Kambrie shrugged her shoulders. "Figured we could go to the park. Where everything started. But on the way, you and I are getting ice cream." she smiled seeming really happy about the ice cream part. Pushing her glasses back up her nose and moving her hair slightly she pushed open the ice cream shop doors. "Whoa Kambie is that you?!" the owner asked as Kambrie smiled. "What can I get you and trouble maker here?". Kambrie seemed to think before ordering them both a chocolate chip cookie dough. "Sorry mom doesn't me come here at all. Doesn't want me to gain weight again." she confided in Darcy. After they had gotten their ice cream they made their way to the park. "So what curfew was your mom talking about? Things get strict or something?". She froze when she took a big bite of the ice cream giving her a brain freeze. She laughed loudly before running to the swings like a child again.
The Last Chance
-
-
Darcy quirked a brow at the thought of revisiting old stomping grounds. Following her to the ice cream shop he looked between Kambrie and the shop owner confused until she clarified after they’d gotten their ice cream. “I don’t think an ice cream cone will make that much of a difference.” Darcy snickered in between bites of ice cream watching her freeze up from a brain freeze. He had to go running after her though as she sprinted for the swings at the park. Following behind her he was struggling to keep his ice cream from falling and splattering on the sidewalk. When he made it to the swings he was protectively shielding his ice cream with his hand. He lazily swung back and forth still trying to eat his ice cream cone as he went. “To come back I had to basically beg my parents. No skipping class, no missing assignments, I have a curfew now. It’s not great, but I’m glad I got to come back.” Darcy finished his ice cream and started to swing higher. He snickered to himself. “Remember whenever I tried to flip off the back and broke my nose.”
-
Kambrie laughed too as she remembered. "It didn't help matters that I had dared you to do it.". She looked at him curious for a moment. A curfew? "Why did you come back if you knew that there would be so many rules?". She wouldn't have. She was sure there were more rules than what he was saying but she didn't press. Knowing that school had never been his strong suit she suggested an idea "I can help you. To you know uh pass your assignments. I mean if you want me too.". She offered him a smile of sorts before swinging higher too. Everything happened so fast from there. The swing snapped out of the chains sending her flying. She landed on the hard grass with a scream. She tried bracing herself on her arm but only cried more. Her ankle didn't feel much better than her arm either.
-
His arms was wrapped around the chain whille still trying to nibble on his ice cream as he swung along. He looked up with a blink as she offered to help him out in school. Straightening his back he blinked a little. “Really? I would really appreciate it.” Darcy was a bit shocked, but had a slight smile creep on his face. He needed all the help he could get when it came to school. His eyes widened when she suddenly lurched forwards as the chain gave way. Leaping from the swings he went hurrying over towards her. As skidding to a stop he crouched down with a frown. “Don’t move around too much. You might have broke something.” He insisted crouching down close to her. “Maybe I can carry you back?” He suggested slowly looking around. There weren’t anyone driving around the park this time of night. “You’ll be alright.” He smiled trying to keep her calm for the time being.
-
Kambrie groaned once more as another tear fell. "Go. If your mom sees me like this she'll think it was your fault.". Wincing she pulled out her cracked phone. She cursed loudly "Okay fine. Help me up. If you can get me home, my brother can take me to the hospital.". She braced her unhurt arm on his and pulled. Her ankle throbbed with the movement. Lipping as she went, she kept her arm braced around her abdomen and her other arm on his shoulder. Before they got too far, she stopped. "It hurts too much Darc. I can't do this.". More tears fell with the pain increasing.
-
Darcy adamantly shook his head helping her get up. “Are you nuts? If I left you alone she’d skin m alive.” He huffed to himself as they slowly limped into the towards the sidewalk. He let her lean against him as much as she needed. He was regretting his choice to leave his phone in his room at the moment. “I’m going to pick you up.” Sighing to himself he carefully scooped her up in his arms doing his best to not jostile her too much. Kambrie luckily extremely heavy so he slowly made his way slowly down the sidewalk careful with every step. “Hold on tight.” He chuckled as they walked further down the sidewalk. It wasn’t a long hike back home, but he continued to look down at her as they moved.
-
Kambrie winced when he picked her up, letting out a small whimper. "You're mom will kill you if she see's me like this." she reminded him. When her house came into sight, she looked at him her eyes still glossy. "The park hasn't changed much." She let out a pained laugh at her own joke. "Seriously Darcy, thank you.". The door opened to her house her brother apparently leaving. "Kam? Kam!" he yelled when he saw her, jogging to meet Darcy. Gently taking her out of his arms, he glared at Darcy. "What the h*** man? Middle school wasn't enough for you!?". Kambrie groaned before forcing him to put her down and shoving him almost falling over in the process. "Hey jerk! He was helping me. I asked him to come to the park with me, okay? The stupid swing broke and I fell.". Her brother rubbed his neck awkwardly before nodding "Come on. Let's get you to a hospital.". He picked her up once more putting her in the car while running to grab the keys and her purse. Kambrie smiled at Darcy for a moment. "Thanks again. Maybe next time we hang out I won't break something." she joked, holding her arm.
-
Darcy chuckled at her joke although didn’t answer, shifting her weight in his arms a bit. “Hey any time.” Smiling he trekked the final stretch to make it to her house. Looking towards her door when her brother appeared. Darcy transferred her over simply frowning when her brother started in on him. He deserved most of the sh*t he got and he was also more wrapped up and making sure Kambrie was okay. Darcy jumped when she got down and gave it right back to her brother. “Take it easy.” He huffed holding his arms out just in case she did tip over backwards. Following her to the car he leaned against the car door with a sigh. “We’ll have to give it a try pretty soon. You’re just going to have to be wrapped in bubble wrap or something.” Darcy chuckled to himself before he froze hearing his front door opening and slamming shut. Her mom’s heels clicked on the concrete walkway as she came at them. Frowning to himself Darcy looked up to his mom. “What happened?” She yelled throwing her hands up in the air. “Darcy what did you do?” She questioned as she marched right up to him. Sighing to himself shaking his head. “The swing broke and Kambrie fell.” Darcy started an explanation before Mrs. Walker made her way to the car. Looking in the window concern on her face.
-
Kambrie offered a smile to Mrs. Walker. "He's telling the truth. We were playing on the swings probably going higher than we should have been. My saddle broke off the chains and I went flying. Thankfully Buster here was there to carry me home or I would have still been laying there." She explained once more before her brother came back outside. He greeted Mrs. Walker before climbing in the driver seat. "Bye! See you at school!". Adam waved as well before pulling out of the driveway, speeding to the hospital. Upon check-in, Kambrie was placed in a arm brace to support it. Thirty minutes passed before she was called back. "Kambrie? Adam?" Their mother questioned upon seeing them. Adam rubbed his neck looking anywhere but their mom while Kambrie simply gave a sheepish grin. Rolling her eyes, their mother took them into a room. "What happened Kambrie?". Kambrie explained the situation for the third time that night, causing a laugh from her mother. "Dr. Ericson should be in soon." Her mother sat beside her daughter, rubbing her back.
An hour later, Kambrie was put in a sling and a ankle brace. Apparently she had broken ligaments in her shoulder as well as her ankle. School should be a joy now especially since some of her classes were upstairs. Thankfully though, her doctor had given her excuse for school for the next two days. Prim would have a field day with that more than likely telling the whole school that Darcy Walker had hurt her. Sighing, she knew that going back to school would be filled with gossip but at the moment she didn't care. She was on some decent medication to ease the pain. Once they discharged her they went home, Adam having to carry her up the stairs to her room complaining the whole time.
-
Darcy and his mom waved them out of the drive before crossing the yard back to their own house. The older woman pinched the bridge of her nose. “Your two just always seem to find trouble.” There was a slight bit of humor in her voice. Darcy let his shoulders relax a bit. It didn’t seem like he was going to die today at least. With that they went back inside and Darcy went back up to his room. Laying back on the bed he pulled out his phone and spent the rest of the night texting some of his long distance friends catching them up on the events on the day. He knew that the news would be all over the school by the next morning. It would probably be spun around so he beat her up and then left her in the park or something. He smiled to himself though thinking back to her question as to why exactly he’d want to come back to all this. He’d wanted to make things right and even if it hadn’t gone exactly how he wanted at least he had another chance to make things right.
The next morning he was woken up by his mom’s voice coming from down the hall. Grumbling he got himself up and ready for school pulling on whatever the heck he pulled out of his closest. Pulling his clothes on he then stumbled his way downstairs. Rubbing his eyes he came into the kitchen with a tired sigh. “Morning.” He croaked as he made his way into the kitchen.
-
Kambrie hobbled down the steps, wincing slightly. Her mother was already gone for the day and she couldn't seem to find Adam. Huffing, she made her way into the kitchen dropping several pans as she tried to find one to cook eggs in. Cooking with one arm was not all that easy. The mess you leave behind is horrendous. Deciding she wasn't going to be able to cook, she hobbled her way outside. "Kambrie!" Prim yelled running over with fake concern. "Did he really beat you up like this?" she questioned causing Kambrie to glare. "No idiot. I fell.". She knew Prim wouldn't listen and that Darcy would get a lot of hate from this. Sighing she tried to hobble along to somewhere to eat, whimpering ever so often. She hated being weak and injured.
Once she made it halfway, her brother pulled up beside her holding up a McDonalds bag. "Went to get you breakfast idiot. Get in.". She climbed in with a cheesy smile before digging into the bag. Adam laughed before pulling back into the driveway. "Please tell me you didn't wreck the kitchen trying to cook.". Kambrie simply laughed climbing out of the vehicle. "Maybe, Maybe not. Hey, can we watch SpongeBob?". She hobbled in laughing more when she heard his groaning. She looked at Darcy's house before waving to him as he came outside. "Ignore those jerks today. Come over when you get home?".
-
Darcy sighed as his mom’s back was to him as she hummed and danced around the kitchen. “Morning!” He called out louder causing her practically jump. Putting her hand over her heart she waited a moment to calm down before saying anything. “Sorry, Darcy. Duncan will be here in a bit.” She offered him a cup of coffee before turning back around to focus on whatever she was doing. Taking the cup he went back upstairs and gathered his stuff up. He wasn’t looking forwards to going to school, but he couldn’t exactly call in sick. Slinging his bag over his shoulder he moved out of the house calling a goodbye to his mom as he walked out of the house.
As soon as he got outside he heard Kambrie’s voice calling across the yard. He smiled despite seeing her in a sling. “I can check my schedule.” He tapped his chin with a shrug before nodding his head. “Of course. I’ll see you later Kambrie.” He waved as his brother’s care pulled up before hopping in. AS soon as he got in his brother practically sped off towards the school.
-
Kambrie smiled and nodded at him before his brother took off like a mad man. Hearing a plethora of curse words from inside she laughed slightly. "Kambrie I'm gonna kill you!" Adam yelled from the kitchen. Kambrie tried hobbling up the stairs but failed. Adam caught her before she could fall glaring at her. She gave him an innocent grin before wincing. "Time for meds. Come on. I'll help you upstairs and bring them to you." Adam told her before picking her up. He had went from mad to big brother mode in a matter of seconds. She loved that about him. No matter what she did, he was always there. Once she was back in her room, she texted Prim asking her to be nice today and not make things worse for Darcy. To which Prim responded that she wasn't thinking clearly because she was scared of Darcy. She flopped back on her bed letting out an angry scream into her pillow. Adam knocked on her door before bringing her the medicine and a glass of water. "Problem?" He asked taking a seat beside her. Kambrie nodded after taking the medicine and explained "Prim is telling the whole school that Darcy beat me and that's how all this happened. She says I'm scared of him so I'm trying to defend him. He's going to be bullied so badly today and I can't do anything about it until I get to go back.". Adam frowned before hugging her "It'll be okay. Darcy has always been a tough one. Trust me though, you're worth it.". Kambrie laughed before shoving him "Get out. You're being too mushy.". Adam laughed too raising his hands in mock surrender before turning on the tv to put on SpongeBob.
-
Darcy had to clutch on to his coffee cup praying that it wasn’t going to spill all over his lap. With his brother’s driving it unfortunately didn’t take all that long to get to school. Sighing he chugged the last of his coffee before stepping out of his brother’s car. The moment he shut the door his brother sped off again. From what he could tell his brother had another job interview or was about to be fired because he was late. Darcy shrugged his shoulders before turning to walk into the school. As soon as he got on the campus he felt that something was off. It only went downhill from that point. Ethan and several of the people who had been hanging out with him yesterday were trying to get him to fight them and see if he felt like a man if actually beat up someone his own size. The only one he really had left in his corner was Ace who at least asked him what had actually happened. While he was taking out equipment from the spare closest the door was slammed shut and he was locked in there until the coach heard the banging and let him out.
He survived though. Darcy tried to see it as karmic justice for what he’d done before, but it didn’t help him not want to kick someone’s teeth in every time he got someone looking at his sideways like he was going to pull a gun on them. He couldn’t have been happier when the final bell rang. Practically bolting out the door he went outside. Sighing he noticed that his brother’s car wasn’t there yet. Cursing under his breath he went to stand under a tree to wait it out. A scowl appeared on his face as he saw Prim walk by Ethan hot on her heels. Ethan caught him looking and turned right around puffing himself up. “Are you looking for someone else to knock senseless? What the h*ll is wrong with you?!” Darcy got himself away from the tree as Ethan got closer and closer and more into his face. “Don’t come here .” Ducking to the side before ducking off to the side as he went running for his brother’s car when he pulled up.
-
Kambrie hobbled down the stairs, greeted by the smell of grilled cheese sandwiches after taking a nap. The school day had just started a nervous feeling settling in her stomach. She spent the most part of her day worrying about Darcy and just how bad things would be. When she heard his brother's car, she tried her best to move to the front door as quickly as possible. When she opened it, she offered a smile and a wave Darcy's way already being able to tell he was ready to kill someone. "That bad huh?" she questioned as she crossed the grass. She had been getting messages all day from random people telling her how sorry they were that he had hurt her, how they stood up for her, etc. She hated it. Prim had lied to the entire school making them believe that Darcy Walker had stepped up his childish pranks to full on abuse. Her own 'best friend'. Yeah right. Prim lived for drama proving that point very efficiently today. "So I decided my grand return is going to be tomorrow instead of that day after.". She was going to set things straight tomorrow. She had fell because the stupid swing broke not because of Darcy abusing her.
-
“So, you ran. I don’t know if I should be proud of you for avoiding a fight or call you a wimp for running.” Duncan shrugged as they pulled up into the driveway. “Just shut up.” Darcy pushed open the door and jumped out ignoring his brother yelling at him not to be jumping out of the car while it was still moving. Slamming the door in a huff he righted his bag on his shoulder. Turning his head he tried to smile when he saw Kambrie hobbling her way across the lawn. “It wasn’t great.” He walked towards her meeting her before she got too far from her own house. Of course it sucked, he’d known it was going to after he got Kambrie home. Maybe he could have some how pleaded with his mom to let him stay home, but it would have made him look that much more guilty, even if he now just kind of wanted to flop on to his bed and not have to leave his room until everything had blown over. Both of his brows went up at the idea of her going back to school a day early. “Really Munchkin?” Darcy questioned with a a good natured smile trying to show he didn’t mean anything malicious by the nickname. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to give up a two day vacation on account of me.” Darcy didn’t want her ending up going back to early and struggling to get around. He appreciated the thought either way though.
-
Kambrie shrugged the best she could as she flashed a smile. "Eh. Not much of a vacation if you ask me. Adam is a decent cook but not the best. Besides, my nerd side misses the schoolwork.". She waved off the idea of staying home another day. Should she stay home? Sure. Didn't mean she was going to. She had a point to prove and if anyone knew her, she was always a stubborn girl, that seemed to only increase the older she got. Hearing a car pull into her driveway she saw Prim get out of Ethan's car. Kambrie faced her so called friend with a harsh glare. "Get out. I don't want you here or your little pet. Get back in that hunk of junk and get off my property!". Prim seemed surprised before backing off and doing just what she was told. Kam sighed before looking back at Darcy. "I've got some ice cream that isn't going to eat itself. Come over when you drop your books off and check-in?". She hobbled her way back to her house, pushing open the door plopping down on the couch.
-
Darcy sighed not bothering to try to talk her out of it. Even when they were kids, when she put her mind to something there was no telling her no. His mouth twisted when saw Prim get out of Ethan’s car. If that idiot tried anything he wouldn’t be afraid now to fight back. Stuffing his hands in his pockets. Lifting an eyebrow he looked at Kambrie as she actually told her friend to go, in not so nice terms. “Thanks Munchkin.” The young man smiled before he nodded before turning to make his way back to his house. His mom and dad were sitting in the living room. His mom looked up from her book. “How was school?” She asked as he plopped his books down on the chair. “Um, I survived. Can I tell you more about it later? I want to go spend some time with Kambrie.” Darcy tried his best to get them to agree. Both of his parents looked at each other and then back at him. “We’re just hanging out at her house. Her brother’s there and she invited me over.” Darcy clarified before his parents answered. His mother sighed before slowly nodding her head. “Alright, but you come home by curfew and we’re going to talk.” She insisted and then his dad nodded along when she turned to look at him. Darcy nodded before quickly turning to head across the lawn to make his way to Kambrie’s house knocking on the door.
-
Kambrie looked up from her spot on the couch yelling "It's open!". She made herself more comfortable pausing an episode of The Flash. When the door opened showing Darcy she smiled a little "Welcome to my casa.". Adam walked through waving at Darcy before grabbing Kambrie's medicine. "That time again squirt." He told her as he handed her a glass of water. Kambrie groaned before downing them. "Do me a favor? Get my ice cream with two spoons?" She begged her brother giving him her signature pout. Glaring at her, he left the room once more only coming back to hand her the cookie dough ice cream and two spoons. "I've got a job interview in like thrity minutes so can I trust you guys to behave?" He asked checking the time on his watch. Kambrie seemed to choke on air her eyes growing wide "What?! Adam! We just became friends again. What is wrong with you?!". She threw a couch pillow at him causing laughter from her older brother. He rubbed her hair before walking out of the front door. Kambrie pinched the bridge of her nose out of annoyance before looking back at Darcy. "Sorry about that. I told him what was said to get you a second chance and he apparently has it in his head that since you liked me back then you still do. Idiot.". She pressed the home button on the controller before looking back at Darcy with a grin. "Video games for old times sake or do you need help with any homework?"
-
Darcy stepped inside sitting down on the other side of the couch with a huff. He waved briefly to Adam watching the two siblings as they went back and forth. Leaning his elbow on the arm rest he smiled when Adam came back with the ice cream taking one of the spoons before promptly dropping it about the same time she started gagging. When he bent over to pick up the spoon he barely missed smacking his head on the table he was so distracted. “Okay then.” He muttered as her brother left before shaking his head and setting the spoon off to the side. He laughed although it didn’t sound quite as effortless as he wanted it to. Yep, he has no feelings for Kambrie, none at all, period. Yep, that was definitely the case. At least tha’ts what he had to tell himself. “Yep, that’s crazy.” He smiled albeit a bit forced. Siting back on the couch he thought for a moment. “Can you help me finish the last bit of Mr. Adam’s project? He gave me an extra day because I ended up having to miss his class.” Darcy of course didn’t mention the fact that he missed the class because he got locked in the gym closest. That wasn’t something he wanted to admit.