Is This Safe?

Chapter 3

~Four months previously~
"You good?"

"Yeah,"
Ann nodded while turning her head towards me. Her brown hair fell in her face as she brushed it away with her left hand.
"I should be good."

"Okay, let me know if you need help."
I offered while standing close by her side.

"Oh, I will."
She assured me as she gripped her fingers onto the crutches.
I really wanted to help her, but I would have to wait until she asked me. I seemed to be that type of person. I wanted to help my friends, but sometimes, I felt like a "slave". Not always though, don't get me wrong.

A week after Ann was released from the hospital, the doctor had told her to walk on crutches for about six weeks until her leg was fully healed. She didn't like the idea at first, but she thought it was kind of cool to walk on crutches. She wanted Maggie, Chelsea, and I to be there, of course, since we were at a hotel with our family. They had flown over here in Washington ever since they heard about what happened. They weren't told the entire full story since more than likely they wouldn't believe us, but we just told them the just of it.

Chelsea was behind Ann as Maggie and I were on either side watching, when Ann tried her crutches for the first time.

"Why are you guys staring at me?"
Ann stared at all of us as she laughed. "It's so weird."

"Sorry, we're just making sure you don't fall."
Chelsea answered behind her.

"Wow, Chelsea." Maggie burst into laughter.

"Yeah, thanks for thinking I might fall."
Ann added as Maggie continued laughing.

"Sorry."
Chelsea muttered while crossing her arms playfully.

Breathing out, Ann scooted on the edge of the hospital bed.
"Don't worry guys, I got this."

Watching her cautiously, Ann scooted as far as she could off the bed before she firmly planted the crutches on the ground. Pulling her weight, she pushed with her arms upwards as a foot rested on the ground. She was a bit wobbly at first, but she managed to stand on the crutches on her own.

Taking a step forward, she lost her balance, but she regained it rather quickly.

"I got it, I got it."
She stubbornly waved us away.
"I can do this."

"Okay, show us then." Maggie challenged.

"I will."
Ann accepted the challenge as she began to make her way to the other side of the room. Ann started out a little slow, but she got the hang of it after about four steps. Soon after, she had walked back and forth twice in little time.

"I did it!"
Ann exclaimed excitedly. We all cheered for her by clapping when she consciously forgot to not let go of the crutches.
Raising her arms in celebration, Ann suddenly remembered as she grabbed the crutches in mid air while regaining her balance at the same time.

"Now, that--"
Ann began while all of us had rushed by the door to catch her if she fell.
"--takes talent."
She finished with a big smile on her face.

"Yeah, can I try?"
Chelsea asked eagerly while tugging softly at the crutches.

Ann raised an eyebrow,
"You want to try? But you don't have a bad leg."

"I know."
Chelsea shrugged, "I'll pretend."

"Well, you wouldn't have to pretend though."

"What do you mean?" Chelsea frowned.

"Do you know I can kick someone on the back of the leg and make them become paralyzed for a short period of time?" Ann asked.

Chelsea's eyes widened as she looked back at Maggie and I for confirmation. We both nodded our head yes since Ann had "threatened" us with that before. Not that often though. We learned not to mess with Ann in situations.