festered

This was awkward.

It just didn't seem right to be laying around the bed that Ellie was suppose to sleep in with Kyle sitting on her butt while she was on her stomach and Eric was watching.

"Stop squirming," Kyle said holding the pocket knife near the red festered spot on her back.

"I can't." Ellie flinched.

"It looks ugly," Kyle mentioned.

"He's right, it does." Eric grimaced, staring too. "Just be still."

"I don't want you to do it." Ellie shut eyes, tightly. Kyle's weight was stifling. "Go, find your Mom."

"But-"

"Just do it. I don't care. I'd much rather have a professional thank you," Ellie looked back at Kyle then Eric. "Either of you."

"All right," Kyle got up. Finally Ellie felt she could breath. "But she might ask questions, I haven't said one word about any of this."

Ellie just looked at Eric then who was definitely keeping mum. "I guess I should go watch TV or something." He gave Ellie a small kiss on the forehead. "Don't worry, you'll be fine, and you're really good at making something up."

"Thanks, I guess." She sighed. Is that what he thought of her? One of her many talents. White lies and finding dangerous places to have sex.

After he left, she wondered then what she would say to Kyle's mother. She sort of knew her, but that was before Dad made his move, or was it? She tried not to think about it. She laid there on her stomach wishing this part would go away. But then his mom came into the room.

"Are you all right?" She looked concerned. Her dark hair was all pulled back away from her face and she really did have on her nurse stare, all matter of fact.

"I guess. I'm not sure," Ellie fidgeted a bit.

"Lets see what's going on?" She took a look at the splinter. "How did this happen?"

"Just..just..I don't know when it happened." Best to leave Eric out of it. "I mean, today, I guess."

"Where do you think it happened?"

"The barn. I guess."

"You and Eric were gone for an awful long time, weren't you? We couldn't find you." Kyle's Mom said. Ellie wanted to say she didn't think it was an awful long time, was it. Twenty minutes, tops. She guessed. Maybe it was longer. It wasn't like it was hours. Was it?

"We weren't gone that long." Ellie shrugged.

"We kept calling out for you guys," she said. "You were in the barn?"

"Yes." Ellie sighed. Was she getting a mental picture or something?

"Oh." She prodded at the splinter then.

The pain was sharp and agitating.

"Are you sure that was a good idea? The barn?"

"Hayloft, actually." Ellie squinted more.

"And were there any precautions involved?"

Ellie gritted her teeth. Were they talking about what Ellie thought they were talking about?

"Yes." She managed to say with her eyes still shut.

"And you still managed a splinter?" She showed Ellie the speck of wood now on the end of her finger. "I think some Neosporin will do the trick. I see Kyle put that on already, but you could use some more." She dabbed a bit more on then to the infectious spot.

"Thanks." She looked back at Kyle's Mom. What was she suppose to call her?

"No problem." And with that, she left the room.