I'm Still Standing

32

Rachel

It's been a few weeks since the accident and I was getting better little by little. Although I am more than over this cast and ready to be running again, I still got a ways to go. But I've been able to move around more and I've been up to doing more things. Jon and I went on a double date with Abby and Sharpy and I only missed a few days of school. Things were getting a bit easier nowadays which is a nice change of pace. With it being April now and Jons birthday and the playoffs around the corner it looks like our luck was changing just in time. I graduate next month then I can look into starting my own restaurant.

But until then I was going to appreciate what I have now. And it was a beautiful day for April so I decide to take Bailey to the dog park. Jon was at a players meeting and I didn't have class today so I figured I should probably get out. So I sit in the park bench with my crutches next to me and let Bailey run. She's been in a apartment her whole life so I try to get her to a park as much as I can. That or if the weather wasn't awful I would take her on runs with me. But since I've been out of commission in a while she hasn't got to stretch her legs for a little so I let her run around.

I sit there by myself for a while as I wait for Bailey to get tired, if that's even possible. Eventually she comes over for a drink but she brought a friend with her.

"Who is this" I perk up as I lean over to pet the little schnauzer. It had a pink collar on and the cutest little bow. If her owner doesn't come soon I might steal her.

"Macy" someone yells and I see a guy around my age come over. He looks down at my new little buddy and smiles as he shakes his head. "Running off with friends I see" he shuns.

"Sorry if my dog caused you any trouble. She doesn't get out much so seeing other dogs make her really happy" I explain.

"That's okay. Macy loves to make new friends. Kind of like me" he smirks.

"I'm Rachel" I introduce.

"Mason" he says as he sits next to me. "And I feel like I've seen you before" he admits.

I laugh to myself before smiling a little. It's still crazy for me to hear that. "It could be from a number of things. This is my favorite place to bring my Bailey girl so I'm around here a lot. My father is Jeremy Roenick so you could have seen me in the news or around the United Center. Or it could be my boyfriend" I explain.

His face falls as he turns to me. "You have a boyfriend" he mumbles as I smile

"I do. He's the greatest person alive and I love him a lot. He's real good to me even though I'm pretty broken" I explain.

"What happened to your leg" he wonders.

"I was literally running away from my problems and I fell" I explain as he smiles a little.

"That doesn't sound good" he admits.

"It wasn't. But I'm going to get better. One day at a time" I explain.

"Well I hope you're going to be okay" he claims.

"That's very kind of you. I'm glad your dog found mine" I admit.

"Same here" he claims.

We sit and talk for a little before I decided I should probably start heading back to Jons place. It was lunch time and I don't trust him in the kitchen without me. So I tell my new friend goodbye and head on home. I make it up to the apartment where it looked like Jon had beat me home. I open up the door and hear music blasting which was unusual. Usually Jon doesn't listen to music unless he was working out. But he had it blaring around the apartment.

I let Bailey loose and she quickly finds him in the hallway coming out of the bedroom. He gets her to calm down before scratching her a bunch. I crutch over to them and he smiles when he sees me.

"Where have you been" he wonders.

"We made some friends at the dog park and got caught up talking" I explain.

"You made a friend" he gasps and I roll my eyes. I don't have a lot of those, but I'm working on it.

"I don't need this shit from you" I assure him as he smiles.

"Was she nice" he wonders.

"He" I start as he raises his eyes brows. "Was very nice and his doggy was precious."

"He" he questions.

"Yup" I smirk. I see him start to get upset as I laugh. "Don't worry. I assured him that I have a boyfriend who makes me very happy and Bailey would not have any other dad besides you" I tease.

"Good" he smiles. He walks over to me before picking me up bridal style. "I couldn't stand it if another man swept you off your feet" he claims.

"Only you" I promise as I let my crutches fall. He starts to sway as I wrap my arms around his neck. He slowly moves back and fourth with me in his arms as I look up at him.

"What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time

'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here

'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

And me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive."

He sets me down on the couch and I cup his cheek. I pull him into a long kiss and holds him close. I hold him as tight as I can so I know that I will never let him go.