’t see her!’’
‘’For Christ’s sake, she’s wearing a neon blue T-shirt and you did not see her!’
‘’ Do we need to call someone?’’
‘’Hey, miss, are you okay?’’

The calm and grave voice was coming from a guy, now kneeling near her, lightly touching her shoulder. She managed to open one eye; she was a bit shocked but no blurred lines or little star flying around her head. Only this tall, athletic guy looking at her with concern in his eyes.

‘’Yeah, I’m fine. I think.’’

Jonathan, stopping a move to help the stranger up to her feet, stepped back when she pushed herself in a kneeling position before sitting on the ground against the parked car, repressing a grunt sound. Patrick, looking horrified, kneeled beside her, holding his hair with both hands as the few teammates could see the damages of the fall.

Except a little dirt, now streamed by droplets of sweat dropping from her hair, seemed okay. Her palms, knees and tibias, on the other hand, were bloody and badly scratched with a great deal of tiny rocks now embedded in her skin.

‘’ I am SO SORRY, SO SO SORRY! Sharpy, call an ambulance!’’
- I don’t need an ambulance.
- You are hurt!
- I don’t need an ambulance for scratched knees! Listen, I’m fine, just call me a cab.
- What if you have a concussion? Fuck, what if she has a concussion!
- God, will this day ever eeeeeend, said Chloé, looking up at the sky with a desperate look.
- Sharpy, hold on for the ambulance. Brent, go get paper towels or something inside. Kaner, calm DOWN for a second, said Jonathan, scowling at Patrick.

Chloé thanked him in a muted voice as she slowly got up, helped by the freaked out guy and the baseball cap one. Everything was slowly coming back to her. As she started getting self conscious of her bloody, sweaty and probably stingy appearance in the middle of this bunch of overly sporty and good looking guys, she was looking forward going back to her place, a future shower and a nap to forget it all.

‘’Thank you, I assure you, I am fine’’
-There is a lot of dirt and rocks in those scratches for someone who is fine, said Sharp.
-She should go to the hospital, just to be sure.
-I’ve got paper towels!
-Guys, I’m...
-You don’t want it to get infected.
-Sharpy, do you think she could sue me or something...
-Where is the nearest clinic?
-I am...
-It is Saturday, will it be opened?
-I’ll just...
-Wait, I got it!
-Is there really ANYTHING I could say that ...
-Billy is probably still at the center, let’s bring her there, no waiting at a clinic whatsoever and he’ll get her patch up in no time.
-Great idea, Brent! Jonny, can you drive us there? Come on, euh... what is your name?

Helpless, Chloé had been standing in the middle of the small group, looking at them argue, barely acknowledging her presence.

‘’ Chloé, and I would be just fine with a cab bringing me home, I SWEAR I won’t sue you!’’
-There is no point arguing with the guy, said Jonathan, pointing at Patrick with his chin, smiling. Plus Billy is the best medic. It is the least we can do.
-Wait, I am not getting in there, haven’t you see me, I am gonna RUIN your car, said Chloé, trying to break the motion as Patrick Kane was leading her to a black SUV parked nearby, his hand in her back guiding her.
-Oh don’t you worry about me. I puked in his drive at least three times in the past. It seen much worst, said Patrick, as Chloé looked at him with a disgust rictus on her lips. I’ll clean his car, if it makes you feel better, said Patrick smirking as he helped Chloé to the back seat.
-You will clean my car? That is a new thing, commented Jonathan, taking place behind de wheel.
-Okay, okay, I’ll get the garage to clean it, responded Patrick, hoping in the front passenger seat. Now, let’s roll!

Notes