Things Change

We Like To Party Part I

[Dominique’s P.O.V.]

I wobbled down the hallway on my crutches, lugging my backpack. Ugh, where was Jacob when you need him? I dropped my bag down so I could readjust its position on my arm, when I felt the presence of someone beside me.

“Hey,” someone said, sounding out of breath. My head snapped back and I smiled.

“Hey, Kira,” I said, pushing a loose strand of hair out of my face and behind my ear. She smiled at me.

“Wassup?” she asked, looking me up and down. “Oh, nothing. Just....struggling.” I gestured down towards my backpack, which she bent down and picked up. She handed it to me, and I took it gladly.

“Thank you very much,” I smiled and we started walking down the hall again. The irritating sound of my crutches colliding with the marble floor of our school filled the hallway, as well as the chatter of others.

“So, how’s it with Daniel?” she asked me, which made my smile even wider. “Still perfect.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling as hard as I would like to. Daniel and I have been together for a year now, and things have gone smoothly the whole time.

“Have you two ever fought, even once?” she asked. I could tell she didn’t mean to be mean, but it came across that way a tad bit.

“No, and don’t expect us to,” I shot back at her and looked ahead towards the end of the hallway.

“Look, I’m just saying, it’s weird for a couple to not fight, not even once,” she shrugged, and it sent a spark of anger through my body, and I stopped in my tracks. I turned to face her, and she did the same to me. “Kira, just because you and Christopher never agree on anything, doesn’t mean that my relationship has to be that way!”

Her face scrunched up, and I could tell she was looking for the right words to say.

“You know, Dominique, I was trying to help you! I was trying to be a good friend by telling you the truth! But you don’t listen, so forget it!” she yelled back at me, and stormed down the hallway, arm swinging angrily.

My bag slid off my shoulder again and landed splat! against the floor. I sighed and tried bending down to pick it up again, while holding my crutches in one hand. Lemme tell you, that’s not easy. I tried positioning my crutches to a place where it would be able for me to reach farther. But no, of course that did not work either.

I felt my foot slip, and my body about to tip over. “Whoa!” I screamed in fear, as I put my arm out trying to catch myself, but to no avail.

But....Wait? Wasn’t I supposed to hit the ground? Weren’t my crutches supposed to smash against the metal lockers? Wasn’t I supposed to be writhing in pain?

A gentle hand laid upon my elbow, another placed against my shoulder. “Are you okay?” a faint voice spoke to me. I had to take a second to gather my thoughts before looking up at a worried Jacob.

“Umm, yeah, thanks for helping me...” I said, looking back down. I glanced up at his face again and he was still looking down on me. I pointed towards my bag, “Could you--”

“Oh, sure,” he interrupted me, bending down. He picked up my bag and slung it over his shoulder. I raised my eyebrow at him in a what-are-you-doing type of way. “You gotta go to class.” He motioned for me to move, and I re-gripped my crutches, doing as he said.

“You know you only have to help me after school, right?” I reminded him. He walked about a foot ahead of me, leading me down the hall. He turned around and half-smiled, “So you don’t want my help?”

I shook my head no, “No, I definitely need your help, thanks again. Just didn’t think you wanted to be seen with me,” I lied.

“If anything, you wouldn’t wanna be seen with me,” he spoke, not turning around this time. This was somewhat true. It would ruin my reputation being seen with...Jacob. I mean, yeah, he’s super nice, and cute, but he’s a loser. And I can’t hang with losers. “Which class?” he asked me, breaking my trance.