falling for adelaide; rvd

chapter seventeen

we were acknowledged of the fact that harper was in prison for a very long time. she was charged with two things, attempted murder and a severe hit and run, cameron called it. we didn't try to go see her or sweet talk her in any way. we let her be right where she needed to rot.

it was now months later and i had been stuck in a loophole of physical therapy. unfortunately, this was only to walk again, not to dance. if i couldn't dance there was no point of trying to get out of this wheelchair but i put up with it for this long that i might as well get through it.

"hey, at least you moved your toe," ruel admitted. he was happy about everything now. without harper in the picture, he was happy and content with where he was.

cameron and ruel were desperately trying to find something that would be my next ballet. i didn't want someone to help me find that thing, this was all on me.

"it's been a month and nothing has happened," i rolled my eyes out of frustration, "other than moving one toe."

"progress is still progress, you'll get there," he nodded, reassuring absolutely nothing. i turned my wheel and walked away from the conversation. it was tiring to work with someone for a month and only get to wiggle my toe. ruel was right, progress is progress, but this progress sucks.

he jogged after me and gripped onto the handles. i sighed as he pulled me back around to face him, "don't wheel away from me." he couldn't help but giggle, his laugh always had been contagious.

"stop," i whined, "can we go home, please?"

"but your physical therapy isn't done yet," he frowned. apparently, he enjoyed working with me and seeing me "progress". he always cheered me on, he was my little yet not-so-little cheerleader.

"i have tomorrow," i assured him.

he sighed, pushing me out the door. he waved back at my PT as we were always welcome to leave. i did notice how i couldn't stop moving my toes the whole way out to the car. it was a nice feeling, it put a smile on my face throughout the day.

"your face lit up when you moved your toe," he giggled, "it was adorable."

"it did?" he nodded in response and carried me into the passenger seat, "how is that adorable?"

before closing the door, he leaned in with a dorky grin on his face, "because it just is." he shut the door in my face and i watched as he walked his was to the drivers side.

cameron had work with her mom today. the house was quiet since ruel's dad was also working. it was just me and him, i could never complain when it was like this.

our crushes on each other never passed. when he moved in and we made that slight bit of eye contact, it was like picking up where we left off. i felt at ease looking at him that day. even though he walked away from the situation, i knew he felt the same. then the day was ruined when i met harper. i never realized it till now.

"do you really believe that i'll be able to walk again?" i asked quietly. i didn't really want an answer, i figured it wouldn't be what i wanted to hear.

"yes," he bluntly said, nodding his head, "it'll just take time, and you can't be so negative on yourself."

that's all i had been through these debilitating months. i had given up a few times and just laid in bed with nothing to do but cry. ruel was always there to cheer me up with a shitty joke or some spicy chips. how couldn't i have a crush on this guy?

"i'll try," i looked over at him, "for you."

"no," he shook his head, "not for me, for you," he smiled to himself, "but it's cute how you said you'd try for me."