After Jay and Emma left (and I tried not to crack up because Emma looked almost constipated), the heat suddenly cranked on, Raditch's revenge maybe, but Ellie taking off that baggy black sweater to reveal a red tank top which showed off her assets made it all worth it. She almost caught me staring, but fortunately I played it like I was looking at the "Costume Dance" poster behind her cause Ellie could definitely kick my ass. She pulled out some sort of sketchbook and although I wanted to go over there and start up a conversation I had no idea what to say and was honestly pretty intimidated by this redhead. She was like the anti-Hazel. "Come on Manning," I said to Craig as I pulled out a basketball from my bag, "Let me show you how to get schooled!"

"Oh you, think so, Mr. Brooks? You couldn't beat me if you tried"

"What, you saying you can't be beat by a cripple?" He froze, obviously embarrassed,

"No, dude, I-I" he stammered.

I burst out laughing, "Do you honestly think I'm that sensitive, I lost the ability to move my legs not my sense of humor. You shoulda seen the look on your face," I put the wastebasket on a shelf as a surrogate hoop. We checked the ball and I quickly stole it from him, shot and with a whoosh it was a 3-0. Soon it was 12-0 and I decided to front him a few points to make it a little interesting. He shot the ball and it bounced off the shelf, almost hitting Ellie in the stomach but instead knocking all my shit to the floor. She began to pick it up; and although I was grateful she didn't read my notebooks full of stupid doodles that Spinner and I did ages ago before he you know, was indirectly responsible for my chair, she stopped when she saw my sketchbook. I wheeled over there as she picked it up

"Listen, El, those are kind of private..." I said as I tried to grab it from her.

"Come on Jimmy, I already know about the steroids, what more do you have to hide?" She opened it to the pages of my last memories when I had legs, the ones of Rick pointing a gun at me and the shot going off. The only colors I used were black and white; it was like watching an old horror movie, with me as the victim. We both were silent just looking at them, Craig realizing that we might need a second, just walked out of there (probably a favor for many a night he spent on my couch with Manny).

"Wow, Jimmy, these are really, really amazing. They're so powerful, so dark. I had no idea you could do this kind of stuff," she sounded so surprised.

"Yeah, Jimmy Brooks has other interests besides sports. Who would have guessed?" I said, only half-kidding and started to turn around. I knew that I was taking my anger out on being stuck in the chair, and at Spinner but whatever, save it for Freud.

"Jimmy," she said, turning to face my back. "Wait-"

"Whatever, Ellie, Go back to drawing anime or whatever you do."

"Listen," she said, putting her hand on my shoulder. That touch made me shiver a little, and it was G-rate. God, I am immune to the power of woman, "I didn't mean to offend you. I think these are so staggering, I just you know, saw you as sport-o and you're obviously so much more than that. You know, we box people in Jock. Goth (she pointed to herself). Manwhore. Delinquent. Prude. Princess. Rebel. And sometimes when they show us that they actually have more depth then we give them credit for it's like whoa, how is this possible?" She smiled and looked contemplative. Now these are statements Hazel would never say. "So can I tell you a secret about myself?" she smiled all mischievously.

"How can I say no?" She pulled me close and then gave me the fieriest kiss ever. Hey cripple, you done good.

I opened my eyes while not pulling back to see Craig in the doorway staring us, and he almost looked hurt. Whatever, he's had his fun, now it's my turn.