Transitioning in Love

VIII

Trigger warning: self harming

When Jasper walked into the school again for the first time after the accident, he was instantly tackled by Milo, Ron, Sadie, and Dana, which made him laugh.
"Hey guys, I missed you too." Jasper said with a smile.
They all got off him and helped him up.
"How are you doing?" Milo asked worriedly.
"I'm fine now, thanks to Walter, he took such good care of me these last two weeks." Jasper said with a smile, Milo became silent and moved to the back of the group.
"We should all visit Sophie this afternoon, she might wake up soon." Sadie said with a hint of sadness.
"Hey, it's okay, she'll be alright, trust me." Said Dana, wrapping an arm around Sadie's shoulders.
"Yeah, let's do that, I'll drive us when school is over." Said Ron.
"I have time to go since I don't have to go to cheer practice, the doctor says I need to take it easy for another week at least." Jasper said.
"I hope she's okay, it's been three weeks so far." Ron said.
"Guys, she will be fine, it will all be okay, she's strong, if I can wake up so can she." Jasper said with determination, everyone seemed to cheer up a little at that.

They all barely fit around Sophie's bed, Sadie sat on a chair next to her bed, Dana sat next to her and rubber her back, holding her hand and gently squeezing it. Next came Walter and Jasper who had pulled a chair from somewhere else in the room, and had Jasper sitting on Walter's lap at the feet end of the bed. Then came Milo, watching her with tears in his eyes, and lastly Ron, who gently ran his fingers through Sophie's hair.
They sat like that for about an hour when Sophie opened her eyes slightly, making everyone hold their breath.
"Guys? What's going on?" She said slowly and tiredly.
"Sophie, do you remember anything?"
Sadie asked.
"About what?" Sophie asked confused.
"Do you remember my birthday?" Walter asked.
Sophie thought for a long time. "I remember a cat, and beer, but nothing more than that. Why?"
Sadie tries to say something, but she starts crying and buries her face on Dana's chest, who just runs her fingers through her hair and makes soft shushing noises.
"Sophie, um, how do I say this." Ron began. "After the party you were drunk, so we called a taxi to take you home..." Ron stopped, unsure of how to continue.
"It was late at night, and there was a truck, but they didn't see the taxi in time." Milo continued, while Sadie just cried more.
No one continued, but everyone understood what happened.
"Oh..." Sophie said, unsure how to react, "how long have I been in a coma for?"
"Three weeks." Said Jasper.
"We were all getting worried, I was only out for one week myself."
"Can you all give me a minute, I would like to go to the bathroom." Sophie said before trying to sit up and looking down at her legs in shock. She pulled the blankets away and pimed her legs worriedly.
"Why can't I feel my legs?" She said.
"Um, well, you see," Jasper began, fiddling with his shirt, "the truck hit you pretty hard, your spinal cord got damaged."
"Are you telling me I can't is my legs? Ever again?" Sophie said in disbelief.
"Yes?" Jasper said, looking guilty.
"Can someone please carry me to the bathroom? I really need it." She said, looking like she is on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Ron gently picked her up and carried her to the bathroom, setting her down on the sink and leaving her to do her thing, standing right outside the door.
Sophie coughed loudly for a few seconds and then went quiet, it stayed that way before they all heard a loud thud inside.
Ron knocked on the door. "Sophie? Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. When she didn't respond he opened the door and peeked inside before throwing it open and yelling. "Get a doctor! Now!"
Milo rushed to the control panel and pressed the call button while Ron rushed in and quickly picked up Sophie, pulling a shard of the broken mirror out her hand and carrying her away, looking at all the bleeding lines going up her wrists.
Soon enough a doctor came in and when he saw what was happening he called for more people, Jasper and the others were all ushered out with varying levels of protest.

They sat together in the cafeteria, Sadie was a crying mess, Dana was trying to calm her down, and the rest of them were on edge, though Ron more so that the others.
"Why do you think she did it?" He asked.
"I'd say it was emotional shock, maybe we shouldn't have dropped a bombshell on her like that all at once." Jasper said, hanging his head low.
"Hey, love, it wasn't your fault." Walter said quickly.
"If I had been paralyzed instead of her, this wouldn't have happened, if we just switched places this wouldn't have happened." Jasper said while he curled up in a ball.
"Love, listen, it was not your fault, it was the fault of the truck driver."
Jasper didn't reply and just leaned on Walter's chest.
"We should get home, it's late already, and we're probably not allowed to see her untill at least tomorrow afternoon." Milo said sadly.
"No, I'm going to stay here untill they let me see her again." Ron said as he banged his fist on the table.
"Shall we tell that to your parents for you?" Dana asked, still comforting Sadie.
"If you could, and also tell school, they let Walter do it so why not me?"

Over the coming week they came to visit every day, but Ron refused to leave the hospital and slept in the chair next to her bed, keeping her company and making sure she didn't relapse.
At her last day, they all got together and helped her into her new wheelchair, which Jasper had bought specifically for her, and all walked her to the exit, Ron pushing the wheelchair for her.

When they came to school the next day, Ron was again pushing her wheelchair, she didn't talk all through lunch, and they all found out Ron got his schedule changed to match Sophie's so he could help her throughout the day, from the moment he picks her up in the morning, to when he dropped her off in the evening.
"You two have been getting close lately." Walter said teasingly, making Ron blush slightly. Sophie didn't react, she just poked at her food, not eating any of it.
"Well, someone needs to take care of her, this is a shock, she will need help getting used to it. I'm just happy to help her in any way I can." Ron said.
"Sure that's all." Milo said with a slight smile, making Ron blush more and Sophie look up.
"Guys, please, I'm just doing this because Sophie is my friend, I will help my friends out when they need it, and currently Sophie deperately needs my help."
"Guys, can we please just change the topic." Sophie said, looking very tired.
Everyone just went quiet, not sure what to talk about.
"Okay, guys, I'm sick of this, I'm still me, I'm just stuck in a wheelchair, can we get over the awkwardness already?" She said angrily.

Just then someone shover her wheelchair and laughed to their friends.
Ron stood up and grabbed the person by the front of his shirt, towering over them and showing them his biceps.
"You better say sorry now or I'm going to beat you into pulp." He said while giving them a death stare.
"I'm so- I'm s- I'm sorry." They stuttered quickly and ran off when Ron let them go.
Jasper tapped Milo on the shoulders and whispered in his ear. "10 bucks says they'll be together by the end of the month."
Milo thought about it and shook Jasper's hand. "Deal."

A/N: Hey peoples!
So, we got some heavy angst, and some character development, and a chapter focused on someone other than Jasper, hooray!

Anyways, I'm sorry but this had to happen, things will get better soon.

Have a nice day further! I love you all!
♥️