Wheels

Chapter 7

This can't be happening...
Please say this isn't happening...
"Guys CALM DOWN!" Mr Buckle yelled.
"I'm not doing this I'm out." Mike said while standing up
"Sit down! I've talked to all of your parents and they said all of you will continue to work with me until our big performance in December."
"They think we are doing a musical not dancing around to some show tunes and wearing fancy costumes." Georgia mentioned.
"Well at least we are doing something rather than nothing." Hayley mentioned.
"Hayley's right now our first rehearsal is Monday after school till 5." Mr. Buckle said while grabbing his things and exiting the room.
I stood up and pulled Clyde's wheelchair out of the handicap spot and said "well this is different and very confusing."
"Preach." He said while throwing his hands in the air.
"Tonight I'm going to the arcade by myself and I was wondering if you want to come, and before you say it yes I know it's very nerdy." Clyde asked while rolling in his chair.
"Yeah sure I'll love too."
"Cool when do you wanna go?"
"Well we can go now if you want."
He gave me a look of shock then started getting embarrassed.
"My mom usually drives me and you know she's kinda embarrassing." He said while getting red.
"We'll be in a car where no photo albums are near... Free of embarrassment."
"Ok fine." He said while smiling "there she is."
I smiled and waved to her. She looked shocked at first then waved.
"Be prepared for many ridiculous probably not true stories."
I laughed
"Clyde is this that girl you were talki-"
"Mom!" Clyde shouted
"Hi I'm Stephanie Johnson. But please just call me Stephanie."
I nodded "hi I'm Claire."
"Nice to meet you Claire. So are you two gonna go to the arcade?"
"Yup" Clyde said
"This is the first friend that happened to be a girl I'm meeting besides for Hudson who sometimes acts like a girl."
"Mom..." Clyde mumbled.
I let out a small laugh.
"Well here's the arcade you kids be carful In there."
"Yeah mom I don't want some 30 year old gamer dude to jump us" he said while getting lowered out of the car.
"Have fun!" Clyde's mom yelled.
"Let's go before some 10 year olds start making fun of us." He whispered
I then started pushing him in his chair as fast as I can. When we walked in everyone looked at Clyde and I had no idea why I mean he literally is a normal teenage boy who just doesn't have feeling in his legs.
He doesn't have a disorder or a type of sickness there's literally nothing wrong.
I felt kinda upset so if I saw anyone laughing at him I would shoot them a look of anger and they would look away really quickly.
"So whatcha wanna do?" I asked him while pushing him through the arcade where the music blasted and lights flashed and a bunch of 10 year olds ran around trying to win prizes.
"How about you try and beat me at air hockey" he mentioned while riding over to one side of the table while I put a coin In and the game started.
We started and he was honestly so good at it, is there anything he's not good at?
***
"Yes I win!" He said while cheering after beating me at the 10th game we played.
"How are you so good?" I questioned
"I have lots of free time." He said while paying for two sodas.
"Here you go." He said while handing me a soda while I find a table to sit at.
"Thanks." I said while pushing his chair to the table.
"So i think we played all the two player games here. So you can choose what to do next." He told me.
I looked over and saw the bumper cars ride going on.
I guess he noticed and said "you wanna go to the bumper cars?"
"No I mean why would I, I rather do something with you." I said
"You do realize I can go on them."
"Wait seriously?!" I said getting excited.
"Yeah and we of course would share a car because there's two seats and my legs won't do much. To help us drive" He said while smiling.
"Let's go!" I said while pushing his chair to the line the arcade was closing in 10 minutes so the line was empty besides the 10 year olds birthday party and there friends.
I whispered in his ear "we're gonna look so stupid out there."
He laughed. "Your probably right."
The music stopped and so did the carts everyone who was just on got off and switched out with the people in line.
I lifted him out of his chair and walked over to one of the cars and placed him in. The only car that was available for us to have was a one seater.  Great.
"You can sit on my lap." He suggested
"You sure?" I asked
"Yeah besides if you don't I'm gonna just sit here doing nothing and get pushed around."
I smiled and nodded.
"Come on don't worry besides I won't feel a thing." He was right since his legs were paralyzed he wouldn't even feel me sitting on his lap.
I nodded while sitting down.
This was the closest we have ever gotten to each other.
We both looked at each other he was blushing and I could feel I was too.
The music kicked in and I pressed the pedal.
We both started laughing at how bad I was at driving a bumper car. I kept on getting bumped from behind which caused us both to burst out laughing. Then whenever we would hit another car we would start giggling.
The music stopped and they made an announcement
"The arcade will close In 5 minutes."
I totally ignored the speaker and so did Clyde because we both looked at each other and smiled. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek while getting out of the car.
I picked him up and he whispered "still friends?"
"yup still friends." I whispered while putting him in his wheelchair.
I heard him sigh which made me laugh.
I began pushing him out of the arcade when it occurred to me I never gave him my phone number.
While sitting on the bench outside waiting for his mom I grabbed his phone while it was in his bag and put in my phone number. I slipped his phone back into his bag right as his mom pulled up.
Once she dropped me off I ran inside and up the stairs and texted Clyde.
Thanks for taking me tonight. Let's do it again sometime. ;)
~Claire