Second Chances

Chapter 18

I wake up when Cole's alarm goes off at 7 am. His roommate is sitting on his bed, looking at us.

"Yes?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you guys....in his bed?" He asks.

"Ew no way." I say, turning a little red.

"Good." He breathes out a sigh of relief. I roll my eyes at him and look at Cole. He's looking at me too and he winks. I get out of Cole's bed and say goodbye, heading back to my room. I shower and quickly get dressed because I'm already later than I planned.

Drew doesn't question me, he just gives me 'the look' and smiles knowingly. I grab all my school stuff and rub out my door. My second day isn't much better than my first. I get a lot of stares and whispers. Also, the teachers are piling up the homework which makes it even worse.

The days rush by, autumn turning into a cold winter. My parents call a total of two times in those couple of months. It's now January 6th. So I've been at school for 4 months. Twice. In those four months. School did get a little easier. My nightmares still happen.

Cole is always there for me when they do. I got my big cast off. I have a brace now. It's a lot easier. I also no longer need crutches and this brace can be removed when needed, although it's not recommended.

I flew back to New York to see my doctor down there. My parents didn't go, Cole did. The doctor said that I should be able to lightly jog in about 2 weeks. Apparently, my injury was a lot worse than most.

I've been going to the gym and working out my upper body, that's what I do during gym class. I go in the weight room. Mr. Glass and I have a special relationship now. He doesn't bother me as long as I don't disrupt his gym class.

People have mostly stopped staring. There are a few that decide to stare and call me names and even a few girls who have written stuff on the bathroom walls. I do my best to ignore it. I haven't picked up a basketball at all. Not to dribble or anything.

The doctor told me that I was aloud to shoot, just not jump. I told him there was no way. I'm going to Cole's swim meets and practices. I get homework done while watching him. Cole and I. The only thing in my life that is perfect. we've been together four months as of yesterday.

It doesn't seem like that much but Cole and I. We go way back even before he was my boyfriend. I can't even remember how old I was when he first stole my marker and we became best friends. I must've been in kindergarten or something.

I drag myself out of bed after thinking about my life here in boarding school. I made a decision that I didn't tell anyone. Not even Cole. I stayed in my room last night because I knew what would happen this morning. I force myself to get dressed in shorts and a T shirt.

Then I throw sweatpants and a sweatshirt over them. I grab my basketball shoes. Then I put my slides on. On my way out, I grab an apple and lock the door. I make my way down the halls and decide to take the stairs because the doctor said that it'd help strengthen my knee.

I push open the door from the lobby to outside and I'm immediately met with a gust of cold air. I walk as fast as I can to the gym. It's unlocked as it usually is. I go to the supply closet and stare at the same place I have been for months. The basketball rack that is used for their sports teams.

I take off my sweatshirt and sweatpants and lace up my basketball shoes. I wipe my sweaty palms on my shorts. I set my things in the bleachers, out of the way. Taking a deep breath, I grab a basketball off the rack. I stare at it, turning it in my hands.

Then something clicks. I start doing my usual warm ups. Around the world, figure eights, the spider, finger taps. All ball handling skills that I'd perfected over the years. I stumble few times but overall, I did great for not touching a basketball in forever.