Go to the Nurse’s for

You need paracetamol. You have none. But the clinic will. Maybe it’ll still be open. You can use the excuse to check up on Nurse Karlee and learn what happened to Ellie.

It is open. The glass door is unlocked. Music is blaring. When you call out the familiar heart-shaped face appears, bursting into a smile when she spots you. The buxom figure of Nurse Karlee quickly follows. She’s discarded her nurse’s uniform for a black and white t-shirt and pair of jeans.

“Hello Mr Smith, here again. Got another student fainting in your presence?”

“No, no. Do you have any paracetamol? I’ve got a killer headache.”

“All the female pheromones got to you?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry. I’ll get some.”

She disappears into her office, returning soon afterwards with a pill and a glass of water. You thank her, take the pill and wash it down.

“Thanks for that. It’s been a stressful day. First Ellie and her collapse, and more trouble in the afternoon. How is Ellie by the way?”

“Oh, she’s fine. Her mother came and picked her up. The girl kept insisting she was fine, but I didn’t want to risk it.”

“Sensible. I must admit, I’m surprised to find you still open.”

“There’s hockey training this evening, and I find it’s useful on Monday evenings to hang around late because of that. “

“Expecting trouble?”

“You never know.”

You’re about to ask more when suddenly a student bursts into the office. “Nurse Karlee, Nurse Karlee. There’s been an accident.”

Nurse Karlee gives you that knowing look, grabs her nurse’s bag and then turns back to the student. “Where is she?”

You decide to follow. To the sports field, where a cluster of girls gather around a squatting Blair. She’s holding another, covered by Blair’s concern and the gathered girls. The girls part for Karlee, Blair unfurls to let the nurse in. You follow behind.

You recognise her. It’s Brianna, {if Brianna = 1} your next-door neighbour {else} a redhead in the Upper Sixth ‘B’ Stream {endif}. There’s an ugly bruise blossoming on her temple. There’s blood on the ground, but it’s not coming from that wound. No, it’s coming from her left hand, that hangs limply and mishappen.