As I Fell ✓

Chapter 32: "Date?"

Owen
I got out of the house wearing my warm striped sweater and beanie to meet Athena and once I opened the door to the passenger seat, a big, fluffy dog jumped on me I almost fell backward, loosing my grip on my chair a bit.

"Maxie!" I beamed at the dog who's great white paws were on my shoulder, sitting up and licking my neck. I laughed.

"I missed you too Max." I said smilingly as I rubbed Maxie's back and patted her around before a loud honk startled me causing the dog to jump back inside the car. Athena peered and smiled calmly, slowly getting out of the driver's seat and stood in front of me.

"Sorry to interrupt your meeting with your first highschool sweetheart but we got some place to be going. Owen, get your ass inside and I'll fix the chair for you." she said as I rolled my eyes at her and smirked as I transferred to the passenger seat into where Maxie was and cuddled her while Athena puts away the wheelchair behind. I played with Maxie's ears and squished her face as she laid on my lap. Dog's are too pure for this world.

"Yes, Maxie, I wuv you and  you wuv me too, don't you girl?" I said as I played with her paws, speaking to her as if she were my own child who I bore from somewhere I do not know of.

"You're weird." I heard Athena mutter.

Athena sat back beside me with a tight smile and drove off silently to the hospital. She was still distancing herself from me and I started to get kinda worried fearing she'll leave me hanging but with Maxie around, I think we're okay. She brought her dog right? Dogs fix everything.

As Maxie, calmed down and stared out the window, I couldn't help but divert my gaze away from the dog and toward Athena, her blonde hair tied back with braids and into a low ponytail, her face distorted in concentration as she drove. I felt my face heat up and as she glanced up at me, I quickly brought my gaze back to the big, fluffy dog sitting on my lap, happily putting her head out the window, her tongue flying.

My heart raced. I was certain it was not for the dog. Certainly not the dog.

Though I love that dog very much in case you're wondering.

It's something different.

Is this what Noah's been trying to tell me all this time?

I was lost in my thoughts before something hard smacked my arm. I couldn't help but hiss.

"Fuck. Athena!" I said as I rubbed my arm and looked at Athena who was smiling innocently, slowly shrugging her shoulders. Today, she wore a loose gray sweater that hung from her shoulders, her bare skin peeking.

"Sorry. I parked here for like, two minutes already and you gotta get out of your head. Thinking about something?" she asked as she turned off the engine and cocked her head to the side.

I shook my head and stopped my hands from trembling. "No. Just-- nothing." I answered, embarrassed that I blanked out thinking about Athena.

She shook her head and placed a hand on my shoulder. I felt myself jolt a bit in my seat. Her large, brown eyes staring intently into mine.

"It's okay. I know things are awkward and it's all my fault. Sorry. Could we just like, forget it ever happened?" Athena blurted out, her eyes closed forcibly as she slammed her hands down on the steering wheel. She never does that.

"Athena, it's not tha-"

"Owen, just-- shut it, okay? You're gonna be late. Barb's gonna kill us if I get you in there even a minute past your schedule."

Athena got out of the driver's seat and opened the backseat to pull out my chair and I just waited there with my shoulders slumped. She's distancing herself from me again. I can't help but sigh and stare at her.

Athena then opened the door to give me space to transfer to my chair after she unfolded it as Maxie jumped out from my lap and stood beside Athena who fastened a leash around the dog's collar.

"Hey, you alright? Need some help?" Athena asked, her tone full of concern
after noticing that I was in fact, still inside the car.

"No. I-I-- can handle myself actually, thanks." I muttered as I woke my senses and transferred to my chair, slinging my backpack over the handles before looking up at Athena who gave me concerned glances.

"You're not yourself today. Are you sure you're not sick or anything?" she asked as she held Maxie's leash and the two of us headed toward the entrance of the hospital.

"There's nothing wrong with me Athena. Don't worry, I won't die anytime soon. Just-- preoccupied." I muttered as we silently entered the lobby and Athena sat down in one of the long couches with Maxie.

"Dogs can't go farther down the lobby. I'll wait here. " Athena told me with a small smile that could make any heartbeat race faster, smoothing down her leggings and removing a few stray dog hairs on her clothes.

I nodded and went off to PT, meeting Barbara in our usual spot. She smiled at me and led me to one of the beds to massage my legs.

"I didn't see blondie come in with you today, Owen. Something happened?" she asked as she pulled my pale, legs up and down slowly, looking at me with worried eyes.

"I don't know Barb. It's just been weird lately." I muttered as I laid down onto the soft orthopedic mat with my arms folded across my chest and sighed. Barb shook her head.

"Well that's life for ya Owen. Sometimes, you gotta do something that might scare the shit out of you to make up for something 'weird'." Barb advised as she raised up my right leg slowly before bringing it down, smiling ever so slightly.

"Well, what could I do then?"

Barb stopped raising my legs up and down and thought for a minute before she beamed and pointed a finger upwards as if she had a eureka moment.

"Just, be yourself. Be that sarcastic, dry-humored teen I've known for years. Bring that sassiness into her life, kiddo." Barb winked as she continued raising up my legs individually. I furrowed my eyebrows and eyed her curiously.

"Barb, how the hell will I make things better if she's distancing herself from me? Is the wheelchair a major turnoff then?" I asked as I sat up, shoulders slouched.

Barbara, put down my legs and sighed before giving me that motherly look Mum gave me whenever I 'accidentally' run over Jace's foot.

"Owen, the chair's not a turnoff. From what I can see from lil blondie, she doesn't care about it at least. You're a good kid Owen. Show her."

Athena
Owen got out of PT faster than I thought and I was surprised to see him wheel in the lobby wearing another one of his hoodies (this time, it was an emerald green) and his dark, wavy hair was still falling into his icy blue eyes. I was tempted to swipe away a few strands though.

"Finished already?" I asked, standing up and picking Maxie's leash from the floor where she sat down patiently. Owen smiled, his small dimples showing and I couldn't help but feel butterflies again.

"Yeah, Barb let me off early so we could go somewhere. You free for the whole afternoon?" he asked, swiping away a few wisps of hair from his eyes. Yes, those icy blue eyes again sure do make me feel weak in my knees.

"Uhm, I-I--"

"It's okay if you're busy. We cou-"

I quicky waved my hands and stuttered yet again. I was indeed not expecting him to ask me out. Well, it was unofficial and was certainly not a date so why fret?

"N-no! I mean, I-I do have plans for today. I planned it actually with you. I brought Maxie with us for that." I quickly spouted as I felt my cheeks heat up and I avoided his gaze.

I felt a fuzzy, gloved hand hold my free hand at the tips only and looked back at Owen. His eyes were staring directly into mine as he smiled awkwardly and I swear, my heart couldn't take the pressure of having it beat so fast I bet it was faster than the speed of light.

"Well, if you have plans for us, why don't we get moving?"

Pinch me I'm dreaming.

Is this a date?