"Are you okay?" He eyed my bandage.
"It's nothing."
"Penny." He pushed my bangs out of my face.
"I have a concussion. I needed a few stitches. It's not a big deal. I feel okay now."
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just got so angry when I saw him yelling at you."
"It's okay."
"It's not okay." He put his hand over his mouth again. "I punched you. I'm so sorry. I can't believe I punched you."
"It was an accident."
"I'm so sorry," he repeated. His fingers traced the hem of my tank top. I could tell he wanted to see where he had hit me. But I didn't want him to see the bruise. I didn't want him to feel bad.
"I'm okay."
He shook his head. He pushed my tank top up.
I grabbed his hand. "Don't, Tyler."
"I need to see." There was so much pain in his eyes. I let go of his hand. He pushed my tank top up to my ribcage. "Fuck." He put his hands over his face. "Fuck. Penny, I can't apologize enough. I'm so sorry."
"Tyler, I'm fine. Really, I'm okay." I pushed my tank top back down.
"It really doesn't hurt?"
"Not as much as my head." I tried to laugh. It came out forced.
"Which is also my fault."
"I slipped. It wasn't your fault."
"You slipped because I knocked the wind out of you."
"Tyler." I put my hand on top of his. "Are you okay?"
"You mean my busted up nose? Yeah I'm fine. I kind of deserved it, didn't I? I provoked him enough."
"You both acted stupid. But it was my fault for putting you in that situation."
Tyler shook his head. "I don't regret being with you. Not for a second."
"I don't either."
Tyler sighed. "When you fell I didn't know what to do. I let him take you. I didn't know how to take care of you."
"It's okay."
"I was scared. I was so scared that you wouldn't be okay."
"I'm okay, Tyler."
"He knew exactly what to do. I just stood there like an idiot and watched."
"I wouldn't have known what to do either."
