How he saved me.

6- He's stiff and cold, like a dead body.

I had to wake up extra early so I could get I school on time.  I brushed my hair and teeth and took a shower at zombie speed.  I skipped breakfast because I was already out of a time to waste. 

The walk was agonizingly slow.  I was pretty distracted watching cars drive by and admiring the houses. 

I was actually pretty confused with Mason's behavior.  Yes, I had been through enough girl drama with my teammates in Texas.  I knew how to deal with it pretty well.  But this was like uncharted territory.  He was fine when we were running across the field  and laughing with me on his shoulders yesterday.  Then he just went stiff and cold, like a dead body. 

Except he wasn't dead.

He was sitting next to me in English Lit right now, as I speak to myself in my head. 

Wow that sounded crazy. 

I was completely zoned out with my chin resting on my arm and possibly drooling onto the desk. 

I had physical therapy after school.  Maybe Mason will tell me what happened.  Or maybe he will tell me that it was fun talking to me but I was too boring and ugly and short. 

"Yeah, sorry.  You're too short to be my friend. "

Haha, no.

Maybe I should've slept more than three hours last night. 

Most of the time I sat on the sofa in a pike stretch. 

"Dylan, would you please answer the question I have written on the board?" The teacher asks and my head snaps up and I look at the board. 

What is the theme of the story?

Isn't that like a first grade question?  Yeah, it is.  That's simple.  Now what book are we reading again?

"Oh, umm..." I trail off and someone raises their hand.  He chooses the girl. 

Thank you girl with pretty red hair.  Is there any way I can repay you?

The bell rings and I leave the room quickly considering I didn't take out a book during class.  I read this book last year.  This test should be easy. 

"Dylan!" Mason says loudly and heads turn in my direction.  I stop hobbling off on my crutches and wait for him to to catch up. 

"Why didn't you get in the car yesterday?" He asks and I raise an eyebrow. 

"I can't skip class because you want me to.  And I know when I'm not wanted somewhere," I simply state and he looks kind of surprised. 

"You have two free periods back to back everyday after lunch.  I helped you off the car too."

"Yeah, after not talking to me the entire time and leaving me with people who I've never talked to before who were wondering if I was the reason that you went mute," I shoot back. 

"Kaitlynn likes you! Chase obviously does too, Dylan.  They thought you were cool," we start walking towards the cafeteria and he goes to slightly bump into me but then realized that if he did I'd be on the ground. 

"Unless you want me to have another broken wrist, I don't think I'm ready to be knocked to the ground by a six foot giant," I smile.

"We're good?"

"When were we not?" I grin and he sticks out his tongue.  What a child.

"So we're sitting under the bleachers like we did yesterday. You up for that?"

"Always. I just need you to get me lunch," I say digging through my bag for my money.

"What are you looking for?"

"Money for lunch," I say and continue looking until I find it. I stick out my hand for him to take it.

"I'll pay."

"No way. I just went through all of the trouble to get it!"

"I'm paying." He states firmly.

"Uh huh. I just dug my way to China in my bag to get that stupid money. I'm paying." I demand. He sighs and takes the money.

I walk with him to get my lunch and I point to everything I want and he picks it up. Out of habit, my lunch is a grilled chicken salad with a watermelon slice and water. I'm out of gym, I have to eat healthy if I want to stay fit.

"So, you were on your way to the Olympics. That's big. Wanna talk about it?" He asks as we make the long, and slow, walk across the soccer field.

"My favorite part was staying in the athlete only room with my teammates. It was so fun. The order was always have a rest day, competition day, rest day, competition day, then go home. So after the competitions when we didn't have to go to sleep early, we'd be dancing around the room blasting music, sneaking around the building and stealing food from the kitchen. It was awesome. Of course the best thing we could sneak were protein bars and Gatorade or smoothies but it was still fun," I smile at the memory. I was almost to the Olympics. People who know gymnastics would know my name.

"You really miss it?"

"I would trade anything to go back. I just keep on finding myself hoping that I'll get over this injury, and move back to Texas," I admit.

"You'd leave me?" He asks in a fake offended voice.

"Without batting an eye," I wink at him and he scoffs.

"You're the only person who would say that. Everyone loves me," Mason says sitting down next to Chase.

"Sorry, dude, I don't swing that way," Chase smirks patting his shoulder and he pushes him off.

"Shut the hell up," he grins at his friend, but then puts on a sorrowful face.

"I knew Chase would never feel the same way," he mumbles and then cracks up laughing at himself. Is he high?

"Anyways, Dylan, it's good to see you again! I want to hear all about gymnastics!" She says and I laugh and start telling her stories about my teammates and I.

I was wrong.

I definitely found friends.