•Alexander's POV•

About a week passed since I've been talking to John, he's really sweet, but, doesn't open up much about himself.

I set my books down on my desk then sat down in the chair. The teacher, Betty, was sitting at her desk, going through papers as the whole class started to flood in and settle down.

Betty scanned the room then, looked to the doorway. “Ah, there you are.” she smiled, “come on in.”

I was confused for a couple of seconds til, someone in a wheelchair, strolled in. I didn't know who it was until I looked at his face. Those emerald green eyes, the freckles on his rosey red cheeks.. I never knew he was crippled..

When he saw me, He smiled, showing of those braces and waved at me.

“Class,” Betty started, “This is our student, John Laurens. I want you all to stay quiet as he introduces himself and I want you to treat him the way you'd wanna be treated, John you have the floor.”

John paused for a second.

“Well, uhm. My name is John Laurens, I was born in South Carolina, but raised here. I'm a big broadway fan, uhm.. I'm 17 but I'm turning 18 this year, in October. I'm gay and yeah..” John just held on to his comfort stuffie (i have two, ones a turtle, and ones a duck and the duck is super super soft)

“How long have you been crippled?” Charles asked, in a rude way.

Me and Betty both shot a glare at him.

“Since I was 15, my parents and I got into a car crash. Both my parents were and still are okay but my legs were completely crushed.” John sighed.

Most of the class gave him a pitiful look and I did as well.

“Now,” Betsy sighed. “I'll need a volunteer to show John around the school, if interested, stand up. The rest of the class will watch a movie.”

I was the only who stood up, which made John smile.

The teacher excused us, and once we were out, she shut the door then put on, ‘The Outsiders.’

I started to push John, I know he could do it himself but I felt bad for him.

I took him around the school, pointing at the different rooms and telling him what they were for.

•

When it was lunchtime, I took him to the cafeteria, and took him to the lunch table me and my friends usually sat at.

It was a ‘Spaghetti day,’ which means they usually just cooked a large amount of Chef Boyardee's pasta and dished it out.

I grabbed one tray to hold me and John's food. When i was done, I went over to John and sat next to him, starting to feed him.

John looked confused. “I can do it myself..”

I sighed, “I know, I was just tryna be nice.” I explained, smiling.

"I know but I can do it myself, you dont need to baby me. I'm autistic, not a baby." John mumbled, feeding himself.

"Right.. Sorry." I sighed.

The day continued with me helping him as much as possible..

The next day, John didn't show up for school today and I got worried. Was he hurt? Was he mad at me?

I shoot him a quick text on Instagram and then turned off my phone, heading to my afternoon class.

Through the entire class, I couldn't stop thinking of him. I felt bad for him..

After the class was over, it was finally lunch time, I got my food and sat down at the table.

I turned my phone back on, only to see that he had not texted me back. I sighed disappointedly, and set my phone down.

I took a sip of my milk and then finally got a text back from John. I felt a wave of both happiness and sadness rush over me as I grabbed my phone.

fairytale.dreams: hey, Lexi. Sorry I didn't text you back earlier, I'm in the hospital.

I panicked and texted back: what for? But I didn't get a response.

I sighed and hesitantly set my phone down, and the rest of my milk, and ate the rest of my food. Then threw it all away and sat back down at my table.

I still couldn't stop thinking about John. Did he attempt to do something..?

Then suddenly, I get a text back from John.

fairytale.dreams; I'm just really, really sick, that's all. Please don't worry.

Too late. I'm already really worried. Was he going to be okay? What was he sick with?

I decide to leave him on read and shut off my phone, sighing softly.

Eventually, the school day was over. I grabbed my belongings and walked out the door, at the of the hallway, heading to the school's bus stop.

I got on and sat way in the back, and put my feet up in the chair I was sitting at, so no one could sit with me.

I grabbed my earbuds and started listening to my music as the rest of the kids flooded onto the bus and took their seats as well.

//I used to be babied for my mental disorders & my old friends have tried to "trigger" me too
like - no gabbie, opening your milk carton in the opposite way will not 'trigger' my ocd