Leave No Trace

Chapter 25

Allison

She was sitting in her wheelchair at the hospital, using the weak evening light to try and read. It wasn’t even assigned reading, she just needed an escape, and her laptop had not yet been returned to her.

She was upset, but her tears were silent. Her sister had a tournament, and they would be out of town until Tuesday. It was the Thursday before Thanksgiving. And that hurt that Ally couldn’t go with them. She had not been declared fit to travel. She would be staying home, but everyone had plans. Her mother was making frantic calls in the hallway while Ally read, trying to find someone to take in the invalid for the weekend.

Her door burst open to reveal Mira and Derrick who was trailing along behind. Mira walked over, hugging her. “Hey, Al.”

“Hi Mira.” She wiped her eyes.

Derrick cleared his throat. “I was trying to help you put your seatbelt on.”

“Sure” Mira turned to him with a frown. “Sure you were, you pervert.”

He stuck his tongue out at her, before becoming mildly uncomfortable. “Sorry Ally.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Ally asked, mystified.

“We shouldn’t be joking about that kind of stuff”

“What? If you’re being a pervert, then I will not hesitate to kick you where the sun doesn’t shine” Ally forced a smile.

Mira saw right through it, but said nothing, just cuffed Derrick on the back of the head “You loser” she reprimanded. She turned to Ally. “He’s being a moron and I’d like to apologize”

Ally squinted and looked at him, before grinning at Mira “Did you tell him what I said about him?”

“What?” Derrick asked, curious. “You two talked about me?”

Mira did a half-shrug. “Kind of. Just casual complaining between friends.”

“What did you say about me, Ally?” Derrick asked.

“The first time I saw you, my first thought was that I thought you’d be better looking.” Ally finally felt a real smile.

Derrick looked kind of offended, while Mira started laughing.

“Ouch” he said at last, rolling his eyes. “Has your opinion at least improved now?”

“No” Mira snarked. “Just her taste”

He swiveled around to glare at her, before pulling her close. “What were you saying about taste, Mira Neal?”

“Let go of me, you loser” she tried pulling away, but was failing. She finally twisted around, elbowing him in the chest.

He wheezed, doubling over. She knocked the wind out of him, and she was chuckling over it.

Ally managed to muster a smile.

“Ohhhhh” he groaned, before straightening, wincing. “I’ll suppose you both think I deserved that?”

They grinned at each other, then at him. “Yeah” they said it at the same time.

“Remind me not to grab you” he said, before grinning. “You’re pretty strong for a girl”

“Uh oh.” Ally winced. “Fighting words.”

Mira walked back over, so she was within an inch of his face, staring straight into his eyes.

If he just leaned in a bit…. Ally thought, smirking to herself.