Please note: This chapter is in Michael’s point of view

Please note: This chapter is in Michael’s point of view.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Christmas Party

It was the final day of classes before Christmas vacation, and Mr. Olsen had actually agreed to have a Christmas party. Well, we couldn’t call it that because of political correctness in schools and all that, but we got refreshments and had a movie, which was better than taking notes on molecular formulas like we could have been doing.

Unfortunately, fruit punch tends to go right through me.

“Mr. Olsen?” I whispered to him. People had glared at the last person to talk in a normal voice during the movie, and I wasn’t risking anything right now. Once I had gotten his attention, I nodded towards the door, and he just nodded and went back to eating his chips.

Damn this wheelchair, I thought as I wheeled myself out of the room. Cameron had left a day early because his parents wanted to take him on vacation down to Florida, and God knows no one else was willing to help me around. I’d be getting onto crutches over the winter break since my fractured leg had healed, but until then, like I said, damn this wheelchair.

I had just finished in the bathroom and was headed back to the room when I heard my name called.

“You are Michael, right?” I turned my head and saw Jean coming out of one of the other classrooms. I looked over to the closed door of my chemistry class, which was right within reach. He was walking towards me, though, and I had no reason to think he’d do anything, really.

“Ah, yeah, you’re Jean, right?” I asked. He nodded, leaning over my wheelchair and placing his arms on the back. There was an awkward silence as he just looked at me, expecting me to say more, and I looked over to the door.

“You are alone?” he finally asked, and I looked back to him.

“Um, yeah,” I said. “I’m a big boy; I can go to the bathroom without help.” Jean was smiling now, and I really would’ve liked to be in on the joke. “What?”

“You are Cameron’s friend, right?” he asked. I just stared at him. What.the.hell.

“I’m-” I started. The door to my chemistry classroom suddenly opened, though, and out came a group of girls, talking and giggling. They glanced at us as they headed for the bathrooms, but they didn’t say a word. I took the opportunity of the open door to get the hell out of there.