Chapter Four

When I went to bed that night, my mother held my chair while I pulled myself onto the bed. She helped me straighten my legs out and sat down on the edge of my bed for a moment.

"He seems like a good boy," she said thoughtfully.

"He's nice, I guess," I replied with a shrug.

She looked at me carefully for a moment, before she brushed my hair away from my face and kissed me on top of my head.

"Good night, Starr."

"Good night, Mom."

I closed my eyes and pulled the sheets up to my chin when she turned the light off. I opened my eyes again when I heard a pair of tiny feet skitter into my room.

I looked over and saw Stella smiling at me.

"Hi, Starr," she whispered.

"Hi, Stella," I whispered back. "What's up?"

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked, pleading with her big eyes.

"You know it's not going to be comfortable for you, right?" I asked.

She nodded and crawled onto the bed. I put my hands down and began to shift over to give her room, but she stopped me.

"I'll be okay right here," she said, lying down on a small sliver of the bed.

"But I don't want you to fall off," I argued, trying to push myself over again.

"Janey, this is your bed. You don't have to move over to make room for me. You can be normal with me like you were with Nolan. I'm your friend too," she said, putting a tiny arm around my waist and snuggling into my side.

"Thanks, Stella," I sighed, putting my cheek on top of her soft curls. "I like that you're my friend."

"I'm your best friend," she corrected in a tired voice.

"Always," I whispered.

I was asleep in no time. I didn't dream that night but having Stella's arm around me while I slept was more than enough for me.

I didn't want to have another dream where I was walking on the beach, anyway. They always depressed me when I woke up and saw my chair waiting patiently near my bed.

When I woke up the next day, Stella was gone. I smiled and stretched, then reached for my chair. There was a folded piece of white construction paper on it with my name written in Stella's handwriting.

Dear Starr,

Thank you for letting me have a sleepover with you. I love you.

Stella

I smiled and took a deep breath. Stella had just set the bar so high for today, and even Nolan wouldn't be able to top that.

Nolan.

I threw the sheets off and pulled myself into my chair. I forgot he was coming over and I didn't even know what time it was. The Lego clock I had in my room stopped working months ago, but I kept it because the kids gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday.

I rolled out of my room and down the hallway into the bathroom. I found my toothbrush and began the boring two minute routine of scrubbing my teeth.

"Starrrrrrr! Nolan is here!" Liam screamed from the front door.

I heard a small pair of footsteps go barreling toward the door and heard Nolan grunt, as, who I can only assume was Stella, attempted to tackle him.

I grabbed a hairbrush and began the arduous task of trying to get my hair to look decent. I always woke up with it sticking out on all sides.

"Honey, are you about ready?" Mom asked, sticking her head into the bathroom.

The brush in my hand, the frazzled look on my face, and the fact that half of my hair was still standing up, answered her question. She laughed and took the brush from my hand. She ran it under the faucet for a few seconds before brushing my hair down.

"Stella's telling Nolan all about your sleepover," Mom said as she continued to brush my hair.

"She left me a note this morning too," I replied with a smile.

"Yes, I've heard," Mom said. "There you go, honey. Your hair is no longer standing up."

"Thanks, Mom," I said gratefully. "Um, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure."

"Can you run interference so I can get back to my room?"

She nodded and started to laugh. She knew that depending on where Nolan was sitting, or standing for that matter, he would see me in my pajamas when I rolled by.

I watched her step gingerly out of the bathroom and waited for her go-ahead. She reached a hand back into the bathroom and waved at me to go.

I rolled out as quickly as I could. Unfortunately, someone had closed my door when I went to the bathroom. I looked over frantically and saw Liam sitting on Nolan's lap. I grabbed the door handle and pushed it open just in time to hear Nolan greet me.

"Hey, Jane!" he called out.

Mortified, I rolled into my room without answering. A few moments later, Liam burst through my door as I was pulling my shirt over my head... with Nolan right behind him.

"He said hello, Starr," Liam said.

I was tangled in my shirt. Half of it was over my head and half of it was wrapped in my arms.

"Come on, buddy. Let's let her get dressed," Nolan said, retreating with Liam.

I can't believe he just saw me in my bra, I thought, feeling completely humiliated.

I quickly went to my dresser and pulled out a black tank top and pulled it on.

"Mom!" I called out.

I would need her to help me get my shorts on. Was I really going to wear shorts? Of course I was. Why not? He had already seen me half naked, so I reasoned that when he saw my legs he wouldn't run in terror.

"Yes, honey?" she asked, peeking her head into my room.

I held up a pair of blue denim shorts and she smiled.

Mom came over and helped me put them on; then she backed up and put her hands on her hips.

"I never thought I'd see the day."

"Well, Liam just busted into my room when I was trying to pull my shirt off, so a few scars won't scare him away," I replied dryly.

"I'll have a little chat with your brother about privacy after you leave," she said meaningfully.

"Thanks, Mom."

I took a look at myself in the full length mirror after she slid my sandals onto my feet, and then I rolled out behind her.

Nolan was sitting in his original spot with Liam on his lap again. They were both listening to Stella going on and on about our sleepover.

"...and I told her that I'm her friend too and she said she was happy that I am," Stella was saying proudly.

"I'm your friend too, right?" Liam asked me as I entered the room, looking dangerously close to tears.

"Of course you are, Nugget!" I called him Nugget because of how small he was.

He stuck his tongue out at Stella and she opened her mouth to respond, but Mom quickly ushered them out of the room.

"Have a good day, you two!" she called out as she left us alone.

Nolan glanced over at me when Mom disappeared. "Ready?"

"Yeah. Listen, I'm sorry about that… earlier...in my room," I mumbled.

"Oh, it's no big deal," he replied with a smile. "I mean, it's not like I was standing there ogling you or anything. I saw your predicament so I grabbed Liam and split."

Huh.

"So what are we doing today?" I asked, changing the subject and rolling toward the front door.

"I kind of like the zoo idea, if you're still up for it," he said following me out.

"Yeah, but that's a long walk from here. Unless you want to sit on my lap," I said with a laugh.

Nolan threw his head back and laughed. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of keys.

"We're driving there today. But maybe we can do that another day," he teased.

I giggled and went toward the stairs. Once again, Nolan stood behind me, tilted me back, and bumped me down the stairs. Only this time, I wasn't afraid.

I trusted him not to drop me.

I looked up at his face as he carefully lowered me down the stairs and felt that strange flutter I felt when he kissed my cheek.

Go away, I told my feelings.

Nolan settled me onto the sidewalk and pushed me toward a sleek, black, brand new Explorer.

"Um, I thought you said that my wheelchair was nicer than your car!" I exclaimed incredulously.

He grinned. "It is. You can take it anywhere. This thing has to stay outside. Can you imagine me driving it through the mall or something?"

He opened the passenger door for me and leaned down, hoisting me up into his arms. Nolan held me firmly against him as he assessed the situation.

"How...?" he asked sheepishly.

"Ass first," I replied with a smile.

He grinned and leaned into the truck with me, placing me on the seat. I leaned down and grabbed my scarred legs, hoisting them in.

Nolan put one foot on the passenger-side floor as he shifted my legs so that they would rest naturally, before closing the door and folding my chair. I glanced in the passenger side mirror as he opened the back of the truck and carefully slid my chair in. Once he was satisfied that it was secure, he closed the door and came around the driver's side.

He opened the door, hopped in, and grinned at me again as he fastened his seatbelt. I returned his grin and fastened mine as well.

He checked his side-view and rear-view mirrors before he pulled away from the curb. We drove mostly in silence as he pulled onto the freeway.

"Um, the zoo isn't anywhere near the freeway," I said.

"I know," he replied with a wink.

"Then where are we going?" I asked him curiously.

"You'll see," he said mysteriously.

After half an hour of driving, I was starting to really wonder where we could possibly be going.

When we crossed state lines into Pennsylvania, I wondered if he knew that crossing state lines with an unwilling person was a federal crime.

After another hour, I found myself no longer caring.

Nolan pulled off of the freeway and drove straight for about a mile. We were sitting at the stop light when I finally asked him where we were.

"Well, I am taking you to the zoo; sort of. I was thinking about it this morning. Why just go to the zoo when we can go to the zoo and the aquarium?"

I felt a tiny flicker of excitement. I had forgotten about the aquarium and the last time I had been here I was five years old. I was very curious to see if anything had changed.

"I haven't been here in years!" I said excitedly.

"I know," he replied with a mischievous grin.

I raised an eyebrow at him and he laughed. "Stella told me."

I rolled my eyes and laughed with him. "She seems to be really interested in our friendship."

"Invested too," he added, turning at the light and heading toward the parking lot at the end of the next block.

My excitement flared up again when I saw the sign for the Pittsburgh PPG Zoo and Aquarium.

"She just wants to make sure that she stays my very best friend," I explained.

Nolan pulled into the closest spot he could find to the front doors, and put the car in park. He turned it off and looked at me.

"I'd never try to take her place as your best friend. Liam's either," he said, leaning his head back and smiling.

"Good, because it would never happen," I replied, sticking my tongue out at him.

Nolan laughed and unbuckled his seatbelt. I smiled and undid mine. I leaned my arm against the window and watched all the people going in and out of the zoo or aquarium. I couldn't wait to get out of the truck and be a part of it. And that's when I suddenly felt Nolan's hand on my leg.

I looked down at it, and then raised my eyes to his. He was giving me his earth shattering half-smile, dimple set.

"Your hand is on my leg," I said.

"I know," he replied.

"Any reason why?"

"I just wanted to tell you something and I wanted to be sure that I had your attention when I said it."

"Okay. You definitely have my attention," I said with a nervous giggle.

"I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he confessed wistfully.

I stared at him for a moment. I couldn't tell if he was joking, so I didn't know how to react. The only people who had ever told me before that I was beautiful were Mom, Dad, Stella, and Liam.

"Thanks," I replied suspiciously through narrowed eyes.

"You're welcome," he said with a genuine smile. "Now let's get in there and see what kind of shows are going on today."

With that he opened his door and hopped out. I pulled down the sun blocker and flipped the small lid so I could watch him in the mirror as he opened the trunk and pulled out my wheelchair. He looked so happy that I still couldn't tell if it was a joke. He opened my chair and closed the trunk. I closed the blocker and opened the passenger door.

"How?" he asked with a grin.

I shook my head and smiled, "Out of the way amateur."

Nolan stepped back and I used my hands to grip the roof of the car and pull myself halfway out. I looked over my shoulder at him and my sheepish look told him that I would need help from there.

He slid an arm around my waist and cradled my lower body carefully as he lowered me into the wheelchair. I got comfortable while he closed and locked the doors.

"Ready?" he asked cheerfully.

I looked up at him and nodded. As I put my hands on the wheels, Nolan moved behind me and began to push me.

"Um, what are you doing?" I asked in confusion.

"Showing off my hot date," he replied breezily as he continued to push the chair.

I blushed and laughed. I looked up at him and he gave me his mischievous grin, so I consented and folded my hands in my lap. It would be nice to rest my arms for a day.

We got in line to purchase our admissions. The line was moving slowly, so Nolan rested his hands on my shoulders and used his body to roll me forward whenever the line moved.

That's when I noticed a group of teenagers who ranged from at least fifteen to seventeen staring at us. Three boys and three girls were looking at us oddly; almost as if trying to figure out what someone like me was doing with someone like Nolan.

I slumped a little in my chair.

"What's wrong, Jane?" Nolan asked.

"Nothing," I replied quietly.

I watched Nolan's shadow as he turned his head to see what had hampered my mood.

"You know, Janey, people only stare when they're jealous of what they see. Don't let it bother you," he said loudly.

"Yeah, I wish I had those nasty scars all over my thighs," one of the girls scoffed, causing the others to snicker.

If I had been alone, I would've rolled into her with everything that I had to knock her down. But since I was with Nolan, I couldn't even muster the anger to combat her words. I only felt ashamed for having embarrassed him just by being there.

I put my hands on the wheels and tried to turn around, but Nolan put himself firmly against me and used his foot to stop one of the wheels.

"Any idea what age makes you legally an adult in this state?" he asked me.

I shook my head and blinked back tears, "Why?"

"Because I wonder if I'd go to jail for slapping a child," he replied through clenched teeth.

"You don't have the guts," the girl jeered.

Nolan took an angry step around me but stopped short when we heard our names being called.

"Starr! Nolan!"

I wiped the tears away from my face when I saw Xavier running toward us with a big smile on his face. He had his arms stretched out wide and threw himself against me when he reached us.

"Oh look! She's got two boyfriends!" the girl said as I hugged Xavier. He pulled away instantly.

"She's not my girlfriend! She's my friend!" he yelled at her.

"Where are your teeth, kid?" one of the boys asked.

"Your mom ate them," he replied, taking a menacing step forward.

Nolan laughed loudly and even I started to giggle. Xavier looked so fierce that the boy mumbled, "Whatever," and put his hands in his pockets.

"Xavier! Leave these nice people alone," a woman who looked just like him said as she approached.

"But, Mom, they're my friends!" he protested as she started to drag him away.

"I'm sorry about that," she said to us apologetically.

"It's okay. Hey Xavier, how about a high five buddy?" Nolan asked with a smile.

That's all it took for him to rip away from his mother, come running back, and jump up in the air to high five Nolan.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," I said to him as he walked past me.

"You're welcome!" he said happily as he ran off to join his waiting mother.

Nolan put his hands back on my shoulders, and before I knew it, the line had moved so fast that we were at the front. I reached into my pocket for my wallet, but Nolan was faster and paid for our admission before I could get it out.

"I'm buying lunch then," I said.

"No arguments from me," he replied with a grin. "Where do you want to go first?"

I looked at the map in my hand that we had received for free with our admission.

"The North Pole? I've always loved Polar Bears."

"Sounds good to me!" he said, grabbing the handles and guiding me toward the exhibit. I smiled when I saw the fake icicles and the banner that let us know we had entered the North Pole. In the distance, I heard the Polar Bears muffled roars and I looked up at Nolan with an excited grin.

Of course, that grin faded when I saw that standing in front of the actual Polar Bears was the group of teenagers that had just heckled us outside.

"Just ignore them," Nolan said quietly. "And tell me how close you want to get to the exhibit."

"The other end of where they are," I replied quietly.

He chuckled and we went right past them. He got me as close to the dividing bar as he could and came to stand next to me. I felt the excitement return when one of the Polar Bears stood on its hind legs to look at everyone that had gathered to see them.

"I remember the last time I saw them. When they did that I was so scared that I hid behind my dad," I said with a laugh.

"And look at you now. All grown up and fearless," Nolan remarked with a smile.

"I wouldn't exactly say fearless. Or grown up," I said, smiling back up at him.

The other Polar Bear decided to roll onto its back and yawn. I nudged Nolan, who nudged me in return. My smile slowly disappeared as I looked at him, and a random question suddenly perched itself on the tip of my tongue.

"Nolan, how old are you?" I asked curiously.

"Younger than that bear, I would imagine," he said, nodding at it. I raised an eyebrow in response. "I'm twenty-two."

I nodded.

"Too old to be your friend?" he asked.

"No, I was just curious," I replied, giving his leg a pat.

Nolan crouched down and turned me to face him.

"Can I ask you something?"

His face was so serious that I automatically nodded.

"I know that we've only been hanging out for two days, but—I really like you. I was wondering if maybe you'd want to be—," he cut his sentence off and looked down for a moment before looking back up at me.

"This is so dumb. I practiced this so much last night that I barely got any sleep. And now, I can't even say it," he grumbled.

"Just say it," I pressed, putting a hand on his.

"I was wondering if you wanted to be my girlfriend," he mumbled.

I stared at him for a moment. In the twenty years I had been alive so far, no one had ever asked me that before.

"Are you playing a joke on me?" I asked quietly.

"What? No! I really like you and I was just hoping that maybe you liked me too," he said.

"I'd like to be your girlfriend," I said carefully. "But, why don't we see how today goes? Then I can answer you for sure."

I watched the half-smile spread across his face and he nodded. "Sounds good to me."

I felt suddenly shy because he was still crouched in front of me. He still had his hands on either side of my chair and showed no signs of moving. I looked down at my folded hands, and he used a hand to lift my chin. His eyes wandered to my lips and I felt myself starting to shake a little. Nolan leaned forward and I took in a sharp breath; he was going to kiss me, I just knew it.

"Once you say yes, I expect a make-out session," he whispered in my ear, moving his face away at the last second.

I giggled and he gave me a grin before he stood back up and went behind me.

"Do you like penguins, Janey?" he asked.

"I do!" I replied enthusiastically.

"Then let's venture further into the North Pole. I believe that the penguins are next," he said cheerfully as he guided me into the next room.

"What's your favorite type of penguin?" he asked as I pushed the handicap button on the side of the door.

I thought about it for a moment as the doors opened slowly. "I would have to say The Adelie Penguin, I guess."

"Any particular reason?" he asked, rolling me through the open doors.

"I just think they're so cute. They're the friendlier of the penguins and… well, once they find their soul mate they stay together for the rest of their lives. I know it sounds weird, but I kind of always wanted to be like them. Social, but still a little awkward and looking for my other penguin half," I said with a sigh.

"I'm pretty sure I can be that penguin. No pressure of course!" he said jokingly.

I looked up at him and laughed. He didn't meet my gaze, but he grinned, nonetheless.

"Hey, check that out," he said, suddenly pointing to the left.

I craned my neck to see around the people that were milling about and noticed a small crowd standing around one of the aquarium employees. She was holding something I couldn't quite see.

"Excuse us," Nolan said rather loudly as he began to maneuver me toward the employee.

He stopped short suddenly. He left me near the back of the crowd and told me that he'd be right back. I watched him curiously as he made his way to the front and started chatting with the employee, before he motioned toward where I was. She followed his gaze, nodded, and started to walk toward me.

I arched my eyebrows at Nolan's mischievous grin.

"Janey, this is Morgan. Morgan this is Jane. Take a look at what she's got," he said to me.

I turned my attention to her and almost squealed. She was holding an Adelie penguin; an actual Adelie penguin!

"Is this the one that you like?" Nolan asked.

I nodded enthusiastically as Morgan sat down on the ground in front of me.

"His name is Pogo. He's about two years old and he's quite the character," she said, cradling the animal in her lap.

"Hi, Pogo," I said softly, reaching out a hand. She scooted closer so that I would be able to rub his head. I realized I must've looked like Liam when he got his first baseball glove; goofy, red, and excited, but I was so happy at that moment that I didn't care.

"Do you want to hold him?" she asked me.

I looked up at Nolan who was smiling at me with his hands in his pocket. I looked back at Morgan, then at Pogo.

"If he lets me," I replied hopefully.

"He will. If he didn't like you he would've been crying by now," she said reassuringly.

Morgan pushed herself to her knees and explained to me not to restrain his wings in any way or he would feel threatened. She also told me that Pogo liked to be best held by letting him stand on your lap and that once he felt comfortable enough, he would lean against you.

I wiped my hands on my shorts before I reached my hands out for Pogo. He opened his little wings slightly while I reached underneath them to put him on my lap. He almost immediately fell against me.

"Wow, I've never seen him do that before," Morgan remarked in surprise. "He must really like you."

I nuzzled the top of his soft head with my cheek. "I really like him too," I said softly.

A flash went off, causing me to jump. Pogo shifted in my arms then leaned against me again. I looked up and saw Nolan had his phone out and was taking pictures.

Well, that explains the flash.

"If you want, I can take a picture of you and your girlfriend with Pogo," Morgan offered, getting off of the floor.

Nolan looked at me with his half-smile and wiggled his eyebrows. I giggled as he handed Morgan his phone and came over to me. He crouched down behind me, put an arm around my shoulder, and pulled me close to him.

"Smile!" she called out as the flash went off again.

She came over to us and gave Nolan his phone back. Then she looked down at me and Pogo, and smiled. "I have to take him back now. Honestly, I wasn't supposed to do that… let you hold him, but I couldn't say no to a girl in a wheelchair. Have a great rest of the day, guys!"

I let her take Pogo and watched her walk away. My face had become stony. I knew she wasn't being mean; because she had been very kind the whole time, but I felt like I had been pitied.

I hated that feeling.

More than being stuck in this damn wheelchair, I hated being pitied.

"What's wrong, Janey?" Nolan asked, noticing my change in mood.

Of course the wheelchair comment went over his head. He knew Morgan wasn't being mean and he didn't know how much I hated being pitied because I hadn't had the chance to tell him yet.

"Nothing," I mumbled. "Let's go to the dolphin show."

I put my hands on the wheels and began to roll down the wide hallway toward the dolphin exhibit. Nolan caught up to me and grabbed the handles to push me, but I reached back and swatted his hands away.

"I can do this myself, you know," I snapped.

"Whoa! What's the matter?" he asked again, stepping around to block my path.

I sighed heavily. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain this to him without sounding like a brat. So, I just said what I was feeling.

"I don't want to be treated differently just because I'm in a wheelchair. If she shouldn't have done it then she shouldn't have done it. Giving me special treatment because of this damn chair makes me feel pitied, and I hate that feeling."

"She didn't mean any harm by it, but I get what you're saying. My thoughts are this; don't let anyone's words get too close to your heart. Whether they hurt you or make you feel good. They all start out disguised as lies and you only ever see their true intentions in your weakest moment. Know what I mean?" he said.

That was the deepest thing Nolan had said to me so far. Not to mention, one of the most intelligent statements I had ever heard. I completely saw his point; words were deceptive. Good or bad, all forms of words were deceptive.

"I guess," I conceded with a shrug. Then another random question materialized in my mind. "Nolan, why don't you call me Starr anymore?"

"I like Jane. I kind of feel like it's more personal. I hope you don't mind."

"I'm sorry I got so angry," I said quietly.

"Don't apologize. It's always refreshing to see different human emotions," he said, falling into step beside me as I began to wheel myself toward the dolphins.

"You're kind of really smart," I observed.

Nolan laughed and held open one of the doors for me. I smiled at him as I rolled into the auditorium. I found the designated handicap spot in the back and I waited for Nolan to go around me before I folded my hands in my lap. He leaned over and took one of my hands in his as more people filled the auditorium.

I sat there happily as the trainers ran out. But it wasn't that I was going to see one of the best shows I'd ever seen that made me happy. It was that Nolan was holding my hand so tightly in his.

My thoughts were drowned out by the roar from the crowd as the dolphins suddenly appeared in the pool beneath us. I cheered along with them which made Nolan laugh. I looked over at him with excited eyes and he grinned.

Then his grin faded as he looked behind me.

Suddenly my chair lurched forward, and I was launched toward the stairs. My hands went out wildly as I tried to grab onto something, anything that would stop my destructive descent down the concrete stairs.

"Janey! Someone help her!" Nolan yelled as he ran down the steps behind me.

Immediately the crowd sprang to life as people ran out into the aisle to try to stop me and missed by two seconds. I saw the balcony coming closer as I bumped viciously down the stairs.

This is going to hurt so much, I thought fearfully as someone managed to stop the wheelchair.

I fell out of it and rolled down the remainder of the stairs, my body hitting the concrete balcony divider. Something, somewhere inside of me snapped and I felt a rush of exquisite pain wash over me.

Thankfully, I landed on my stomach. I was so embarrassed that I didn't want to have to face anyone. I felt someone's hands on my arm, and I could faintly hear them ask me if I was okay.

"Don't move her! Wait for the paramedics!" the same voice said forcefully.

"Is she okay? Janey? Can you hear me?" Nolan sounded so frantic that if I wasn't already in so much pain, I probably would have shed a tear.

I put my hands underneath myself and attempted to push myself up, but the first voice stopped me.

"Honey, don't. You could be seriously injured and moving without the paramedics here can and will only make it worse. They've been paged and should be here soon."

Then I felt something big and fabric-like being draped across my back. It was a jacket and it belonged to a man; I could tell by the smell of cologne and cigarettes.

"I need you to calm down, son. You look like you're about to crawl out of your skin. She's going to be fine," the man said to Nolan.

I felt a burning sensation starting in my leg where I had the unsuccessful surgery to replace my rotten femur bone. One of many unsuccessful surgeries that led to the Freddy Krueger claw inspired scars I had on my thighs.

"Excuse us, please!" a new voice said forcefully.

"They're here now, honey. You're going to be okay," the man said.

I felt his jacket being pulled off of me by the paramedics. I felt the board that they placed next to my arm and leg, before they gently rolled me onto it.

"Does your neck hurt?" the female asked me.

"No," I whispered.

"I'd feel better if you had a neck brace on. Is that okay?" she asked, pulling it out and securing it around me before I had a chance to respond.

I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, trying to push the pain out of my mind. When I opened them again, I cut my eyes in all directions trying to find Nolan.

I finally found him standing behind one of the EMT's and his face was heartbreaking; red, tear-stained, angry, and scared.

"Any idea what happened here?" the male paramedic asked him as they began to climb the stairs with me.

"She was—the chair, it rolled," he said.

The paramedic eyed him suspiciously as they reached the top ground with me. They hoisted me onto a stretcher and began to walk out of the aquarium with me.

They took me outside, loaded me into the ambulance, and the female came in the back with me.

"Where are you taking her?" Nolan asked.

"Redwood Medical," she said. "Call her parents and have them meet us there."

"No!" I managed to yell. I closed my eyes as the pain pulsed through me sharper than before at my sudden outburst.

"Honey, we need consent to treat you," she said.

"I'm twenty years old. I can consent. Nolan?" I called out weakly.

"I'm here, Janey," he said leaning into the ambulance.

"Don't call them. Just be there when I get there, okay?"

"I promise."

The doors to the ambulance were slammed shut and the sirens started up.

That was the last thing I remembered about my day at the aquarium with Nolan.