Wheels

Chapter 14: Football Players

          "I'll see you in a few hours" Rory says and kisses my cheek, leaving the cafeteria a few minutes early to talk to her dad. I finish my lunch and leave the cafeteria a few minutes after the bell rings, getting stopped in the hallway by a few football players.

          "Hey, Wheels. McCarty told us that you're the one that got him kicked off of the team" One of the guys says and grabs the back of my chair. "It's not like I just did it for the hell of it. He shoved me into the lockers" I say and roll my eyes.

          "Like this?" Another one of the guys says, roughly pushing me down the hallway and into the lockers. My chair hits the lockers so hard that it tips and I fall on the ground, hitting my mouth and side hard.

          The guys laugh and walk away, leaving me on the ground. I slowly sit up with my back against the lockers, just sitting there in shock for a few minutes. I finally pull my phone out of my pocket and text Rory, saying "Can we go to your house? I can't let Ben see me like this, but I sure as hell can't stay here...".

          "Of course. What's wrong? Where are you?" Rory instantly responds. "I'm in the hallway by the cafeteria" I respond and pull my hood up to try and hide the fact that my lip is bleeding.

          Rory drops her book bag and quickly comes over to me when she sees me on the floor, my wheelchair laying on its side. "What happened?" Rory asks and sits next to me, wrapping her arms around me.

          "McCarty got his revenge" I mumble and lean into her, hiding my face. "He did this?" She asks, holding me. "A few other guys did. I don't know which ones, I didn't see their numbers" I say and sigh softly.

          "Well, let's go back to my house and get you cleaned up. We can talk to my mom and dad about this later" Rory says and stands my chair back up, gently putting me in it. I nod and she grabs her book bag, taking me to her house.

          Rory's mom is in the living room when we get there so I keep my face hidden. "You're home early. And you must be Marley" Her mom says and smiles. I nod but stay silent, holding my sleeve against my bleeding lip.

          "Sorry mom. Three of the football players attacked Marley today. They crashed her chair into the lockers as revenge for McCarty. So, she fell on the ground and busted her lip" Rory says, frowning.

          When Mrs. O'Connelly hears that she goes and gets the first-aid kit, asking me if she can see my lip. I nod and push my hood down, slowly moving my hand away. She looks at my lip and has me hold gauze on it until it stops bleeding. She cleans my lip when it stops bleeding and gives me ice to hold against it.

          I thank her and she takes my hoodie to wash it for me. Rory and I go to her room and she sets me on her bed. "Here" She says and hands me one of her hoodies, sitting next to me.

          "Thank you" I smile slightly and put on the hoodie, crossing my arms. Rory wraps her arms around me and softly rubs my side. I lean into her and lay my head on her shoulder, closing my eyes.

          "Don't worry, we will figure out which of those idiots did this to you" Rory whispers and kisses my forehead. "Thank you" I whisper back and sigh softly, wrapping my arms around her.

          "You're welcome" Rory says and kisses my cheek. "I don't think I can handle all of Ben's questions about this tonight, but I have to go home" I say and frown, shaking my head slightly.

          "Just tell him that you're staying over here tonight" She says and looks at me with a small smile. "Are you sure that's okay?" I ask and look back at her. "I'm sure" Rory says and smiles.

          I smile and text Ben, saying "I'm staying over at Rory's tonight". He responds "Have fun, but not too much fun lol". I giggle softly and put my phone down, leaning into Rory again.

          Rory looks at Ben's response and giggles. I smile and look at her. She smiles and softly runs her fingers through my hair, looking back at me. "You are so cute" She says.

          "Thank you" I say and smile shyly, blushing. "Of course" Rory says and smiles, kissing my nose. I giggle and lay my head back down on her shoulder. "Wanna listen to music until my dad gets home?" She asks.

          "Sure" I say and smile. Rory smiles and turns on Pandora. "This Town" by Niall Horan comes on and we both smile. Rory sings softly "If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you... Drive highways and byways to be there with you. Over and over the only truth; everything comes back to you..." She smiles at me.

          I smile shyly and look at Rory, kissing her cheek. She looks back at me and kisses my cheek back. We listen to music for a while until Rory's dad gets home. Rory puts me in my chair and wheels me to the living room.

          Coach O'Connelly frown when he sees my lip. "What happened, Marley?" He asks. "Three of your players attacked me after lunch. They said they did it for McCarty" I say and sigh.

          "I am so sorry, Marley. We will have to tell the principal tomorrow and make sure that this never happens again" He says and sighs in frustration, looking at me. "Thank you" I say softly and smile a little. Rory and I go back to her room until dinnertime.

***Tuesday Morning***

          "How many of the football players attacked you yesterday?" Principal Gomez asks, looking at me in concern. "Three" I say and sigh, looking at her. "We will get this taking care of" She says and gives Rory permission to switch the order of her classes so she can stay with me.