Page 49 of Run
I smush my lips to the side.
“Well, I’m sure you can sue the driver who hit you.”
“No,” I interrupt her.
“Ari, he ran you down in the road.”
“It’s not his fault.”
“What do you mean it’s not his fault?” Sophie scrunches her face. “He ran you over!”
“I’m not suing anybody, Soph. It wasn’t his fault, OK? I wasn’t paying attention. I was running from Sean and I didn’t look and I just ran right out in front of the truck. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t have time to stop.”
Sophie holds her hands up in surrender. “OK. Not suing. Got it.” She sighs and readjusts her position on the bed next to my legs. “Well, there’s another option …” I look up at her as she trails off, then lift my brows.
Sophie pulls her lips between her teeth, then blurts out, “Come live at the Millers’ with me.” I pull my head back as I look at her. “What? Why not?”
“Soph,” I try to argue but am having a hard time coming up with what to say. “I’m not a kid anymore. They shouldn’t have to take care of me.”
“Are you kidding? They love you. When I told them we were getting our own place they offered to redo the apartment above the garage so we could live there. I told them no because I wanted my freedom but, well, things have changed.”
I rub my temples with my fingertips.
“Also, I’m pretty sure you can go on their insurance until you’re like, twenty-five or something.” A flush of embarrassment climbs up my cheeks as realization that I’m as pathetic as I’ve always been sinks in.
“I’m so sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry for the way this has affected you. Maybe Fonz can move in and pick up my share of the rent while I’m in here—”
Sophie raises a hand up, palm out, to stop me. “Ari, don’t worry. We’ll figure it all out, OK. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought all this shit up now.”
I bite my lip and think.
“What is it?” Sophie picks up on my mood.
“Is it weird that I might just want to stay here forever? I kinda want to never regain the use of my legs so I can just lay in this bed and not have to face anything outside these doors and never have to be Arlene Scott again?”
Sophie slowly turns her head from side to side. “Girl, know that I mean this as a commentary on how strong and resilient you are, but I’ve got to say, I would never want to be you, either.”
We stare at each other for a moment, then crack up. Sophie taps the side of my arm. “Move over.” She starts to mount the bed.
“What?”
“I said move over. I’m comin’ up.”
“Oh … um …” I stutter as Sophie squeezes her body between mine and the side rail. “I’m not sure … I can’t exactly shift …”
“It’s fine.” She settles in on her side and drapes an arm and leg over my body. “Luckily, you’re tiny.”
“I’m not so sure this is good for my spinal injury.”
“Probably not. Good thing for you, you can’t feel any discomfort.” We both laugh again, then fall silent.
“You should change your name.” I turn my head to look at Sophie, my eyebrows pinched in question. “You said you didn’t want to be Arlene Scott anymore. So, change your name.”
I look up at the ceiling. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“It’s a freaking awesome idea.”
I think it over a moment. “But I do like being ‘Ari’ to you and Fonz.”And someone else.
