Fragile Hearts

6: Reporting Back

By noon on the Saturday after tutoring Kaylee, my homework is done and I wheel my chair to the small fridge to find something to eat. Grabbing a frozen dinner, I pop it in the microwave-cheese enchiladas. The picture on the package looks delicious, but the food never tastes like the picture.

I punch six minutes and then wait, thinking about Kaylee. She's a strange girl. True to her word, after showing me her room, we returned to the library and she appeared to give her best effort to understanding the process of determining "X" in an equation. To me she seems to be the quintessential "poor little rich girl."

The microwave dings followed by a knock on my door. Since Lucy said she'd stop by, and she's my only friend, I figure it's her.

Rolling to the door, I open it to a grinning Tyce. "So," he says, "how did it go with Kaylee?"

The man always flusters me. "She's an interesting girl."

"That's all you have to say?"

I frown. "She doesn't like math. She showed me her very pink bedroom. And I guess my impression is that she's lonely. How's that?"

"Much better. Are you going to invite me in? Something smells good."

"Microwave enchiladas. But, believe me, they're not very tasty."

"Well, pop another one in for me."

Tyce gently edges the door open, leans forward, and places his hands on the arms of my wheelchair. Reaching for the controller, he steers the chair backwards. His face is inches from mine. My eyes widen and I put my hands on his chest to push him away. The contact with his body robs me of my ability to breathe. I turn scarlet and shove him backwards. He barely budges, but it's enough for me to gain control of my chair and scoot across the room.

Angrily, I ask, "Why are you here?"

"I came to find out how things went with Kaylee."

"They went fine. She's exceptionally smart and has a better understanding of algebra. Now you can leave."

The microwave dings and Tyce walks over to open it. With his back to me, he asks, "Why do you dislike me so much?" He reaches for the enchilada in its plastic container and gingerly sets it on the stovetop. He turns and studies my face.

I don't know how to answer his question. "I-I don't dislike you."

He raises an eyebrow.

"I just don't understand why you keep showing up." I forge on. "Look, I'm not exactly your kind of girl."

Now he frowns. "Please tell me what my kind of girl is. Obviously, you seem to know me better than I know myself."

I'm so flustered I speak without thinking. "You're a hot guy. You date beautiful women. My looks are just passable. And since I'm in a wheelchair, you obviously don't want sex. So just tell me what's going on."

Tyce frowns. "You've got some weird values, Morgan. And I sure as hell don't like your impression of me. Do I come across as being that shallow?"

I only glare at him.

His "sexy blues" spark with emotion when he says, "You know, I thought we could be friends. I don't give a shit whether you're in a wheelchair, whether you're beautiful, or if you're an alien from another planet. What I saw in you was a woman of character, someone I could hang out with. I've dated a lot of women, and frankly, I don't give a fuck about the latest fashion fad, movie star, or hit song."

I can't find words to respond.

His eyes deepen to a shade of blue found only in the depths of the ocean. "And do you want to know why I really asked you to tutor Kaylee?" He doesn't wait for my answer. "She's a lonely little girl who needs a friend. Her kidneys are failing and soon she'll be on dialysis. All the money in the world hasn't found a donor that matches her biology. Sure, you're in a wheelchair, but pick your poison, Morgan. Would you rather have the wheelchair or kidney failure?"

With a sound of disgust, Tyce walks past me and out the door. For a long time, I can't move. Then I turn my chair around to see him leaning against the doorframe, watching me.

Choking back tears, I say. "Would you like a microwave enchilada while I eat crow?"

Tyce scrubs a hand over his face. "I just want us to be friends."

Rolling forward, I thrust out my hand."Done."