Note: sorry i have been so late with this chapter I've been out of town all weekend. I promise I'll try and put up a chapter a week if I can.
I stare blankly at the school. I see people pull up in the cars step out, grab there bags and walk to the entrance. There are many people just waiting outside in clusters talking. I see many people run up to each other and hug. Everyone is getting back from the thanksgiving holiday. Yes we get two weeks off for thanksgiving/ fall break. Everyone seems so normal just as it was before we left, but I'm not the same. Mom did send me to a physiologist but I didn't need it. That night in the hospital was the only time I got really angry. Don't get me wrong I do get very frustrated when I try to do things I could normally do but now can't. But I don't need any physiological help I'm fine. I have accepted my illness.
I flip down the visor and open the small mirror hidden inside. I try and brush my hair out a little bit but it's not working. I have a bald patch where they put the staples in. I open up the glove apartment and grab a beanie and put in on to try in cover up my hair. This looks better than being 1/4th bald. I look one last time and let out a big sigh.
"I'm ready" I say looking at mom. She nods her head and gets out of the car. She goes to the trunk and gets my chair. She comes around and helps me in.
"Do you want me to come in with you? I mean I have already talked to the office and they have told all your teachers and they said they have everything situated, but if you still want me to come in" She says. I kind of do but know that she is late for her first job. Since the accident she had to get two jobs to help pay for all my medical stuff and the bills. If I look close enough I can she the dark bags under eyes showing how tried she actually is.
"Mom haven't I told you that I'm a big strong man, I can handle this"
"Okay sweetie" she bends down and kisses my head. I roll up the handicap ramp and wheel around. I see mom wave her hand and drive off. I make sure my backpack, which is hanging from the handles on the chair, is secure. I wheel around and begin to roll to the school.
Half way to the stairs/ handicap ramp everyone begins to notice me. I try to not to notice but the stares are overwhelming. Out of the corner of my eyes I see my friend starting to approach me. I start to slow down so he could catch up.
"Hey man" my friend Erick says.
"Hey" I say kind of out of breath. Hey wheeling a chair is hard working for long distances.
"What's up?"
"Don't you mean what's down?" I say gesturing to the chair. Erick begins to look sad.
"I'm sorry I didn't..."
"It's all cool, I'm still me just without these" I say slapping my hands on my thighs. At that same moment the bell rang. Everyone started to walk to the front double doors.
"You want me to wheel you up?" I shook my head to say yes. In another situation I would of said no. I don't want people to think that I can't help myself. But I am so tried just rolling from the car to the edge of the ramp. He takes the handles and wheels me up. At the top he tries to pop a wheelie.
"Stop it asshole!" I say but laugh as I'm saying it. He laughs too. I take my wheels and start to wheel myself.
"Where is everyone else?" I say. I was implying to our friends. They're always with him in the morning. Other than Erick I have four more friends. Rich, Allie, Minnie, and Mark.
"Before school detention" before the break everyone got caught smoking in the girls bathroom. Erick is president of the school so they didn't charge him and I got off the hook because...well you know.
When we finally hit homeroom we see all our friends sitting down. I take one big deep breath and roll in. Everyone instantly gets quiet and stares. I try not the mind but it really is killing me. The classroom is set up like one in the movies. Two whiteboards in the front and four rows of chairs. I roll straight for the teacher's desk because they now have to assign me a new place to sit.
"Mr. Scott where would you like me to sit?" I say. He glances over and quickly stumbles to his feet.
"Ben... I... Um... Glad you see you're doing well. If you don't mind can you sit in the back?" He says pointing all the way to the back table now turned to face the board. I start to wheel myself down the right row. Everyone is staring at me now.
"Ben" I look all the way down the row to see Minnie. She is one of my close friends. She has blond hair and blue eyes. I could just swim in those eyes all day. She face is gorgeous. Perfect delicate jaw line and flawless skin. Her skin looks as if the sun has just kissed it. The only problem I have with her is that she is my best friend. We have been best friends since we were babies. Before she was beautiful and had big glasses that didn't fit her face, bucked teeth, and frizzed out hair. But in the last year or two some kind of magic happened and now she's beautiful. I've been starting to develop feelings for her but I push them aside for fear we might loose our friendship. When I finally get to her I stop.
"Hey Mins" I say.
"I missed you. I really wanted to come to see you but I couldn't. The divorce is getting real nasty"
"It's cool" I say looking down in my lap. I was really hoping that she would come over or at least text me.
"Hey what if we hang out today after school?"
"Yeah that sounds good" I look up and smile. She smiles back at me.
"I'll just bring you home" I say
"Alright"
"Leave me alone dad!" I instantly regret it as soon as I say it. "I didn't mean that I'm sorry" I say turning my face away from Dean.
"It's okay kiddo" he says. He sits down on the edge of my bed. "It would be an honor if I was your dad. You see I never had a real dad just a father. He treated me like crap and you know what I let him. When I was younger I knew I was never going to be like him and I swore if I had children they would never be like him. Right now you are the exact opposite of him and that is why I love you more than I love my own father, it would be and honor if I was your dad. I'm not trying to say that I am but I..." He didn't finish. I turned around and looked at him with big hot tears in my eyes. I could finally see him clearly now. He had a perfect jaw line lined with stubble. He had freckles that seemed to lightly splatter over his face. His nose seemed to fit him perfectly, not too big or too small. His hair was brown, not too dark or light. It looked as if it had been gelled up at the top but I know he doesn't believe in "girl" products.
I leaned in and hugged him and he hugged back. I could tell my tears were starting to stain his shirt but I didn't care...
"Ben what is the answer to number 5?" The teacher woke me up. I had fallen asleep in math class. The class turned around and started to look at me. I fumbled with my papers trying to figure out where my homework was.
"7" Erick whispers to me.
"7" I say. The whole class starts to laugh. Wait I'm in English not Math.
"Sorry if my class seems to bore you but next time if you stay wake you might just pass one of my test" the teacher says. The whole class snickers. He turns around and proceeds on with calling out homework.
"Thanks asshole" I whisper to Erick.
"Dude you know I had to do it" I says laughing again. I couldn't help but smile.
Then it hits me all at once. Scenes flying in my head so fast I have to clutch on the side of my desk to stay grounded. Dean! We had a life with him. I whole year he lived with us. He was a hunter. He was moms boyfriend. He was my dad.
I quickly take my pencil and try my best to sketch his face. I'm not the best artist but I can sure try. After his face is done I start to sketch this star looking thing with a sun around it. I know it's one of his tattoos. Once I'm done with that I begin to write his name Dean ... I can't think of his last name. Dean what?!
RING RING RING RING RING
That was last period the day is now over. I can finally hang out with Minnie but I still can't get Dean out of my head. When I finally get to the front doors I meet up with Min. I smile at her and she smiles back. I look out in the parking lot for mom and find her immediately. When we finally get to the car mom steps out side and tries to help me in but I dismiss her. I can't have my mom help me in when my best friend is right there especially since she's hot. I get in the best way possible.
"Hey Minnie is going to hang out with me this afternoon" I say to mom in the car. Minnie opens the back door and slides inside.
"Hey Ms. Lisa"
"Hey sweetie" mom says and starts the head home.