Only You

1 - Alanna

"LIZZIE, COME ONNN!" The girl across the street yelled, motioning for her friend to go faster. I huffed and a cloud of cold became visible. Brrrr. I hate Winter. It's always so cold. And I've ALWAYS hated being cold. Sucks for me too because I'm always cold. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and I continued walking down the street. You're probably wondering, why I'm not driving since I'm seventeen and most seventeen year olds can't wait to drive. Me, however. I refuse to even get in a car. A month or two ago, I was going shopping with my best friend Kami, and we were in this car accident. Kami was killed on impact, I was only saved because of the airbags. I still got beat up and I fractured my leg and broke my ankle. My leg was fine, but my ankle still gives out on me from time to time. Anyways, I was walking home from my last day of school for the winter break and it was FREEZING.
"ALANNA! Wait up!!" Someone called from behind me.  I looked over my shoulder and sighed it was Chase Wilkinson, my neighbor and childhood best friend. After the accident, Chase was the only person that treated me like I was still human. I mean even my parents treated me like I was made of glass. I guess I let them treat me that way. I never speak to anyone unless spoken too, well except to Chase. One of the many nice things about Chase is he had given up driving to school, even in the freezing cold just so I didn't have to walk alone. I had stopped and waited for him to catch up. When he finally did, we continued walking towards our houses. Chase is not how you would picture him. He's tall. Really tall, with sandy blonde hair and golden brown eyes, and these funky looking glasses. The glasses really throw you off. Like he's a super attractive guy when he's not wearing them. With them he looks like an adorable overgrown six year old. "It's freezing today." He said rubbing his hands together to create warmth. I nodded my head and tried to bury myself deeper into my wool coat. It didn't work very well. Chase glanced over at me. "Do you wanna stop at Savannah's? It's Friday, and I can pay." He said. I looked over at him, with a small smile. Savannah's was our favorite diner. Or at least it was when we were younger and we did everything together. "Sure." I said, "But I can pay for myself" I said. Chase was shaking his head. I pulled my hood tighter around my face as a gust of chilly wind blew through the air. 
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm paying and that's that. Come on, I'll race you." He said, knowing very well I was going to take my own dandy time, yet he still crossed the street to get to Savannah's. As I crossed after him, I heard someone whistle from behind me. I ignored it, which was a mistake. "Excuse me. I acknowledged you, and you didn't respond."  A gruff voice said. I slowly turned around. There standing behind me was a group of teenage boys I had never seen before smirking at me like I was their next meal. I took a hesitant step backwards and slipped on the ice. I fell on my butt. "Alanna Larson, right? The girl with the dead best friend." The leader said. I closed my eyes shutting him out and the memories. When I opened them He was grinning down at me. Before He could say anything else though Chase came back outside. "Can I help you?" He asked the boys. The boys looked at Chase and laughed. 
"You're kidding right?" The short one asked. Chase shook his head and offered me his hand. I took it and he helped me up. As I stood up I winced, I must've irritated my ankle when I fell, it still wasn't completely healed yet. Chase seemed to notice I was hurt and he pulled me closer to him. "No, I'm not kidding. Is this what you guys do? Go around hitting on others guys girlfriends while they're reserving them a table?" Chase asked. Girlfriend?  I was confused, but realization seemed to creep onto the gang's faces and they backed away, tripping over themselves and apologizing. Before I could ask questions Chase removed his arm from around me and looked down at my face, grabbing my shoulders. "Are you alright?" He asked. I nodded, I decided not to ask him until we got inside. "I'm fine." I said, taking a step forward and then falling over. Chase caught me. "You are not. Is your ankle hurting?" He asked. I nodded and before I knew it I was in his arms. He carried me over to a table and demanded I prop up my leg while he went to order us some drinks. I did as I was told. A few moments late Chase came back, he sat down across from me and slid me a mug of hot cocoa. "I ordered what you used to get, I hope that's okay." He said. I smiled. 
"It's perfect. Thank you, Chase." I said. "Soooo...um thanks for saving me out there..but girlfriend really?" I asked. Chase choked on his cocoa and then glanced up at me. I couldn't help it. I laughed, loud, dragging all the attention in the diner to me. I covered my mouth with my hand still giggling as Chase cleaned up his mess. "Yeah..uh sorry. That was the only thing I could think of that would for sure get them to leave you alone. I hope you don't mind." He said. I shook my head, still giggling. I reached over and grabbed a napkin, and began folding it into a paper swan. "I didn't know you could still do that." Chase said. I smirked and handed him the little thing. "Are you kidding? My room is covered in them!"
"Really?"
"Yes. It's a good way to not think about things. You know keeps me busy, also I think they're the cutest." This is where Chase becomes the best person on the planet. Where most people would then tell me how sorry they are, or how lucky I am, Chase ignores it. He's more interested in the paper swans, after all he was the one that taught me how to make them. "Well, I'm glad to know something I taught someone is actually being put to good use." He said, folding and unfolding the swan's wings up and down like it was flying.
"I can show you just how much those things have helped me, if you want me too." I said. Chase's face lit up and he met my eyes. "Yes, please. I don't want to go home." He said. After we finished our drinks, Chase let me lean on him so I didn't have to put all of my weight on my foot, and we walked back towards home.