Jean was safe at home after the incident, her mental and physical state was sub-par, Jean wouldn't be soaking in the bathtub or climbing high places anytime soon.
She was glad to be home again couped up in her aunt's arms. Scott, her older brother thrust his hands into his pockets with a glum look.
"The next time you plan on dying, leave a note" He growled, right again after warning her several times not to take that chance but George had insisted they try it for the first time.
Jean gave him a sad smile, he was intelligent but not the best sympathizer, he would be moping while she got her parents' attention for the rest of the week or months.
Martin and Gigi had left town on a trip to Florida while their aunt looked after them, usually being the brooding teenagers, they would protest about being able to look after themselves but Aunt Etta was a pleasure to be with.
She was a nurse at the small infirmary that had developed into a building, labeled St Gerrard's.
Jean glanced at the bathroom door, her heartbeat as Scott's eyes moved to the same target, soon, they were struggling to get there first.
She reached out for the door and Scott being the physically potent one rammed her against the wall with his shoulder, he cackled when he got in and the jet stream came on.
She sank clutching her shoulder in discomfort "Aunt Etta!"
She yelled for her attention, knowing Scott, he would take longer in the shower on purpose.
Etta emerged from the kitchen with a frying pan to pour a generous portion of eggs into two dishes.
Jean gave her a pleasant smile anxious to dig in, procuring the one with the biggest volume.
At least she beat him to breakfast.
Sticking out her tongue at Scott when he came out with a towel wrapped around his waist, he was streaming with water and there was a puddle at his feet.
He shrugged "I don't even like scrambled eggs"
Aunt Etta snapped her fingers
"Chop chop, the food's getting cold" She had a New York accent, despite living in North Carolina for the ten years since we moved from Manhattan, she sustained hers. Etta checked her watch and rubbed her temple
"I swear I'm gonna cry if your mother finds out"
Jean couldn't help giggling at that, she got her work bag from the table already in uniform.
"Wait, aren't you going to drive me to school?"
She was leaving earlier than she usually did at 6:30 am when she would drop Jean at school after the 15-minute drive before she reached the hospital.
"There's only one doctor in the office right now and he needs a hand with the minor inpatients"
She waved goodbye and took off, Jean's mouth dropped when the car backed out of the driveway.
Which meant, she had to ask Scott to drive, her parents got him a car and ever since, he's been cheap lately. If Jean needed a lift, she would have to do two of his chores which were taking out the garbage and making sure they were outside so the trash pickup could see them.
That was only one of it, the second was gross shopping and the groceries had to be in bulk. To top it off her chores were the real backbreaker.
She hurried to her bedroom to find the passes, she was out.
"Scott!"
He was at the counter scraping eggs off his plate with a grimace.
"What are you whining about now?"
"Drive me to school"
"Sure"
She winced at his response, she already had a litany of reasons in her head.
"Is there a catch?"
She smiled when he didn't reply, hurrying to freshen up, she brushed her dark brown hair and sported a white jacket, black vest, and denim pants with sneakers, there was no time to pick out outfits.
She hurried to make sure he didn't pull a fast one, surprised again when he took a mouthful of flapjack and grabbed his keys.
The drive was smooth, with no undue stops, no loud rap music. She climbed out and looked at him for a second, hoping the body snatchers weren't in town, he gave a quick salute and drove off.
...
George pulled out a textbook from where she stood by the fountain with a smile, admiring him, he was reaching on six feet after hitting a growth spurt a few months ago, in a blue sweater and grey tweeds.
He groaned feeling at the scar on his forehead on the mirror where he saw her reflection, his lips upturned.
"Jean"
She giggled when he grabbed her placing a kiss on her temple.
"I'm so stupid," He said with regret, stroking her hair.
Jean assessed his face, his blond hair that he had been trying to put down went out of place again.
He grinned showing her the scars on her arms and legs, she couldn't breathe.
"This is terrible" Those scars wouldn't be going away anytime soon.
"It's only a memo not to ever go gliding again"
"Better if it were a tattoo"
She purred reaching up to kiss him, he dipped his head to get a better hold on her lips, smiling against hers, he was the luckiest person alive to have been linked with her.
"You were so brave"
He grinned, proud to have left a good impression on her.
Scarlett rolled her eyes clutching her book, she cleared her throat.
"Get a room you two. Final year, remember?"
Jean turned and they hugged
"That's exactly what I said when you joined the AV club"
Scarlett knew how to use a camera, she was virtually a good shot and took great photos, she wore a beret, black sweater with white tracks, and red slacks.
"Haha," Scarlett North said with sarcasm. "I wish, my mom said she's speculating on cleaning out the basement so I can set up a dark room for my equipment"
"That's good news"
"Speculating" She pointed out drily and pulled popped a lolly into her mouth.
They were in just a year from graduating and the pressure was about to commence, the bell was a few minutes from ringing.
George groaned "Have to get to class, later."
Jean stared on dreamily at him while he left and Scarlett sighed then brightened up.
"Hey, you didn't ask about the hero who saved you last time, he's a real hunk"
Jean scoffed "You make it sound like I'm entitled to date him or something"
George overheard that and he was beginning to have misgivings, he turned back to meet them.
"Coming through, I forgot my pen." he squeezed in between them to fetch it, which he already had in his back pocket, Scarlett pulled it out and shook it.
"Thanks"
Scarlett stopped Jean from talking till George was outside earshot.
"Who is he?" She raised the question, full of curiosity.