Jack smiled as he stepped off the plane and breathed in a breath of Seaford air before reaching for the railing, grabbing it with his broken hand as he grimaced at the simple touch before grabbing the other side, Milton following behind, holding all the luggage. They stepped off the stairs as Jack sighed, looking at his friend.
"They should be here."
"Yeah. I was sure Rudy was gonna be here."
Just then, they saw their sensei, jumping up and down, holding a sign which read 'Jack and Milton' on it, written in pink sparkles as the two teens laughed, walking over to him.
"I'm so happy you are back!" The man yelled hugging Milton.
"We're glad to be back, but, Rudy, something happ-"
"Enough of that, Jack. Kim and Jerry are waiting in the car, and you know what happens to Jerry if he's in a place for too long." Rudy explained, looking disgusted.
"But Rudy, I-"
"Do you like the sign? I wanted to make it the colors of our dojo, but Kim wanted it to be "girly." Rudy gagged.
"Rudy-"
"Really? Kim said that?"
"Milton!"
"Right, sorry."
"What did you need to tell me, Jack?"
The brunette sighed as he took off his glove, revealing his bandaged hand.
"I broke my hand at the airport and I need you to drive me to the hospital."
"Jack, you know what could happen to your hand-"
"I know! I've been trying to tell you about it for ten minutes!" Jack yelled as he pulled the glove back on, stalking off to the car.
Rudy and Milton followed suit as they saw Jerry in the passenger seat and Kim on the left side.
"Oh good, you're back. I was about to-"
"We know!" The others yelled in frustration.
"Ok everyone, we'll be making a detour, but Milton has his licence and will be happy to drive the others home." Rudy smiled.
"I will?"
"Yes you will!"
Jack rolled his eyes, pressing the side of his head on the edge of the door before Rudy pulled up in front of the hospital.
"Rudy, what are we doing here?" Kim asked as Jack got out.
"Oh, I, um, need a kidney stone removed, and Jack's coming for support." Rudy laughed nervously, slinging his arm around Jack as he hoped they would buy the lie.
"Why didn't you just tell us, Rudy? We can all be you're support!" She smiled as she started getting out of the car as Jack stopped them.
"Ok, Rudy doesn't need a kidney stone removed."
"Then what happened?" Jerry asked.
Jack sighed as he removed his glove, wincing.
"I hurt my hand at the airport in Washington, and Rudy wants me to get it checked out. You guys should go."
"Technically, you can't be taken to the hospital unless it's by a parent or legal guardian-"
"Oh please. I can pull off before Jack's mother if I have to. I've done WAY worse." Rudy explained.
"Yeah, how about if it comes to that, you pretend to be my dad?" Jack suggested, putting back on the glove as Rudy groaned.
"Have it your way, then."
"Well, see ya, Jack." Jerry smiled as he got in the car, Kim grabbing his shirt.
"We're still staying."
"No we're no-" Jerry started, but was stopped by the girl of the group punching him in the stomach as he squeaked. "Ok, guess we are."
The group walked into the building as Jack sat down, sighing and pulling at his glove, Kim sitting beside him.
"How was the trip?" She asked.
"It was good. I got to eat blue meat for the first time."
"That's not true, hun. The meat in the cafeteria is always blue, they just cover it with brown gravy."
Jack fake gagged upon hearing that before she asked another question.
"So why did you get picked for the essay contest anyway? Cause I've gotta be honest, your essay was not that good."
"Oh, well, I-" Jack stuttered, trying to think up a lie as Rudy came over.
"They'll be able to take Jack in a hour."
Before sitting down.
"I wrote a new essay, and pulled my old one out." He lied.
A hour later, they were finally taken in to get some X-rays done, along with a few tests. While the doctor went to get the results, Jack sighed, looking at his friends, smiling.
"Thanks for coming with me. You didn't have to do this."
"I know. I didn't want to. I've been here so long I hacked all the vending machines, did a eating contest, and-"
"We get it!" Everyone yelled as Kim set her hand on Jack's shoulder.
"We're your friends. And you need us right now."
"Could you not say that? It makes me sound like a poor puppy dog instead of a second degree black belt."
Just as Kim was about to say something, the doctor came back in as he showed them the X-rays.
"It wouldn't be that bad if he hadn't had a hand injury prior. But luckily, it can be fixed with a simple surgery, and your hand will be back to normal. Before your first injury normal, and you'll be able to do karate again after you have recovered."
Everyone in the room let out a sigh they didn't know they were holding before Rudy spoke up.
"Doctor, we do have a small problem. Jack's parents are-"
Then Jack's parents, McKenzie and Alex Brewer, burst in, his mother holding onto him as she repeated comforting and supportive words like a mantra while his father started discussing the situation with the doctor, Jack muttering under his breath, only loud enough for Kim to hear as the rest of the students left.
"This is so embarrassing."
Making Kim smile a bit as she left, before Jack grabbed her with his good hand, in a moment of vulnerability.
"Stay with me?"

Part 3 coming soon...
Susz13.