Chapter 2

"Oh Santana…are you sure you are up to working today?" Ms. Pillsbury says looking me over. "It's okay if you need today off. I'm sure Dave wouldn't mind staying a little later if I ask."

I try not to frown at her words. Apparently this is her way of saying a look like shit and probably shouldn't work today. I didn't really get a lot of sleep last night. I had another nightmare.

I started having nightmares my first week out of the hospital. During my month in the hospital I was drugged up a lot, so when I went to sleep I was pretty much knocked out. But when I got home my medication was lighter and I found it harder not to close my eyes without seeing headlights. I started losing a lot of sleep. My mom or Noah would stay up with me most nights. I didn't like talking much after the accident so we would just sit in silence. For months I barely got any sleep.

Once my other injuries healed I was able to take something to help me sleep without it interfering with the medication I was taking to help with my recovery. I stopped taking sleep aids five months after the nightmares began. It wasn't a healthy way with dealing with my nightmare or my reality. And for the most part I slept okay. Every now and then I have a nightmare. Last night was one of those nights were the accident hunted me.

"No. I'm okay." A roll my chair out of the way of the entrance. Ms. Pillsbury sighs and nods her head. I give her lazy smile and wheel myself around the store trying to find my buddy Dave. Dave usually fills me in on everything interesting that happened at the books that day and what needs to be done. It's a Saturday. On Saturdays Dave works in the mornings and I work the afternoons. I wish we could work together but he says his sister have weekends off so they have family days. I can't argue with family day.

"Santana!" Dave greets me excitedly. "Hey." He lowers his voice when the person standing the next aisle over shushes him. This place is more like a library than a bookstore. I always loved that about it.

"What's up, man?" I laugh at the giddiness that's playing across his face.

"Guess what my sister surprised me with this morning!" He quickly says sorry to the frowning customers when his voice rises again. "Basketball tickets." He grins. "She said it's for getting straight A's this past semester."

"Oh wow. That's so cool. Who's playing?" I share his excitement. I know Dave works hard in school, so it's great that he's getting this special treat.

Before you know it I'm putting books onto shelves and listening to Dave goes on and on about the basketball game he will be attending in just few hours.

"Finally, I found you." I hear a soft voice say from behind me. "I was surprised you weren't standing at the curb ready to jump into the car and get to the game." I turn my head to see the side of a woman's face. Dave frowns and looks down at his watch.

"Sorry. I just got caught up in telling Santana about the game. It's going to be so awesome." Dave informs the woman that I'm assuming is his sister.

"It's okay."I can see a smile form on her face as she watches Dave gather his belongings.

"Oh how rude of me." He looks over at me. "Santana…this is my sister, Rachel. Rachel, this is Santana." I turn my chair so I can fully face the siblings. My mouth goes dry when get a full view of his sister. She has dark brown hair that stops just below her shoulders and chocolate eyes. Dave is a little taller than her. I imagine if I could stand, I'd be taller than her as well.

"Uh...hi." I finally get my mouth to work.

"Hi! David has told me so much about you!" I can see where Dave gets his enthusiasm. Rachel sticks her hand out and we shake hands.

"Same. Nice to meet you." I pull my hand back and try not to stare at the beautiful woman standing in front of me.

"Gosh David. You didn't tell me she was so shy." Rachel giggles.

"I told you she doesn't talk a lot." He frowns at Rachel. "Anyway can you guys like… catch up later? I don't want to be late for the game, Rach." Dave grabs his bag, waves at me and heads towards the front of the store.

"Nice meeting you again. Maybe we can chat longer at a later date." Rachel beams at me and follows her brother. "Hello and goodbye Ms. Pillsbury." I hear Rachel greet Ms. Pillsbury who is walking towards me.

"I see you've met Rachel." Ms. Pillsbury smiles, "Such a lovely young lady."

"I feel like I've seen her somewhere before." I mumble trying to remember where I could have seen her. Maybe we went to school together. No…that's not right. Dave said they moved here a few years ago. So where in the world…

"Well…have you visited your mom at the University recently?" Ms Pillsbury inquires. My mom works at the local University.

"No. What does that have to do with seeing Rachel?"

"Rachel teaches in the theater department at the University." Ms. Pillsbury informs me. I haven't been on the University campus in a couple of years. Last time I visited my mom at work was a few years back when I came home from school for a three day visit.

"No…I didn't see her there." I shrug.

"Well why you think on it…could you input the information for these books into the computer…"

%^&*&^%

"I can't believe you invited me out for ice cream." Artie gushes. "I feel like we're on a date."

"You would consider getting ice cream a date?" I frown.

"Hey…as long as it's with a hot chick, we could be watching paint dry for all I care." A laugh at the craziness that comes out of my friend's mouth. "You're my hot chick."

"No." I smile at him. "Gay is what I am. Remember? We've talked about this."

"Yeah…yeah…" He waves me off. "So…you need to be my wingman."

"What happened to that blonde that was all over you at my birthday party? Why was she at my party anyway? I don't even know her." I frown.

"I still hang out with Brittany. She's a cool girl."I wait to hear him gush about her but nothing comes.

"That's all you're going to say? Are you guys dating or what?"

"I don't know what we're doing. I invited her to that play I told you about. So I guess we will see what happens from there…"

"Cool. I think she would be good for you." I smile and pat his hand that is resting on the table. "You're a good guy and you deserve happiness."

"Oh…Santana…what has gotten into you?" Artie raises a suspicious eyebrow. "Buying me ice cream, being all nice and stuff…what's up?"

"Nothing. Just having a good week." I smile thinking about rich brown eyes.

#$%^&*)(&

If there is one thing I still haven't gotten use to since being paralyzed, it's asking for help. It kills me to have to have someone go grocery shopping with me or help get a bowl out of the cabinet so I can have cereal in the morning. It's just something I'm not use to.

And because of my stubbornness, it makes doing things like going to the restroom in the middle of the night that more taxing.

Right now I'm sitting in my wheelchair in the bathroom. I've been sitting her for the past three minutes trying to get myself together. My muscles are tense from having to lift my body from my chair to the toilet and back again.

My head whips around when I hear the bathroom door being pushed open. My mother stands in the doorway.

"You okay in here?"

"Yeah. I'm good."

"You know you could have woken me up to help you."

It's been over a year of me having to use my upper body strength to do things. Most of the time, I don't have a problem lifting myself out of my chair. But at night my medicine can make me weak and going to the restroom can be a little difficult at times.

"I don't need help." I say and turn my wheelchair so I can roll past her.

"Santana…"My mom sighs.

"I don't need a lecture. I got this. Please…leave it alone." My mom stares at me for a minute before nodding and walking back down the hall towards her bedroom.

^%&$^%^&

"Santana…are you listening to me?" Dave voice brings me back from the daydream I found myself in while separating the new books that just came in.

"I'm sorry…what?" Dave just grins at me.

"I said we are not going to be working together on Tuesday. Rachel's picking me up from school and then I'm going to one of her shows that night."

"Shows?" I ask confused.

"Yeah…my sister's play has been open for a couple of weeks now."

"The University is putting on a play?" I ask while passing Dave a stack of books to put in the non-fiction pile.

"No, silly. Rachel also does stuff for the community theater. She's a great actress." Dave face lights up with pride while he gushes about his sister.

"That's cool." I smile. All of a sudden I remember where I saw his sister. "Was your sister in that one play…ah…damn what was the name of it..." I huff out frustrated with my memory.

"Enchanted. Yeah. She was the lead."

Well hot damn.

"I saw her in that. She was great!" Good thing the store is kind of empty or people would be complaining about my loud voice.

"You should come see this show. She's not the lead but she still has a great part and…"I love Dave but sometimes the kid can talk for hours.

My thoughts turn back to Rachel. It's funny how I remember being enchanted by her during the play. I thought she was a pretty girl then, and now after having met her…I think she's beautiful.