As promised Cassie drove Levi downtown the next afternoon to his therapy appointment, other than a casual hello he had barely spoken the short ride to the large building.
She had known him long enough to know he was nervous.
"Cassie?" He spoke as she drove around the parking garage.
"Yeah?"
"Will you come in with me?" He asked carefully.
"Of course, if you want me too."
"My mom usually comes just to keep me company, I know it's stupid but I just need someone to talk to to."
"It's not stupid."
She found a parking space between two larger SUVs but near the doors and parked, the large, dark, musty garage made her nervous. Ever since she was a child she had a fear of being trapped in one, or stalked.
She forced herself from the car and hurried to his side, Levi was carefully climbing from the vehicle when she reached his door.
She closed the door behind him and hey started towards the doors, her eyes moving constantly.
Levi reached out carefully putting an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side.
"I'm right here," He said carefully.
"What?"
"I've know you since we were kids, I know these places scare you but I'm right here. I might be blind but I won't let any creeps grab ya."
She smiled and continued across the garage to the door, opening it for him to step inside. It lead into a white, cold, sterile hallway. The smell of iodine and bleach lingered lightly on the cool air as their shoes squeaked on the tile floor.
They reached a reception area and Levi carefully made his way to the desk telling the nurse behind it his name, date of birth and appointment time.
They didn't wait long before a tall, dark skinned young man with a clipboard called to Levi. Levi smiled the first genuine smile Cassie had seen in awhile as he stood and walked in the direction of the deep voice.
The man was wearing khaki pants and a polo shirt, his black hair was trimmed neat and clean but she could tell it was curly, his dark skin compliments his beautiful smile as he embraced Levi in a hug.
"How are you doing my man?" He asked.
"I'm okay," Levi replied.
"And who is this beautiful girl?" The guy asked releasing Levi.
"This is Cassie, my best friend and Cas this is Milo."
"Nice to meet you," She said.
"You too, come on back Levi I got everything ready."
Levi followed Milo through the door and Cassie hesitated before falling in step behind him. The room opened into a large room with exercise equipment and a few massage tables against one wall.
"Where do you want to start?" Milo asked.
"Can we get the shocks over with?" Levi asked.
"Sure can."
He walked to one of the massage tables and after placing down a paper sheet he began digging in a tall cabinet. Levi followed and Milo helped him get comfortable on the table.
He was sitting up with both legs up on the table and Cassie couldn't really see much as Milo moved around his leg. A large TV was in one corner but he didn't move to turn it on.
When he finally moved she saw that a machine was now connected to different places on Levis calf and knee via sticky circles.
"Alright Champ, you know the drill. Ten minutes, I'll go set up and if you want the TV on call me."
"Thanks," Levi said.
Milo gave her a wink before walking across the room to the many exercise machines. She watched him a second before sinking into a plastic chair next to Levi, she saw him wince once and his leg jerked.
"Can I get you anything?" She asked.
"Nah, it doesn't hurt just uncomfortable but the doctors said electric shock may help the nerves and muscles...so far it seems to help."
"That's great."
"I'm never going to play football again, Cassie...I just want to be able to walk normally and maybe be able to run with my kids some day."
"You don't know that," She said.
"I do but it's okay. I think I might got to college and be a Physical Therapist. I could help other kids like me, like Milo does...if my sight comes back that is."
"It will, I know it will. You can't give up," She insisted.
"She's right," Milo said from behind her.
"Just what I need, the two most optimistic people I know in the same room," Levi replied.
"You think when you're done there we can hit the treadmill?" Milo asked.
"Yeah, I feel pretty good today."
"Can you give me a mile?"
"I can try."
His leg twitched again and this time he didn't react, Cassie wondered if maybe he was pushing himself too hard trying to regain his independence.
Milo pulled up a chair next to her, stretching out his long legs.
"So tell me, how did you all meet? How long you been friends?"
"Practically my whole life," Levi said with a small laugh.
"We're neighbors," Cassie supplied.
"Cas was...She was there when it happened," Levi said.
"Really? That must have been rough."
"It was," She admitted.
"Well, at least you weren't alone."
After his shock therapy was over Cassie excused herself to the restroom and when she returned Milo was leaning against a treadmill that Levi was walking on.
"So, tell me. Why haven't you made that girl more than a friend?"Milo asked.
"Because, she's my best friend."
"You've never been interested?" Milo teased.
"...no."
"Alright then," Milo said with a shrug.
She cleared her throat and Levi paused a second before he continued to walk, Milo gave her a wide smile as she approached the treadmill.
"Everything going okay?" She asked timidly, pretending not to have heard their conversation.
"Everything is fine," Levi said.
"Fine," Milo echod.
"I'm starving though, where are we eating?" Levi asked.
"There's a great salad bar two blocks down," Milo said.
"Oh, I've seen that online. Jared and I have been talking about going." She said.
"Jared a boyfriend?" Milo asked.
"No," She replied with a small blush.
"Jared is more into you than she would be Milo," Levi shot back.
"I would like a salad," She said to Levi.
"No way I'm not going to some salad place, I want a real meal."
She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything else, for some reason Levi was getting snippy and she knew when he was in a bad mood it was best not to pester him. She suspected he was getting tired and sore but didn't point it out as Milo turned up the treadmill just slightly.
"That too fast? If it's hurting we can slow it down." He said.
"No, it's fine. Turn it up more," Levi said quickening his pace.
"Hey, it's not a race man. You gotta take things slow, that leg was through a lot."
"Turn it up, I can take it."
Milo shrugged and turned it up and Levi broke into an uneven run, his legs tripping and his one shaky. She stepped closer grabbing his wrist where he gripped the bars for balance.
"Don't, don't over do it," She said.
"I'm not!" He shook her off.
The action caused him to lose his balance he stumbled Milo lunged towards him but missed, his leg crumpled beneath him and he fell to the moving belt before sliding off the end.
"Levi!" She rushed to his side.
Milo followed rushing to his side, Levi pushed into a sitting position.
"Hey take it easy man, take it easy."Milo said.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Levi said.
"You're bleeding," She pointed out.
His uninjured leg now had a decent sized slice of brush burn from the belt and was bleeding on his calf.
"I'll get you some water and something to wrap that," Milo said.
Levi didn't reply as Milo left and he pushed a hand through his sweaty hair, he sighed heavily.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I just over did it, it's nothing."
"Levi..."
"I'm fine, Cas."
Milo returned and handed him a bottle of water, Levi took it and then took a long drink downing most of the bottle.
"Let me see that leg," Milo said.
"It's fine, don't worry about it. Can we be done for the day?" Levi asked.
"Yeah man, whatever you want."
Levi pushed to his unsteady feat and she followed, standing there awkwardly while he finished his water.
"See you next week?" Milo asked.
"Yeah."
Levi turned and started for the door, Cassie glanced one more time at Milo before following him. They had just reached the door and Milo called out to her.
"Hey Cassie, Wait a second."
She turned but Levi exited the room and kept going, glancing between the two she then turned her attention to Milo.
"Look, I don't usually do this but could I maybe get your number? maybe take you to that salad place a day?" He asked
"Oh...um..yeah, yeah that would be nice." She stuttered.
"Great."
He handed her his cell phone and she quickly added herself to his contacts, she glanced at him again wondering how old he was and guessed he could be in his early twenties. She handed him back his phone and he gave her another one of those beaming smiles and she smiled back.
"I gotta go, text me?" She asked.
"Absolutely."
She turned and hurried after Levi and found him waiting in the parking garage for her, obviously unable to find the car without his sight. She hurried up to him but he didn't say a word as they climbed into the car.