I would be lying if I said the next week was easy, it was undeniably difficult. I went to my classes like normal, earning stares from everywhere. Luckily we were due our Christmas holidays at the end of this week.

"Hello?" I answered my phone, without checking the callers I.D.

"River? I know you were expecting to come home for the Christmas break but your aunt is extremely sick and I've to fly to Tulsa to look after her." So now what do I do for the Christmas break?

"That's okay dad, honestly, I've a load of study to catch up o-."

"No River I was hoping you'd look after Sandy for me, she misses you terribly," he said. I felt bad now. I'm permanently in a wheel chair, how could I look after her?

"Yeah dad, that's perfectly okay, Reece and I will come pick her up later." I smiled, to make me sound happy about it. How could I be happy about looking after my baby sister in a wheelchair?

"Thanks sweetie, I owe you big time!" He said, genuine happiness in his voice.

"See you later so, bye dad, love you," I said.

"Love you too sweetie." I hung up after that.

"Who are we picking up?" Reece came in, without knocking once again.

"You shouldn't be listening to my conversations," I crossed my arms, scowling at him.

"When you talk so loudly, it's hard not to," he scowled back, jokingly. Reece and I have a very close friendship right now. I like him a lot more than a friend, and he said he likes me more than a friend. He'd never ever date me though, I mean, who'd want a girl you has wheels for feet.

"We've to go collect Sandy later, seeming as I'm now a cripple, you have to drive me." I pushed myself up, bringing my wheelchair closer. Then I stopped before I pushed myself in it.

"Reece?"

"Mmhhh?

"I want to try to walk." I said confidently. I wanted to try, at least.

"River, you know what the doc-."

"I don't care what the stupid doctor said, I don't need a miracle to walk, I just need determination, please Reece, help me a small bit every day, please." He looked at me for a few seconds, before slowly nodding his head. "Okay, then help me up so," I said, holding out my arms like a baby. He helped me up without any effort, and placed me so I was sitting. I still can't feel a single thing in my legs, but I know if I keep trying to walk, I'll get their eventually, right?

"Ready?" Reece said.

"Ready." I said.

Reece helped me so I was standing, with his support obviously. I haven't stood up in about a week, this feels amazing. Even though I was resting against Reece, most of my weight supported by him, I was still standing.

"Come on River, try take a step." I tried my hardest to move my leg, but nah, nothing happened. This wasn't going to happen over night, I needed to keep and keep on practising.

"I can't," I looked down, obviously disappointed.

"Well then we'll have to keep on trying until you can River, I believe in you more than anything, just keep trying." I smiled up big at him, hearing that someone believed in me, was more than ever wanting to walk. Well no, I'd still like to walk, but you get my drift.

"Reece?" I looked down nervously.

"Yeah?" He looked at me, his features softing.

"Nothing, never mind, it's stu-."

"Tell me."

"No." I crossed my arms, he sat me back down on the bed then crouched down in front of me.

"River please tell me, or ask me?" Should I really ask him?

"Wouldyoueverlikeagirlinawheelchair?" I took a deep breath in, hoping he understood it.

"What?" He cocked his head to the side. "Just say it slower River, I promise I'll answer honestly."

"Would you ever like a girl in a wheelchair?" I looked down, embarrassed.

"I already do." He said.  It's safe to say my heart sunk to the pit of my stomach, he already does? He has feelings for a girl in a wheelchair.  I'm such an idiot for liking him.

"Nice one," I looked away, refusing to meet his beautiful bright blue eyes.

"What's wrong River?" He put his hand in my face, trying to turn me so I would face him.

"Who is she? The girl you like, I want to meet her." I turned around, fake excitement one face.  I needed to be strong, he was one of my best friends, I had to be supportive.

"You can meet her, soon." He smirked after that. What is he smirking at? Probably thinking of her and her stupid wheelchair.  Maybe the both of us could have a wheelchair race, I could be called 'Wheels Almighty' or 'hot wheels' and as for her  "Wheels of Whorey" or "slut on wheels', whichever she will pr-.

"RIVER?" Reece shouted, interrupting my thoughts.

"W-what?" I stammered as I re-entered the present world.

"We have to collect Sandy.  Do you want a hand getting dressed?" He asked, looking away blushing.

"Reece? Are you blushing?" I smiled, looking at him.

"Shut up," he said, going over to my wardrobe. "So what would most beautiful River like to wear?" Beautiful.

"Sweats, tank top and a hoodie.  I can't have Sandy destroying my good jeans." I said, wheeling over to where he was.

"This is fine."  I held up a baggy grey sweat pants, as Reece held up a blank tank top with a big blue hoodie.

"Are you okay to get dressed? Or would you like a hand?" He asked, blushing again.

"I can manage," I said chuckling, little chancer.

"Fine fine, your choice," he held to his hands, backing up. "River?"

"Yeah?"

"What's with the scar on your back?" He asked. How in gods name did he see that?

"W-what? How do you k-know about that?" I stammered.

"When you were in the hospital, they asked us about a scar." I don't know why, but suddenly I felt angry. Why me? Why is it always me?  So now I've an ugly scar, and practically no legs, great.

"It is none of your business Reece, just get out of my room." Why was I angry at Reece? "And as for meeting that girl you like, keep dreaming."

"Woah River, what the hell?" He said, once again holding his hands up.

"No okay, I don't want to meet her, why would I? She's obviously so much pretti-."

"River just SHUT UP, you already know her okay, just leave it." He stormed out, slamming my door.  What is his problem now? But then again, it was me who freaked out first. "If you're not ready in 20 minutes, I'm leaving without you." He said through the door. Great, just great.

•~•~•

"You change her nappy." Reece shouted at me.

"I can't reach Reece, just change it." I shouted back.

After he finally changed Sandy's nappy, and fed her she was soon asleep in the cot in his room.

"Are you just going to to stay here for Christmas break?" He asked, while pouring himself some juice.

"I guess so," I shrugged, pushing myself off the wheelchair, onto the couch.

"You could always come to North Carolina to visit my folks with me?" He said, plopping down next to me.

"I couldn't, especially not with Sandy, she's a handful." I was rather taken back that he offered me to go with him, why would he do that?

"I'll just have to ask one of the girls in my conta-." No.

"On second thoughts, I can't look after Sandy on my own, especially in a wheelchair and all." Why am I so freaking jealous?!

"Good women, I'll pack a few things for you tomorrow, don't worry." He reassured.

What have I gotten myself into?