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Reed

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I scanned the back garden with tired eyes, perplexed with my heightened self-reliance. I had to step out of this place and be there for my friend. I dropped my hand on each of the wheels on my chair and with perfect practice I turned the whole chair around, facing the front door.

Ever since I ended up in this chair I battled an inner war, trying my utmost to adjust and to evolve my life around the fact that I would never use my legs again. My family had to adjust around my flaws which I hated the most. We moved from out childhood house, I had to be home schooled, my Mom constantly had to help me and then there was my twin brother, Karl. Countless of nights he had cancelled to entertain me. I never allowed it and that's why I never spoke to him when he stayed me. Well, the silent treatment always lasted for ten minutes and then we were bickering like the normal siblings we believed we were.

But we were far from normal. I was the damaged sister.

I stared down at the long limbs attached to my torso, staring at them with confusing and a trace of anger.

"Why won't you work for me?" I whispered, willing my head to move them. They stared back at me silently, not giving me a answer I desperately sought. I casted my eyes over my legs and kept my eyes on the stairs that my brother would soon descend from on.

And just as predicated, he boomed down the stairs, clutching his car keys in his hand. He was about to jump from the last four steps when he spotted me at the bottom.

"What's up Reed? Need anything?" He asked, taking the last steps down sluggishly.

"Are you going to Jon's?" I asked him straight up before I chickened out with what I was about to do.

"Yeah and I need to leave now. He's needs us."

I dipped my chin at him and straightened my shoulders. "I want to come with you-"

Karl opened his mouth to say something but I cut him short with a shake of my head. "No really, I need to go."

Karl trailed his yes on my face and he must of seen the finality because he nodded slowly and walked around me. "Let's go."

Karl and I were non-identical twins. He had soft brown and brown eyes and there was me with dirty blonde hair and grey eyes. He went behind me and gripped the handles before wheeling me around to the front door. The ground was pretty smooth until we reached his car.

"You okay?" Karl asked, shooting me careful glances over his shoulder whilst he adjusted the front seat for me and moved the backseats down for my wheelchair. 

I rolled my eyes at him. "You should be worried about Jon."

Karl scoffed at me, reaching under my knees and hoisting me up. "I'm allowed to worry about my baby sister," he grunted out, carefully placing me on the front seat. 

"I'm just younger by two minutes," I reminded him, reaching over my shoulder for my seat belt and swatting away Karl's hand just in time. 

"You're still younger." Karl pointed out, slamming my door shot and folding my wheelchair in half. 

"By two minutes Karl!" I repeated, craning my neck over the side of the headrest to watch him struggle with my chair. After a few minutes he managed to put it in the back at an odd angle.

"I need a new car for you chair." Karl commented when he came to sit at front, jabbing his keys and switching on the engine. His grey SUV roared alive as I let out a small laughter in disbelief.

"Your car is massive! You just don't know how manage my chair." 

Karl scoffed again, shrugging his shoulder. "Lies," he muttered before taking off. I reached over the stereo and hummed along Ariana Grande singing Problem. We fell into a deep silence after that but anyone overlooking from the side or top or bottom could spot the elephant with us.

I started jamming my head along with the tune, purposely ignoring the elephant and hoping Karl would too. I didn't want this to be a big deal - which it really was. 

We pulled up at Jon's house and I stared at the familiar yet strange house. I used to come here all the time -drop off my brother and hang around with Jon for a few hours and then leave. And coming back, after two years and seeing everything has stayed the same really hit me hard.

Because I wasn't the same anymore and nothing will ever be the same again.

I tapped my knuckles against the window and Karl rushed out the driver's seat and came to my side. "You okay?"

"Don't ask me that again or I'll be the massive jerky sister I can be." I threatened him with my eyes shrinking into slits. He backed off immediately, holding both his hands up in a mock surrender gesture.

"Just checking on my littl-" 

"By two minutes!" I yelled at him, shaking my head angrily at his chuckling state. He moved to the back seats and surprisingly pulled out my wheelchair with an ease. He unfolded it on the pavement and came back to me. 

I put off my seat belt and wrapped my hands around his neck. He heaved me up, his hand under my knees and the other on my back. He carried me to my chair and placed me down carefully.

He held up his thumb for me, arching one eyebrow in question. I shook my head at the alternative way to ask if I was okay. Childishly, I faced my thumb downwards and wheeled my chair to Jon's front door. A couple of people were already here since there were a few cars parked around the front of his house.

I glanced at the next house, my eyes darting to the famous window that Jon never failed to talk about when he came over.

Andrea. The ache to meet the girl one of my best friends pinned for horrendously intensified when I realized how close I really was. She sounded - and looked (considering Jon had a picture of her in his phone), absolutely amazing and perfect for Jon. But apparently they lacked the most importantly thing in their intricate relationship; communication.

"I'll just go find where Jon is and then come back for you. You fine with that or do you want me to bring you in anyhow?" Karl asked over my shoulder. 

"I'm fine outside plus I need some fresh air before going in."

Karl nodded in understanding and went inside the house. But I didn't want fresh air. I wanted Karl gone so I could do something by myself for once. I heard people muttering from the back garden and I thought to myself to make my own way over.

I turned to my right and wheeled myself to the back garden door. It was unlocked much to my appreciation and I pushed it open. Just as I was about to go in, I was bumped back by something. I glimpsed down at the ground and saw it was slightly raised which meant I had no chance of getting over it without help.

I let out disgusted sigh, dropping a clenched fist on my thighs. "Damn uneven ground. Why do you got to stomp on my moment of fame?" I said ruefully, dropping my head back. I stared at the open sky, the clouds huddled together in small groups and letting some sun shine shine through. 

I should try to do it... my voice encouraged me in my head and I slowly looked back down again. I analysed the raised ground and with a mocking scoff, I pushed myself really hard and tried to get over it. the front of the wheel managed to get over it just a tiny bit until it starts to fall back again.

I tried again with a much harder force. Which was really stupid on my behalf because I felt the chair go over the raised ground well past than it should have and then I was falling backwards. I managed to grip the chair tightly and closed my eyes, preparing myself for the hard fall. but it didn't come.

I peeked through one open eye and saw that I was stilled mid-air titled backwards. Looking up, I came face to face with a really handsome boy. 

"Bloody hell." I whispered, still clutching the chair.

The boy looked down at me with a baffled expression, his mouth gaped open wide. I was surprised by with his shocked state that he still managed to hold me up in the chair mid-air. He must be incredibly strong.

"Bloody hell." I repeated again, gushing out empty air.

The boy was still staring at me and still not lowering me down. I started to fear for myself and I wanted to get out of this humiliating position so I cleared my throat. That seemed to of snapped him out of his daze and then he finally put me down.

"Thanks for the safe," I muttered with an awkward laugh. The boy didn't answer and he carried on staring at me until I felt completely uncomfortable. I was aware that a girl, as young as me, to be on the wheelchair was not something you'd see often. And I didn't need him to remind me of that with his simple look.

"You don't have to stare." I told him, not meeting his eyes.

The boy cleared his throat, looking flabbergasted at me. "Yes I do." he said, his voice coming out rather husky and deep. Oh he's got a sexy voice alongside his quiffed brown hair and chestnut eyes.

"You really don't," I spat at him, desperately begging the stars for Karl to return so he could help me out. I felt like a spot bother, a misplaced git on this summery day even.

"What's your name?" The boy suddenly asked, the astonishment still lingering on his face.

I don't know why I opened my mouth but I found myself telling the boy that my name. "Reed. I'm Reed."

"I'm Gho- Leo. I'm Leo." I noted the slight trip at the start but decided to not mention it since I planned to never see this Leo guy again. I was going into hiding after this.

"Reed?" I heard Karl call out for me from the front. I craned my head over the small corner to see my brother in a frantic state, in search for me. He turned at the sound of my voice and the relief that washed over his face really hit me hard. He ran to me without a delay.

"You okay?" he asked, running his eyes down my posed length. I glanced back at the spot where Leo stood but found nothing but emptiness. For a second I thought I imagined him but the little encounter we shared felt far too surreal. The look of shock, and pity for me, he had plastered on his face was still vividly drawn into my head.

I turned to my brother again, fighting the tears that somehow wanted to surface.

"No, I'm not okay," I whispered.

/////

CAN YOU GUYS GUESS WHO LEO ACTUALLY IS?

On a side note, updates won't be frequent on here until Satin Shirts and Jeans Jacket are done. I'm planning to work on this alongside Lacy Leathers. I'm trying to not overwhelm you guys since people have being saying they can't keep up with it all.

Fair warning: Everyone has flaws. My characters will have flaws. Some bigger and some less... bigger. But still.. Flaws are flaws and they're not going to be what you want them to be.. some of the time ;)

Enjoy!!!

ask.fm/xpurechances

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L a c y  L e a t h e r s: 00:03

Laters!

-n