"You look stressed , are you okay ?" The driver asked, looking at me from the driver's mirror.
"I'm fine…thanks " I smiled.
"You don't look fine, was that your boyfriend?" He asked and I shook my head no.
"Wow ! For once I thought he was…I'm Robert by the way " he smiled
"Amara " I replied.
"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl " he complimented
"Thanks , you're not bad looking either " I replied.
"Wow that kinda sounds as if I'm ugly" he laughed
"No please I didn't mean it that way " I smiled.
"You look better when you smile "
"Are you flattering me !"
"Well …maybe… I hate to see pretty girls like you stressed out!" He replied and made a u turn.
"We're almost at your school… by the way are you in senior year?" He asked and I nodded.
"My sister is also in senior year "
"Really… does she attend this school?" I asked when he parked.
"Yeah… she's very good!" He smiled proudly.
""That's nice " I replied looking at him.
"Should I carry you ?" He asked and I nodded. Robert was sweet and I actually liked how he was treating me. I enjoyed every bit of conversation we had and when he asked for my contact I gladly gave it to him. He carried me gently and placed me in my wheelchair.
"I can manage on my own … thanks!" I said when he insisted on pushing me to the hallway.
"It was nice getting to know you again Amara!" He waved me goodbye and drove away.
"Why are you so full of smiles!" Madison appeared from nowhere.
"You startled me!" I smiled.
"Well , who was that gentleman I saw carry you in his arms?" She asked as she pushed the wheelchair.
"He's no one!" I smiled.
"Don't tell me you are cheating on Ivan!" She joked but it actually didn't go well with me.
"Ivan and I are not a thing and can you please stop mentioning him!"
"Are you serious… I literally saw you two together yesterday!"
"That's past Madi , in this current situation there is no Ivan!"
"You like him , don't you?"She asked and my heart dropped
"I don't!" I exclaimed and handed her my locker keys."
"Who do we have here ? Amara!" Stella and her squad walked towards me.
"What is it this time!" Madi replied.
"Did you change your name to Amara!" Stella laughed.
"Speak I'm listening" I replied her.
"Gonna be rude even after being stuck to a wheelchair!" She laughed.
"That's my problem to worry about… what has that got to do with you!" I replied.
"I thought the rumors were false but I guess I have to take your name out of the cheer squad for now!"
"You can't do that Stella! Her condition is just temporal " Madi replied angrily.
"Wouldn't that be discriminatory, preventing a disabled person from being part of the club "
"There's no way , you can be a cheerleader in this …" she said moving her hands up and down along my face.
"Fine let's wait till Friday, if I'm still like "this " you can take me off the club… deal " I replied.
"Fine it's a deal!" She replied and walked away.
"Are you sure about this?" Madi looked at me worried
"I will be fine bitch !" I said and she pushed me to the classroom.
School was finally over. Miss Carlos called me after school and asked about my leg and the test. We took her test today and I can confidently say I was able to answer most of the questions, thanks to Ivan . He was indeed a great tutor and I felt grateful. Robert texted me during lunch and I asked if he could pick me up after school. I also needed someone to drive my car home and that was my biggest problem.
"You should learn how to drive!" I teased Madison as he pushed me to the parking lot.
"I will learn how to this summer break " she replied.
"Isn't that Ivan!" Madi exclaimed. He was standing beside his car , at a spot closer to the gate.
"What's he doing here!" I said looking at him. He kept looking at the entrance of the hallway, busily scanning through the crowd.
"OMG … he's so hot!" Madi exclaimed excitedly. Ivan as usual was in a black bola t shirt and was wearing sunglasses. This was my first time seeing him in sunglasses and honestly he was looking great in them.
"I think he's after you Amara!" Madi said
"Why would he be looking for me and if he was probably after me, he would have called…" I said and immediately my phone rung. It was a call from him.
"I said it!" Madi exclaimed excitedly.
"Ain't you gonna answer?" She asked
"I won't, I already called Robert" I replied looking at him . He seemed to be anxious as to why I wasn't answering the call from his facial expression.
"The Uber driver?"
"Yeah and he will be here in no time "
"I don't want to take an Uber when I can sit in Ivan's!" She said
"Madi!" I scolded and she frown playfully. Robert's car pulled up at the gate and surprisingly Ivan recognized me.
"Oh no !" I exclaimed
"What!" Madi asked "Cover me up he's coming "
"He has already seen you baby" she teased and stepped aside when Ivan came in front of me.
""Are you intentionally ignoring my calls Amara!" He said ignoring the presence of Madi.
"Do I always have to pick up your calls?"
"Come on Amara … when will you ever stop playing games with me!" He exclaimed
"Games? Me ? I think you need to tell yourself that!" I replied and waved my hands towards Robert.
"Is he not the same guy who brought you this morning?" Ivan asked looking at Robert.
"And so???"
"Is he stalking you ?"
"That's none of your business!" I replied pushing my wheelchair away from him.
"It's my god damn business Amara!" He held onto the push handle.
"Are you okay?" Robert interfered.
"I'm fine … can you take me away from here please!" I said to him.
"Sure he said and held onto the other push handle, Ivan holding the other one.
"Can you let go of it so I can push her if you don't mind!" Robert said firmly but politely.
"I need to be telling you that " Ivan replied angrily.
"Ivan!" I said and Robert smirked.
"Come with me!" He said and carried me out of the wheelchair to my surprise. Robert was really masculine and I felt so little in his arms. Ivan was as surprised as I was and he stood there, fist clenched firmly. I was in Robert's arms but I found myself looking at him, praying he wouldn't do anything stupid cause it seems he didn't like him.
"I'm really sorry but I had to do that " Robert said after dropping me in the car.
"You don't have to be" I smiled and Madi walked over with my wheelchair.
"What was that!" She whispered into my ears
"Has he left?" I asked about Ivan from Madi
"He was speechless and you should have seen how jealous he was" she replied and I smiled.
Random POV
Amara's dad had planned a surprise visit to see her after Cindy informed her about her paralysis. He was anxious initially but after speaking with the doctor, he was calmer. This was the third time he was driving home to surprise his family after they moved in about 2 months ago . The gate was locked as expected so he got out of the car to open it with his key. Amara's dad , Noah was well built and looked younger than his age. He was 42 but looked like someone in his thirties. As he was figuring which one of his keys was for the main gate, he heard something drop on the floor. He turned to the direction of the sound and saw Beatrice who was staring at him with eyes wide open. She looked pale and it was as if she had seen a ghost .
"Noah!" She muttered and he was equally surprised to see her .
"Beatrice! Is that really you !" He gasped. Beatrice's expression changed from surprised to bitterness. She looked at him from head to toe and dashed inside the house.
"Bea..!" He tried calling her but a car pulled out in front of the house.
Ivan rolled his glasses and looked at the man who was standing in front of Amara's house.
"Good day!" He greeted wondering why , he was facing their house. Noah waved and went on to open the gate but he couldn't take his mind of Beatrice . "Why was he meeting her again after so many years and how come she was his next door neighbor?" He thought.
Ivan parked his car outside and went inside the house only to find his mom sitting in the sofa, looking so pale.
"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Is that really you Ivan?" Beatrice asked and he nodded, holding her hands
"You look like you've seen a ghost!" Ivan said
"No dear I'm fine " she replied
"I saw you standing at the gate from afar , what were you doing?"
"You did ?"
"Yeah and there was also a man standing in front of Amara's house "
"You saw him too!" She exclaimed
"Is he the reason why you are like this ! Did he scare or tried to harass you!" He replied angrily
"No ! " I didn't see anybody.
"Are you sure mom , cause you're acting strange… should I bring your meds "
"I'm fine honey " she replied and hugged him.
"What's this little family reunion without me !" Daniella walked in .
"Hi Dannie , how was school!" Ivan said to her .
"Good , I was actually invited to a party tonight " she replied
"A party ? You are too young for that!"
"I'm 11 please and I'm not a kid besides the party is at 4 and it's my best friends birthday party so you can't stop me from going!"
"Fine!"
"I actually needed a favor?" Daniella said
"What is it?"
"Can you invite Amara over , I want her to help me choose a dress" she replied
"You know her house… why not invite her over yourself!" Ivan replied and walked away.
"What was that!"
"Don't worry sweetheart, he looks upset… I think he and Chloe are having problems and I think it's best you don't mention Amara around him" Beatrice replied
"You are too slow mom!" She replied and went to her room