Juvenile Delinquents

Keeping him safe

Willow helped me out of the car as Greta grabbed my wheelchair. Neil and Matthew stood in the garage. The January weather was too harsh for me to climb up the steps outside and due to my wheelchair it was no use. Walking over to me, Matthew scooped me up in his arms as Neil threw my wheelchair over his shoulder. My smile grew as Matthew carried me through the garage door. Once we hit the kitchen Neil placed my wheelchair on the floor allowing Matthew to slowly place me in it. "You're going to love what we have planned!" Willow squealed as she stepped in front of me, Greta nodding along.

     "What?" I questioned. Neil pushed me through the kitchen and quickly faced the living room. My heart clenched at the sight. My family and friends all stood around as a large banner hung in the back of the room. Welcome Home Melody. The banner read as I teared up. Mrs. Reda held a smile on her face as my eyes directed to someone beside her. The one person I didn't know was there.

     Tyson stood there, in all his glory as his signature smirk played on his lips. "Oh my god." I gasped at the sight of him. Everyone shouted a surprise but they were all distant to me. His blue eyes were the only thing I cared about at the time.

     Music began to play as everyone came to greet me. The first one to pull me into a hug was Mrs. Reda. A smile on her wrinkled face. "It's so nice to see you again dear. I am truly sorry for what happened." Pulling away her eyes met mine. "The second you were gone, everyone in this room worked very hard to try and find you. Me included."

     My smile grew. "Thank you Ava."

     Tyson was the second one to me. Smile stretched across his face as he kneeled before me. "I missed you so much baby."

     My eyes rolled. "Is this why you didn't come see me in the hospital?"

     He nodded. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

     A chuckle left my lips as my head shook. "Then I guess I missed you too."  Tyson's lips began to move again. Quickly. I tried to keep up with his quick words but I couldn't help but stare at him. My mind was set on pushing him away completely again. I knew I had too. That would be the last time I would ever see him happy. The way he smiled at me. The way his blue eyes sparkled with love and adoration. I truly loved Tyson. I didn't think I would ever stop loving him but that day would change everything.

     It would be marked as the day I began to put myself before everyone else. I had to. It would be the only way to move on without getting completely hurt again. I would follow my dreams and though they do involve him, I couldn't have both. It was impossible. We wanted different things. A part of me died that day. As if I lost something very close to me.

     Placing a hand on his cheek, my eyes brimmed with tears. "I love you Ty." Tyson stopped speaking. Smile on his lips. "Remember that alright? No matter what."

     "I love you too." Tyson leaned in and planted a sweet kiss on my lips.

     Pulling away, I padded his shoulder. "Can we talk after the party?"

     "Yeah sure." Pulling me into a hug, he kissed the side of my cheek. "Is something wrong?"

     Letting out a shaky breath, I shook my head and buried it into his shoulder. "Just something I need to get off my chest."
***

     Tyson managed to carry my up the stairs to my bedroom as Willow and Greta were close behind. Everyone left the house or went to their rooms. I said a thank you to everyone. It was nice to see them all again. Greta placed my wheelchair in my room and said a quick goodnight to us before closing my bedroom door behind her. It was that moment, that I had been dreading all night. If the girls found out what I was going to do, they would try everything to convince me not to end things with him. But they would never understand. I was a hazard. I couldn't put it on Tyson any longer.