Unforgivable

Chapter 18+notice

I woke up consumed in a blizzard of white sheets, each of them cold and empty. 

“M-Matt?” I mumbled. My hand reached through the abundance of covers searching for the warmth of his body. 

“Look,” he spoke. I couldn’t see where he was, but I knew he was smiling from the happiness in his voice. Turning my body to face the door, my lips crept into a grin as I saw him propped upright in his wheelchair.

“I did it all by myself, see? I didn’t need help!”

“T-that’s great,” I replied, still getting used to the fact he was in a wheelchair. The sun peeked through the blinds that draped over his window, and I raised a hand in front of my eyes to block the rays.

“I tried to make you breakfast, but I couldn’t really reach the stovetop,” he laughed.

“It’s fine, thanks though. I’ll get cereal for both of us.”

I trailed behind him as he rolled into his kitchen, the muscles in his shoulders pushing his t-shirt fabric to the limit as he pushed down on his wheels.

“Could you grab that?” he asked, pointing towards a paper lying on the floor.

“Yeah, course.” I picked up the small sheet, my eyes scanning over it as I handed it back.

“Doctor’s note,” he groaned, “because apparently my legs aren’t enough to prove I was in the hospital for the past days.”

“Yeah,” I laughed, “you want Cheerios?”

“Sure.”

I grabbed a bowl on the top shelf of a cabinet, and placed it on the countertop. Ever since kindergarten, Matt and I were the only kids in that chose cereal over crackers for snack time. We go way back.

“Gotcha,” he laughs, after shooting a piece down my shirt. I smile, and throw it back.

“Shit, it’s already seven-thirty, we should go.”

Grabbing my backpack, I started towards the door, only to be jerked back by Matt’s hand. His eyes were focused on mine, and he smiled as I slowly sunk to my knees to match his height.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he spoke, pressing his lips onto the crook of my neck. 

“Matt, I’m fucking serious, we have to go-”

He kissed along my jawline, stopping slightly beneath my ear. His breath was hot against my cheek, and his lips eventually found their way onto mine. I smiled through our kiss as his hand snaked under the back of my shirt, which I nudged away with my fingers.

“I’m serious,” I breathed as our lips parted, “stop!”

He laughed, and playfully pushed me back. Matt followed me out back, his wheels thumping against the metal ramp as we climbed into his mom’s car. After a collection of seatbelt clicks, we started down a familiar road.

Matt’s hand crept along the length of the leather seats, pausing before grazing the top of my thigh. He adjusted his hand to intertwine his fingers with mine, and I smiled as I felt the old feeling bubble in my chest. 

“Remember her?” he laughed, pointing at a woman crouched besides her car. Her  grey hair peeked around the sides of her knitted beanie.

“She was crazy,” I replied, “she nearly sprayed me with her garden hose on the way back from school.”

“I was there,” he spoke with a smile, “I flipped her off when she wasn’t looking.”

His mom waved a hand behind her shoulder. 

“Out, out, out!” she squeaked, throwing her scarf over her shoulder, “you’re late!”

Matt rolled his eyes, unbuckling his seatbelt. His mom helped him out of his seat as I picked up both of our backpacks, handing him his as he rolled out. I took a deep breath in as we walked towards the side of the school, a few heads turning to see Matt’s new accessory.

“M-Matt, d-dude,” a voice stuttered behind us. 

I turned around to see a tall boy, his small figure barely fitting the large jersey hanging off of his shoulders.

“Austin,” Matt sighed, weakly smiling at his friend. 

“Didn’t know you were this fucked up,” he joked, his voice breaking as he scanned Matt’s body. His gaze was focused on his legs that were placed awkwardly atop the foot rests of his wheelchair.

“Heard you’re playing quarterback this year,” Matt mumbled.

“Yeah, Coach had to choose between A.J. and I,” Austin replied.

Matt’s eyes hit the ground, and his hands reached up to brush the rim of the wheels on his chair.

“N-no, I’ll help,” Austin quickly demanded, grabbing hold of his chair, “I’ll take you to class.”

I walked along side of them as we approached the math hall. I felt Austin’s nervous gaze hit me, and I turned my head to meet his eyes. 

“You okay?” he asked, looking down at Matt, who’s hands were calmly placed in his lap.

“Yeah, fine,” he breathed.

Students scrambled across the quad as the deafening tone of the bell rang. Austin and I shifted to block Matt from the oncoming wave of people. I felt Matt’s hand tug against the loop of my belt.

“Rhea,” he whispered frantically, “Rhea!”

“What?” I snapped back, glaring down at him.

“Look,” he sighed.

Curse words slipped out from under my breath as I saw a circle of girls crowded around a tall, muscular teenage boy. I felt a shiver down my spine as his green eyes caught mine. A shorter blonde prodded at the biceps that strained against his tight v-neck, and he gave me a smirk as my mouth dropped open.

“B-Booker,” I stuttered, “I didn’t know you’d be back this early.”

sorry for not updating for a while, a big update is coming soon, don't worry! thanks to everyonewho's kept with this story, it means a lot! xx