Chapter 2

As she reaches us, Drake places his own backpack on both arms before he bends down, taking me in his arms bridal style. Gasping in surprise, instantly I wrap my arms around his neck, clutching onto him as I bury my head into his neck.

Drake chuckles at me as he adjusts his hold on me as we pass Mrs. Peacock. "Haven't had to do this in a few years," he chuckles out as we head to our next class.

"Definitely been a few years, I think the last time was when we had gone to the skate park alone and I broke my chair on a trick," I say with an airy chuckle.

We receive a few stares and laughter from those who are still in the hallway, but Drake being the awesome friend that he is, keeps me distracted with his horrible jokes. Entering our Math class he kicks out my chair before gently placing me on it and pushing the chair forward some before taking his own seat. 

I nod in understanding, still stressing how I will make it to the rest of classes until dad can arrive with my chair. I'm just thankful that Drake is in all of my classes, so I guess if I need help, he'll do something for me. Mrs. Peacock resumes the class, which is us reading three chapters that she's assigned in the current novel we're reading.

Class ends causing my anxiety to spike again, not knowing how I'll manage to make it to my next class, even if it is only five rooms down from here. Packing away my supplies for this class as Drake does, I try to figure out how to make it to Math.

Before I stand to lock my braces into place, Drake says to me, "Place your backpack on and stay where you are." I glance at him briefly before complying, not sure what he will do. 

"You trust me right, Jace?" he asks standing to his full height. I nod, realizing that there are a few lingering students who are not being discreet about staring at us and Mrs. Peacock before she tells the other students to head to class. They file out slowly as she makes her way to us.

Several minutes later, the principal and superintendent walk into the classroom, completely confused until Mrs. Peacock holds up my broken crutch in explanation.

"Who broke Mr. Martin's crutch?" Mr. Stevens, the principal asks. Mrs. Peacock gestures toward Kevin, who's still grinning, causing both men to turn toward him scowling deeply.

"Why would you do this?" Mr. Anderson, the superintendent, asks his tone 'don't lie to me'.

Kevin shrugs, never losing his smirk. "It's funny," is his simple answer.

Mr. Stevens turns to me, compassion on his face. "Did you by chance bring your chair in Jacob's truck?" I shook my head no and he sighs. "Is your mom at home?" he asks as Mr. Anderson escorts Kevin out of the classroom.

Cocking an eyebrow at him in confusion; my mother hasn't lived with us in years. "No, she doesn't live at home; it's just my dad, who's at work."

Mr. Stevens nods in understanding, but there's an emotion that flashes across his face I didn't catch. "I'll call your father at work to explain what has happened."

Mrs. Peacock turns her scowling face toward him as he settles in his chair. "Why would you do this?" she demands, holding the up crutch. Kevin shrugs and turns his grin toward me.

Mrs. Peacock's anger only seems to build at his response. She picks up her class phone, pressing a button before speaking into the phone. "This is Mrs. Peacock, I need someone from the office to come to my room for a moment, please?" She was quiet for a moment before answering, "Thank you," she says before hanging up.

She glances at Drake, "Have a seat for a moment, please." He nods before striding towards his seat with the good crutch. Guess I should have let Jacob place my chair in the back of his truck.

Before I can reply one cheerleader, who isn't mean to me but never says or does anything when Kevin, Jarick and Matt harass me, answers for me. "Drake went after Kevin, who took Jace's crutches and took off."

Mrs. Peacock snaps her head back to me with a shocked look on her face. "Is this true, Jace?" she asks glancing around me for my crutches not finding them.

I nod in embarrassment while mumbling "Yes." Just then Drake rushes into the room, gasping for breath while holding both of the crutches, one intact while the other is broken. Tears instantly spring into my eyes at the sight.

"Sorry, Mrs. Peacock, Kevin took off," the teacher interprets Drake, telling him she's aware of the situation as she takes the broken crutch from him. The bolts from the handle and the forearm piece causing both essential parts missing. Kevin walks in taking a seat with a shit-eating grin on his lips.

"Drake Payne?" she calls looking at his empty seat before turning her attention to me. "Where's Drake, he's stuff is there, but he isn't?"

I don't want him to have any trouble with Kevin or a teacher. The teacher, Mrs. Peacock, starts class by taking roll. When she calls out Kevin's name, she isn't surprised that he isn't there. 

A week has passed since the incident with Kevin, who was suspended for two weeks for destroying my property. It's been a wonderful week as well since Jarick and Matt don't harass me when Kevin isn't around.

When the incident happened dad had arrived during my third period, science, with my chair. When he arrived, I was called down to the office to gain my chair and talk to dad along with the principal, Kevin and his parents. Drake had been excused from the class as well to carry me down to the office along with my working crutch. That's when I found out that Kevin had been suspended for two weeks along with having to pay to replace both of my crutches, which cost $1500.00 and I should have the new ones either Monday or Tuesday.

Let's just say that Kevin's parents were not happy with their son for picking on and I quote, "the poor crippled boy," end quote.

Let's just say that dad was not thrilled with their choice of words about his son, regardless if they didn't mean to insult me. Dad blew up on them, telling them they were 'ignorant twats'. Dad is originally from Doncaster, England, which is 76.2 miles from Liverpool, England. Dad moved to the United States when he was only 18 years old to attend the University of California, in Berkley, California for his Audio Production Degree and now is a Music Producer in Hollywood. We live in San Francisco near the bay, I think I forgot to mention that before.

Drake picked me up for school this morning in his black Chevy Avalanche since we're going to the skate park after school and I'm staying the night at his place. Drake picked up my sports wheelchair this morning, dropping it off at his house before we came to school this morning since he doesn't want anyone messing with it in the back of his truck.

"Mr. Martin, pay attention, please," Mrs. Peacock says snapping me out of my daydream. I hear a few chuckles as my cheeks flush.

"Yes ma'am," I mumble, turning my attention back to her. She's lecturing on the novel we've just started earlier this week. I've already read this novel, 'Of Mice and Men' so I zoned out on her lecturing. Drake smirks at me before turning his head forward.

Finally morning classes have ended, allowing us to head to the cafe for lunch. Making our way to the cafe, grabbing food from the line we sit at the table where Drake and I always sit with three of of our other friends. Well, technically they're Drake's friends, I'm not overly close with them but they're alright.

There is Bianca Green, a tiny little thing all around. She's probably no taller than 5 feet three inches, maybe 110 pounds, with long wavy chestnut brown hair and the palest sky-blue eyes. She's sweet but quiet and but she at least talk to me more than the other two. I can picture her and I becoming friends.

Then there's Julie Creston, I really am not that fond of her. She's cold and bitchy. The typical high school cheerleader that thinks she's better than everyone. If I was a straight man, I would find her beautiful. She's probably around 5 feet 7 inches, with long straight light brown hair that she slightly curls with light hazel eyes.

Last but not least is Archer MacLean, who is sexy as a damn Greek God. He's 6 feet 4 inches tall, broad muscles in all the right places. He has semi-curly hair that is messy, two day's growth of facial hair always. His eyes where or how do I even describe his drop dead gorgeous eyes. They are the sexiest blue-gray eyes I've ever seen in my life. (These 3 characters will appear in another story).

I have a hard time talking to Archer because I'm find him so attractive and I'm terrified that I'll make myself a fool by saying something wrong. I have no problem making small talk, but anything bigger than that; I freeze.

"Hey gals and guy," Drake says plopping down in a chair next to Julie. Drake and Julie are casually dating. They go on dates with each other and are fuck buddies, but they also go out on dates with other people. I really don't get their relationship, but whatever it's not my concern.

"Hey man," Bianca and Archer greet him as we eat.

"Hey D," Julie says in her horrible sexy voice causing me duck my head and roll my eyes.

"Hi Jace," Bianca whispers, who is sitting next to me.

Picking my head upwards I smile faintly at her whispering back to her, "Hi Bianca." As Bianca and I consume our lunches, Julie, Drake and Archer talk about their weekend plans.

"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" Julie asks Drake, as I see her rubbing his jean clad thigh again causing me to roll my eyes.

Here we go, I'll get dropped off at the skate park with my other chair and he'll bail on me so he can fuck her. Mentally preparing myself for the best I can of my best friend bailing on me to get a piece of ass.

"Busy, Jules, I'm going to the skate park tonight with Jace, and then we're hanging out at my house."

Holy shit, he blew her off to hang out with me. My jaw drops slightly in shock that he didn't ditch me for her. I'm not worth ditching a kind of sorta girlfriend who gives it up as quick as a damn whore.

"Can I come?" Archer and Bianca ask together, causing me to smile slightly.

Glancing at Drake to see what he says, he glances at me before answering them. "Do you care, Jace?"

Shrugging my shoulder, I mumble out "Fine by me." This causes Bianca to smile brightly at me. Smiling back at her, I notice Archer is looking at me with shock.

"I'm not trying to be rude, but don't you get bored at the skate park, it's not like you can do anything there?" Archer says.

I feel my heart shatter slightly that he thinks so little of me. Just because I'm physically challenged doesn't mean I'm not able to do the same things that people who can walk do.

Drake must have seen the face I pulled at Archer because he jumps in with, "Just because Jace is physically disabled doesn't mean he can't do the same things as those of us who have full use of our legs." Oh no, Drake is pissed, this isn't good.