Broken

Chapter 7: Cast VS. Stairs

Chapter 7: Cast VS. Stairs

It's been half an hour since dad managed to get everybody to leave and I'm still sitting at the bottom of the staircase.

"Chlo, come on. You have to go up there sometime, you can't just stare at them all night."

"Shut up Jace. I'm trying to build up some courage here. You spend all day everyday in a hospital for a month and then try to tackle a staircase. I had a freaking elevator at my beck and call and now I have to climb these stairs just to get to my bed."

"You could always stay downstairs. I'll go up and get what you need, and I'll even stay down here with you."

"NO! I'm going to make it up these damn stairs and I'm going to sleep in my own bed!"

"As you wish. Let's go."

Our first step was to get the wheelchair upstairs. Jace brought me a chair and helped my scoot off of the wheelchair and into the chair. He carried the wheelchair up the stairs and then came back to get me.

"You ready for this Cho?" Jace asked as he lifted me out of the chair.

"No, but let's do it anyway." I can't put any pressure on my left leg and I can't hop on my right leg because I just got the boot off earlier today so Jace will basically have to carry me up the stairs.

"I think you got heavier while sitting in that hospital." Jace complained.

"Shut up! I have a giant cast weighing down my leg and I haven't been able to even walk for a month. Of course I got heavier."

The fight with the stairs lasted at least five minutes, probably longer. The entire way Jace and I took turns cussing about one thing or another. Whether it was me stepping on his foot or him almost dropping me as he helped me hobble up the dreaded death trap or my cast slamming against the wall.

"I'm so glad I walked back here when I did." I heard as Jace dropped me into my wheelchair at the top of the stairs. I looked for the source of the voice and saw my dad standing at the bottom of the stairs with his phone in hand.

"What are you doing? How long have you been there for?"

"I've been here the whole time."

"Dad! What are you doing?"

"Just making a little home video. I'm thinking of recording a lot of the things you do as you recover from this accident. I think it will be a humorous and inspirational video once it's finished. The story of a little injured girl as she heals and grows to be an even better dancer and person than she was before."

"No dad! That's so lame. Delete it now!"

"Too late, I had the idea and now it's happening. It's going to be wonderful."

"You're soooo lame! Don't be that kind of dad. You used to be the cool dad, what happened?"

"Come on Cho. You're going to school tomorrow whether you like it or not, so you need to go to bed." Jace told me as he started to push my chair down the hall.

"Good night dad! Delete the video."

"Good night Chloe! Never going to happen."

"He's mean Jace! Go make him delete that stupid video."

"Your pouting, although adorable, isn't going to work this time. Your dad has the power to kick me out of this house and I won't be able to stay here anymore."

"He wouldn't do that, he loves you Jace. We all do."

"Sure Chlo. We have arrived at el cuarto de Chloe."

"Just because you're taking a Spanish class does not mean that you know what you're talking about Jace. Thank you for taking me to my room though. You can leave now if you want, I can figure out how to get in bed myself"

"I'm not leaving you until you force me away."

"Well then roll me into my room and turn around. I need sleep clothes."

"As you wish."

"Did you watch the Princess Bride lately or something? What's up with the 'As you wish' stuff."

"Maggie wanted to watch it and you know I can't tell her no. She's 10 and still irresistibly adorable." Jace complained. "Now go change your clothes. I'll be on the couch, yell if you need me."

Jace settled himself on the baby blue couch positioned in front of my flat screen tv. I slowly rolled towards the small door to my bathroom my bathroom. The chair barely fit but I made through my bathroom and into the connecting closet.

It took a while but I finally found a set of pajamas that would be easy to maneuver over my bulky cast. I carefully slid my shirt off and replaced it with the teal striped tank top with a big snoopy on the front. The real challenge was getting my shorts off to replace them with the black pajama bottoms that said snoopy in teal letters on the right leg and had a matching snoopy picture on the left. It took a lot of work and more time than necessary but I managed to change by pants.

I then had to roll back into my bathroom to wash my face and go to the bathroom before I could go to bed. My mom and dad let me design my own room when I moved up stairs. My bedroom is mostly blue with black wood furniture and grey carpet. My bathroom is very contradicting to that with a purple theme. I have purple tile floors and purple walls. Instead of black wood the bathroom has light colored wood which matches the the door to the bathroom. there is an open arch door connecting the bathroom and closet. The closet has dark hard wood floors and off white walls. The cabinets and dressers are black wood with light wood doors. None of the rooms really fit together but with all three they manage to look good.

After I managed to get completely ready for bed I rolled back into my bedroom.

" I don't know why you have Snoopy pajamas but I like them. Ready to get in bed Chloebear? I'm getting tired so I have to get over to my room."

"Stay here Jace, please."

"Chloe you know I can't. Your dad doesn't say it but I know he doesn't like us sharing a room at this age."

"We're just friends Jace. Please stay with me. I have nightmares. I see them in my dreams. I didn't tell anybody that I was awake still before the ambulance got there. I was awake as the truck pushed us across the road and the car rolled. I heard them screaming. I saw them covered in blood and dying. I was screaming for them to stay alive, I told them not to leave me here. I was being crushed and I didn't even care. All I could do was stare at them and scream. The semi hit their side of the care, they didn't have a chance and I think I knew that but I was screaming for them anyways. Hell, I even heard my mom scream for Alex, Gracey, and my dad. She was still alive after the car finished flipping. She spoke to me before she died. She told me 'I love you, take care of your sisters and dad. Tell them I love them too.' My mother's last words that I haven't even shared with anyone. Almost every night I relive the accident again and again. The worst part is every time it feels like that day again, everything is the same and I don't even know it's going to happen until the car gets hit again." By that point tears were streaming down my face. "Please Jace don't leave me alone."

"I'll always stay with you if that's what you really want." Jace whispered as he lifted me from the wheelchair and carefully placed me on my king sized bed. "Now sleep Chlo, you have to wake up for school in the morning. I'll be on the couch if you need me.

"Good night Jace. Thank you."

"Good night Chloe."

That night was the first night in forever that I had no nightmares.