As she finished eating her candy bar the boys came running out of their locker room ready for practice. Bringing up the rear was Coach Stevens and a young man with a frown on his face, and noticeably not in uniform to practice. Nancy waited patiently for them to come to her, verse going to them.
"Nancy, I'm sorry for the delay. Chad was running a little late."
"No problem."
"Chad West, this is Nancy Halliwell, the student I've been telling you about."
"Nice to meet you Chad."
"Sure."
Chad shook her hand then took a step back and looked at his team that was just starting to do some sprints to warm up.
"I've arranged that you guys are going to use that room over there. It's out of the way, and will give you guys the quiet you'll need to get to work."
"Sounds good."
Nancy headed off toward the room the coach had indicated, while Chad continued to stand in one place. Coach Stevens noticed Chad watching the team, and approached him.
"Chad we talked about this, if you want back on the court, then you'll have to do the work. Trust me, she can, and will help. Go on."
Chad left without a word and walked into the room where Nancy was already pulling out a notebook and a pencil. Chad closed the door behind him and took a seat, not even taking out any materials.
"Now Chad if I'm going to help I have to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are."
"What's the use? It won't make any difference. I've been trying really hard for months. I'm just no good at it. I'm stupid at this alright."
"You're not stupid. I've heard how well you do in your other classes. What is it about Algebra that gives you so much trouble?"
"There is just so much to remember. Use this formula for this and that one for that. I can't get myself to understand why. It's not like History or English. In those classes, I just need to memorize what is written. There are no rules to follow."
"Well, there is your first mistake. Tell me, do you plan on getting a Math Major in college?"
"No way."
"Then forget about why, remove it from your vocabulary. All I have to show you is how, you don't need to know why."
"At this point, I'll try anything."
"Good now take out your book let's start at the beginning."
"The beginning?"
"Yes. Don't worry, I'll make it all fit together in no time. You'll be surprised how fast it will make sense."
They got to work taking chapter by chapter. At first Chad thought, they would just cover one chapter, but within the first hour they had three chapters covered, and they actually made sense.
"Good. Now do you understand how the stuff in chapter two ties in with this."
"Yea, I actually do. Let's keep going."
"I don't want to cram your brain with too much stuff all at once."
"Don't worry my brain can take it. I want to be back out there with the team as soon as possible."
"I know you do, but you can't learn it all in one day. Let's focus on the stuff we've covered and then we'll move on tomorrow."
Chad agreed with her and started to work the problems at the end of the chapter. Although he still made some very simple mistakes Nancy could see the wheels turning in his eyes, he was catching more and more of his mistakes without her having to say anything. Their work was interrupted by the door opening.
"Nancy, Chad, I almost forgot about you two, I'm glad I looked in here. Nancy, your cousin Piper is outside going crazy because you haven't showed up yet."
"What time is it?"
"It's almost 6:00 p.m. I was about to lock up when she came in and asked where you were."
"I bet she's freaking out."
As if on cue, Piper came storming into the room completely frantic. She only took a breath when she saw Nancy was alright, then spoke to her in a tone that only a frantic parent would use.
"Nancy, where have you been? I was so worried."
"Piper I'm sorry, I guess we just lost track of time. Chad was doing so well and we've already accomplished so much in one day. We just weren't paying attention to what time it was."
"It's alright, but get your stuff together, I'll meet you outside in a few minutes. Please hurry or Prue will start to worry."
"Start? Tell me a time when Mom isn't worried about me."
Piper smiled and walked out of the room as Nancy started to close up her books and load them into her backpack.
"Was that your sister or something?"
"Or something. I live with her and her sisters."
"Oh?"
"Long story, not very interesting."
"So I guess we'll pick it up from here in study hall tomorrow."
"I can't. I have..."
Nancy stopped herself she really didn't want to think about what she had to do tomorrow, and didn't want to go into detail. Somehow, she knew she would have to anyway.
"Have what?"
"I have to go to Physical Therapy. I go 3 days a week. I leave during my gym period and I don't usually get back until after study hall."
"Oh."
"But listen, I want you to work on the problems on pages 50 and 51. Remember what I said, when you're in class tomorrow, just write down what Miss Bass does on the board. Follow it step by step. Block out the words 'because' and 'why'. Just do it. We'll go over it tomorrow after school."
Nancy closed her notebook and picked it up off the table. She went to reach around and put it in her backpack, but it slipped. She was silently swearing to herself, she just hadn't become coordinated enough to actually get her stuff into the bag each and every time.
"I'll get that for you."
"I can do it myself."
Nancy said sternly causing Chad to freeze in his tracks. When Nancy looked up, she saw a stunned look on Chad's face. She hadn't meant for it to come out so harshly, at least not at him.
"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't mean to snap. It's just..."
"Just?"
"Never mind, just know that I'm sorry. I have to go or my Mom will worry. I'll see you tomorrow, after school."
Nancy left the room leaving Chad standing there very confused. Chad thought that Nancy was a very kind and smart person and he could tell that Nancy had some pain in her eyes; not physical pain, but emotional. He wanted to be her friend. He had never met anyone who just wanted to help, for no other reason then to help. Being so popular most people had a hidden agenda behind every good deed, but not Nancy. She had already done so much for him, he wanted to find a way to help her.
Nancy rolled outside to find Piper standing next to the ramp that would load her into the van. She rolled up to the base of the ramp and stopped.
"Come on Nancy, let's get you in."
Nancy didn't say anything, she just put her hands in her lap allowing Piper to push her onto the ramp and put her in the van. She was highly annoyed at this point and knew if she opened her mouth, she might say something she would regret later.
After getting Nancy into the van, Piper jumped into the driver's seat and took off toward home. Piper could tell something was bothering Nancy, but she didn't want to ask. She thought about making small talk, but every time she tried Nancy would give one word answers, then stop talking. Piper figured they would figure out what was wrong when they got home.
Arriving at home Nancy made no attempt to get out of the van. She simply waited for Piper to lower the ramp, unlock her chair, and push her out to the ramp. Nancy looked up at the stars as the ramp was lowered to the ground, and she was pushed inside the house. Arriving inside she was greeted by a smiling Prue who came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel.
"Hi Nancy, how was school?"
"It was fine Mom, but I have a lot of homework to get started on."
"I'll help you upstairs after you eat something."
"I'm not hungry."
"Well that's just too bad, young lady. You are going to eat."
Prue gave that stern look that only a mother could give then headed into the kitchen Piper hot on her heals.
"Piper, what's wrong with Nancy? She is acting strange."
"I don't know. She was very quiet on the way home."
"Do you think I should ask her?"
"I don't think you should push..."
All of a sudden, they heard a thump like someone had fallen and they ran out to see what had happened. When Piper and Prue walked out of the kitchen, they saw Nancy's chair tipped over, and Nancy laying on the ground at the base of the stairs. Phoebe came running down the stairs, thinking there was a demon attack or something.
"Guys, I was upstairs and heard...oh my, Nancy."
All three girls arrived at Nancy's side almost at the same time. They each began to fuss over her, checking her for any bumps or bruises. Nancy just kept trying to push their hands away, with no success.
"Guys, will you stop! I'm fine. No bruises, and stop looking at my head. I didn't hit it alright!"
"Come on, we'll get you back in your chair."
Before Nancy could say anything, Phoebe put Nancy's chair upright, and Piper and Prue lifted her into it. Once they had her secure in her chair, Prue got that motherly look one more time.
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing. Let's just go and eat."
"Nancy I want you to answer my question. How did you fall out of your chair?"
"It doesn't matter. It happens, you know that, I know that, everyone knows that. Let it go please."
"Alright, but if it happens again, you can tell me, or you can tell Lucy, because I'll take you to the hospital."
"Fine."
Nancy rolled into the dinning room and placed herself at the table. She sat quietly waiting for dinner to be served, then preceded to push her food around with her fork instead of eating it. After fifteen minutes, she had had enough.
"I'm finished. Can I go upstairs now?"
"You didn't even eat anything."
"I'm just not that hungry. I had a big lunch, and I guess I had a few to many candy bars out of the vending machine after school."
"Nancy!"
"Sorry Mom, but may I be excused."
"Sure. Don't worry guys, I'll help her."
Piper answered before Prue could say anymore.
"Piper she needs to eat."
Piper got up from the table and waited till Nancy was at the stairs before she responded to Prue's look.
"I know that Prue, but if we keep pushing you know what is going to happen. Something is on her mind, I'll try and find out."
Walking over to the stairs, Piper put Nancy into the chair lift, tightened the seatbelt then followed Nancy up the stairs. Nancy pushed the button and the lift took her upstairs. When they got to the top, Piper helped her out of the lift and put her into her other chair that they kept at the top of the stairs.
"Nancy, what's wrong? Why are you being so cold?"
"No reason. I'm just...tired, that's all."
"Are you sure? You know you can tell me what's on your mind."
"I know. I'm just stressed, lots of homework to do, mid-terms coming up, tutoring to do."
"You know you could have said no to helping that kid."
"Chad, could you at least get his name right, and no I couldn't have said no. He really needs my help, and I like to help other people."
"Alright, but if you don't get that attitude in check, Prue is going to ground you like you wouldn't believe. Do you need anything else?"
"No. I'm just going to go and do my homework."
"Ok, yell if you need anything."
Nancy waited till Piper had closed her bedroom door, and she knew she was on her way downstairs before she started to pull her books out of her bag mumbling to herself.
"Yea right, ground me. Like I get to actually do things myself. I don't need to be grounded, I'm in a prison already."