The boy in the wheelchair

5.Swimming competition

Georgia opened the door and entered first in the lunch room and Simon stayed behind her . Then Georgia went to the table where were staying Tom, Sue and Derek. She started saying something to them and their facial expressions changed. Tom made an angry face, Sue was smiling surprised while Derek laughed and waved to Simon. His face started to blush.
"Things can't be more embarrassing than that." He thought.
But he forgot these thoughts when he saw her sitting in the chair and staring at the phone. Surprisingly she was alone only some students stopped and greeted her but that was all. He approached her and said hi.
"Oh hi Simon. I see you decided to have lunch with me."
"Yes. Ermm... I see you are alone. Why so? I mean you are so,so..
"Popular? "
"Well yes." He answered blushing.
"It's because I wanted to talk alone with you about something you might be interested. "
"What is it? "
"You know that my father invests in this school and he also gives some good opportunities and offers to straight A's students. "
"Yeah I know but what does that have to do with me?"
Fred Brawn was one of the richest people of the town and he invested his money in the school and charitable organizations.
"Let me finish. My dad is planning a swimming competition between the schools of the city but each school must have only 2 representatives one male and one female. Well I will be the female representative and as for the male I was thinking you."
"Me???".Simon said surprised. He really didn't expect that.
"Yes. I really appreciate your determination and motivation in life. I mean your disability hasn't stopped you doing anything you want. You might ask how do I know this. Well last summer in that sport competition I participated and you were also there. "
"Yeah. I was at swimming. "
"Exactly. I saw your abilities there and you really surprised me. Man do you have Hulk's arms or something like that? That was the best performance ever. No wonder you got a first place."
"Daphne I think you're exaggerating it. How can I go to that competition? The one at summer was just for fun. This is different. I'm sitting in a..."
"Stop Simon. You can do this. You are going to win that price and handle college. I mean college must be important to you if you learn that much."
"Fine Daphne I will think about it but.."
"Don't worry about anything. If you say yes you are going to get trained with me by best" she said winking.
"One last question. Why do you want me taking part in that competition so badly ?
"I well... it's nothing personal. I just think you are the best for this."
Simon of course didn't believe her. She was probably hiding something but decided not to ask her more.
"So what do you say?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know. I didn't expect this. "
"That's OK,you don't have to answer me now. I'll give you one week to think about it. "
"OK thanks. "
That's all he could say was it. He couldn't say hey didn't feel disappointed. He thought they will have a friendly conversation so they could know each other better. But all she wanted was just an offer for a competition. At the other hand the scholarship he would get if he won was really important for the college. What should he do?
"Daphne that's all you wanted to tell me?"
"Ermm.. yes?
"Okay do you mind if I go to my friends now? I want to know also their opinion about this.
"Oh nice. No Simon I don't mind. You can go. Tell me when you decide.
"Of course. Bye. "
Simon turned his wheelchair around so he could leave. He had made just a few inches and then Daphne said: "And Simon, I still think you are fun."
"Ou I.. well... I...you.."
Daphne laughed and waved to him.
He couldn't see her because his face had become red like a tomato from the embarrassment.

"You came early lover boy." Derek told Simon.
"Very funny Derek."
"So what did you guys talk?" Sue asked.
"Nothing special actually. "
"Oh come on Simon. You were so excited when you told me. " said Georgia.
"She talked me about a swimming competition her father is organizing between the schools of the city and asked me to be the male representative."
"I don't mean to offend you Simon but you..." Derek said.
"Yes I know I'm in a wheelchair. "
"But why did she ask you? She could easily ask those hot football players. "
"Seriously Georgia? Hot football players?"
"Sue don't turn this around me. So Simon what did she say?"
"She said she had seen me in the summer swimming competition and she was really surprised how fast I was and so she wanted me to take part. Anyway I still think it's weird that she told me."
"She must be hiding something. " said Sue.
"Yes but what?" said Derek.
"I know what she is hiding. " said Tom. He hadn't talked at all until then.
" What? " all of the rest said.
"She wants to humiliate Simon."
"You can't be serious Tom. Why would she do that? She isn't an evil person. Mean popular girls are only on TV. " said Sue.
"Tom we all know that you still hate her about that science fair. "said Georgia but probably she shouldn't have.
"G she humiliated me that day. She made my project look stupid. "
" Tom we were 12 then. Get over it already. " said Derek.
"You don't understand. Can we please not talk about it? We were talking about Simon. " said Tom annoyed.
"Right so what are you going to do?" Sue asked.
"I don't really know. What do you think? "
" I think you should go. " said Derek.
"Yeah me too " agreed Sue.
"You should give it a try. You won't lose anything anyway. " said Georgia.
"Tom what do you say? " Sue asked.
"Do whatever you want Simon but I still think there's something fishy here.
"Daphne gave me one week to think about it. Thanks for your opinions guys. I'll think what to do. "
The bell rang. Time to get to the classroom again. Simon really wanted for the week to go. What would he do?