The Boy Who Broke My Leg

Chapter 9

"No the top value first then the bottom value. Yep, wait nope it's a subtraction sign not addition. There you go you got it", Alistair patiently corrects my math problem for the 14th time.

"Ugh this is so embarrassing I hate integration", I whine pathetically.

"You got till the last step before screwing up you're doing much better than 2 hours ago", he points out.

"I guess. That calls for a snack break", I conclude.

"We already had a snack break", Alistair reminds me.

"Snack break 2.0."

"What is it this time." Alistair stands up. He won't let me move.

"Chips and salsa. Chips are in the 4th cupboard. Salsa in the fridge."

"Do you really do everything on your own whenever your dad is gone?" he asks as he dumps salsa into a bowl.

"I guess. He does the bills and stuff. I just have to cook and clean." Mufasa jumps up on the table even though I've tried to train him a billion times not to do it. He meows when I don't immediately pet him. "And take care of this needy little sucker."

Alistair stays quiet. Kayla and her mother weren't impressed by the idea of a 16 year old being left alone for about three fourth of the year either but it's been almost two years and I'm fine with it. Does it get lonely sometimes? Sure. But it beats going to live with my aunt and her 5 kids which is the alternative I talked my dad out of when he suggested it a month or so after my mom's death. His compromise was that I move into a smaller apartment closer to school and if I can prove that I'm responsible, it won't be a problem. Granted I have done some irresponsible stuff like the drinking with random guys but nothing too major and he hasn't found about it till date. And this year I'm on my best behavior.

"What do you miss most about having a not broken leg?" Alistair asks. He sets the chips and salsa on the table. I try to pull Mufasa into my lap so he doesn't dunk his tail into the dip but he only digs his claws into the wood and refuses to move. 

"Running", I answer without thinking. My apartment has a gym in the basement that nobody uses but me and I find running one of the most liberating things ever. Put on some rap music and just forget everything but the rhythmic thumping of feet against the treadmill.

"Really?" Alistair says, surprised. "I expected you to say go out or something." 

I reach around Mufasa and drag a chip through the salsa. "I don't really go out much anymore." Aside from an occasional lunch date or shopping trip with Kay, my life is sadly indoors.

"Oh. Are you not going to homecoming then?"

Homecoming is this Friday. There's a plethora of neon posters pasted along every corridor so you can't miss the announcements. The theme is Christmas in September, which is just an excuse for our school to reuse the Winter Dance's decorations and keep the money from the tickets for themself.

"Nah the theme is so lame. And I can't really dance", I point out.

"You should come with us. And nobody is going to dance. We're just going to hang out."

I blink. "Who's us?"

"I'm going with a couple of the guys. Just to make fun of the decorations. Count how many times people get caught trying to spike the punch. Stuff like that. Senior year, c'mon this is your last chance", he persuades me.

"I don't know any of your friends. It'll just be weird if I'm with you guys." I shove another chip in my mouth and keep an eye on Mufasa's swinging tail which is getting dangerously clothes to the salsa dip.

"I'll introduce you. And if not, you, me and Kay can hang out."

"Kayla has probably had like 7 guys ask her to go", I inform him. I'd witnessed two of her homecoming proposals myself. Donuts on her desk (I do-nut know what I'll do if you say no to homecoming) and Minnie mouse ears stuck to her locker (Will you be the Minnie to my Mickey for homecoming). Cringe.

"But you have me asking you. Quality over quantity remember", Alistair says with a smug smile.

"Oh since when are you quality?" I ask with a smile. The idea of going to homecoming with Alistair doesn't sound too bad. Beats eating frozen ravioli and watching a horror movie with my dad.

"I've been quality since the day I came out of the womb", he replies leaning back on his chair. 

Mufasa, God bless his timing,chooses the same moment to knock over the salsa bowl with an annoyed swing of his tail, revenge for not being in the centre of attention, and it goes flying all over Alistair's jeans.

I laugh so hard I almost fall off my chair. When I look up and see Alistair's look of indignation I double over again.

"You're quality alright. And since Mufasa has given me his blessing, I guess we're going to homecoming."

..//..//..//..

The next day I get a text at 8am from Alistair saying he can't pick me up and he's already texted Kayla asking her to pick me up. I already know what's up.

"No. Stupid. Homecoming. Proposals." I say in greeting when he picks up my call.

"Good morning to you too Nessie how are you today", he says sweetly. 

"Do not call me Nessie and do not do whatever you're doing", I growl.

"See you at school", he replies and hangs up. I let out an annoyed sigh.

"What do you think he's doing?" I ask Kayla when she pulls up.

"No idea", she says in a voice that says I know exactly what he's doing and you can't know.

I nervously walk to my locker, preparing for the worst. And it's not the worst. Not by a long shot. 

Alistair's standing in front of my locker in a skeleton costume with his right leg wrapped in bandages. He's holding a sign that says "I'm going out on a limb asking you for homecoming."

I grin. "Yes I'll go with you", I say and give him a hug. A few people standing around clap. I smile at him again and go to open my locker.

I scream as a miniature version of the skeleton smiles back at me from the top shelf of my locker. Everyone behind me bursts into laughter. I turn around and glare at Alistair. "How did you even know my locker combin-Kayla!"

She runs away laughing and it's not like I can chase her or anything.

I look back at Alistair who just shrugs smugly. "Revenge for the salsa."