Riley Richards was on the top of the world, figuratively and literally. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone bigger than the 6 foot 3 inch basketball prospect, considered the best 16 year old in the nation. Everyone knew him from the crazy highlight video released after his 2nd season on varsity. But then everything changed.
A drunk man T-boned the family SUV one day driving to practice, sending the car tumbling 50 feet down the road. When the dust cleared and the car came to rest on its roof, the only survivor was the young Richard's. A quick examination revealed he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, ruining his dreams of basketball. A wealthy celebrity learns of the story and takes Riley in as soon as he's cleared from the hospital. When a romance begins to bud with the celebrity's daughter, will Richard's be able to get over his past and accept the future?
(Just decide the daughter's name and we can get started!)
(Her name's Acacia Forest.)
(Alright, I'll grind out a starter)
4 days. That's how long it took for Richards to say his first word to Acacia. The first day it seemed acceptable, considering the poor guy's story. He just sulked around the home, his light brown hair overgrown to the point where it fell over his eyes. And there was a lot of space to sulk. He barely ate the entire day, only having a single apple that he nursed for hours. By day 2, he didnt even leave the room. Periodically, someone would check in on him, and he'd always be sitting cross-legged on the bed, for comforter over his lap and his eyes shut tight. The third day went the same, which is when people became worried.
"We'll give him one more day," Mr. Forest reasoned. "Only then will we get worried."
But there was no need. He walked out that morning, his hair combed and his teeth brushed. His crutches were nuzzled firmly underneath his armpits.. Something must've happened those 2 nights, for as soon as he met Acacia in the hall of the upstairs floor, he greeted her with a small smile and a, "Good morning."
Acacia looked like a mess compared to Riley, her short ginger hair a bit messy from sleep and face still bare with no make up on it. She blinked a few times to see him standing there, her cheeks started to heat up realizing what a mess she was at the moment. When her dad had first said that they were taking him in, she wouldn't lied to say she had become annoyed and a little angry. Wasn't she enough for him? The first four days showed that they really did need to take Riley in. Acacia was already worried after day two since he hadn't left at all. Now he seemed fine standing in front of her. She brushed her hair with her fingers trying to make it presentable, "Good morning. How are you?"
"Uh….work in progress," he said, wincing slightly. "It's not an easy question to answer."
It was true. Why he was feeling so sociable all of a sudden was something he had no clue why. He had dressed up in his best clothes, which, admittedly, wasn't much. A nice collared blue shirt with both if the buttons buttoned, a faded pair of khakis, but no shoes on 'cause he couldn't find his Van's.
(I know I'm a little impatient, but bumpity?)
(Sorry. I get busy a lot. I respond when I can as soon as I can.)
Acacia nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah. Have you eaten yet?"
She,couldn't think of what else to say. What do you say to a practical stranger that's now living in your house because his parents died in a wreck.
"I just got up, like, 30 minutes ago. But some food would be great. I cant take my pain pills until I have a full stomach." He leaned forward on his crutches, trying his best to keep as much weight off of his heavily bandaged ankle as he could.
"I, okay," Acacia was now dumbfounded as to how he got ready so quickly. She thought for a second, "If you can wait a minute or two I can bring you up breakfast. Unless you want to go downstairs, then I can help you down."
"It would be nice if I could get some help," he admitted, scratching the back of his head in an embarrassed manner. He wasn't used to getting helped for these kind sof things, so he had a feeling the adjustment period was gonna be rough.
Acacia smiled and nodded. She began to walk towards the,staircase, "I'm happy to help out. So, uh, don't be afraid to ask me."
He returned the smile, following her with the steady click click of his crutches. "I keep that in mind. Thanks."
"No problem," Acacia responded keeping one eye on him. She hoped she wouldn't scare him off.
"Any clue what you got in the kitchen?" He asked, grunting when the pad in the crutch dug into his armpit painfully. "I haven't been in there very much, to be honest."
"Probably some muffins or leftover pancake batter, if we get lucky," Acacia responded reaching the grand staircase to look at Riley, "Definitely cereal though."
He looked down at the staircase and groaned. "This is gonna take a while," he said. "What is it with rich people and their fascination with shit-loads of stairs?"
