Wheels

Chapter 18: Real Friends

***Rory's POV***

          "Hey Rory. I'm throwing a party tonight; you coming?" My friend Daniel asks me. "I don't know if I can. I'll text you and tell you tonight" I say, shutting my locker. "Come on. You bailed on me last weekend, you have to come" He says and sighs, looking at me.

          "Sorry, I've been busy" I say, looking back at him. "With that cripple? Wheels? You should be hanging out with your real friends, not that freak" Daniel says and laughs.

          "Marley isn't a freak. And unlike you, she actually talks to me and cares about me. All you care about is partying and getting drunk" I say and start to walk away from Daniel.

          "Whatever dude. Go have fun taking care of your girlfriend" Daniel yells from down the hall. I sigh and keep walking, going to meet Marley outside. I put my bag on her chair and sit on her lap, hugging her.

***Marley's POV***

          "You okay?" I ask Rory and hug her back, rubbing her back. "Yeah. I'm just tired of the people that claim to be my "friends"" Rory says and lays her head on my shoulder.

          "What happened?" I ask and kiss her forehead, starting to roll down the sidewalk to my house. "One of my "friends" is upset because I haven't been coming to his parties. He insulted you and said that I should be hanging out with my "real friends". But at this point, you are one of my only real friends" Rory whispers, sighing softly.

          "You don't have to go to his parties if you don't want to. He needs to grow up and get over it. You definitely don't need friends that just expect you to do something whenever they want you to" I whisper back and stop on my porch, wrapping my arms around Rory.

          "This is why I like you so much. You actually care about me and make me feel better" Rory says and kisses my cheek. "I'm glad I can help" I say and smile, kissing her cheek back.

          Rory smiles and kisses my nose. "Can I sleepover again tonight?" She asks. "Of course" I smile and giggle softly, going inside. Rory shyly gets up when she sees that my dad is home, biting her lip.

          "Hey dad. This is Rory" I say and smile. "It's nice to meet you Rory" My dad says and smiles, holding his hand out to Rory. "It's nice to meet you, too, Mr. Price" Rory says and smiles, shaking my dad's hand.

          "Well, I'm heading to work, but I'll see you guys later" My dad says and leans down, hugging me. "Bye dad" I smile and hug him back. "Bye sweetheart" He says and kisses my cheek, leaving.

          I pull Rory back onto my lap and we go to my room to do our homework. "Let's get this done" She says and sits in my desk chair, getting our homework out. I turn on music and then we spend the next hour doing our chemistry and history assignments.