Sex Lessons (Peterick) **REWRITTEN**

13

CH. 13 — PATRICK

It isn't long before Spencer is officially cleared to return to school. Getting used to him being in a chair, one that he'll quite possibly never be able to get out of alone, is proving to be harder for me than it is for him.

He's embraced the fact that he is now a paraplegic and seems to be getting used to it. For me, however, that's not the case. It's weird not being able to wrestle with him or listen to him play the drums extraordinarily in my music room, hitting the kick drum pedal way too hard.

That seems to be the hardest part to him, not being able to play the drums. Of course, he can still beat the brakes off of anyone that tries to challenge him to his title of Drum King, but it'll never be the same because, without the kick drum, everything sounds off. He knows it, I know it, everyone knows it.

Spencer had two dreams in life before the accident: become a Major League Baseball player or be the drummer in a kickass band. Now this stupid fucking paralysis is keeping him from doing either of those things.

A knock on my balcony door startles me out of my thoughts, and I look over to see Pete standing outside in the cold, waiting on me to open the door.

I roll out of bed and make my way over to the sliding door, opening it and letting my boyfriend in. "Hey, honey. Why aren't you dressed yet? We still have to get Spencer up and showered and pick Dallon up." He presses a kiss to my forehead and a coffee into my hand.

"Sorry, babe. Forgot it was Spencer's first day back." I say, taking a sip of the scalding hot coffee. "I'm going to hop in the shower. Can you go see if Spence is up? Promise I'll be downstairs in no more than ten minutes."

Pete gives me a disbelieving look but nods his head. I grab a fresh pair of boxers, a pair of black skinny jeans, and a tee shirt from my closet, making my way to the bathroom.

I cut the shower on, brushing my teeth as I wait for the water to heat up. I shower quickly and dress even faster, pulling my blue Vans with flamingos on and walking downstairs.

Pete looks impressed when I stay true to my promise, and, to my surprise, Spencer is up and ready, munching on a piece of toast. "Hey, dude. Who helped you get ready?" I ask Spencer, but my question is answered when the refrigerator door closes and Kevin appears wearing only a pair of boxers.

"That would be me. Figured I'd let you sleep in a bit." Kevin says, pouring himself a glass of orange juice and returning the carton to the fridge. "I also took the liberty of calling Dallon and making sure he was up and ready for you guys to pick him up."

"Thanks, Kev. Means a lot." I say, rushing over to give him a hug. He presses a kiss to my hair and ruffles it, messing it up in the progress.

"Go on before you're late." He says, pushing me towards the door. We load Spencer up, and I hand Pete the keys. He knows the drill by now, taking the driver's seat without a word of protest.

We drive to Dallon's house and go through the process of setting him next to Spencer in the back. They share a brief kiss before we're headed to school.

All eyes are on us as soon as we pull in the parking lot of Wilmette High, teachers and students alike. I help Spencer out, setting him into his chair, while Pete does the same for Dallon. We push them to the school, and it's then that I realise I have their new schedules in my backpack.

"Hey, Pete, Dallon, wait up." I say, stopping Spencer so I can reach into my backpack and pull out the crinkled pieces of paper. "This is Dallon's new schedule, and this is yours." I say, handing one piece of paper to Pete and one to Spencer.