Prue couldn't help herself she kept glancing over at Nancy to make sure she was doing alright. Every time she looked over Nancy was smiling or laughing with her friends. As the game was winding down and the final 10 seconds were on the clock the whole place went crazy, Baker High was up by twenty points and could not possibly loose.
As the buzzer sounded the crowd in the stands ran out on the court and lifted Chad into the air, the game ball in his hands.
"Put me down guys. Down!"
You could hear him shouting over the crowd. His team mates ran over forcing everyone to put Chad down. The team then made their way toward Nancy.
"Nancy we would like to present you with the game ball. Thanks to all your dedication to this school we were able to win this game. We are forever grateful. Let's hear it for Nancy!"
The noise in the gym increased ten fold. Prue, Piper and Phoebe were trying to get through the crowd with not much success.
"What if they trample her?"
"Prue would you relax, look."
They saw Nancy being lifted in the air by the team with a huge smile on her face, and her cheeks bright red. Nancy never thought she could be so happy and embarrassed at the same time.
"They might drop her!"
"Prue stop worrying you'll get wrinkles. Let's let Nancy have her moment, we'll wait for her outside to arrange when we are going to pick her up."
Prue reluctantly agreed with her sister as they made their way outside the gym heading toward the parking lot. They walked over to the van and leaned against it wondering how long it would be before anyone came outside. They didn't have to wonder long, the kids started filling out still screaming and cheering as loud as they were inside.
"Prue?"
She looked through the crowd of people and was surprised to find Chad running up to them.
"I was hoping to catch up with you before Nancy showed up."
"Hey Chad great game. What can I do for you?"
"I talked with Jill and Sue, and they checked with their parents and said it was alright, if you say it's alright."
"What's alright?"
"Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to drive Nancy home. I know she doesn't get out much, through no one's fault, she just doesn't. I just thought it might be nice if she could spend the night with her friends and be a regular kid, you know what I mean?"
"Yes we do, and while I understand your intentions are good, I'm don't know if I'm comfortable letting my daughter drive in a car with a young man we basically just met."
"Completely understandable, but I do have this for you. It's a copy of my drivers license, as well as my insurance. This is also a copy of my driving record, you can see I've been driving for almost a year and have never had a ticket or accident. That report was just printed last week."
"Do you have your report printed often?"
"Every few weeks. Believe it or not a lot of my friends parents feel the same way, this is my way of showing them that I understand their concerns. I take driving very seriously and would never want someone to feel uncomfortable with my abilities."
"What about Nancy's wheel chair?'
"I have a large trunk, it should fit just fine."
"I see here your fully insured. Maybe I have a better plan."
"Piper?"
"Prue would you be quiet. I know you're her Mom, but we all love her, and want her to be safe, how about this. We take your car to our house and we give you the keys to the van. This way Nancy will be secured in the same way she always is and you won't have to worry about it. Besides Chad drives something way better then this van and I'm sure he understand if anything happens to your baby it may be a while before he gets to see it again?"
"That would be fine. You all are covered fully also I assume?"
"Of course."
"Just had to ask. If I don't I could be held responsible for anything that happens in my car. So does this mean it's alright?"
"Let me talk with Nancy, here she comes now."
Chad turned around to find Nancy, Jill, and Susan strolling up behind them.
"Chad shouldn't be in the locker room with the others? What's going on?"
"Nothing. I just want to talk with you, come over here please."
"I'll come with you Prue."
Piper and Prue pushed Nancy's chair over on the side out of ear shot, Phoebe let out a chuckle as she looked at the expression's on the kids faces.
"Guys relax, with Piper over there I'm sure Prue will give in."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Long story short, our Mom died when we were young I was only three. Prue, being the oldest took on the roll of mother and as I got older and wanted to do things Piper always came to my rescue and I'd say 95 of the time Prue gave in. She's just stubborn when it comes to her kids."
"I didn't know Nancy had any sister or brother."
"She doesn't. Prue has always considered Piper and I her kids she did raise us. Quiet here they come."
"Well we talked it over. I'll agree, but I want you home by midnight no exceptions. If your late there will be repercussions."
"No problem. We'll even leave the dance a little early to make sure we're on time. Besides I have to be home by 12:30 or I lose my driving privileges for a month."
"Wow a whole month!"
"My folks don't mess around. I better get in the locker room, I don't want to smell like this during the dance."
The girls let out a chuckle, Chad was pretty ripe after spending the last few hours running up and down the basketball court. He exchanged keys with Prue and promised once again to be very careful said his goodbyes and headed back inside.
"Nancy we'll just wait with you until you go inside."
"That's alright Mom, I think I can wait with everyone on my own. No one else's parents are hanging around."
Nancy said giving Prue a look that told her 'please don't embarrass me now'. Prue gave Nancy some money and her cell phone, just incase, said goodbye and headed to Chad's car.
"So how long before we can go back inside."
"Not to long, the dance committee is really good, they should have everything set up in no time."
Jill pushed Nancy's chair over to an empty space, which Nancy didn't mind, it was a little tricky trying to get through the crowd of kids. They found a spot against the wall and sat on the ground just talking about the game, and the game ball after the game.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Don't know, guess I'll figure that out later. I should have given it to Mom to take home."
"How come you didn't tell Chad about your family?"
"You mean about that fact that Mom is really my cousin?"
"Yea."
"It didn't seem important, and I don't really know him that well. Most people wouldn't understand, they might think that I'm the product of some kind of inbreeding. It's like an episode of Jerry Springer, my Mother Is Really My Cousin. I'll tell him, just not tonight."
"I think he likes you."
"Right a 16 year old, almost 17 year, boy likes me a crippled 13 year old. Give me a break. "
"Listen first of all your not a cripple, you can do so many.."
"Alright, bad choice of words, let's move on."
"Fine, second Chad came to us with the idea of driving you home."
"Well I'm not going to read into it. I'm just going to enjoy the evening with my friends, and not think about the meaning behind things."
"Alright if you say so."
Before anything more could be said the doors to the gym opened and the students began to file back inside. Jill was right the committee was good. They had light hanging from the ceiling, streamers hanging everywhere, and a DJ already spinning records. The only thing they couldn't do anything about was the smell that all gyms have, sweat, and old shoes.