Chapter 1:
It was an accident, fate even. I was lost in yet another book, trying to get to my next class in the crowded high school hallway. I'm normally really good at walking and reading while staying out of everybody's way and making it safely to my next class. But today, it seemed so fast that I didn't even notice the football coming towards me, nor the boy that knocked me down.
"Ow," I moaned as the weight of the boy crushed me. "Oh my God, are you okay?" The boy yelled jumping off me in seconds. "Yeah, I think so." I said. "Here give me your hand." He said. He helps me up and it was then that I realized the agonizing pain coming from my ankle as I try to stand. "OW!" I whimpered falling back down. "What! What's wrong?!" the boy yelled in a panic. "My ankle, I think it's broken." I said. "Wait here, I'll go get a teacher." He yelled running away. Minutes later he came back with Mr. McCall, the football coach.
"I didn't see her, she just came out of nowhere uncle Scott and I think I broke her ankle." I heard the boy frantically telling his uncle. "Here give me a hand Andrew and we'll get her to the nurses." Mr. McCall said "Boys! Pick up her things and follow us to the nurse, then get to class!" He yelled angrily at the other football players. "Are you okay?" He asked. "It's just my ankle." I whispered as I put my arm around their shoulders and they helped me hobble to the nurse.
As we walked in, the nurse jumped out of her seat and rushed over. "What happened?" She asked. "I accidently bumped into her and we fell over. When I tried to help her up, she said something about her ankle." Andrew rushed out. "Andrew, stay here with…" Mr. McCall trailed off not knowing my name. "Elaine" I said. "Andrew you stay here with Elaine and explain to the principal what happened. If I find out you left, 50 laps around the football field." Mr. McCall said with anger clear in his voice. "Yes sir." Andrew said, clearly aware of the trouble he was in.
"Mrs. Johnson, we have two kids in here that had an accident." Miss Anne, the nurse, said into the phone. The principal was there in seconds. The office wasn't that far and she always tried to avoid things like this. "What happened?" She rushed out. "I accidently bumped into her and we fell over and I guess my weight broke her ankle." Andrew said. "Anne, why don't you call Miss Alva's mother?" Mrs. Johnsons said. "Mr. Anderson how about you explain to me how you accidently bumped into Ms. Alva?" She said. My mind wandered away from whatever he was going to tell her. Andrew Anderson? What a name. Why would his parents name him something so close to his last name? Odd. I just caught the end of what Andrew was telling Mrs. Johnson.
"…She was reading…she wasn't paying attention." He Said. "Excuse me!" I said offended that he was saying that it was entirely my fault. "Don't blame this all on me! Do I have to remind you of the football that hit my head?! Or the fact that you were backwards when you fell on me! Yes I was reading but this is not entirely my fault Mr. Andrew Anderson!" I nearly yelled, anger evident in my voice. "So, now that we have this settled, Mr. Anderson you will assist Ms. Alva to class in until her ankle is better, but for now go to class." Mrs. Johnson said. My mom came not too long after that. "I'm so sorry, Elaine." Andrew said, as he left to go back to class. My mom walked in looking panicked. "Oh my gosh! Elaine, are you okay?" My mom's worried voice asked. "I'm fine, it's just my ankle really hurts." I said. "That's good." Said my daddy's voice, "Come here baby girl, and I'll get you into my truck and bring you to the emergency room." He said putting his arm around my waist. "I'll follow y'all in my car." My mom said grabbing my bag and my book.