The Unexpected

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The next day started like any other. Just like normal: I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, dragged myself out of bed, got ready, and ate breakfast.

That's when 'normal' stopped.

I ended up standing outside waiting for... something. I don't know if it just slipped my mind that my usual ride to school was currently unable to break out of the hospital (I say currently unable because she promised me she was already hatching an escape plan and we would be having those wheelchair races ASAP) or because after continuing the same routine for a year my feet had subconsciously led me to the curb. Either way, I had already excepted the fact I was going to be late.

I had finally turned around, thinking to heck with it all and deciding to go back to bed, when a car horn honked. Aaden's dark blue Lincoln pulled up behind me. “Ricki!” he hollered after he rolled down the window.

“What do you want?” I snapped at him.

“Do you need a ride?”

“No, I think I'm just going to stay home today.”

His blue eyes pierced me with concern. “Okay, I guess, but do you want me to bring you your homework or something?”

“No, Aaden. Just go to school- you're going to be late.”

He frowned. “Are you still mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad at you?” I replied, sarcasm dripping off the words.

In other words, yes, I was ticked off. But I had a perfectly valid reason to be- at least I thought I did. Let's just say the drive home from the hospital didn't go so well.

Flashback:

We both sat in silence as Aaden pulled onto my street. I could feel his eyes on me but didn't look away from my phone.

Finally he spoke: “So, how are you doing?”

I gave him a 'how-the-crap-do-you-think-I'm-doing-stupid?' look and he cleared his throat. “Um, I mean, what are you doing?”

I explained: “Emma said that since they only had to amputate,” I choked on the word, “um, take away, up to a couple of inches below her knee, it should be easy to fix up a prosthetic.” I looked up to him, hope in my voice. “So if everything goes okay, she'll be good as new.”

Aaden sighed. “I don't think it'll be that easy Ricki.”

“And why not?” I asked, pursing my lips and holding up my phone. “I found countless stories like Emma's- these people were able to go back to living their lives, one even went to the Olympics. Why can't she be like that?”

“I'm just saying that those things cost a lot of money.”

“Then we'll have a fundraiser. I could organize a bakesale or set up one of those Facebook pages where people can donate to a cause,” I argued. “Or I could-”

“You can't do everything yourself Ricki. Sometimes you just need to-”

“I need to what?” I replied angrily. “Give up? Move on? 'Cause I'm not about to do either of those things and you got something coming if you think I would.”

“No! I'm just trying to say that sometimes we all need a little help. You can't always save the day and no one is expecting you to.”

I turned to face him completely. “No one? What about Emma? We've always been there for each other, and now you come along and think you know us- know me- and you don't know anything.”