Our eighth grade year was over. Tracey and I were excited. In only a few weeks, we would be joining Jessica at Tallwood and we would be a part of what she calls the infamous drumline. Little did any of us realize that this Summer was going to be quite important.

One day, Wednesday, during our class, just as the mid-day break was beginning, we noticed what appeared to be a very familiar face who was just so happening to throw something away in our classroom's garbage. As usual, Jessica was there to pick us up after school and we reported our findings. The very next day, sure enough we were right. During the mid-day break, we located our friend from 8th grade band, Bonnie.

She was happy to see us, and the three of us had a good long chat during the break. Tracey and I were both happy, me especially. As we reentered the class, Tracey commented, "I think you have something going there." I blushed, because I knew exactly what Tracey meant. When we were chatting with Bonnie earlier, she seemed quite happy to see me. I couldn't stop the blushing for the rest of the day.

The next day, Friday, we found her again. This time, Tracey made an offer: "Would you like a ride home? Our older sister, Jessica, picks us up after school anyways."

Bonnie replied, "Oh thanks, as long as your sister doesn't mind. It is a bit of a walk to my house."

Tracey answered, "I don't think Jess will mind. We don't do anything much after school, except homework, anyway." In fact, we knew that Jessica didn't mind since she told us we could offer Bonnie a ride home.

Bonnie thanked Tracey for the offer. "Oh, before I forget. We get dismissed from class five minutes early. We'll meet you at the bottom of Stair 1 after class. See you later," Tracey added.

Again, Bonnie thanked us. I knew full well that Jess wouldn't mind since she wanted me to develop this relationship with Bonnie. "When we get to the van, Bonnie's sitting next to you," Tracey added as we reentered the classroom. I expected this, and this is what I wanted anyways.

As planned, we met Bonnie as the bottom of the stairs. "Jessica is waiting for us at the front loop with her van," I explained.

"Ok. I'm not much in a rush," Bonnie replied. Tracey pushed me down the hall as the three of us were engaged in conversation. Not too long later, we arrived at Jessica's van.

As we exited the building, I was blushing knowing that Tracey was going to have Bonnie share the transfer seat with me. We could see Jessica blushing as she exited the van and got the lift going for me.

"I suppose you want the Transfer Seat," Jessica called out to me. I blushed, knowing full well that Tracey was going to sit up front and have Bonnie sit with me.

"I'm going to sit up front with Jessica. Bonnie, you'll be in the back with Mike," Tracey told Bonnie.

"Bonnie, go on and climb into the van. When I get the lift up level, your job is going to be to assist Mike in transferring from his wheelchair to the seat. This transfer seat is designed for two people," Jessica explained.

Bonnie climbed into the van, and Jess got me going. When I was raised up into the van, I said to Bonnie, "I'm going to use you to stabilize as I transfer from my chair. This will only take a moment." With that, I grabbed her shoulder, and she realized what I was doing. She extended her arm to allow me to transfer from my wheelchair to the van seat. Quickly, I was seated next to her. "Thank-you," I said to her.

Jessica then said to all of us, "I'm stopping at the local Arch's Burgers at Wood's Corner for lunch. Bonnie, do you mind eating in, or do we need to be quick and use the drive thru? I have enough money for the four of us." Turned out that Jessica had a plot on the back burner that Tracey and I never knew about. Jess was trying to set things up between Bonnie and I to blossom a close relationship.

"Let's eat in," Bonnie replied.

With that, Jessica pulled in to the parking lot and parked in the van accessible spot. "Bonnie, just like last time, I'm going to use you to transfer to my wheelchair." She nodded in acknowledgment. It wasn't too difficult to transfer me to the chair, and soon enough I was lowered onto the pavement.

"Let me push him," Bonnie said to Tracey. I started to blush. Jessica gave me a wink, and I just knew something was up. I turned very bright red knowing something wonderful was in the making. As we entered the Arch's Burgers, I couldn't stop blushing.

Ironically (or maybe not), Bonnie pushed me specifically to the register that her sister was working. I looked up at her and noticed a smile like she had something planned. "Hello, Jean. This will be eat in. I'm going to have my usual," Bonnie started.

Tracey added, "I'm going to have The Big One with Cheese. Go medium."

Jessica added, "Two Number ones, go large. We'll wait for fresh fries."

Jean calculated our total and Bonnie added, "I don't think you know my sister, Jean."

Jean replied, "I know Jessica from drumline. You two must be her brother and sister. She talks about you two often. I guess we'll really meet when band camp starts."

Jessica laughed, "I can't wait to introduce them to Brandon!"

Jean, blushing and giggling, replied, "That's going to be interesting."

Just then, our order was ready. The manager came over, "Jean, when you're done with them, you may clock out for lunch."

Jean replied, "Ok, thanks." She turned to us, "Let me get my lunch going. Save me a seat, please." Bonnie selected a table for us, large enough for the five of us.

Jean came over with a bag lunch. "I really meant it. I can't wait until Brandon meets them," Jessica chuckled to Jean.

Jean smiled, knowing full well how Brandon can be (as Tracey and I would find out in only a couple of months). "Who is Brandon," I asked.

Jean and Jessica burst into laughter. Jessica started, "Brandon Wheely is well, Jean, how do I explain Brandon to them?"

"You don't. Look who's coming in for lunch," Jean replied in laughter.

Jessica called out, "Brandon. Hey, BRANDON!"

Brandon came over, "What Jess?"

"Meet my brother and sister. The new pack of Fresh Meat this Fall. Do anything to them, and I won't drop the soap!" Jean laughed, as she knew exactly what dropping the soap meant in Drumline slang.

Bonnie, Tracey, and I were clueless to what was happening. In only a couple of months, Tracey and I would get to learn all this terminology. Brandon, in (what we kinda figured to be) a joking voice, "Is your brother taken? Jess, you know I know who's available!"

In reply, I start hugging Bonnie, proudly boasting, "I'm taken!" She blushed. I added, "I'm not kidding. I'm really taken," as I continued to hug her. I was quite proud of myself.

After having lunch, Jean gave Jessica instructions to get to their place to drop Bonnie off. We said our goodbyes, and Bonnie, Jessica, Tracey, and I piled back into Jessica's van. As before, Bonnie was next to me. As soon as we were situated, I started hugging her again. It was in this moment, as I was hugging Bonnie in the van, that I realized I really wanted our friendship to grow. Jessica inserted a CD into the player and started to play a love song and turned on the Repeat Track mode, and I immediately blushed. I knew the song full well, and I knew exactly the message Jessica was trying to get across. I think it took a moment, but Bonnie started to blush as well when she must have realized when the meaning of the song is.

After letting it repeat a few times, Jessica played another more romantic love song. That's when I knew my sister was trying to get things going, in a very good way, between Bonnie and I.

Tracey had the idea, "Why not exchange phone numbers?"

"I already have Bonnie's number, since Jean gave it to me," Jessica replied. She added, "Tracey, write down our number for Bonnie, since I think they are in no position to write anything down." Jessica was noting that Bonnie and I were still hugging each other and that we were really blushing with the song playing.

Too bad we were on Stewart Drive already. Time to drop Bonnie off at her house. The only problem was that she didn't want to let go of me when I said, "Bonnie, we're at your place."

"I'm not ready to leave," she whispered.

"We'll see you Monday. If you'd like, we'll give you a ride to and from school from now on," I answered.

"We'll gladly give you a ride," Jessica, smiling, added, "It's my van, and I don't mind. I have your number since Jean gave it to me." Jessica then called out the number.

"That's correct," Bonnie answered.

Tracey then added, "Here's our number. Call at any time. Unless we hear from you, we'll pick you up at 6:30 on school mornings and we'll take you home in the afternoons."

The next day, Saturday, Bonnie called. She wanted to spend some time with me. "I want to see you if you're not busy. I miss you."

Jessica overheard and wrote on some paper and handed it to me. The message reads: "Gladly pick Bonnie up now"

I relayed that message to Bonnie and she was delighted. "Let me go so that we can pick you up," I said.

Not too long later, we were at Bonnie's place. My sisters already had me situated in the transfer seat so that Bonnie could sit next to me. As soon as she climbed into the van, I started to hug her, and I didn't want to let go. I was just so happy to see her. "What would you like to do," I asked.

Jessica suggested, "I'm going to head to Eden Mall. Lunch is my treat if that's alright with everyone. I don't mind also treating for a movie, since I wanted to see a movie."

With that, Jessica headed for Eden using the local roads. Bonnie and I were chatting, mainly getting to know each other. She seemed quite happy with me as we were hugging each other. I felt like I was starting to know her quite well, and I was allowing her to get to know me as well.

Truth was, I felt like I was on cloud nine. I never felt this close to a girl, other than my sisters, in my life. For the first time, I think I was in love, because I was just so happy with Bonnie.

We arrived at Greenbrier by the food court, and Bonnie immediately started getting me transferred into my wheelchair. "I'm going to push you," she said.

When Jessica got the lift going for me, Bonnie and Tracey climbed out of the van. "I'm going to push him," Bonnie announced to my sisters. With that, we entered the mall using the elevator to the food court.

"Let's eat at Chicken Mania," Tracey suggested. Surprisingly, there wasn't a line there. So, Chicken Mania was where we had lunch.

That how things would go for the Summer. We would transport Bonnie to and from Tallwood for Summer School. My sisters would have her sit in the back with me, and the relationship blossomed quite well. By the time school was done for the Summer, Bonnie and I grew quite close.

Christmas time was starting to come around. I was realizing just how close I became with Bonnie. I was also realizing how much I really liked her. We were unable to see each other, since she was busy with school, for a while, so I invited her over for Christmas. I really, really wanted to see Bonnie again.