Dream On

Chapter 16

The next day as I sit on the porch swing and watch the cars go by Eric stops to see me. I'd hoped that either Rylan or Eric would come. It honestly didn't matter which one.
"Hey Blondie" he says sitting down on the swing next to me.
"Hi." I answer.
"How you holding up?"
"Been better."
"Tomorrow is the start of school." He says.
"Yeah. Mom called and I'm not going until I'm out of the wheelchair, I just can't go in like this Eric." I say with tears in my eyes. I bury my face in my hands.
"That's sad to hear" he says pulling one of my hands away from my face and lacing his figures through mine. "I wished you would be there to show me around and such."
"I do too but. I can't go in there like this Eric."
"Why?" He asks. Not to be smart or critical but just to hear what my reasons are.
"I don't want all the pity parties, and sad eyes, and sympathetic acts that disappears the moment I'm better."
"What do you mean?" He asks.
"I mean that everyone is going to care about me because of these--" I motion to all my casts "--but not who I am. I don't want that Eric."
"I get it Sunny. I see your pinot but I just wish that you would see it my way. The day you walk in there on those crutches you show them that you don't need their pity. You show them how tough you are and the only way for them to know any different is if you roll in there tomorrow with your head held high."
"Maybe I will Eric just not tomorrow." I think it over everyway but in truth I know I can't handle it now. "Just give me until I feel a little better. I'll have more energy and pep and then I'll also have a lesser change of falling asleep in class." I smile.
"Okay. It's all up to you but still if I don't see you before can I have one little good luck kiss?" He asks. I raise my eyebrows at his pathetic puppy dog eyes. "Please?"
"Oh. Okay. If I have to." I say and lean towards him. He takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine. I put one casted wrist on right cheek and the other on his left. Boy were we a picture to see. Two teenagers on a porch swing the girl covered in bandages and the boy asking for a kiss. Not a picture out of any romance novel but still. Something close to perfect.