Free Breaking Free: A Living Again Novella by L.L. Collins

voice.
    “Cool. I have a friend at school that has Aspergers. He’s super smart,” Dalen interrupted. “It’s like his brain just works a little differently than ours.”
    Alexis hugged her brother, fighting the emotion building inside her. She wished she could take him to some of these so called ‘adults’ and have him teach them a thing or two.
    “He’s very cool,” Alexis explained. “But, he might be overwhelmed today at the game. Don’t touch him unless he knows you’re going to. He knows what to do if he starts feeling anxious, so don’t help him unless he says he needs it. Otherwise, enjoy him, because he’s probably the coolest person I’ve ever known.”
    Her mom stood and hugged her. “You’re a beautiful person, inside and out, Alexis,” she said, squeezing her gently. “I can’t wait to meet him. You know we work with many kids like him at the therapy center.”
    “But he’s an adult,” Alexis said. “So don’t treat him like he’s a kid.”
    “I know, sweetie. I was just saying, we know a lot about Aspergers and being on the spectrum.”
    “We’ve got this,” Cierra said, and Ben and her dad nodded their heads. “You worry about cheering and doing your best. We’ve got Greer. Maybe I’ll even give him back to you at the end of the night.”
     

     
    Are you here? Alexis texted Greer. She hadn’t heard from him all afternoon, and she wondered if he was holding up okay. She knew that this was bigger than big for him, attempting this with people he had never even met before. Maybe she should’ve had him come to lunch. You’re so stupid , she thought to herself. She still had a lot to learn about how to make Greer the most comfortable.
    Yes. I’m wearing my yellow hat. There’s a lot of people here, Alexis.
    Her stomach clenched. She fought the desire to run out of the locker room and find him, but she knew she couldn’t. They were due to go on in ten minutes, and she’d never make it back.
    Alexis texted her sister quickly, asking her if they were there yet. She hoped they weren’t running behind. She felt that the longer Greer had to sit there and wait, the more overwhelmed he would be.
    We’re walking up now. I see him. Wow, Alexis. Other than the bright yellow hat, he’s gorgeous.
    Alexis smiled. Yes, he was gorgeous. And he was her boyfriend now. Thinking that was still crazy to her.
    Opening Greer’s text back up, she told him that Cierra saw him and to look for the mom and sister that looked like her, plus her dad and two brothers.
    I see them. Cierra is waving. You look just like your mom, Alexis. I hope I’m not too weird for them .
    She hated that insecurity he felt, despite everything she told him. You’re NOT weird, Greer. My family will love you. Take care of yourself, and if you have to go before the game is over, I’ll understand. See you out there.
    I can’t wait to see you , the response came almost immediately. I’m nervous, but I’ll be okay.
    You’ve got this. I’m proud of you.
    Alexis tucked her phone into her purse and shut the locker, going to find Hailey in the crowd of girls. She couldn’t wait to see Greer sitting with her family.
     

     
    Alexis looked up from the sideline, scanning the crowd for her family and Greer. She knew they were in this mass of people somewhere. She had been waiting for the time when they would come cheer on this side so she could find them.
    “Do you see them?” Hailey shouted next to her as they made their way through their touchdown cheer.
    Alexis shook her head, trying to keep up and look for them. After a few long minutes, she saw her brother Ben waving furiously. Beaming, she waved to them and jumped up and down, going into a round off back handspring followed by flips across the end zone. When she came upright again, she turned back to them. Her mom, dad, brothers and sister jumped up and down and waved at her. Alexis blew them kisses but then her eyes moved frantically to either side to look for