Senior Year-Rucas

Steel Magnolias.

Chapter 45

Riley was laying on the physical therapist's bed with Lucas on her right and Cory on her left. She really wished neither of were was there, a PCL injury wasn't as bad as her previous one, but still she had no idea what to expect, if these stretches were going to hurt or if she could take them like a champ. "Sorry I decided to do early therapy, I forgot we were out of school."

"It's alright honey, I think you just were wanting to skip my class." She laughed when there was a knock on the door.

"Riley Matthews?"

"Guilty." The therapist looked towards the paperwork and back up at her.

"I'm Melody. How is your knee?" Her brown eyes glanced at the brace.

"I don't know, I haven't really used it." Melody started taking off the brace, slowly, to prevent her from being in pain.

"Can you put any weight on it?"

"Yeah, I haven't used crutches in almost 2 weeks." The brace was off and she didn't recognize her leg. It was so tight that it left impressions on her knee, and her normal muscular leg looked scrawny. "Ew." Lucas started laughing and held her hand. "So is, are the stretches as bad as an ACL?"

"No, since the injury is on the back of the knee, you do more straight leg flexing, and stair stepping." Riley didn't like where this was going, those were everyday activities but, she hadn't bent her knee in so long. "You ready to get started?"

"No." Lucas tried to hide his laughter.

"Fantastic. This way."

"Wait! I'm walking out there, no brace?"

"Well, you can have some help. I'm sure one of these strapping men can help you but, it's a nice warm up before we start stretching. I'll meet you out front." Riley blew a raspberry when Lucas helped her off of the table. The brunette put her weight on the uninjured leg and took a step with her right, almost collapsing to the floor.

"I got you baby." Lucas was of course right beside her, supporting her every step of the way. Like he had always done. Riley smirked and tried to take another step. It was more successful than the last, she took more weight off of Lucas and bent her knee again. "Go easy honey."

"I can do it." His green eyes rolled. Typical Riley, no one can see her in pain, or struggling. Ten minutes later Riley was on the floor up front, stair stepping and doing leg raises while flexing her thigh. She'd do wall squats with a ball and use the wobble board, her knee was in serious pain at the beginning and eventually just became exhausted. Now that her knee was tired the therapist was constantly correcting her on how to do the excercises. "I feel like this has been longer than an hour." Melody looked at her watch after the cheerleaders statement.

"Oh, you're right. Let's go back to the room." The brunette was a little ticked, how did she not know it had been over an hour? "Alright, you did a pretty good job Riley. Congratulations 1 down and 4 to go. Do you have a fabric knee brace?" Riley slowly nodded, her knee was on fire. "Use that, when you don't have this one on. Wear this for 4 hours a day, and take off an hour each day. So tomorrow 3 hours, and by the last day of our therapy you will be weened off of this brace and walking on your own with the other one. Keep it tight." Riley signed a few pieces of paper indicating she showed up and put the brace back on. Her knee needed a break.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

"Riley!" She had on her metal brace and clocked in. The brunette ended up picking up her strong medication from the pharmacy. Lucas was right beside her, as usual, any other time in her life she'd make fun of the fact he never left her side, but her heart enjoyed him being around.