If Red Means No, Invert The Color

Chapter 2

         He nods and tosses me my set of keys.

~~~

3rd Person POV

Kieran felt like a zombie. Every move he made took an immense amount of effort. It was his first day back at school and he was cursing with every step he took. He hated these metal sticks he had to use to walk. He'd honestly rather just walk on both feet, even if one was broken. He hobbled down the crowded halls of his high school, pushing people out of his way with the bottom of his crutches. By some god given miracle, he made it to his locker, struggling to unlock the lock and keep his crutches from falling from beneath his underarms. He managed to achieve in grabbing several books and closing his locker before he felt someone bump into him, bringing him to fall to his feet. He winced in pain, his books not only managing to fall to the ground with him, but also hitting his broken foot on their way down. He heard the dismissal bell ring and he sighed. Looking down at the marble floor. How and the hell was he supposed to get up?

He leaned his back against the cool lockers, letting his head fall back with him. He felt defeated. Of course no one would help him. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine he was not here, that he was lying in his bed listening to music. He could see the blue fairy lights he had strung across his water damaged ceiling now; he could hear "The Smith's" playing softly around him. But something pulled him out of that daydream, a voice.

"Need a hand?" a male voice asked, making Kieran open his eyes. Low and behold, it was Everest Daniels, the quarterback of the football team. Kieran scoffed.

"No thank you, I'll manage on my own."

Kieran shuffled to his knees, attempting to use his arms and good leg to push himself up to his feet, but he failed, his legs sliding under him, his face hitting the marble. He grunted, sighing in defeat.

"Come on" Everest spoke from behind him.

Kieran expected him to just laugh and walk away, like the rest of his football jerks always did when he found himself in these sorts of predicaments. What he didn't expect was two strong arms wrapping around his torso, lifting him up. He looked up and there he was, Everest in all his glory, arms wrapped around him and looking back down at Kieran, his hazel eyes baring into his. He felt his heart skip a beat and he looked away, grunting and hopping away from him, escaping from his embrace and leaning against the lockers.

"Could you erm.. Could you pick those up for me?" he questioned, gesturing down to his crutches and books.

Everest smiled and leaned down, picking up Kieran's crutches and handing them to him before gathering his books and setting them in the crook of his arm along with his. Kieran couldn't help but notice how good Everest looked in his ripped blue jeans..

"Thanks.. I uh. I got it from here" Kieran stammered out, his face now completely red.

Kieran leaned on his crutches, extending a hand for Everest to place his textbooks in. But everest did not.

"I got it. Come on, ill help you to class. I'm assuming, due to your books, you're headed to calculus?"

Kieran stood there wide eyed. Was Everest, of all people, trying to help him? He sighed.

"Yeah but you don't have to, I can manage."

Everest laughed. "It's no bother man, come on. I have the same class." he stated, before beginning to walk away.

Sighing, Kieran obliged, shuffling forward at the best pace he could manage. He couldn't help but notice that even bent over on crutches, he still towered over the boy. By at least 5 inches. He shuffled along down the hallway, the two boys walking in silence. The only sound audible was the sound of Kieran's crutches hitting the floor with every step, the metal ringing, bouncing off of the walls.