Cassidy's Dorm

[Cassidy Simmons]

Yes, she is able to get in and out of bed and through the door without assistance... though she does have a beeper in case she ever falls and can't get up, that sort of thing (no, it's not Life Alert)

[Parker Radke]

Parker was shit out of luck when he knocked on his brother's door to ask for a ride to campus and saw that his window was open and he wasn't there. He pinched his eyebrows together in confusion that Finn's truck was still in the driveway, where did he vanish to? Oh well, guess he was stuck with his bike tonight. He returned to his room, grabbed his backpack and dumped all of the contents out so there was room for the food and drinks he was bringing to Cassidy.

"Mom?" He asked, now downstairs and filling his back with tupperware and two gatorade bottles. "I'm going to a friend's, I'll be back in a little while." Parker informed. His mom was okay with it, but insisted he be back before ten-thirty. She'd be asleep by then, but he had a key and didn't plan on being back by then if he had any say.

He headed out the back door, clipped his keys to the loop for his belt, hopped on his bike and petaled out. It hadn't taken him too long to get to campus, he knew the way well now because of the times he'd been late to school when his mom and brother had already left. Parker pulled up to the bike rack and locker her up tight before walking into the dorm hall. He couldn't wait until his mom let him move in here, if she let him move in here.. He'd have so much more freedom and would only be a second walk away from Cassidy. How awesome would that be?

Parker adjusted his pack on his shoulders and lightly knocked on her door.

[Cassidy Simmons]

Cassidy honestly hated being cooped up in her dorm all day, stuck in her chair all the time, not exactly being able to go to too many places since New York wasn't all too, well, wheelchair friendly? Since her surgery, she's definitely been starting to regain strength and feeling in her legs, but, she really missed being able to walk around again, dance, go to the beach... a lot of the things she loved so much doing, that she hadn't been able to do for the longest time. And it wasn't just that, it was the stares, and the pity that people gave her in that chair that irritated her. She wasn't helpless! And most definitely not a lost cause. People treated her like she was weak when she clearly wasn't, but even then, at times, she thought the same of herself.

The only person who got her out of such a funk when she was feeling that way was Parker. He'd treated her no differently than he had before, and that's just one thing she loved about him. She didn't feel like she was some girl in a chair, she felt like herself... and that's why she cherished pretty much every second spent with him.

Upon hearing the knock on the door, a smile spread across Cassidy's face. Her feet were planted on the floor, as she'd been sitting down on her bed, and she took hold of one of the railings. The door was only a few steps away, right? Carefully, she lifted herself up, onto her feet. She felt some tingles along her legs, which was a good thing, meaning she could feel them, and she took a step closer to the door, walking slowly, taking about three steps before reaching over to open it, then looked up at Parker, "Hey!" she reached over to hug him, partly to greet him, and partly because her legs had already started to grow a little tired and she needed some support to stand up, "Ugh, thank you so much, I've been hungry all day." she half-laughed, pulling away for a second, reaching over to balance onto her bed railing again.

[Parker Radke]

While he waited, Parker pulled at the bottom of his shirt and then got the bright idea to smell it. He gave it his shoulder a quick sniff; gold. He was in the clear for still faintly smelling like Finn's body spray that he had stolen a spritz from earlier that day. Parker almost jumped in the air when he heard the knob turning and the door opened. He beamed a giant smile as he saw that Cassidy was standing, well, kind of, but it was still a fantastic sight.

"Hey, you!" He greeted and stepped closer to her, gladly accepting her hug. When he was sure that she was steady, Parker removed his hand from her back and continued into the room. "Well, I'm glad you're hungry because I made too much." He let out somewhat of a giggle and made home on her bed after pulling his backpack into his lap. "I even brought plates, I mean.. how awesome am I?" Parker immediately started opening the containers that held the meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and other fabulous toppings for their consumption.

When she had made her way over, he handed her a paper plate with a silver spoon on it that he had brought from home. He was so proud to see her up, even if it was just for a short distance. Parker, even having just ate an hour ago, made himself a loaded taco with extra peppers. "Oh!" He pointed up before retrieving the two drinks from the bag. "Blue, as requested." He grinned and tossed it her way.

[Cassidy Simmons]

"Definitely the awesomest," Cassidy chimed, making her way to take a seat next to him on her bed, happy to be sitting down again. Taking the plate and spoon, she made her taco, placing the spoon down and the plate on her lap once she was finished, then took the blue Gatorade once Parker took it out, chuckling slightly, "How are you so amazing?"

She shook her head, glancing down, taking a small bite of her taco before looking back up at Parker again, "Really, though," she nudged him, "you do so much for me when you really don't have to," Cassidy shrugged, "not that I mind, I mean, you're my best friend." She took another bite of her taco before reaching back for her Gatorade to open it, then smiling over at Parker. It was true, what she was saying, she obviously noticed Parker's efforts -- not thinking too much of it other than him just being a nice guy, and he really was. She was glad to have someone like that being there for her when other people weren't.

[Parker Radke]

Parker had already eaten a quarter of his taco by the time Cassidy had even taken a nibble. He squeaked out a little laugh, if you could call it that, when she had nudged him. His reasoning behind why he was always doing things for her and treating her like she was near royalty wasn't because of some kind of pity flowing out from him. He hadn't treated her any different since the accident, if anything it made them closer. No, he treated her the way he did because that's what best friends do. Well, and the fact that he was head over heels for her and didn't know how to say that.

"Cause-uhh, I guess that's what best friends do." Parker said after thinking about it. "I mean, the golden rule, right? Treat others the way you want to be treated? I dunno, something cheesy like that." He laughed and took another bite of his taco which was now nearly half gone. Parker looked behind him at the pictures hanging on the wall and saw one from the first week they'd met. They were siting on the beach for a lunch break and were cracking up at something he couldn't remember. After that, he looked to Cassidy and then dropped his eyes away and let out a barely audible sigh. He missed surfing with her over the previous summer. It was kind of lonely out there by himself. Finn never learned and wasn't interested in it, and he wouldn't want anyone else to go. That was their thing.

Parker shifted his weight, kicked off his new red converse, and pulled his feet indian-style. "So.. just out of curiosity, what's this Chase guy all about? He seems kind of.. well, he seems kind of stalkerish."

[Cassidy Simmons]

"Aww," Cassidy leaned up against Parker for a second, nuzzling her head into his shoulder before pulling away and following his eyes to the wall behind them, then seeing the picture of them on the beach. She glanced down, almost sadly. It had been a really long time since they'd done that together... which was one of the reasons Cassidy was so angry about being in that chair. She may have been able to walk now, but once she regained enough strength in her legs again, would she even be able to surf? She was so deadset on being able to do all the things she used to after her surgery, but truth was, she was scared. What if one day she just woke up and they stopped working again? What if her legs gave out while she was riding a wave and she got dragged out by the current? No doubt, Parker would be there to help her along, but she didn't want to disappoint him if anything of the sort happened to her.

She scrunched her eyebrows when he brought up Chase. Cassidy had only spoken to the guy over the internet at least twice, and he seemed like a nice guy. She didn't know much about him other than he dated Esme and hated Jon, which was a bit positive looking on her side... but the way he treated Parker definitely bothered her. Nobody treats her best friend that way.

"He seems sweet," she shrugged, cocking her head to the side, "I mean, sure, he's a little... over the top and forward, but," Cassidy looked down, "he seems to have good intentions." She shifted her eyes to Parker's, "I'm sure he's nice once you get to know him," she glanced to the side, "I mean, I don't even really know him myself," she half-laughed, "but you have to give everybody a shot, right?"

[Parker Radke]

He wasn't sure why he had gotten so bent out of shape when Chase started in on Cassidy, but something inside him told him to protect her. Maybe it was out of sheer jealousy or the fact that he really felt pulled toward her, like gravity. He liked the fact that there relationship hadn't changed since the first day they might, minus them growing closer. Let's face it, Parker was head over his damn heels for Cassidy Simmons. He just hadn't ever taken the chance to tell her.

But you have to give everybody a shot, right?

Parker's eyes flicked up to hers as if he had just woken up for the first time. Parker offered her a little half-smile so that she wouldn't think he was too put off about the subject. He was her best friend and he was going to be supportive if she had eyes for another man, even if he didn't want to be. Parker nodded along, "Yeah.. yeah I guess that's true." I just don't think he's your best choice, but who's asking. He thought. Who was he to make a judgement call?

"Well you know, I'm going to have to meet him too. Best friend duties, y'know." Parker finished off his taco, moved two containers out of his way, and slid his legs off the edge so that his back was on the mattress, head on her mustache pillow. "I'm too long for your bed." He stated, so plainly too before snapping his head toward Cassidy. "I grew an inch and a half over summer. And yet, I'm still the short brother." He laughed, thinking of the height difference between him and Finn.

Parker held his legs up parallel to the floor and then launched himself forward and off the bed, nearly losing his footing in the process. Now standing, he turned around to face Cassidy, his thumbs hanging from his back pockets. "How mad would you be I told you I'm thinking about getting you something awesome. I mean, it'll fit in well with your room and I think you'd really enjoy it."

[Cassidy Simmons]

"Well, of course," Cassidy took another bite of her half eaten taco, before turning back to Parker, "if I'm ever thinking about getting involved with someone, I obviously want your approval first," she shrugged, "your opinion matters to me." She smiled before taking her last bite and leaning back on her bed.

Cassidy certainly kept her guard up more relationship-wise since Jonathan, being untrusting of a lot of people who approached her, most of whom she was sure were only nice to her because they thought her chair made her useless and pitied her. She almost resented any positive attention she received because she was so dead set on the thought that no one could possibly have genuine intentions for wanting to be with her. And even then, now that she could walk a little, she didn't want to get into the same type of situation she had been in before, being with the wrong guy, getting left alone. That definitely didn't feel good.

Cassidy raised an eyebrow when Parker spoke about getting her something for her room, "Mad? Why would it make me mad?" she looked at him intently, biting on the corner of her lip, "And is it safe?" she giggled.

[Parker Radke]

He chuckled under his breath at the thought of her wanting his approval for anyone she though about dating. Parker would always secretly disapprove of everyone she ever wanted to be with, but that was just his own stupid jealousy and selfishness coming to play. He shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair as she asked if what he was getting her was safe. With a scoff, he replied, "Aren't most of the things I do dangerous? Like.. oh! like getting ice cream on the pier." He pointed a finger like it was the most genius idea he'd ever gotten.

"Or maybe, walking my puppy and texting at the same time." Parked laughed and sat on the bed a little closer to her, which wasn't unusual. "I think I might be a dangerous person, Cassidy Simmons." He said as he nodded. He nudged her with his elbow and pulled one of his legs onto the bed. "No, it's safe and really really cool. But you obviously don't get to know what it is yet. It's kind of bulky and awkward but.. I'm going to shut up now before I give anything else away."