I'm In Love With The Football Player

12. Craziest Idea Ever

"Did Andrew ever come visit you?" Bree asks eating some of her broccoli soup.

We were hungry so we decided to go eat at the hospitals cafeteria. They have a special menu for injured people so we were kind of glad we didn't have to eat a salad with a roll like my parents and Bree's parents.

"Nope." I say. "I'm not surprised, we kind of had a bad fight."

"That's no reason to leave a friend." Bree says taking another spoonful of her soup.

"How can you eat that?" I ask disgusted.

"It's broccoli." She says. "I had to eat all fruits and vegetables when I played-"

She stops and has a hard time saying the word "football". She shook her head and smiled again.

"Anyways, what you goin' to do today?" She asks changing the topic.

"Is there anything you can do here?" I ask.

She giggles. "I guess we can invent something. I'm tired of being the good girl. Let's do something that breaks the rules."

"For someone in a wheelchair you sure are adventurous." I say. "And our options are limited because of the wheelchairs."

"Ain't nothing stopping me from living my life to the fullest." She says smiling.

"So what you have in mind?" I ask.

"Well, I'm still competitive so.... How about a wheelchair race?" She suggests.

"Yes!" I shout. "But where?"

"I passed by the lobby this morning and saw that it was a long hallway, enough for us to race on it." She says. "Plus, it's full of sad people so I just want to cheer them up."

"That's sweet." I say. "But not as sweet as me beating your butt."

"For a moment there I actually thought you were being nice." She says. "I fell for it."

"Let's go to the lobby, I want to see how far it is." I say.

We take our trays to the cafeteria and leave it at the kitchen sink. We pass by the chef and wave.

"It was delicious." We both say in unison.

"Well i'm glad you liked it." The chef said. She was a colored woman who was a few pounds overweight, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was love. She was the sweetest person I've ever met and Bree and I have gotten to get closer to her and become family with her. After all we have been her for a month and 2 weeks. "What would you guys like for lunch?"

"Whatever you got for us, we'll eat it." Bree says with a smile.

"Aww. Well aren't you guys just adorable." She says. "I heard you guys are making a wheelchair race."

"How did you know that?" I ask.

"You guys really don't know how to whisper." She says. "I heard you taking about it."

"Oh, guess we'll try better next time, huh?" I say.

We say goodbye to the chef and roll to the lobby. Bree was right, it is full of people being depressed and stressed about their loved ones. I don't think they would like if we race down here.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Bree." I say.

"What do you mean?" She asks, "it'll brighten their day up!"

"I don't think so." I explain, "they are already stressed enough, I don't think they would like it if we were more noisy."

"Come on!" She says, "please."

"I'm sorry Bree, I won't." I say.

She looks at me and her sudden smile becomes an angry one. "Why do you always have to be such a party pooper!"

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"You always have to do everything wrong!"

"Bree what is going on?" I ask. "Why did you suddenly snap?"

"If it wasn't for you I probably wouldn't be in a wheelchair right now!"

"What do you mean!" I shout, "you were the one who didn't quit playing when I obviously told you to stop three times! And you're not the only one in a wheelchair if you recall!"

She stares at me with anger. Her frown turns into a face of pity and guilt. A tear rolls down her cheek and she stares at herself on the mirror in the lobby.

"You're right." She says. "It's all because of...me."

I roll behind her and push her with my legs while I move the both of us to the elevator. I punch the 45th floor where her room is and the door close.

"What happened back there?" I ask.

"I guess I've just missed being active." She smiles.

"Well, we could always stay at your floor and practice walking. You don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of your life, do you?"

She shakes her head no.

"Well then. Let's practice."

*3 months later*

"Mom! Dad!" We shout in unison.

We hear 8 feet stomping through the hallway and entering the room. Mom gasps and starts to cry as she sees me carefully walking to the door where she stands. I look back at Bree and see that she gave up and sat down on the side of the bed. She has been having more trouble than me.

"Stand up." I say. "You didn't call them just to show them how you sit down."

"It's more troubling for me than you." She explains.

"Just get up." I walk carefully to her and help her get up.

I walk next to her and make her stand up when she wants to sit down. Bree's parents start walking to her and hug her. Both of them.

"You're doing great, honey." They say.

Bree smiles and I can see that she's happy because both her biological parents are there with her.

"That's all we wanted to show you." Bree says. "You can go back to your meeting with the Doctor."

"Bree don't do this." He mom says. "Don't shut us out like you have for the past 3 months."

"I said leave!" She shouts to her parents.

Everyone gets out, even my parents. They shut the door behind them and I walk to Bree. "What was that?!"

"Don't you get it?" She says. "I won't ever be able to play football again. My parents try to encourage me but what's the point if I'm not going anywhere?"

She starts to cry silently and I look at her in pity while I think of something. "I got it!"

"What?" She raises her head.

"I'll enter the team for you."