"You take that shoulder and I'll take this." Robert said to Nick. In the next few minutes, I was carried towards my car, literally dragged by my feet.

The pain was excruciating and all I could think was of Dad. What pain must he have gone through when he limped his?

"Careful now," Robert said.

Lily opened the passenger door for me and I sat on the seat, my legs stretched outwards. A small circle was formed around the car and I started wondering if it was because they cared if I was alright or were they checking out the car.

When I sat on the car, for a moment, I forgot all about my torment and started appreciating the leather seats. As Lily bent over to examine if I had got any bones broken, I took my sweet time to appreciate the car.

The interior was light brown color with all accessories like GPS, music, a small display for when I would take a reverse and a full fledged AC. What more could a girl ask for? 

I marveled if that was the reason why it took one whole day to reach me. Robert saw me watching the car in awe and I could tell that he was impressed. He gave me a small victory smile.

"Is the pain still there?" Nick asked, crouching on the ground, my feet carefully placed on top on his. He gently massaged it. "Looks like there's going to be some swelling."

"We should get you to the school nurse." Lily stood up. "Will you be able to walk till there or should we get the nurse here?"

"I will walk." I said. The thought of the sprain settling when I moved my legs seemed to be a welcomed thought. "And I'm sure it's just a twist."

The group that had formed spread a little wider so as to make some room for me to hobble. I stood on my left leg, my right leg still in the air, scared that it might pull again if I kept it on the ground. I took a deep breath closing my eyes, getting ready to face the pain all over again.

But the pain never came. When I opened my eyes, I was staring into the dark brown ones. I was swept off my feet, in bridal style. Robert smiled at me. "You're as light as a feather. Don't you eat at all?"

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Robert, what are you doing?" I asked, my arms making its way to circle his neck, scared that he might drop me any minute. "Put me down, I can walk."

"You don't want anymore swelling, do you now?" He asked with a lopsided grin on his face.

I just hoped that none of the student body that stood around us took pictures and made them viral. I could see the scar on his forehead clearly now, adorning his eyebrow. If I looked closely enough, I could even count the number of stitches that were put to close the gap - it was exactly four.

"Put me down!" I said a little louder this time, trying to make sense to this guy.

"Fine." He said and released me.

All of a sudden, his hands were not supporting me and he had let go. When I had asked him to put me down, I was expecting more to be gently placed on the ground. But he was the evil twin, who dropped me without any prior warning. Like everyone, my survival instinct took over me and I clung my hands around his neck and stayed dangling frightened to place my feet on the ground.

"Rob-freaking-Bret!" I whisper shouted. My embarrassment knew no bounds and the mere fact that I clung on to him like he was my life line was too shameful for me.

"Dude!" Nick shouted at him for making me go thorough it. "Come Scarlet, I'll carry you."

"No!" I said a little too early than I wanted to lead on. The fact that he-is-just-a-friend phase hadn't gone past me and I didn't want anymore feelings to be developed from my side towards him. Meanwhile I had to make sure that his feelings were not hurt either. "Just, let me... Oh, God!"

"I would like to have two guys fight to carry me any day." Lily smiled, mischievously. "I would willingly fall over my butt if that's what it takes."

"Lily, don't make me come over there and strangle you to death." I warned her.

"Excuse me, are you getting down, anytime soon?" Robert asked, still not bothered that a giant school girl was hanging on his neck. He was as cool as a cucumber, putting his hands on his pockets and looking funnily in my eyes.

"What the heck is happening?" I heard another familiar voice and I hoped that I wouldn't faint with humiliation. But when I got to know that the familiar voice's face was James', there was no one as happy as me. "Why the heck is Scar hanging like that? And you, there's no need to use a phone now, is there?"

"James!" I cried like a baby. I didn't care if the kids were taking pictures of me or making funny videos, all that mattered was James was here. "Help me!"

He gently pulled me and I put my hands around him, feeling more safe and secure. He smelled of sweat and I tried my best not to gag.

"What happened?" James asked, carrying me in bridal style, just like Robert. When I faced him to answer his questions, I saw that the question was not directed to me, it was directed to Lily. To my annoyance, Lily didn't stop short to answer his questions. She tipped her heels to reach James' mouth and kissed him square on the lips, making disgusting sounds.

"Someone, kill me right now!" I whined. Just as I thought my day was getting better, it had started to go downhill and I was sure my day couldn't go any worse than this. "There can be nothing more painful than this."

James and Lily pulled apart and gave me a hearty laugh, each with their own. "Nick, shoo the crowd off." James said. Lily then volunteered to fill in the details of what happened.

Robert seemed to be amused the whole way to the school nurse, smiling and giggling to himself. If he were in my reach, I was sure I would have strangled him to death. When he caught me staring at him, he just winked at me and gave a full blown smile. I returned the gesture with a glare.

The nurse after hearing Nick's blabber, smiled at me affectionately. "Who's the lucky guy?" She asked with a hint of amusement in her old eyes. She put some ice on the ankle and got an ointment.

"What... guy... how..." I stumbled, not getting hold of a correct word to tell her that it was not like what she was thinking. Robert cleared his throat, breaking the silence, clearly satisfied with my torment. I took a deep breath. "What's wrong with the leg?"

The nurse became serious at the mention of my leg injury. She tucked a few strands of her hair back to her bun and pressed my ankle which had already swelled up like a pulpy mango. I let out an audible scream each time she touched the wounded area. "I think it's just a sprain. Give it a few days, it should be fine, but till then, no giving more stress to the ankle. The more to you don't move it, the faster it heals."

"Is there some tablets or something?" James asked.

"She can use painkillers if she cannot bear the pain. But a crape bandage must be okay." The nurse nodded, closing the subject. "I've have some." She got the bandage out of the wardrobe and craftily wrapped it around my ankle, after applying the ointment. She tucked it so tight that I was not able to move my whole damn feet.

"Thank you." I said and placed my feet on the ground. Due to the tightness of the bandage, I couldn't feel the pain I did few minutes back. I hobbled back and the guys helped me with my stuffs.

"Take a day off, Scar." Lily said. "You need to rest."

"Take care, kiddo." James said and patted my head. "I should be getting back. Are you sure you are going to be okay?"

"Yeah." I said, grateful that he had come in the first place, saving me from further shame. "Thank you, James." I grabbed his sweaty shirt and pulled it towards me, eventually him to give a bear hug.

James laughed at my silly reaction and held me close. "Don't do anything stupid now." He said, as he pulled away. "Call me if you need me." He then turned towards Lily and gave her forehead a kiss. "The plan stays on for tonight, baby." He then gave a curt nod to Rob and a shoulder pat on Nick. Then he was gone.

"Come, I'll drop you home." Nick said. "No tracks or coffee shop for you today. I'll stay over and give you some company till my curfew time."

I wanted to cry at that. Nick was being so sweet and caring that I hated myself for not able to be a friend to him. All I was doing was pushing him away when he only wanted the best for me. How was I fair to him?

"Nick, I..." I started, not knowing how to decline his offer without hurting him in the process.

"Lily can stay over too." Nick reasoned, clearly seeing that I was feeling uncomfortable with his plan arrangements.

Lily looked out of place when her name was mentioned. I knew that she liked the idea but it was a wrong timing. I just heard that she had plans with James and I didn't want her night to be ruined my my sprains. But before I could formulate anything nice to say no nicely to Nick, Robert came to my rescue.

"It's no problem, dude." Robert said, standing next to me. He put one hand on my shoulder as if telling me that he would handle the situation and I should trust him on that. "I had come to pick her up anyway. It should be fine."

"No, she's coming with me." Nick said.

"Oh, God." Lily sighed. "I don't want to be a part of this." She picked up her bags. "Scar, I'm sure you're in good hands. I can't see this happening when I'm jealous of you. Call me."

"Lily!" I screamed at her back. "Don't you dare leave me! Lily!"

But Lily was long gone, leaving me behind with the two guys who were arguing with whom I was going . I let out a nervous chuckle.

"What's it gonna be, Scar?" Nick asked, his hands folded across his chest.

"Dan actually wanted to talk to you about the terms and conditions." Robert said. "He asked me to fetch you. That was why I was here in the first place."

Robert and I, both knew that it was a big fat lie. I had signed all the papers and when the car had come, I knew I could use it anyway I preferred it to be. But for now, Robert's lie seemed like a small light in the darkest jungle.

"Tell him that she's not doing okay." Nick said with disgust and for a second I wondered if he saw through the lie that he had formed.

"Dan is not going to be happy with that." Robert said. "And you know that, Scar."

I heaved a sigh. "Fine, I'll meet him."

"Scar," Nick said, his anger mask sliding aside. "Don't work it up, okay? We both know, you deserve some rest after what you've gone through."

"I know." I said. "I promise I'll head straight home after the track business."

Nick pulled me for a hug as he held me tight in his arms, as if he was scared that I might vanish into thin air if he didn't hold on to me.

"I'll text you once every half hour, okay?" I murmured and a felt a small nod on my shoulders.

"Tell me you'll be okay and he's not a gangster that we often see in movies." He said. I pulled apart and smiled at him.

"Hey!" Robert complained. He put an arm over my shoulder in response to Nick, which I assumed that it was his way to say that he won that round. "That's not fair."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll see you soon." I said to Nick and turned around, hobbling my way towards the passenger seat of the car. Nick brought my bag and threw it in the backseat, giving a curt nod to Rob. Soon, he was gone with nothing as a small wave of bye.

And yet again, I was the bad person, who was not able to understand him and make him comfortable. Though it was not fair, I didn't have much choice to choose the right path.

"You did good, Scarlet." Robert said. I did not realize when he had come to the driver seat and had taken his position. "You did good."

I heaved a sigh and looked away. My life was so messed up and there was nothing I could do to make it all okay. It pricked in the right spot and it felt like a big rock had settled down my tender heart, bruising it every time it moved.

"So, how's your car?" Robert asked.

Once I heard that it was actually my car, over which I had sprained my ankle, all my worries took the background and the blue monster was all I could think of. To tell Robert was good at reading me, was an understatement. He knew what to tell and when to tell, which was more like a blessing to me when I spent most of my time with him.

I ran my hand over the dark interior of the car and admired it's beauty. Then my face fell. I was so excited to have my car in my hands and drive it till my heart's content only to fall on my ass and injure my ankle. What did fate have in mind for me?

"Scarlet," Robert sighed, reading in my sullen mood. He placed his hands on my thigh as a way of convincing. "It's alright. You need to heal first to be able to heal others."

I looked at him blankly. It was then I understood that he was talking about Nick.

"I can see he still effects you." He continued. "You need some time to get hold of yourself, baby. Be selfish for a little while."

I sighed. If only it was that easy. "Yeah."

When I looked back at him, he smiled at me consolingly. Then, suddenly, his face lit up as if he had formulated a theory of the next planet on which scientists found water. "I have an idea."

But before I could ask him about it, he opened his mouth, ready to fill me up with his fantasy idea. Though I was sullen, the fact that he was trying to make it better was assuring.

"You falling when you saw me was a good thing!"

"Um, what?" I asked. "I clearly did not fall looking at you. What do you think? You look like Tom Cruise?"

He did look like Tom Cruise, only when he wore the goggles and cleaned up well. Tom had a well maintained hair, even though it was teased and tweaked. But Robert had curly and frizzy ones which stood as if he was electrocuted the previous minute. That made him look different and more... handsome.

"Of course," He said without any delay. "You can stay away from your gay friend with that reason."

"I'm not staying away from Nick telling him that you look like Tom!" I retorted back.

"You are so dumb." He scratched the side of his scar with the car keys. "Anyway, this car belongs to you?" He asked me and I nodded in return. I was more curious to know where this was going. "Good." He said satisfied.

He turned the ignition on and started the car. The car soon came to life without much coughing, unlike his Maria, and made a clean drive.

"You will have to tell that to them, one day or the other?" He asked. I rolled my yes, but nodded my head all the same. "And you've broken your leg?"

"Where are you going up with this?" I asked, not able to play along with him. "And my leg's not broken, it's only a small sprain."

He ignored me completely. He concentrated on the road ahead, but his mind was weaving faster, like that rabbit which was given a second chance in that race.

"So, you won't be able to drive for at least a week, give or take a few days." He said slowly as if I was a the dumb tortoise. "I can take care of your car till then and - "

"That's never going to happen." I replied faster. Even if I had broken anything, there was no way in hell I was lending him my first car which I had won, for which I had all the right to, to him out of all people, just because I couldn't ride. I would let it stay in my garage till I was better than giving it off to him.

"- I can give you rides wherever you tell." He continued, ignoring my protests. "Think of it," he prompted. "You can avoid Nick, giving him all the right reasons and I'll be there to make him jealous of how stupid he was to lose you."

"What? No." I said, my eye brows knitted in confusion. Was Robert sane or had he lost his mind? "Making him jealous is the last thing I want of him. And I'm not using you or anyone else for that matter, as a rebound."

"Fine!" He said, putting his hand in the air.

"Hands on the wheel!" I shouted. "I am not giving some lunatic, my precious car when he drives like some mad man!"

Robert laughed and put his right hand out to mess my hair. I hit him and his laughter increased two fold. "Oh, sweet pea. You are something else. No wonder all the flies gather around the dirt."

"What the - "

"What I mean is," Robert spared a second to look at me. He then turned back at the road. "You clearly need some time off of your Romeo, Nick. When you give this reason, he can't deny you. Besides, you can ride in your car."

He was having a point. There was no way I could survive staying within Nick's range, now that I had injured my ankle. Sure his intention comes from a good source, but I would be letting him play with my feelings. Though there was Lily and James to whom I could turn to, there was no way I was letting it happen, when I knew they already made plans for themselves. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden on my friends.

Hitching a ride with Robert, seemed like a welcome idea, but a thought still rang in my mind - what if I was a burden to him? Today, he might be excited, but what about two days later or a week later? Won't he get tired of me? Won't he have better things to do rather than be my driver?

On a second note, it was Robert who had suggested this wicked idea and I could always blame him if anything went wrong. It was a great scheme. My face slowly turned from grim to being evil, with my eyes squinted at the sides and my lips curved up with a demon smile.

"Please don't scare me with that look." Robert said, holding his laughter in check. When I smiled sweetly at him, he snorted. "So, what do you say, my monster student? What's it gonna be?"

"Yes!" I agreed and I could see the mirth in Rob's eyes too. Though I didn't know why he was so happy in taking me places, I appreciated the company. "I mean, I thought about it. It beats all the birds in one stone. I can tell Nick that you are going to be there and I am sure he'll back off. I'll not be dependent on Lily or James if I need to get a ride. You, the one who designs the car, gets to look after it and I get to ride it whenever I want. Plus, I also get a personal chauffeur."

"What?" Robert's smile fell a little. It was my turn to laugh. I was pretty sure, Rob hadn't thought it all in detail, but since he had proposed the idea, there was no way he was backing up on it. Even if he did, I was sure I wasn't going to let him live with that. "I didn't think I meant it that way."

"I don't care!" I almost shouted. "You thought of it, you are a genius!" I patted on his arm, lucky that I had caught it right before the offer slipped in between my fingers.

"Wow," He rubbed his hands over the place where I hit him. "At least you called me a genius. Maybe that's how I have to repay you."

---

A/N: I sprained my leg only a few days back and that inspired me to bring that into this story. I know this acts like a filler, but this development brings the two closer to each other. Don't you think so?