Not Just Another Cliché

"It's game time." I say to Casey before pecking him on the lips.

As he begins to run off, I yell out at him "break a leg." He turns back around and smiles then blows a kiss.

The opposing teams Eagles shakes hands with the Tigers and then the game begins.

"There's no competition, like the real competition and the real competition are the T-I-GERS!" All us cheerleaders chant as we pronounce each syllable.

"Let's go Tigers. Let's go!" We say clapping at the end.

The half time whistle was called and the players run off the field and get drinks.

The Tigers are up by 19 points so it's pretty safe to say they are gonna win.

"Hustle hustle hustle." The coach yells to the boys.

Casey runs out to the field with his helmet under his arm then suddenly stops and turns around and quickly takes hold of my cheek and places his lips on top of mine.

When he pulls away after hearing Seth call his name, he smiles.

"I love you." He smiles.

"I love you too." I smile in return.

The game continues on and I keep a close eye on Casey. Wow he's amazing.

He gets the ball off the opposing teams QB and sprints to make a touchdown allowing everyone to cheer and scream supportive comments when suddenly I see someone force themselves into Casey making Casey fall onto the ground head first.

Everyone gasps and ohs erupt through the crowds.

"Casey." I scream as I drop my Pom poms and run onto the field and when I reach a helpless Casey on the field, I drop to my knees.

His eyes are closed and he's unresponsive.

"Casey please." I cry.

"Emily." Seth screams as he joins me on the ground.

"Help! We need help!" He yells beckoning the coach and first aid crew over to us.

They rush over and tell me to back off.

Seth takes me in his arms as I allow the tears to slide down my face and Holly rubs my arm comfortingly.

I see the paramedics gently lift Casey onto a stretcher and carry him over to the ambulance that just arrived.

By now, Caseys parents have joined us and they follow the paramedics.

Zoey joins Casey in the ambulance while Andy drives my parents and the girls.

"Come on Em, I'll give you a ride." Seth says and all I can do is nod in reply.

We make it to Seths car and drive to the hospital following Andys car.

When we get in, I run up to the reception desk.

"Casey St Cloud. He was hurt in a football injury. Brought in just a few minutes ago." I rush out with tear stained cheeks and swollen eyes.

The receptionist clicks around on the computer until she looks back at me.

"He's in ICU but no visitors yet. You can wait in the reception room of room 371." She smiles and Holly mutters a thank you then we all rush off to the elevator and click the 3rd floor button.

When we get out, I run down to the reception room and look around frantically for my parents.

"Emily." They call out and I rush over to the them and they envelope me in a hug.

Evan is here with Maya, Liv and Meg are sitting on the seats with a book and Andy and Zoey are talking to my parents and me.

"What is happening?" I ask.

"Em he was taking into ICU and they were examining him and doing X-Ray's. We are just waiting for the results." Andy explains.

"Was he awake in the ambulance Zoe?" I ask.

She doesn't answer and she has her hand up to her mouth and is looking into the distance.

"Honey." Andy says placing an arm on her shoulder jolting Zoey awake.

"Hum?" She questions.

"Casey, was he awake on the way here?" I repeat.

"Uh, no." She says and then she begins to cry and throws her head into her husbands shoulder.

"Are you okay sweetie?" My mom asks me through a shaky voice.

I nod my head and then my tears begin again and I start shaking my head and run into her arms.

I hear a door open and a doctor walks out.

Zoey steps away from Andy and walks closer to the doctor.

"We are still waiting for the results of his X-Ray's but he is awake and two people at a time can see him." Dr Fader explains.

Andy and Zoey run inside and the rest of us wait patiently for our turn.

20 minutes pass by and Zoey and Andy walk out.

"Emily, he wants to see you." Andy informs me.

I take a deep breath before standing from the seat and walking to the door then pushing it open to be seen with Casey wearing a neck brace which restricts movement of his head.

"Casey." I breath out making him turn his head in my direction then flinch from the pain.

"I said break a leg not anything else." I say and he chuckles.

I run up to him and grab his hands.

"Oh baby, are you okay?" I ask gently touching his hands.

"I've been better." He jokes and I squeeze my eyes shut.

"That was a stupid question. I'm sorry."

He grabs hold of my hand making me look him in the eyes.

"I can't feel my legs, Emily."

"What?"

"My legs Emily, I have no feeling in them."

"Maybe that's because you've been lying down for so long." I assure.

"I've been lying down for an hour. I know what it is Emily."

"Did the doctor tell you that?"

"Well no but-"

"But nothing. Nothing is wrong with your legs Casey St Cloud." I yell.

"Emily-" he begins but I cut him off again.

"You'll get better. You'll leave this hospital with your legs working! And you'll play your last Tigers game before graduation. I know."

"You don't know that Emily."

"I do."

"I know." I yell back as I walk out the door.

When I walk back into the waiting room, I'm met with a bunch of eyes looking at me and I just run off skipping the elevator and heading straight for the staircase.

********

The next day, I'm woken by Holly barging into my room and throwing clothes into the bed.

"Holly, what are you doing?" I ask sitting up.

"It's Casey. The doctors have news."

I look at her for a while studying her facial expressions and it doesn't show cheerfulness but sorrow and pity.

I jump out of bed and run into the bathroom throwing my grey leggings and my baggy maroon jumper and matching them with my converse.

Holly guides me into the car outside my house where Seth is waiting.

On the way to the hospital, I throw my hair into a messy bun and eventually, we arrive at Our Lady's hospital.

I run to the elevator and then sprint to Caseys room before the doctor can tell the news.

When we walk in, Casey is watching TV and his parents and my parents are sitting beside him.

"Can I talk to the family?" The doctor says.

"This is the family." Zoey says.

"2 people max." He agrees.

I go to walk out with my parents when Casey calls me back.

"Emily, stay." He says and sends a glare to the doctor.

I walk to his side and grab hold of his hand as the doctor closes the door and walks up to us.

"The X-Ray's are back and what we thought was just a sprained neck is, a broken neck." He explains and we all take a deep breath and Zoey throws herself into her husband.

"Due to the force of the incident, we have to face the possibility that Casey won't be able to walk again." The doctor continues and Zoey's whales echo throughout the room.

I see tears escape down Caseys cheeks making mine erupt also.

"I know this is hard to hear but there is a counselling group that deals with stuff like this. We still have more tests to run but the stats showing most people who break their neck with that much force are more than likely to be paralysed from the waist down. I'm so sorry." He says and then leaves the room leaving us in total silence.

"I told you." Casey whispers looking at the wall in front of him.

******
A/N
Well that happened!
Next few chapters are gonna be juicy oh I tell ya!
Vote/comment/follow
-Madison🤘🏻🤘🏻