Already a week in and so far school was boring, the teachers lack of passion in their job reflected on the amount of homework I was already assigned. The last class was the only one I didn't have with Richard. He had physical education and I had a free period after all I was further advanced then my piers. Thankfully the school had a elevator and I made my way to the first floor looking for the library. I had to wait till Richard finished so he could drive me home. Inside the library you could tell how old the town really was when there wasn't any falshy stores to cover its wrinkles, most of the books on shelfs had layers of dust. I wheeled myself into the fantasy and sci-fi section looking for entertainment. As i was scanning the shelfs I felt eyes on me. I turned my head and saw the tall man from yesterday. He was well dressed with an old sense of style. "Good afternoon young one. Do you require assistance?" He said in a slow rasp voice while staring at my eyes. A couple of seconds went by until I composed my self from the jump scare, "I'm fine sir, thanks for asking". Before I could choose a book to excuse myself with, he slowly grabbed a book, Dracula. "Take it, I expect it will suit your tastes...I hope to see you here everyday. Now if you excuse me I have much to organize." I saw him walk out of the library leaving it unattended.
Once my eyes lost sight of him I inspected the novel. I've read Dracula before but the edition the man gave felt ancient, possibly first edition from the wear on the bind of the book. Upon opening the book the writting was in a crimsion red ink which seemed to be written by hand. I wonder how such a relic got here? I'm even tempted to steal it and preserve it in a safer enviroment worthy of such a masterpiece. Before I could begin reading it I felt the ring of my phone in my pocket.
My brother was calling me, telling me he was waiting at the front of the school. Out of curiosity I put the book in my bag and left. When I made it to the front I saw Richard in an argument with our beloved cousin. He was about the same height as Richard, dirty blonde hair an annoying grin and athletic build. I could already hear the taunts before opening the door to the outside. "Nice tan cousin, if I didn't know better I could have gotten you confused with one of my gardeners." Richard grinned and tighted his fists, "cousin Mark are you going to the tryouts or did you already have a private conversation with the head coach? Or does your mom still do everything for you?" Mark grinned as well "my mother isn't hopping from one man to the other that sounds like yours, bastard." Richard was winding up a punch which was my que to interfere, "Mark! Such a long time has passed, did your father come to pick you up or do you wish for us to give you a ride? It wouldn't be the first time he forgot about you and as I can tell not the last, does your older brother still date your ex?" Mark's face turned red as a tomato at the mention of his brother, a sore spot for him. Then a woman came up to him grabbing his arm. A blonde women pretty but not like I could care for such things. "Excuse me cousins I have a women to treat to dinner. Something one of you is incapable of." Eyeing me looking for a response. Now it was my turn to grin " I don't like second hand things, I must be the odd man out in my family." He left at that remark with hatred in his eyes and Richard took me to his car not saying a word.
We drove for a couple of minutes until he spoke, "sorry Louis I shouldn't have let him get under my skin like that. It's just...you know? All my accomplishments and I still feel worthless."
We didn't speak until we got home, I never had any words of wisdom like my father. Richard decided to break the tension "I wish at times our positions were switched. Your position suits me more with all my self pity while you could be living to the fullest. Sorry Louis I shouldn't worry you with my thoughts, I'll leave you here the tryouts are today I gotta go."
He left before I could get a word in. I stared at the car until it was out of distance and wheeled myself inside. Unsure of what I could say to Richard when he got back I continued my daily routine. It was always school, take my medicine, spend some time on a treadmill with a secure harness to keep my leg muscles and homework. Rinse and repeat.
The next day Richard was smiling from ear to ear, probably from the tryouts. Father told us that this week he would have people come and fix up a lab in the basement. He didn't say it but I knew it had to do with finding a cure for me.
My disease was incurable in my mind, in fact I thought I would die when I reached twelve. That year I lost all feelings in my legs and it was by pure miracle my father stopped it's advancement. I know deep down anyone of these days could be the start up of a new horror show.
During the week I saw large amounts of equipment being transferred to the basement and was told not to go there. What was most odd was that my grandfather supervised. Each day from school I'd arrive and he treated me as if I were dead already. I could tell by the look in his face that all this was useless in his mind. The weird part of it is he apparently financed it all.
Finally friday arrived and I was preparing to go home when I saw Louis chatting up our cousins girl, what the fuck has he been up to? I rolled up to them to figure out what Richards game plan was, "hey bro ready to go or you got something going on that should be taken into account?"
He walked towards me and took control of my chair wheeling me away where we could talk even though it was only five feet away from the girl. Crouching in front of me he placed his hand over his chest doing a handsign we shared when we needed a favour but couldn't say it in the momment. "Hear me out just for a sec big bro," oh goody he's buttering me up which could only mean one thing, "I promised Amy I'd take her out to the coffee place downtown-"
"You mean the cafeeee?"
"Right..Anyway I heard the photographing club is looking for members today and I figured you could check it out in the meantime."
"Your're ditiching me over a woman?"
"Listen, I'll owe you big time. Not just for this but keeping it a secret from dad. A big favour, alright?"
Thinking it over I figured down the line it would be worth giving up an afternoon, "alright fine. Just don't come to me when the fallout of your 'date' goes to shit."
He clasped my shoulder from the success of the deal, "thanks cya." And ran off with someone elses girl.
I exhaled and turned my wheelchair towards the school, fuck I forgot to ask were the club is.