I own none of the characters of October Road or the song I'll Walk by Bucky Covington
We were 18, it was prom night. We had our first big fight. She said "Pull this car over". I did and then I told her, "I don't know what you are crying for". I grabbed her hand, as she reached for the door.
She said, I'll walk. Let go of my hand. Right now I'm hurt, and you don't understand. So just be quiet. And later we will talk. Just leave, don't worry. I'll walk.
It was a dark night, a black dress. Driver never saw her, around the bend. I never will forget the call, or driving to the hospital, when they told me her legs still wouldn't move. I cried, when I walked into her room.
She said, I'll walk. Please come and hold my hand. Right now I'm hurt, and I don't understand. Lets just be quiet, and later we can talk. Please stay, don't worry. I'll walk.
I held her hand through everything. The weeks and months of therapy. And I held her hand and asked her, to be my bride. She's dreamed from a little girl, to have her daddy bring her down the isle. So from her wheelchair, she looks up to him and smiles.
And says, I'll walk. Please hold my hand. I know that this will hurt, I know you understand. Please daddy don't cry. This is already hard. Let's go, don't worry. I'll walk.
"Great." Seventeen year old Eddie Latekka mumbled under his breath as the bell rang. He had a presentation due today and his partner in the project is never late and she never missed school and for that simple fact she was the one who was holding onto their project and now she wasn't here and his grade was going to suffer for it.
"Where's your wife Latekka?" Tad Harmon taunted from behind him.
"Bite me Harmon." Eddie grumbled.
"My wife is right here." Tad slung his arm around Eddie's girlfriend Rory.
"Just remember Tad this is all pretend." Rory pushed Tad's arm off her shoulder. "There is no way in hell Eddie would ever marry Janet Meadows. Eddie is mine." To prove her point Rory leaned stood and kissed her boyfriend firmly on the mouth.
"All right. Everyone take your seats." Mr. Collins announced, walking in the classroom. He waited a minute for the class to calm down.
"Aww did your wife leave you?" Tad continued to taunt.
"Please. Janet will never get anyone as good as Eddie in real life so trust me when I say that she wouldn't leave him. She's going to milk this pretend marriage for all it's worth cause as soon as this project is over she has to return to her sad, boring life." Rory said with a grin.
"Will you two back the hell off Janet?" Eddie snapped. Their comments were pissing him off.
"Seems like Latekka is sensitive about his wife." Eddie clenched his fist and turned around glared at Tad.
"Mr. Harmon, Ms. Dunlap, since you two are so eager to talk you two shall be my first presenters." Mr. Collins said and Eddie snorted.
It was fourth period and Eddie was in his Life Skills class, a requirement for all juniors at Knights Ridge High School. This class basically was teaching the students how to live on their own. They were taught how to balance a check book, make and live off of a budget and other "adult" tasks. The second semester began with marriage. They were randomly assigned partners; Mr. Collins had two bins, one full of male student names and one full of female student names and he picked names and just like that the students were married.
Most of the other students in the class didn't take the assignment seriously but like all of his classes Eddie took this class seriously, mainly so he could keep his car. When Eddie turned sixteen his parents bought him a car and paid for his insurance and would continue to do so as long as he kept his grades up. If he got a C in any class the car would be gone and Eddie valued his freedom and car too much to risk losing either so Eddie worked hard at maintaining A's and B's while playing football, basketball and baseball and working part-time on Saturday's at the local grocery store stoking shelves.
When they were first told about the marriage assignment Eddie's girlfriend was thrilled about the assignment because she was convinced that she and Eddie were going to be paired up and Rory said it would give them a glimpse into their future because she was convinced that one day they would really be married. Eddie wasn't all for that. He was too young to seriously think about marriage. When he and Janet were assigned as partners most of the class snickered, Janet hung her head in embarrassment while Eddie glared at the class. He then went and sat next to his "wife." He didn't mind being paired up with Janet. They have always had classes together and he thought that she was a sweet girl. She was very shy but he always managed to get her to talk and laugh. She was a good student who had helped him out a few times with tutoring in English and biology so he knew she would take this assignment seriously unlike his fellow classmates and they would get a good grade.
"Hello wife."
"Look Eddie if you want another partner, Rory for example, I can talk to Mr. Collins and see if we can switch. I'm…"
"It's all good Janet. I don't want another wife." She lifted her head and gave him a small smile. "I think that this is the start of a beautiful marriage." He flashed her a cocky grin and she giggled.
"Eddie can you hang around for a minute?" Mr. Collins asked when the bell rang. He figured that he wanted to talk to him about making up his presentation since he didn't present. Mr. Collins never called on him.
"Yes sir." As soon as the classroom cleared out Mr. Collins shut the door. Eddie knew it was serious.
"I was told this morning that Janet won't be returning to school this semester so you're going to have to continue this marriage assignment on your own." Eddie was barely listening. He stopped after he Mr. Collins said that Janet wasn't coming back to school. "I have reprinted all of the information about your marriage that you have been given so far because I am assuming that Janet has all of that information. You need to review this information and be prepared for your presentation tomorrow."
"Why isn't Janet coming back to school?"
"She was involved in a very serious car accident."
"Is she…okay?"
"I don't have any specifics. You should probably get to your next class before you are late."
"Yes sir." Eddie grabbed the papers from Mr. Collins and walked out of the room.
"Are you in trouble?" Rory asked him as soon as he stepped out into the hall. "What did he want?"
"Janet has been in a bad car accident." He told her.
"So?"
"She is hurt so bad that she isn't coming back to school."
"So?" Rory repeated.
"Are you really that much of a bitch that you don't care that someone we know has been hurt?" Eddie asked in disbelief.
"I'll send her a card."
"You are unbelievable."
"Fine. I'll go visit her. It always makes the un-cool kids feel better when a cool kid visits them."
"Wow." The bell rang. "Great now I'm late." Eddie ran away from his girlfriend and into his next class.
Eddie made it through the rest of the day and basketball practice thinking of his friend in the hospital. He was so disgusted with Rory that he stayed away from her. When he told other people about Janet's accident they actually displayed sympathy which was more then he could say about Rory. After basketball practice he royally pissed off Rory when he told her he was going to the hospital to check on his friend but he didn't care. He needed to see his friend.
"Hey sweetheart? What do I owe this visit?" Eddie's mom asked. She was a nurse at the hospital and Eddie stopped on her floor.
"Hi mom." Eddie leaned down and kissed his mom's cheek. "How is your day?"
"What do you want?" Vanessa Latekka knew her son and she knew that he wanted something.
"Can't a guy stop in and see his mother?"
"Not you. You are either in trouble or you want something so spill it."
"My friend she was in an accident and I want to check on her."
"And you want her room number?" Eddie nodded. "You could have gotten it the information desk."
"I know but I did want to see you." Vanessa went to a computer.
"What's her name sweetheart?"
"Janet Meadows." Vanessa looked at her son.
"She is on this floor." Vanessa worked on the orthopedic floor but Eddie just assumed that Janet had a broken leg or arm.
"What room?"
"6714 but you…"
"Thanks mom." Before Vanessa could say anything else Eddie was gone, in search of room 6714.
Janet was lying in her hospital bed staring at the wall. Her parents had gone to the cafeteria for dinner taking her sister with them and leaving Janet alone with her thoughts; thoughts of the accident and thoughts of her bleak future.
It was Friday night and Janet was on her way home from the movies. She had met her friends Taylor and Nicole at a theatre in Mission Flats. After the movie the girls went their separate ways Taylor and Nicole went to Taylor's dad's house who lived in The Flats Janet had been invited but she had to work the next morning so Janet drove home by herself. She was about twenty minutes outside of The Ridge when another car cut into her lane and hit her head on. Her car flipped over three times but thankfully Janet lost consciousness as soon as the car hit her so she doesn't remember the flipping, the Jaws of Life prying her out of her car, the trip to the hospital or the surgery she had to endure. She didn't remember anything until she woke up on Saturday morning and was told that she would probably never walk again.
Janet heard a knock on her door but she ignored it. She didn't want to see anyone. Nicole and Taylor had come by to visit but she refused to see them. She wanted to be left alone. She didn't even want her parents or sister to see her like she was but she couldn't get rid of them. Janet heard the door open but she didn't even turn her head.
"Hello wife." Eddie greeted and Janet was shocked. He was the last person she expected to come and visit her.
"Please go away. I'm not in the mood for visitors." She mumbled.
"But I'm not just a visitor. I'm your husband."
"No you're not. It's a stupid class assignment."
"Come on Janet. I heard about your accident and I was worried about you. Are you okay?" Eddie slowly walked over to the hospital bed.
"No I'm not."
"What happened?" He didn't see any casts on her limbs.
"I can't remember the accident. The cops said the guy who hit me was drunk. He hit me head on and the cops said my car flipped three times." Janet finally turned to look at him and when she did there were tears rolling down her face.
"What happened to the other driver?"
"The drunk?" She asked bitterly and Eddie nodded. "A broken leg, a few broken ribs and a concussion."
"Of course." Eddie grabbed the box of tissues and handed it to her. "What about you? I heard that you aren't coming back to school. What's wrong?" Janet didn't answer him. "You can tell me." He encouraged.
"My back is broken and the doctors said that I probably won't ever walk again." She whispered as her tears fell again.
"Janet…I'm sorry." He reached out and took her hand and she let him hold it.
"I'm only seventeen and I'm going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair." Janet was crying softly and Eddie didn't know what to do so he just held her hand until she calmed down.
"You said the doctors told you that you probably won't walk again right?" Janet nodded. "So that means that there is a possibility that you could walk?"
"I guess."
"Let me help you."
"How can you help me?"
"I've been through physical therapy when I busted my knee freshman year and my mom is a nurse on this floor so I know all about physical therapy. I can help you through it."
"Thank you but no. You don't have to."
"I feel like I should. I am your husband after all." Suddenly, Janet's eyes widened.
"Oh God, our presentations were due today. I'm so sorry Eddie."
"You're in the hospital for crying out loud. Don't be sorry." Just then the door opened and Janet's parents and her sister walked in.
"Who are you?" Vincent Meadows asked Eddie.
"I'm Eddie Latekka." Eddie held out his hand but her dad ignored it.
"Why are you here?" Vince was very protective of his daughter.
"He is my friend and he came to visit me. Lay off dad."
"Sorry."
"Eddie these are my parents and my sister Jeanette."
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Meadows." This time Janet's parents shook his hand. "Jeanette I've seen you at school. Aren't you in the same grade as my sisters, Carrie and Rachel?"
"Yeah. I have classes with both of them even though no one can tell which one is which."
"Tell me about it. Try living with them. I've known them their whole lives and I still can't tell them apart."
"Eddie's sisters are twins." Janet explained to her parents.
"I figured."
"Look I should go. Is there anything that I can do?"
"My homework. Can you bring me my homework? Would you mind?"
"Janet honey, you don't need to worry about school right now." Evelyn told her daughter.
"I need to worry about school mom because if I don't worry about school then all I'm going to think about is not walking and I can't do that."
"Ok honey. Whatever you want."
"I will bring your homework tomorrow after basketball practice okay?"
"Thank you." Eddie gave Janet's hand a squeeze.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Janet nodded because there was a lump in throat and she was on the verge of tears and if she spoke she would cry. She couldn't believe that Eddie Latekka was being so nice to her. He offered to help her through her rehab and he probably meant it right now but she knew she it wouldn't last. As soon as the sympathy that he was feeling for her ran out she would be alone and in a wheelchair.
"Come on Janet. You can do it." Eddie told her. Janet was at her physical therapy appointment and Eddie was there with her, cheering her on from the sidelines.
A week after Janet's accident Eddie and Rory broke up. Hearing and seeing how Rory reacted to Janet's accident opened his eyes to how self absorbed and downright mean she was. Eddie knew that he couldn't be with anyone like that. He was the popular guy who liked everyone. In fact, he was the guy who defended his fellow classmates against bully's and against people, like Rory, who made fun of them and he couldn't be with someone who was intentionally cruel and if he was honest with himself, he was happier without Rory in his life.
Janet had never been happier to be wrong about something. Eddie didn't abandon her. He continued to come around, bringing her homework to her everyday, working on it together and talking about anything and everything. They shared things with other that they had never shared with anyone before. When Janet got angry about being stuck in her wheelchair Eddie let her yell at him and when she was done yelling she let him hold her until her sobs subsided. When something positive happened in physical therapy he was the first one she called and he was genuinely happy for her and a few hours later he would show up at her house to celebrate. They both loved the time that they spent together and have come to treasure it.
"I can't." Janet grunted. She was standing at the parallel bars, griping each bar as hard as she could. It was time for her to take her first steps in six months.
"Bullshit Janet." She glared at her friend. "What did you tell me at your first physical therapy appointment?"
"I told you that the doctors didn't know what they were talking about. I told you that I was going to walk again." After a couple of weeks of being depressed and feeling sorry for herself she had an attitude adjustment. She was determined to prove her doctors wrong. She was going to walk again.
"Then walk." Eddie demanded. He went and stood beside her. "I know you can do it. You just need to take the first step." Janet nodded and bit her lip. Eddie saw a look of concentration pass of her face and she slowly lifted her right leg, pushed it out in front of her, set it down and then did the same with her left foot and the end result was she walked about a half of an inch.
"I did it." Janet whispered, looking at Eddie in amazement.
"You sure did. Now do it again." More determined than ever Janet took a couple more steps. "You're doing a great job Janet."
"I can't do anymore. It hurts." Eddie saw tears fill her eyes. The physical therapist told her that she would be in a considerable amount of pain as she rebuilt her muscles in her legs. "I need to sit." Her tears began to fall. "Please." Her physical therapist quickly had her chair in position behind her.
"Janet your chair is right behind you." Ellen, her therapist told her. "Let's get you in it." Ellen placed her hands around Janet's abdomen and gently lowered her back into her chair. "You did a wonderful job." Ellen said as she wheeled Janet away from the parallel bars. "I know it hurt but everyday you'll be able to walk a little bit more with less pain."
"I hope so because it hurts like hell." Janet sniffed as she rubbed her legs.
"Janet Edith watch your mouth." Evelyn Meadows chastised.
"Edith?" Eddie asked with a grin.
"Shut the hell up Latekka." Janet whispered.
"Watch your mouth Janet Edith." Eddie taunted. Since her mother had moved right behind her wheelchair Janet couldn't respond how she wanted so instead she just glared at her friend who just laughed at her.
"Are you ready sweetheart?" Janet nodded in response to her mother's question. "Are you coming over Eddie?" Since Janet's accident, Eddie had become a permanent fixture at the Meadows' household.
"Later. I have to work." Eddie looked at Janet. "I'll see you later."
"Eddie you don't have to come over. You just spent the morning with me.'
"I know I don't have to. I want to."
"Thank you." Janet whispered as a tear slipped from her eye. Eddie wiped the tear away with his thumb.
"You don't have to thank me for doing something I enjoy." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later."
"And now, you're reward for walking today." Eddie handed Janet an envelope.
"What is this?"
"Just open it." Janet slowly opened the envelope and pulled out what was inside. "Oh my God. Really?"
"Really."
"Nickleback tickets?" Eddie grinned and nodded. "I love Nickelback. They are my favorite."
"I know. As soon as the tickets went on sale I bought them. I figured that you deserve this after what you have been through. A nice, relaxing night out with me and a few other people."
"A few other people?"
"Me, Nicky, Hannah, Ikey, Physical Phil, and Owen and Becca, Owen's girlfriend."
"As much as I appreciate this…I just don't think it's a good idea."
"Why not?"
"I'm in a damn wheelchair. That's why not. I…I don't want anyone seeing me like this." Janet turned her chair away from Eddie so he wouldn't see her cry but Eddie wasn't having that. He turned her wheelchair back towards him. "Eddie…please." Her tears were freely falling.
"It's been six months Janet. Everyone is okay with the fact that you are in a wheelchair, everyone but you."
"I'm sure that there is someone else you would rather take to the concert." She whispered not meeting his eyes. "Someone that can walk in there with you."
"Walking or in a wheelchair, you are the one who I want to go to the concert with. I bought those tickets months ago because you love them. Without you I would never be going to that concert. So what do you say? Janet will you please come out with me to the concert?" Janet raised her tear filled eyes to her friend.
"Are you sure?" She whispered.
"Oh my God. It has never been this hard asking out a girl before." He mumbled.
"Excuse me? Are you asking me out, like on a date?" She could not have heard him right and when he admitted that he wasn't asking her out, she was going to feel like an ass but she had to know.
"Yes I am asking you out on a date. Was I not being clear?" Janet shook her head, too scared to speak. Eddie reached out and grabbed both of her hands. "Would you like to go out with me, on a date to the Nickelback concert that I just happen to have tickets for?"
"I…I would like that."
"Now, that's what I am talking about." Eddie said with a cocky grin.
Three days later Eddie's friends, their girlfriends, Eddie himself and his date, Janet were having a blast at the concert. There was a special area that accommodated wheelchairs throughout the arena that fit the wheelchair and three people without chairs so Eddie, Janet, Nick and Hannah sat there while everyone else sat a few rows behind them. During all of the group's fast songs everyone was on their feet except for Eddie. Since Janet obviously couldn't stand Eddie kept his butt planted in his seat next to his date and every time he looked at her he found a large smile plastered on her face and her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. His friends easily put Janet at ease right away and as soon as that happened he saw his date visibly relax. He knew she was having fun and that's all that he wanted.
As the first few cords of a slow song began to play Eddie reached over and linked his hand in hers. Janet looked over at Eddie when he took her hand and gave him a very small, shy smile but he saw her eyes sparkling. When Janet looked away Eddie couldn't. He couldn't get over how beautiful she was. In the past he never thought that she was ugly, hell, he thought that she was pretty but now when he looked at her she just wasn't pretty, she was downright gorgeous and she had no clue.
Janet knew Eddie was staring at her and instead of feeling creeped out, she was feeling flattered. She never thought she would be on a date with Eddie at her favorite band's concert, listening to one of her favorite songs, while Eddie was holding her hand and staring at her. Finally she turned her head back to face him and found him smiling at her. She smiled back at him and then Eddie leaned towards her and she leaned towards him but their heads weren't tilted in the opposite directions and instead of a kiss like Eddie planned they banged heads. "Ow." Janet giggled as she rubbed her head.
"I'm sorry." He said loudly to be heard over the music. "Now let's try this again." Turning his head he leaned forward and this time he succeeded. He pressed his lips to hers as he placed one hand on her check and the other behind her neck, under her hair. Janet opened her mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck and Eddie pushed his tongue into her hot, wet mouth. He never used tongue on the first kiss but it seemed that he was breaking all kinds of rules where Janet was concerned and he loved it.
"Damn." Eddie yelled when they broke apart. "We need to do that more often."
"I would like that." Janet yelled back. Grabbing Janet's hand, Eddie sat back in his seat wearing a cheesy grin. Nick looked over at his friend, grinned at him and gave him a knowing wink. Eddie nodded and squeezed Janet's hand.
Two months after the concert Knights Ridge High school started. Even though Janet's rehabilitation was progressing well and she was walking farther and farther everyday, she didn't not want to return for her senior year in a wheelchair. Of course Eddie wouldn't hear of it and he talked her into starting their senior year together. At first Eddie wanted to have the same schedule as Janet so he could help her to and from her classes, and protect her from cruel people but he didn't tell her that last part but she knew it. Janet talked him out of that plan and he just ended up meeting her in between classes and walking/pushing her wheelchair to her next class.
He asked her to Homecoming as soon as it was announced and she immediately turned him down, citing what's the point of going to a dance when she can't dance but when someone put her name in the race for Homecoming Queen Eddie convinced his girlfriend to agree to be his date. The biggest surprise came at the Homecoming pep rally when the Homecoming court was announced. The King and Queen were voted for by the students and whoever got the most votes became Homecoming King and Queen and everyone else ended up on the court. There were four guys and four girls in the running for Homecoming King and Queen. Hannah and Elizabeth Jones were the first two girls placed in the court along with Nick and David McDonald. The remaining two girls were Rory and Janet and the remaining guys were Tad and Eddie. When Rory and Tad were announced as the final court couple the gym went wild and Janet was in shock. When Janet and Eddie were announced as Homecoming Queen and King Eddie proudly wheeled his girlfriend to middle of the gym floor.
"I'm so nervous." Janet whispered to Hannah. Since the concert Hannah and Janet have become good friends.
"Don't be. Everyone out there voted you as their queen. They want to see you out there on the field." Hannah encouraged her.
"I can't help but thinking that this is a joke. I am the most unlikely girl to be voted Homecoming Queen." Janet admitted. Hannah knelt down in front of Janet's wheelchair.
"Trust me. This is no joke. Things have changed around here have changed for the better and besides, if this was a joke your boyfriend would make sure everyone would pay. It's real Janet. It's real wonderful. I am so happy for you."
"Even though you aren't Queen."
"Even though I'm not Queen. Here comes your boyfriend now." Janet looked to her right and saw Eddie walking towards her in his football uniform. As soon as he got to her side he leaned over and kissed her softly.
"Hi sweetheart. You look pretty."
"Thanks."
"Are you ready?" She shook her head. "I know you're nervous but it will be fine."
"Promise?"
"I promise." He confirmed the promise with another quick kiss.
The announcer began the homecoming ceremony by calling out the names of the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior court. Janet reached up and clutched Eddie's hand. She knew that they were next. "This is ridiculous." She told him.
"What are you talking about?"
"The Homecoming Queen should not be wheeled down the field."
"She should be if the Queen is you."
"Ladies and Gentleman of Knights Ridge. I am proud to announce this year's Homecoming King and Queen Eddie Latekka and Janet Meadows."
"Here we go." Eddie leaned down over Janet and unlocked the brakes of her wheelchair.
"Wait. Stop."
"What is it? We need to go."
"I want to walk."
"Janet…"
"I want to walk." She repeated.
"You haven't walked that far." He didn't want her to be unable to finish and be embarrassed in front of the entire town. The crowd was cheering.
"I know I can do it if you will help me." Janet looked at Eddie with tears shining in her eyes. "Please Eddie. I want to walk." In an instant Eddie locked the brakes and pulled Janet to her feet.
"Lean on me." Janet linked her arm through Eddie's and he wrapped an arm around Janet's waist. "Just go slow and take it one step at a time." The crowd grew quiet as Janet slowly and painfully place one foot in front of the other.
"Why is it so quiet?" Janet whispered.
"Everyone is silently cheering you on." The closer to the center of the field the couple got the slower they walked.
"Eddie…I…it hurts. I…need my…chair." Janet gasped through the pain she was feeling. She should have listened to Eddie. She had never walked this far and now she was paying for it.
"You're chair is right behind you and you can sit anytime but we are almost there and you are stubborn enough to make it." Janet looked ahead and saw that Eddie was right; they weren't far from her goal. "Do you want to stop?"
"No."
"That's my girl." The stadium was absolutely silent as Janet and Eddie continued to the middle of the field and when she made it to her appointed spot the entire stadium went insane, screaming and cheering for their queen.
"I did it." She said proudly.
"You did it." Eddie could feel her entire body shaking from pain. "Can you make it a few more minutes for the crowning?"
"If you hold me, I think I can."
"I got you." The previous years' King and Queen came over and crowned the new King and Queen. Once they had their crowns on their heads Eddie slowly turned so they were facing each other. He took her arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I want my chair. I need to sit."
"In a minute."
"Please Eddie. My legs…they hurt so bad."
"I am so proud of you." He whispered as tears of pain fell from her eyes. He hated that she was hurting so much but he had to tell her something important, while she was standing. "I love you Janet."
"I would probably appreciate that if my legs didn't hurt so badly."
"I love you." Before she could respond he lowered her face to hers and kissed her passionately in front of their entire town until he could no longer breathe. As soon as his lips touched hers, she forgot about her pain. "I love you." He told her again once they broke apart.
"My chair…" Eddie helped her into her chair and proceeded to wheel her off of the field where the cheering continued.
"Can you stand and wave to your fans?" Biting her lip Janet stood with Eddie's help and waved. Five minutes after Janet sat back in her chair the cheering stopped Eddie wheeled Janet off the field where she was met by her mother and sister. "I've got to go." He leaned down and kissed her. "I'll see you afterwards."
"Eddie…wait." He turned around and walked back towards her. "Mom can you guys give us a minute?" Evelyn and Jeanette walked away.
"What's wrong?"
"Thank you for making this the most wonderful night of my life. I wouldn't have been able to walk without you by my side."
"This has been the most wonderful night of my life too."
"What you have done for me, tonight and ever since my accident…I can never repay you."
"You don't ever have to repay me. I will do anything for you."
"I love you too Eddie, so much." Janet reached her arms up and Eddie leaned down and the two of them shared another passionate kiss.
A year later Janet and Eddie were walking hand and hand in the high school stadium for the Homecoming game so they could do their duty and pass the Homecoming crowns to the new King and Queen. When they were asked to walk to the center of the field Janet made the walk without any pain. Janet had defied all of her doctor's expectations and was walking again with her devoted boyfriend by her side.