It was time for bed. Helen laughed as she realised she hadn't told her guests where they were sleeping. She had set up sofa bed in the den for Kirsten and Sandy, and extra beds were put in Luke and Kevin's rooms. Helen and Will showed the other couple their beds, and left the teens to their own devices.
Seth, Ryan, Joan and Luke trudged upstairs, followed by Kevin. They assembled in the hallway.
"OK," said Joan, "who wants to sleep where?"
Ryan and Seth looked at each other and shrugged. They eventually decided to do paper, scissors rock. Whoever won slept in Luke's room. Ryan won, and took his stuff into Luke's room. Joan went to bed. Seth followed Kevin into his room.
Seth entered the room, and was slightly amazed at the surroundings. Seth had never personally met a person in a wheelchair, but he guessed their rooms were sterile and uncluttered. The first thing Seth noticed when he stepped into Kevin's room, was that it was really normal. There were posters on his walls, a desk covered in books, magazines and a computer and there was even a miniature basketball hoop. The only difference Seth could pick up were the trapeze over the bed, the low shelving and the huge size of the room to allow Kevin to move around.
Seth guessed he must have had a pretty silly look on his face, as Kevin had to practically slap him over the face to tell Seth he was going to get changed. Seth nodded. He was too scared to speak, but he wasn't sure why. He was never usually short of words.
Fifteen minutes later, Kevin re-emerged into the room. Seth had also gotten changed.
"Don't know about you man, but I'm pooped…Seth?" inquired Kevin.
"What, yeah dude, let's do that tomorrow."
Kevin just laughed, but then gave Seth a very stern expression.
"You don't know do you?" he asked.
"What? Know what?" asked Seth, although he was perfectly aware at where the conversation was going; whatever had happened to Kevin to make him the way he was.
Kevin ignored Seth's comment and just told him anyway.
"Three years ago I was in a car accident with my best friend. He was drinking. He lost control of the car. That's how I ended up like this. And trust me, I was normal before this. I was headed for the major baseball leagues. There, is that better? I know it is for me," he stated.
Seth suddenly felt better. As if some sort of pressure had left him. For about an hour they just spoke about school and work, and by the time they were ready for bed, it was quite late. Seth examined Kevin pull himself into bed. That made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he was glad he knew the reason behind Kevin's misfortune.
Meanwhile, Luke was trying desperately to make conversation with Ryan, but he was doing all the talking. He had figured that Ryan wasn't exactly a talker. Either that or he wasn't too interested about the rate of acceleration theory. Luke went to sleep hoping that Ryan wasn't going to be this talkative for the next two weeks.