Cut Off

Chapter 4

What is he doing here?

Liam hasn't spoken to me since we broke up. It's been almost a year since I've seen him. And now he just happens to be at the same park as me. He moved farther away, so I don't know why he is here. He hasn't seen me yet, so I look away.

I grab my phone because I don't have any paper on me and write to Zach.

Let's get out of here.

Why?

Let's just go

Why?

Look to your right.

He does so and sees Liam. He must recognize him from the photo in my room.

It's fine. He isn't looking over here.

Still.

I grab his hand and pull him up. Well, try to pull him up. I'm in my wheelchair so I'm not very successful. He laughs at my persistence, but I don't think he understands how awful that break-up was. He still follows me though.

Just as we are leaving, I hear a voice come up behind me.

"Going somewhere?" I hear the voice say.

I turn around and there he is.

"Hey Skylar," Liam says. "Long time, no see."

Zach obviously noticed that I stopped moving because now he turned toward Liam as well.

"Who's this? New boyfriend?" Liam asks.

"A friend," I say.

Zach is just watching the exchange. He is standing behind me, so he can't see my responses, but he can see Liam.

"Right. Why isn't he answering?" Liam asks.

"He's deaf. He doesn't talk." I answer.

"Of course he is. You always were one for charity cases. Like yourself now, I guess" he says looking pointedly at my leg and the wheelchair.

"What are you even doing here?" I ask him, ignoring the comment.

"I'm here for you, duh. I miss you" he says.

"Too bad. You broke up with me. You aren't allowed to miss me anymore."

"I also heard about your leg. I wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Whatever. I'm fine. Just go."

"Please Sky," he says. "I just want to talk."

"We already talked now. Goodbye," I say to him.

I turn around in my chair to see Zach look at me.

"Let's go" I mouth at him, and he nods.

He starts walking and I follow behind him, not looking back behind me.

Liam actually cut us off at perfect timing. Our lunch reservation is in 5 minutes, so we just head there now.

We show up at the little café and the waitress gives me a look, glancing at the wheelchair, but recovers quickly and seats us in the back corner by the window.

"Let me know if you need anything," she says.

"We will. Thank you" I say and she turns and walks away.

As soon as we sit down, well Zach sits down because I'm already sitting, Zach grabs a small notebook from his pocket.

You okay?

I look up at him and nod.

You sure?

I'm fine.