As I wake up the next day, I am filled with dread as I have college again, but also a strange sense of confidence, probably because I managed to keep myself together more than usual at my first group meeting last night, after my first hiccup that is, which is a rather big achievement for me. I quickly try and stretch out my stiff limbs as I check the time, 06:10, twenty minutes till my carer is here which means I have some time to chill on my phone. I have a carer come and help me get up, get ready and then they help me get a shower and put me to bed most days and nights but sometimes I'm stubborn and try to do it myself, which almost always has a fifty per cent chance of working out. While I am waiting for my carer, I decide to put some music on and possibly do some internet stalking of West, because after last night I was intrigued about who this guy was.
Twenty minutes later, and no closer to finding any information about West, mainly because the only social media profile I could find of his in on private, and I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to send a friend request. suddenly my mum shouts up to me that my carer, Lauren, is here and I forget all about it and I put my phone down as she opens my door.
"Morning Effie, how are you?" Lauren asks as she steps into my room and begins to go over to my wardrobe.
"I'm ok thanks, Laur, and my outfit and everything is already out, I did it last night." I say, pointing to the pile of clothes at the end of my bed.
I'd chosen a comfy red jumper with Mickey Mouse, some ripped skinny jeans, comfy trainers instead of heels, a red and beige bag for college and some accessories to match.
"Ah okay, someone wants to go to college today, is there someone I should know about?" Lauren says, smirking at me slightly.
"No... Not at college anyway." I smile to myself, thinking of the mystery that is West.
"Ooooh, tell me more, where did you meet this mysterious guy? What is he like? Is he better than Seth?" Lauren asks as she starts to help me get dressed, but as soon as she mentions Seth, my body goes into spasm. It's hard to hear his name now, but what did I expect, the guy broke my heart and then stomped on it several times after. I take a deep breath before I continue to speak.
"It's nothing really, but we met at a support group I got introduced to by a tutor at college, I don't know that much about him as we only met last night but he seems pretty cool, he can be very sarcastic, and he's rather good-looking, and I'm not answering your last question because I don't even want to think about Seth." I finish with a sigh, as a carer, Lauren is great but sometimes she tends to put her foot in her mouth without realising. for the rest of the time as I'm getting ready, we both remain quiet and I'm grateful for the peace as it allows me to gather my thoughts. After getting dressed and getting in my chair, I say goodbye to Lauren as this is when she normally leaves and I wheel across to my vanity, I only end up apply some mascara and lipstick as my hands are incredibly jerky today and it would take me a while to apply a full face of make-up. Before I head downstairs for breakfast, I quickly make sure I have everything in my bag for today.
Once I'm downstairs, I can hear music coming from the kitchen, which alerts me to my mum's presence. As I enter the kitchen, I am overcome with the smell of pancakes, which is usually the way in which my mum apologises for her behaviour from the day before.
"Morning darling, I thought I would make you breakfast before you set off for college this morning, would you like strawberries and cream or chocolate and banana as a filling?" She smiles, and immediately I'm filled with slight concern because as much I know my mum's patterns and routines in regards to her mental health, it is always in the back of my mind that the happiness and cheerfulness could be early signs of an impending breakdown.
"I'm not that hungry actually and I have to be at college earlier this morning as its Tuesday, I'll just grab a cereal bar and a drink." I say quickly, trying to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
"Oh right, of course, how can I forget, by the way, have you remembered that I'm out while late tonight and I won't be in to cook your tea? you'll have to eat out or figure something else out." she says and then walks out the kitchen, I grab a cereal bar and head to college confused about what just happened.
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After getting to college and having an ordinary day studying and working through some of my assignments, it's now lunch time and I'm just sitting in my wheelchair on the grass toward the sports field part of college with a salad and cake I bought from the cafe, when I get the idea to message Annie.
Effie: Hi Annie, it's Effie from last night, just thought I'd give you a message, as I have some free time. xx
Annie: Hey Effie, I was wondering when I would hear something of you, and I'm glad you've messaged me as I could gladly use a distraction haha :) x
Effie: Awww, if you don't mind me asking, what's going on? x
Annie: Oh not much, just cheating boyfriends, back-stabbing best friends and arguing parents, how about you? x
Effie: Not as much as you, but messed up emotions and trying to keep everything together, but last night got me out my comfort zone which was nice. x
Annie: Still difficult to deal with and crappy, and good I'm glad a group of random strangers could help, even if Mark put his foot in his mouth haha :) x
Effie: In retrospect, it could have been worse, plus I think that it turned out positively, West seems like a really nice guy, do you know him well? :) x
Annie: Ah I see, West got your attention ;) and to be honest he doesn't really talk a lot to me, Mark or Rose, mostly Tia or you now apparently x
that seemed strange to me, given the way West acted last night, but maybe it was a one-off occurrence.
Effie: Maybe he did, and he's a mysterious guy, but I like a challenge lol, I'm gonna have to go as I have afternoon classes, wish me luck and I'll text you later hun. xx
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After a full day at college and a bit of extra time after college to kill some time before setting off to my favourite fast food place for tea, Taco Bell. The journey to Taco Bell is around thirty minutes on the bus, so I had some time to listen to some of my favourite music, I'm especially in love with a rapper called Witt Lowry at the moment, he covers so many emotions and topics that it amazes me every time I listen to one of his songs.
Getting off the bus was a fun experience, not, the ramp was uneven and bumpy and ignorant people kept staring and pushing passed me all the way to Taco bell. Placing my order was another thing that I didn't enjoy, as when you're in a wheelchair people automatically think your stupid and that you don't understand what they say to you. After waiting and getting my food, I successfully find an accessible table and begin to lay out everything at arms reach in front of me.
I'm just about to reach for my nachos when I look up towards the door and see a familiar face, West. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with this situation, but considering my spasms are pretty bad today and I had picked the messiest food to eat, these two things did not equal a good outcome, in any sense. I just hoped he hadn't seen me and I could carry- too late. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIREz5wSgrA
"Hey Effie, I thought that was you, mind if I sit with you? I won't be offended if you say no, don't worry. I just felt like we didn't get to talk too much last night after we came back in." West smiles as he leans against the chair opposite me, and suddenly the only answer coming to my mind is yes, yes and yes again, stupid brain, I take a deep breath before replying.
"As long as you don't mind being in harm's way of food missiles, my arms aren't behaving today and I just had to choose the messiest food on the menu." I chuckle nervously, not knowing where to go from here.
"I'm sure I'll manage, and if it gets too much I will leave, so, how are you?" he takes a seat on the chair opposite me and grabs the food he paid for off of the table behind him.
"I'm okay thanks, tired after a long day but otherwise I'm good. How are you?" I ask, not wanting to overstep.
"I'm good thanks Effie, just been working with Tia all day, I'm doing an apprenticeship with her and she's got me doing a lot, how was college?" After West says that I can see the slight dark circles under his eyes, I can also feel a blush creeping on to my cheeks because he remembered I'm still at college.
"It's okay, a lot of work and lonely but I did talk to Annie today which makes a nice change." I smile, thinking back to the conversation, but that makes me blush more.
"Oh really, must have been interesting from the colour of your cheeks." He smirks and I feel like curling up into a ball.
"Oh shut up! and it was an interesting conversation, not that you'll find out what it was about." I smirk back, and before I know it, I'm spasming and nearly throwing my nachos all over, to which West bursts out laughing and then I'm joining in.
"So glad I'm not sat next to you right now, that could have been even more disastrous than it was." He says as his laughter begins to fade.
"Oh and why would that be Mr West?" I say, looking up and trying to get over my embarrassment, which is a difficult thing to do.
"Because even though I've only known you two days, I can already tell I have an effect on you or your body at least and you can't deny it because your body gives you away immediately." At this point, it's safe to say West's smirk couldn't get any bigger.
"I wouldn't get too cocky, it really doesn't become you, but annoyingly you are right about not being able to deny it." I smile, god knows what's happening but I haven't smiled this much in a while. The next few minutes go by in a comfortable silence as we both finish our meals, and then suddenly I get a boost of confidence out of nowhere.
"Seen as though we're both being so forward, I think it's only right I get your phone number." I smirk, two can play at this game.
"How about I do oe better? I walk you home and then give you my number, mainly because I want to get to know you more before the next group meeting." He smiles, standing up and taking both our trays to the bin, and I'm sat speechless at whatever the hell is going on right now.
"Okay deal, on one condition, you have to answer any questions I have as well." I smile at him.
"I think I can do that." He smiles right back as we head towards the door.
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