Senior Year, '94. Megan B. March
just below her knee. Alicia let us know that she wanted an air cast instead of the ‘monstrosity’ she was stuck with. “I would let you guys sign it if there was a marker or even a pen around here,” she grumbled. “Sucks, doesn’t it? I won’t be able to do drill for a while. Aside from my ankle, I broke two bones in my foot with that goddamn fall!”
“At least that’s all it was. You could have hit your head or something worse,” Jibby pointed out, hoping to console her.
Alicia gave him a glare but you could tell she wasn’t serious. “Still doesn’t make it any better.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest and pouted. Just then, with Ashlyn trailing behind, a nurse with the name of ‘Van’ on his name tag came in.
“There you are now, Colleen, ready to give these a try?” the guy with the crutches asked with an Irish accent. He was cute and had Alicia blushing. It must have been the scruffy brown hair, the luminous smile, and his unbelievably green eyes that got her blood boiling. For me, it was the accent. I was a sucker for it.
“Her name’s Alicia,” an irritated Jibby grumbled under his breath, but Van only laughed and Ashlyn quietly explained what it meant to be called “Colleen” from someone who was Irish—a young girl. Jibby then turned a nice shade of red in embarrassment and watched with a hint of jealousy as Van instructed Alicia down the hall and into the stairwell to help her learn how to navigate stairs. They came back to the room after about twenty minutes. Being a rigorous member of the drill team, Alicia hadn’t really broken much of a sweat.
“Things could get a bit bockety in snow,” Van was telling her, “so it might be wise to get ice grippers.” He stroked his chin playfully and I heard Krissa give a little sigh. I was still stuck on Van’s use of the word “bockety.” Jibby rolled his eyes.
“I’ll grab ‘em right quick and show you how to put them on,” Van volunteered. He was more than eager to help and came back in a matter of minutes with the ice grippers, taking off the stock bottoms of the crutches and putting the ice grippers on. He then showed Alicia how to move the lever up and down to bring out or put away the sharp nubs used for gripping snow at the bottom of each crutch.
“Just make sure you pop this lever there up when you get inside or you’ll make a hames of it, and then you’ll really be banjaxed,” he told her. “These are great on ice, but hell on a regular floor.” Van gave a laugh and cranked up his beautiful smile, sending Alicia into full flirt mode and flashing him a bright one of her own. Krissa and I gave each other shy smiles at Van’s commentary while Jibby rolled his eyes covertly so only we could see. Before the nurse left the room he assured Alicia she was being discharged soon.
Krissa and I walked down the hall as Ashlyn stayed behind and helped Alicia get ready to leave. Jibby waited outside her room and insisted on bringing up the rear in case she fell or needed help. It was a good excuse to stick around, I thought, and when she was ready he even helped her into Ashlyn’s BMW.
I stood at the open door, my hands in my pockets. “With your car still being at school, can I pick you up on Monday on my way to zero-hour?” I offered.
“Yeah, sure. I hope my car won’t get broken into if I leave it there tonight.” Alicia furrowed her brow.
“It’ll be fine,” Jibby commented, “I’ve left my car overnight thousands of times.”
Raising my eyebrow, I wondered why he’d ever done that—it seemed likely he had been drunk or high, or both. I shook the thought away before my brain reminded me of Jensen and his partying ... and then went to an even darker place to Fallon.
After Ashlyn drove off with Alicia tucked into her car, I opened my truck for Jibby and Krissa to climb in. Krissa had offered to sit in the cramped back with the speakers, but this time around Jibby said he’d take one for the team and easily jumped in back. I started the truck and turned on the radio.
“Oh, turn this up! I love this song!” Krissa shrieked.
“Huh? I never would have pegged you for a Mazzy Star fan,” Jibby said, turning up the radio. The soulful voice sang about fading into someone and that person never knowing. Amidst the sad melody, it felt like my life at that moment.
“So that guy helping Alicia was hot, wasn’t he?” Krissa casually commented.
“Yeah, he was pretty cute. Loved the accent and the words he used,” I agreed.
“Oh, and his eyes were so dreamy!” Jibby mocked.
Krissa and I giggled, but also took the hint that Jibby wasn’t into gushing over a cute Irish guy who had spent twenty minutes alone with Alicia.
Since I had never been there before, Jibby guided me to where he lived and his house turned out to be near Meander Way, somewhat close to Krissa’s house. After dropping him off, I continued driving down the street to where Krissa lived and pulled up into her driveway a few minutes later to let her off.
“Weird day, huh?” Krissa fiddled with the door handle. “Did you know that when Ryan asked me out, I didn’t immediately tell him my answer?” Krissa looked at me and I shook my head no. It seemed like eons ago that they’d started dating and I wondered why she was saying something about it now. “When I did give him my answer, I spelled “yes” in cheese. You know, the hot cheese you get with the pretzels? He bought me a pretzel that day.” Krissa stared through the windshield with a far off look on her face.
“What made you bring that up?” I asked, fondling my keys and watching Krissa’s hand continue to play with the door handle.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m missing Ryan a little today.” She opened her door and stepped out. “Do you want to come in for a while?”
“Nah, that’s alright. I was thinking of stopping by Alicia’s to see how she’s doing. Maybe take her some movies and pizza. Do you want to come with?”
“I think I’m just going to vegetate, but thanks for the offer. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Later,” I said as she shut the door.
Putting my truck in reverse, I backed out and headed to the video store and Bullwinkle’s, trying to keep from thinking about the last time I had been there with Jensen. Picking out a couple of movies that sounded good, I got to Alicia’s just as Ashlyn was pulling out of the driveway. I unrolled the window to talk to her as we stopped next to one another in the driveway.
“Mia, I’m so glad you’re here. I have to go back to the store and I really didn’t want to leave Alicia. She says she’s fine all set up on the couch, but I don’t know ….”
“I’ve got it handled. I picked up some movies and a pizza, and she’ll be all set until you get home.”
“Oh, honey, thanks for being here. Dan will be home tomorrow morning and he can stay with her then. Front door is unlocked, so go right in. I’ll see you later!” Ashlyn sped off before I could say anything in response.
Making it to the front door with three movies piled on top of an extra-large pizza box, I carefully opened the door and yelled out a long “hello” before pushing the door closed with my foot and heading to the living room where I knew Alicia would be.
“Mia! In here! Thank Jesus someone is here with me. I didn’t want to stay here by myself and die of boredom!”
Walking in, I handed Alicia the movies and put the pizza box down on the coffee table.
“You brought food and entertainment! You’re a saint!”
“I do try. Want a plate, or do you just want to eat out of the box?” I asked, but Alicia gave me a look that told me I knew her better than that. “I’ll go grab some paper towels.”
Alicia handed me one of the movies when I came back in. “Put this one in.”
“Not just yet. I want answers,” I said, grabbing the movie and setting it on the couch next to me. “Jibby.”
Alicia