"I've returned, as promised," I said as I walk up to Sandy the next day. She looks up at me from her book surprise mingling with relief in her brown eyes. I note that she begins shewing on her lip to try and keep from smiling. It's futile and a moment later a beautiful smile lights up her face. It pulls one from me that only grows as her eyes zero in on the thing in my arms.

"Is that...a board game?" She questioned and I nod.

"You bet it is, sweet cheeks." The pink blush from yesterday comes back and it feels like I've won another small victory.

"Are you sure you haven't just been blindsided by falling so hard?"

Mikey's question echoes through my thoughts and I push his voice deep, deep down. The last thing I want to do is deal with him or anything he has to say. It's thanks to him I did nothing but toss and turn in bed last night.

I just want to help her.

"So, you wanna play?"

"She doesn't want your help. Just look at her, not her disability."

I watch as she looks between me, the board game, and her book before finally deciding to close the book.

"What board game is it?" Sandy asked before growing silent as I walk into the sun and set the game down in the grass.

"A game I'm sure you'll enjoy," I turn and walk back towards her. As soon as I'm close enough I bend and have to hold back my laughter at how wide and curious those brown eyes are.

"What are you-" She squeals as I pick her up princess style, her slender arms wrapping around my neck for dear life and just about squeezing all of mine out. "Chris! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Her breath runs hot and quick over my skin as she buries her face in my neck. It becomes even harder to breathe and I choke and chuckle as best I can, enjoying her overreaction at being picked up.

"Can't-can't breathe. Loosen your hold, Sandy." For a long while, she doesn't listen to me and we just stand there, neither of us saying anything. I stay as still as possible so as not to spook her, it's the last thing I want to do right now. Ever so slowly, her hold seems to loosen and her breathing returns to normal.

She's trusting me.

"Don't worry," I start and stand as still as possible, watching as she pulls her face from my neck. "I won't drop you. I figured that sitting in the sun would be a nice change of pace."

She nods at that, her eyes looking down at the ground which must seem a million miles away now. Her eyes move from the ground and clash with mine and I smile down at her, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.

Wait, what?

"So, how's the view up here?" I asked, pushing the thought to the back of my mind. Sandy looks away from me and towards the board game sitting in the grass.

"It's not all that great. Nothing fancy."

I can tell that she's lying and chuckle as I walk us over to the game. Her arms tighten and she only relaxes once I set her down on the grass.

"Monopoly. Really? You couldn't think of a better game?"

"What? Monopoly is a good game." I defend because this game is good. It's better than good and for a moment I fear that maybe she won't want to play. So, I do the only thing to assure that she will. I smile and cross my arms over my chest as I say, "I get it."

Her brows furrow giving her that adorable look.

"You're just scared of being completely crushed by me."

She snorts and I know I've got her hook, line, and sinker.

"Yeah, no, that ain't ever going to happen. I'm a master of this game."

I start pulling all of the pieces out, enjoying myself even more now that I can see the excitement in her eyes.

"I guess we'll see about that."

Sandy picks up the race car piece and meets my eyes as that beautiful smile lights up her features once more.

"I guess we will."

We play Monopoly for longer than I'd like to admit, each giving the game our all. Eventually, it's the sun and the heat pounding down on us that forces the game to an end with no winner.

"Alright, alright, let's figure out a different way to determine my inevitable win," I said and I smile as I watch her toss the race car piece on the board, relief swarming her eyes.

"Yeah right. You were totally losing." She helps me to gather the pieces and I snort as I say,

"Whatever floats your boat little miss denial."

"Fine, I challenge you to a staring competition."

I look at her, eyes wide with shock at that challenge. A sly smile curls her full lips and the haughty air of a queen wraps around her entire being.

"That's not fair! You're, like, the master of never blinking."

Sandy raises a hand to her ear, the sly smile turning to one of victory as she says,

"What's that I hear? You're admitting defeat. Well, it's not like you'd have won anyway."

That's it, darling. Game on.

Excitement races through me at this challenge as I stand and pick her up, hurrying us both over to the shade. She sighs in relief from being out of the heat and I've got to agree with her. The shade feels amazing.

I place Sandy back in her spot before sitting down beside her and getting into the zone. I've got to win this little game or everything will be over. I need to show her that I'm good enough to win a simple staring competition that no other guy would be able to.

I freeze up at that line of thinking.

What the hell? No other guy? It's not like that.

I shake the thoughts and feelings away as I remember back to my family and siblings.

I only want to help her.

I chew on my bottom lip, doubt slipping through my cracks.

Are you sure about that?

I grit my teeth together.

I can't like Sandy.

"Why not?" I find myself whispering the question under my breath and I'm shocked that I don't actually have an answer for that. "Why can't I?"

Because I don't want to lose her.

My thoughts go to my family and how everytime I ever wanted anything it always got brushed aside in favor of the oldest or the youngest. Nothing got thought about with me. Nothing got done with me. Instead, I did everything. I took care of everyone.

I don't want to lose her.

A soft chuckle pulls me from my thoughts and those amazing brown eyes meet mine. Her smile blows everything away and it's just us sitting on these front steps. My family disappears from my thoughts and the weight of always having to take care of them lifts off my shoulders. I feel like I can actually sit here with her and not have to do anything.

"Did you ever think that maybe she doesn't want your help? At least give her the credit of being someone strong enough to take care of herself."

My eyes flicker to her broken legs before meeting her eyes once more.

"She's gotten this far in life without giving in to her disability."

A smile tips my lips upwards and, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm free to actually do what I want to do in life.

"Alright, I hope you're ready to lose."

Sandy just rolls her eyes and I chuckle, loving it.

"Your sportsmanship is non-existent. I really hope you don't play on any teams at school."

"As a matter of fact, I play basketball."

"Oh wow," If sarcasm could kill hers would. "Couldn't have guessed that one." I lean forward my smile contagious because one grows on her own face.

"Listen here, snarky marky, this is not a competition of sarcasm."

"Did you just call me 'snarky marky'?"

I continue as if she said nothing. We're both leaning into one another, the distance between us getting smaller and smaller.

"This is a game of wits and courage," I said and humor shimmers in her beautiful eyes as she replies,

"Again, it's a staring contest."

My smile grows if at all possible as I say,

"A game that will show who's more superior. Readysetgo!"