Caleb

Chapter Five pt. Five - Monday At School

Getting to classes on time was hard enough before the brace and crutches. At least I got five minutes more than what most students were allowed, as that was the ‘rule’ in the school. My bag, resting against my back, was weighing me down and putting more pressure on my leg. Marcy jogged up to me and stopped me.

“Need some help?” she asked. After a while I’ve gotten upset with people thinking I need help. I know I can use it, their help, but I like being independent. “Let me take your bag.” I sighed, leaning against the wall and shaking off my bag. She took it from me and let me lean on her shoulder to get situated with my crutches.

“Thanks.” I mumbled, stumbling to gym with her right behind me.

Sitting in gym, I was the only person sitting out because I was the only person who couldn’t play dodge ball at the moment. As people got out, they sat along the bench, none beside me. I watched as Marcy squealed, running away from ball after ball before she sat down at my side.

“How’s the leg?” She asked, watching Caleb with her eyes, her face pointing toward me.

“My leg is good. How’s your heart?” She looked at me with a quirked brow, then laughed a little and shoved my shoulder gently, playfully. I smirked at her, laughing with her happily.

“Oh, look! Caleb’s smiling at you!” she said, and I followed her gaze with my own eyes. Caleb was smiling at me, but his smile faltered for two seconds. In those two seconds, somebody had seen he was not paying attention and threw a ball at him. He dodged it easily, of course, and went back to smiling to himself. He was so confusing! He’d come to the hospital every night of the weeks I was there, every night appearing around seven. We’d come close to real conversations, but weren’t completely there yet. I’d made him laugh, and he’d made me laugh. Yet, sometimes, he’d act as if he didn’t really want to be there with me. He acted as if he’d rather be doing anything else than becoming friends with the girl he’d saved.