Down-Hearted Syndrome

Chapter Two

I decided to go to school today. Not because I wanted to learn, or because I have friends, but because I wanted to see... "Him."

He has long black hair and a scruffy stubble that perfectly sits on his chin. He's the prettiest of the Dance Squad, and he loves to sing. He has the perfect name, the kind that just rolls off of your tounge; Oliver June. He's just... Perfect.

Basically, way out of my league.

I wish I could get closer to him... But all of my "Special Ed." Classes are at the other end of campus.

His dance class is coming up, the same period as my "Study Hall." I might want to hurry if I want to make it there without being flooded by student switching classes.

Pushing my weak arms forward, I roll my wheelchair to the door. Suddenly, it swings open, inches from hitting my face.

"Oh! S-Sal, I'm s-sor-ry!" A short boy stumbles through the door, his natural stutter peaking in embarrassment. "I-I-I was-sn't p-paying at-t-tention!"

I barely twist my head, "It's okay, Drew, you probably couldn't see me."

Drew looked at the floor, his blonde bangs hanging over his eyes, "O-O-oh."

"N-need help g-g-getting somewhere?"
His stutter slows.

"Yeah, actually. Can you take me to the dance studio?" He stared at me, his eyes sparkling grey in confusion. "D-dance? But y-you..." He trailed off, eyeing me up and down.

"Just... Take me there. Please, Drew?"
Nodding quickly, he grabbed the handles of my wheelchair and pushed me along the hall. All the way to Ollie.

The dance studio is the size of any regular classroom, but there are no desks or chairs. There is a wall entirely covered in a giant mirror, and Christmas lights illuminate every corner.

"Ah, good to see you, Burns." A short man glided over next to me, gesturing for Drew to go to his next class. Drew shyly nods and stumbles through the door.

"Hello Mr. Dean, how are you?" I quietly spoke to the man, running the tip of my fingers over the rim of my chair.

"I'm okay, you ready for practice?" I nod as quickly as I can, which isn't very quickly because... Ya' know...

He grips the handles of he chair in his hands and pushes me to an area along the back wall, across from the mirrors. I begin to notice his class is practically empty, except for a small group of girls talking with their backs against a wall. Dang it.

Suddenly, the door is dramatically pushed open, another small group of students walking in. Ollie was in the back, quickly dropping his bag and lingering in front of Mr. Dean.

"Sorry we were late, coach. Mrs. Briggs had us decorating a new classroom." Ollie says, his baby blue eyes drifting over to me. "Hi!" He said enthusiastically, waving a hand at me. I can feel my face flush red with embarrassment, shaking my hand in response.

Disregarding his absentness, Mr. Dean spoke, "Ollie, I would like you meet my dear friend. This is Sal." Ollie's eyes drift back to me, and he takes a few steps toward me. I can feel my heart beating faster with every step. Oh God. "Hey there, Sal. I'm Oliver! You can call me-"

"Ollie! Come look at this video I just  found!" Ollie's head swivels to a tall girl, her blonde hair swung over thin shoulders. It looks like her only way of staying so thin is not eating at all. Also, her shorts barely covered her thighs. That's a pet peeve of mine.

"You need longer pants, nobody want to see that much pale. Kind of blinding, if you ask me." I didn't realize what I was saying until it was out of my mouth, for the entire class to hear. I quickly place a hand over my lips, my eyes widening in shock. Ollie looked from the girl to me, his eyebrows rising in amusement.

"Ooohh!" Ollie began, pointing finger guns at her. "Aimee just got roasted!" His giggly laughter oozed through he room like honey.

"Roasted by Mr. Burns himself." Mr. Dean pushed himself between us three,  adjusting his glasses.

Aimee, as it seems her name is, was so flustered she couldn't even speak. She just stomped her foot and angrily walked back to the other girls. I swear I could've seen her mouth some... Explicit words.

"As I was saying, Ollie, Sal is going to be observing our practices for the rest of the year... So, being you're the only young man in this class, I thought you two would like to get to know one another. Ollie rested his arm on the back of my wheelchair.

"Can do, Coach."