Chasing Cars

Chapter Eight

Theme Song: I Go Back ~ Kenny Chesney

Work time in World Economy meant that anyone could sit anywhere, and thankfully Sue and I wouldn't have to scramble for a spot next to each other, we sat right next to each other anyway.

"Karev! I had no idea you were with Mr. Bentley!" Sue threw her worksheet down and stared at me excitedly. I thought she didn't have Mr. Bentley, so I guess it was a surprise for both of us. "Well I do, so lucky you," I laughed.

We quietly talked while working on our sheet. The questions were easy, and I finished all fifty in ten minutes while Sue was still stuck on question six. "Need a little help?" I smirked at her. The glare she shot back would've shut me up if she and I weren't so close. But we were so I continued.

"You are usually smarter than me, but I guess not so much..." I started, and she punched my shoulder hard enough for me to shut up and not tease her, only I couldn't help but start laughing.

I leaned over to look at her sheet, and she didn't tug it away. I read what it was, then slid my sheet over to her so she could copy off of it. This wasn't uncommon between us, it's just something we did.

The desk in front of mine was empty, but I couldn't help but notice when someone sat in it. Paying it no attention, I continued to do what I was doing, which was drawing a spooky tree on the inside cover of my notebook.

"That's really good," an unfamiliar voice spoke, causing me to look up. Turns out the guy who had sat down in front of us was Andrew. "Thanks," I mumbled, looking back down again and continuing to draw the spirally branches.

I felt a nudge on my side, and when I looked at Sue she glared at me and pointed toward Andrew, who looked confused as he stared blankly at the desk next to him.

"What?" I whispered to Sue, still watching him.

"Talk to him, he's clearly trying to make conversation," she sighed, rolling her eyes as if I was the most clueless person on the planet, which I was at some points. "Ohh," I replied, making her put her head on her desk in complete and utter defeat.

"Well what do I say?" I asked her, suddenly feeling nervous for reasons I didn't know. The killer look she gave me suggested that she was not going to help me whatsoever, even though she's the one that made me talk to him in the first place.

"Seriously Karev just say hi," she said in a 'duh' voice. Hi. Okay, that would work...but then what do I say when he says hi back? I don't know!

"Say it Karev."

I sighed and turned to him, picking up my pencil and lightly poking him with it. He turned around, and I just looked at him. "Um...hey," I said slowly, glancing around the room, then to Sue, who gave me a thumbs up. Before I even knew what she was doing, she picked up her stuff and moved across the room, leaving me alone.

"Hi," he smiled.

"Um...thanks for complimenting my drawing," I said awkwardly, gesturing toward the now-shaded tree I had in my book. "It's really good! How long did it take you?" He asked.

I was thankful that he was keeping the conversation rolling, I didn't know how to do this! With a quick glare at Sue, which was returned with a mocking smile, I glanced down at my drawing once more. "I started it after I finished my worksheet...."

"No way!" He said, looking genuinely surprised. I laughed lightly and nodded.

"Yeah."

"Do you draw often?"

"When I have the time."

"Cool!"

"Thanks."

We both just sat there, weirdly looking around the classroom as both of us searched for something to say. I looked at Sue with wide eyes and mouthed, "Help Me!" but she just shook her head and looked away.

Eventually it was he who broke the silence, with a question that caught me off guard. "How did you end up in a wheelchair?...If you don't mind my asking."

I didn't know how to reply, did I tell him the lie of falling down the stairs, or did I tell him the truth? I didn't know, he seemed trustworthy but then again I had only spoken to him in this one moment. I decided it would be easier to just tell him the lie, so when I spoke my answer I was taken aback by what I said.

"Charleston broke my back with a metal baseball bat."

His face was full of surprise, horror, and confusion, but I was surprised that I didn't notice a hint of disbelief in his expression. He believes me?

"How...uh...why...?" He began, clearly not knowing how to reply.

"I don't know, I was called to her office a while back and she started torturing me...anyway, you do not want to do anything that could get you sent in that office, it looks and smells as if a bomb went off in McDonalds," I said, trying to bring a little humor into the conversation.

Thankfully, he laughed when I said that. "I've always wondered why she looks like she swallowed a whole elephant. Now it all makes sense," he grinned.

I couldn't help but laugh, and I found myself enjoying myself more than I had in a long time. "I'm surprised she didn't force me to eat some of her burgers!" I laughed quietly.

He gave me a pointed look. "She wanted them all to herself, silly."

"True," I raised my eyebrows, making both of us burst out laughing. We both grinned at each other when Mr. Bentley said "quiet down people," obviously referring to us.

"You know what we should do?" He whispered.

"What should we do?" I replied curiously.

"We should take down Charleston, you know get rid of her. Get her fired before she turns the school into a McDonalds stink bomb." He started mock gagging himself to show what would happen if she stuck around.

"She's been working here since...like when Jesus walked the earth, there's no getting rid of her!"

"True. Well what if we tell the district about her abusing of students?" He suggested, making a pointed look at my wheelchair. I shrugged. His idea was wise but who was to say the district didn't already know and approve of Charleston's tactic.

"Andrew, I think I can conclude you are completely insane," I said, and we laughed until the bell rang, signaling first hour was over and second hour was about to start.

"See ya," he laughed and walked toward his next class.

"You actually talked to someone other than me! I'm proud of you Karev," Sue teased when we met up at my locker. I shoved her lightly, still thinking about his crazy suggestion.

"Yeah thanks for sticking me in an awkward situation," I laughed, taking out my second hour Algebra binder. "You're welcome," she grinned.

"Worst friend ever!" I shouted as I headed off into the Algebra room and took my seat, ready for this next, lonely hour.

Thanks guys for reading! I really hope you're enjoying it so far! Please please pleeeease check out my new book Grayson & Foster, I'd really appreciate it!

X, Adriana :)