"Can you lift your left leg?"
Billy closed his eyes and grunted as he attempted to lift his left leg but only made it a little way.
"What about your right leg?"
Billy had about as much luck with his right leg as he had had with his left.
"Well it's not much but its progress." The physical therapist told him, jotting down some notes on her clipboard. "We're going to have to make your legs stronger if you plan to walk again. Are you willing to make that commitment? It will take a lot of hard work and dedication on your part."
Billy nodded. "Whatever it takes to get me walking."
The physical therapist smiled at him. "I like a person who is committed to a cause, who refuses to believe what the doctors tell him."
"Well, the doctors told me there was a CHANCE I wouldn't walk again which I interepted to mean that if I worked hard enough I'd be able to. Anything is possible if you work hard enough for it." Billy told her.
"Do your friends know how smart you are?"
"Oh yeah." Said Billy, laughing. "They tease me about it all the time. I'm actually graduating in four months, a year ahead of my friends."
"I had a friend who graduated early; she was always teased for being a nerd, for being too smart for her own good."
"My friends are always teasing me for how smart I am but it's all in good fun; they tell me every day how proud they are of me."
"You're lucky to have friends who care about you enough to help you out like this, not many people are as lucky."
"I count my blessings every day." Billy told her. "I'd be lost without my friends."
The physical therapist read over her notes then looked back at him. "I'd suggest that you try moving your legs a little at a time each day until they are stronger. Once they get strong enough to work with we can start walking a little bit a day and hopefully meet your goal of walking by graduation." She told him. "Have your friends help you; they can help you get the feeling back into your legs by doing what I did earlier."
"Alright." Said Billy, making mental notes of everything she was telling him.
"Great, then we'll continue this tomorrow." She told him, giving him a wide smile as she left.
Billy chuckled, watching as she left. He knew that she'd been flirting with him but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to flirt back; he just wasn't interested. He'd noticed lately that his attraction hadn't been towards the girls in his school as much as towards the guys – one in particular. Of course if he ever told the object of his affection how he really felt he'd be rejected, he was sure of it.
Angel Grove High – Cafeteria
"Are you absolutely sure you heard what you say you did?" asked Kat as they sat down to lunch.
"Positive." Jason told her. "I heard him calling out Tommy's name when I walked by his room, then when I walked by Tommy's room I heard him calling out Billy's name. It's no coincidence they were calling out each other's names, Kat."
"I just – Tommy was so into Kimberly I can't imagine him being gay." Kat responded.
"Not necessarily gay, he could be bi." Jason pointed out.
"But Billy? I never saw that coming." Tanya spoke up finally.
"I've always thought that Billy was at least bi but it wasn't until Tommy came to town that Billy started acting differently and last night that my suspicions were confirmed." Jason told them.
"What are we talking about?" Adam asked as he and Rocky joined the three.
"Tommy and Billy." Kat told them.
"Oh man, those two so have the hots for each other." Rocky said.
Jason laughed. "This is exactly why we have to get them together." He filled Rocky and Adam in on what he had told Kat and Tanya.
"How do we do that though?" Tanya asked.
All five friends were quiet while they tried to think. Suddenly Rocky snapped his fingers.
"Let Tommy be the one who helps Billy with his physical therapy; it'll bring them closer together."
"The more time they spend together the closer it will bring them." Adam said. "Good thinking Rocko."
"It could work." Jason spoke up. "Except for one thing; Billy's physical therapy is usually in the morning while we're in school."
"Billy will be back in school next week." Tanya said. "So we wait until then."
"After that we let Tommy help Billy." Kat supplied.
"Especially if Billy wants to walk again; if we can get Tommy to admit his feelings for Billy it'll give him more determination to walk again." Adam said.
"It's a good plan." Jason said. "I just hope it works."
