Dream On

Chapter 20

Before I know it, it's Thursday. Already? Is the first game really in less than 48 hours? The school day goes by and soon I'm sitting on the front porch waiting for my carpool buddy. Rylan walks over the grass and gives me a hand to help me to my feet.

"You ready?" he asks.

"Ready as I'll ever be." i answer. He can tell something's wrong though. "I'm about as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs though." i admit.

"I knew it." He says and hands me my second crutch. "Don't be. All you have to do is rip up a couple t-shirts." I glare at him and hold up both of my wrists.

"And how do you expect me to do that?" I ask. "Just because I can put pressure on them doesn't mean i can do everything. I'm not even sure how I'm going to do anything on these." I hold up my crutches and keep hopping along while he strolls along side me.

"I'm sure you'll do fine." he says when we reach the car. He opens the door and buckles into the driver's seat. I roll my eyes and struggle to open the door, put my crutches in, close the door, and he finally gets the hint when i cant buckle my seat belt. He reaches over and clicks it into place.

"Thanks for the help." I say dryly.

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We pull into the school parking lot just in time to see them finish off the teepee that will become our bonfire. Someone just has to light it. Light it..... oh no. I forgot! The Saluted Student also has to light the fire. How in earth am i going to light a match with casts on both wrists? Now I'm nervous beyond words. Not too many people come but it's still enough to make my face go white enough for Rylan to notice.

"Are you sure you're alright? You're paler than a white sheet. You know, if you don't want to do this, you don't have to. I mean i heard that if you didn't want to do it the second choice was m--" He cuts himself off. No way. He isn't trying to talk me out of it just so he can have the honor. That's low even for Rylan. Still i want to be sure.

"What did you just say?" i ask.

"Um.... well, I was supposed to be the Saluted Student, then you got hurt and kinda.... stole my thunder." I can't believe my ears.

"You can't seriously be trying to talk me out of this so you can have the Salute role, are you?" i ask.

"Look Sunny, it's just that--" I don't hear the rest of his statement because i slam the car door and hop my way on my crutches to the top of the hill the fire is below to a waiting Eric. He sees the tears in my eyes and instantly pulls me into a gentle side hug. The last thing i hear before i start crying, is Rylan's car wheels speeding down the road twards home.