Falling Read online

  I laughed. No duh. “That’s understating things.”

  “I say go for it,” Michelle said.

  A car horn blared in the night air. We jerked around to find Roger cruising in his evergreen 1970 Chevelle SS. “When the hell did you start smoking, Michelle?”

  Uh oh. Busted.

  “Shut up, Roger. And don’t even think of telling Mom and Dad.”

  “Or what? Why don’t you teenyboppers hop in before you find yourselves in real trouble?”

  We climbed in, and he sped home in his signature style, careening around the turns and making us clutch the door handles, grinning the entire time.

  Back at the house, Michelle and Katy started a game of backgammon, and I gave Pete a call. He sounded drained after working all day for his father at one of his construction job sites.

  “You staying out of trouble?” he asked.

  “Pretty much. We’re playing some games, talking, doing girl stuff.”

  “And what’s the conversation been about tonight?”

  You, and boys, and you. “If you must know, your name did come up.”

  “Must I live in ignorance or are you planning on telling me more?” I loved his flirty, funny dialogue.

  “There was some speculation about our current status.” Might as well leap off the cliff.

  Pete cleared his throat. “Hmm. And what is our current status?”

  “As far as I can tell, you like me and I like you.” Leap further, brave girl.

  He paused for a minute. “Would you like to make it more official?”

  Yes, yes, yes. “Um, that’s an embarrassing question.”

  “And one you didn’t answer.”

  “Because I’m embarrassed.”

  “Are you going to be at school on Monday?”

  Good, he changed the subject. Although, did I want him to? “Unless aliens abduct me, I believe so. Why?”

  “I have something very important to talk to you about.”

  I wanted to jump up and down and shout at the night sky. Unless I was misinterpreting. “Is everything okay?”

  “Absolutely. Look, I’m tired and I smell bad, so I’m gonna grab a shower. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I envisioned his exhausted, smelly face and smiled.

  We hung up, and I ran to tell Katy and Michelle about our conversation. How would I maintain until Monday? The impossibility of it loomed.

  5

  Steady

  I behaved like a total spaz on Monday morning. I agonized over every piece of clothing, and my hair refused to cooperate in some kind of defiant act. I pulled it up into a ponytail, took it down, tried combs on one side, then both. Nothing worked. Some days I hated everything about my appearance, and today ranked in the top ten. I wanted to look perfect if Pete asked me to be his girlfriend.

  I decided on my corduroy bell-bottoms with a white long-sleeved shirt and a trendy red, white and blue scarf that hung from my shoulders to my hips. Combing my hair one final time, I applied a coat of peach lipgloss and huffed out a deep breath. Enough!

  Anxiety marinated in the pit of my stomach. The not knowing was killing me. The bell rang for nut break, and I found Pete in the smoking area talking to Steve. They both greeted me, and Pete put his arm around my shoulders, sending a jolt through my body while Steve continued with his critique of the yesterday’s Raiders game.

  “Lester Hayes had that ball,” Pete said. But my mind wandered. I couldn’t concentrate on trivial sports banter—I had bigger topics awaiting resolution. I willed their conversation to be over so Pete and I could start ours. An argument by Reese and Jaime diverted my attention. Reese appeared repentant while Jaime pointed her finger at his chest and raised her voice, although I couldn’t hear what either of them said.

  “That was not a fumble. Did you see that replay? He never had possession,” Steve argued. Again, I tuned them out.

  Reese used what I imagined was his best pleading look. He tried to hug Jaime, but she shrugged him off, lighting another cigarette. He got mad in return, turning his back on her and throwing his hands in the air, and the tables turned. Jaime attempted to soothe him and he relented—that might have been his plan—and they kissed. Reese grabbed her butt, and she slapped him on the chest.

  Steve glanced meaningfully at Jaime. Interesting. He liked her! Our eyes met, and I raised my eyebrows. He shrugged and grinned. I winked, acknowledging it as our little secret. Michelle would be very disappointed. Then again, Jaime wasn’t exactly available.

  The bell rang, and it upset me Pete spent the entire break jawing about a dumb football game with Steve. He grabbed my hand as we split up to attend our next classes, and reminded me about talking at lunch. As if I needed reminding.

  At least I had gym, which should fly by. And it did, almost literally, as Ms. Tyler made us practice repetitive tennis drills hundreds of times. First we bounced the fluorescent green balls from our rackets to the ground. Then we bounced them up in the air, with mayhem ensuing as the balls ricocheted every which way. We practiced our forehand swing, then our backhand. Aside from chasing after our strays, Katy and I stood next to each other cracking jokes and making the exercises more bearable.

  The next period, Mr. Donaldson droned on about potential careers in science. I preferred doodling “Anna plus Pete” in hearts inside my notebook. Who could listen to matters of no concern when a big deal awaited?

  Finally the bell rang for lunch, and I shot out of my seat and raced to my locker, dropping off my books. I ducked into the restroom, brushed my hair and went in search of Pete. I found him waiting outside, near the door of the building. We smiled at each other, clasped hands and walked to the cafeteria. Overwrought by this morning’s grooming debacle, I needed to buy a meal.

  “How was class?” he asked.

  “Barely tolerable.” Calm down. You’re going to have a heart attack.

  “That’s how I feel every day.” He drew out the last two words for emphasis.

  We fell in line, moving our trays through the maze of unappetizing lunch options: greasy pizza with oil pooling on the surface, stiff mashed potatoes with some type of mystery meat, franks and fries, or a dubious rendition of spaghetti and meatballs.

  I ordered the cheese pizza, pressing napkins on top to mop up the grease. I also bought a carton of milk and giant chocolate chip cookie, always reliable. Pete got the hot dog meal with three milks, fruit and a fudge brownie. We walked back toward the senior steps, and I ignored the blatant stares of my friends, who tried to make me laugh as we neared. Pete steered me to a secluded patch of lawn. I prayed the dew had evaporated so it wouldn’t soak through my pants, and sat down.

  We ate without speaking, which only amplified my anxiety. Perhaps to break the ice or because Pete was adept at cutting people down, he spewed disparaging remarks about students in the vicinity loud enough for my ears only.

  “Proud president of the Asian Student Union right there.” Pete nodded toward a Chinese boy with black hair parted straight down the middle of his roundish head. He carried a briefcase in one hand, a brown bag in the other.

  “Not the typical student accessory, is it?”

  “Virgin,” he said about a gangly looking girl.

  I hit him playfully in the arm.

  “This guy? He eats his boogers, I guarantee it.”

  “Gross!”

  Pete identified his next victim, this time a male teacher. “Serial killer.”

  I laughed.

  “And this chick has never cut class in her life. Or she’s the neighborhood skeeze.” The tall girl presented as timid and nervous.

  “I’ve never cut class either.”

  “We’ll have to remedy that.”

  I gave him my serious stare. “I can’t. I’ll get in trouble.”

  “No, you won’t. It’s easy. Just forge a note.”

  “Right. I’ll whip out my parent’s signature like I do it every day. And when I’m busted, you, my dear, will never see me again because my father will have killed me or
locked me away in some Rapunzel-like tower.”

  He laughed. “Maybe not today, Trapani, but this year, you’re gonna cut your first class.”

  “You’re a bad influence, O’Reilly, you know that?”

  Pete winked.

  “So,” I said, unable to wait any longer. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”

  “Oh, uh, yeah. I did.”

  I met his gaze, appreciating his killer green eyes.

  “I, uh, thought we should discuss that relationship status thing.” He was nervous, too!

  I smiled in agreement. “Discuss away.”

  “Would you like to officially be my girlfriend?”

  “Yes.” Yes, yes and yes!

  He laughed. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

  I backhanded him in the arm in response.

  “Would you also do the honor of accompanying me to the soccer banquet?”

  “I’d love to. Tell me more.”

  “The soccer team holds an awards banquet to celebrate the end of the season and eat a fancy dinner. Specific awards are handed out in certain categories and for MVP. It’s kind of a big deal.”

  Definitely a dress-up event. I envisioned us decked out. “Sounds wonderful.”

  Steve, Jim and Tez approached, interrupting us. I beamed, unable to contain my joy. Pete asked me to be his girlfriend! I had a bona fide boyfriend! My first. Well, except for Doug MacNamara, but that lasted all of three weeks way back in seventh grade and hardly counted.

  The guys dropped down on the grass beside us. Jim shrugged out of his letterman’s jacket and glanced my way. “You’re not hanging around with this idiot now, are you?”

  “I beg your pardon...idiot?”

  Jim grinned. “What, did he drug you?”

  “I came willingly.” I planted my hands in the grass and leaned back, basking in the glow of my own happiness.

  “You’re one lucky bastard, O’Reilly. You don’t deserve her.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, coming from our team motivator,” Pete wisecracked.

  “That’s me.” Jim said it with pride. “See, Anna, Pete may sound a little jealous, but that’s only because the coach recognizes my ability to inspire the team. It’s because of me these knuckleheads play their best on the field.”

  A group of bulky football players walked by, their gait slow and deliberate. A few wore their Titan jerseys over long-sleeved shirts. Their cocky attitudes displayed an obvious arrogance—as if they believed themselves superior athletes. One stared openly at me, breaking into a wide smile and brazenly rubbernecking as he strolled past. I averted my gaze, uncomfortable.

  “Jerks,” said Pete under his breath.

  “Who are you guys playing this week?” I said, attempting to break the mood.

  “Castlemont,” said Steve.

  “And they play dirty,” added Tez.

  They launched into a discussion about the upcoming game while I secretly rejoiced about being Pete’s official girlfriend. I couldn’t wait to tell my friends.

  I phoned Katy and Michelle as soon as I got home from school to spill the details. They shrieked in response, although Katy reminded me she called it. I asked about Jake, and she said things were progressing, but I doubted it. He might be the most popular boy in our class and Katy, despite her self-assured confidence, was out of his league. I didn’t want to dash her hopes, so externally, I tried to encourage her.

  The phone rang right after hanging up with Michelle, making me jump. Pete, I thought, smiling as I answered.

  “Is this Anna?”

  “Who’s this?”

  “Alec Mays.”

  I drew a blank. “Who?”

  “I’m a senior…on the football team. I had my eye on you today during lunch.” He said it almost like a question.

  My body tensed and a flash of indignation streaked through me. I decided to be bold. “Are you the blonde-haired guy who was checking me out?”

  He chuckled. “That’s me. The handsome one.”

  So conceited. “Why are you calling?”

  “To save you from making a big mistake.”

  “What are you talking about?” God, he was irritating.

  “Dating Pete O’Reilly.”

  My body pulsated with a range of emotions. “What’s wrong with Pete?”

  Alec chortled. “He plays soccer for one thing.”

  “You think football is better?” What an ignoramus.

  “No doubt about it. At least it’s American. And requires strength and skill.”

  My foot tapped like a jackhammer. “Have you even been to a soccer game, um, Alec?”

  “Nope. Don’t need to.”

  Arrogant schmuck. “You might give it a try before passing judgment on it.”

  “You might give me the same,” he said.

  I was judging him, true, but he dug the hole himself. I took a deep breath, about to respond, but he continued.

  “Just give me a chance to talk to you, Anna.” His voice turned soft, throwing me off guard. “I think you’re hella fine, and I’m sure once you get to know me, you’ll see we have potential.”

  “Listen, I’m flattered you like me and everything, but I’m with Pete. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Well you’re not married yet, are ya?”

  “No.” I laughed despite myself.

  “And last time I checked, it’s still a free country, right? So, if it is alright with you, I’m gonna keep on calling until I can set you straight.” His confidence and conceit were mind-blowing.

  “It’ll be a waste of your time.” I couldn’t be any clearer.

  “It’s my time.”

  “I gotta go.”

  “Nice talking to you.” He chuckled again before hanging up.

  Weird. Who was this guy? I couldn’t summon his image beyond the blinding, platinum hair. Even though his call was unsettling, I admit I liked the attention.

  The following morning as I pulled books out of my locker for my first period class, Alec leaned his arm up against the row of gray lockers to my left. I startled.

  “Did I scare you?” He grinned, giving me the full effect of his unwavering smile.

  “A little.” My breath caught, adrenaline spiking throughout my body like a pinball darting around a machine, dinging bells.

  “I’m sorry. I would never want to frighten you.”

  I gave him a peripheral glance, arching my eyebrows. “Thanks.” Slow down, heartbeat.

  “What class are you off to?”

  “Algebra, my least favorite subject.” I slammed my locker shut.

  “What? That pretty head of yours doesn’t like to crunch numbers?”

  I stared at him, taking him in. He was so aggressive—and abnormally handsome. It made me uncomfortable. “I’m not very good at math. I struggle with it.”

  “I know a great tutor.”

  “I’ll bet. No thanks.”

  “I’ll be here if you change your mind.” He patted the locker and stood up straight. “See you, gorgeous.”

  My cheeks burned as I turned and headed to class.

  As Katy and I changed for PE, I told her about Alec Mays. Intrigued, she made me promise to go to the football game with her on Friday so she could check him out. We went to our home games anyway, so I agreed. Katy brushed her thick hair, complaining about getting “sweaty and gross” before the activity even started. She was trying to impress a new guy in her next class. Katy crushed on so many guys at one time, I endeavored to keep up.

  I didn’t have a chance to tell Michelle about Alec at lunch—Pete and half the soccer team ate with us. Tez had us all in stitches with his antics. He juggled a variety of fruits and asked us to throw in other lunch items, getting up to an impressive seven objects. A crowd gathered, watching as he manipulated fruit, milk cartons and even a hamburger with his soccer-adept forehead, knees and feet before they all crashed down.

  I forgot about Alec until I caught him staring from across the courtyard. I av
erted my eyes, not wanting to acknowledge him or upset Pete. This guy was nothing to worry about. His advances were underhanded and slimeballish. If I continued making my disinterest clear, he would eventually leave me alone.

  6

  Rivalry

  Friday after school, most of the student body stayed to watch the football game against McClymonds, one of our biggest rivals. Katy, Michelle and I sat together, equipped with red and white-streamered spirit sticks to wave in the air. To stave off the October chill, I wore my blue down jacket, Katy’s vest covered her turtleneck, and poor Michelle had paired an ugly green sweater with dorky rainbow suspenders that attached to cream painter pants.

  The school marching band played a fight song, and cheerleaders jumped off their blocks, which spelled out GO TEAM! Skyline received the kick-off to start the game. The opposing team’s players were giants, almost dwarfing our guys. The Titans fumbled the ball, and the defense rushed out to replace the offense.

  “Which one is he?” Katy asked, impatient to see Alec for herself.

  I scanned the sidelines. At the same moment I pointed him out, Alec swiveled around and his eyes caught mine. He grinned and blew me a kiss, causing instant mortification and heat to my cheeks.

  “Don’t look now!” I hissed.

  “Why?” Katy nudged me with her elbow. “So what if he saw you?”

  “I don’t want to encourage him!” I laid my head in my hands, silently berating myself. It figured Alec possessed some internal radar to bust me at the most inopportune time.

  “Why not? He’s gorgeous!” Katy patted my thigh. “It’s cool. Mellow out.”

  “Where is he? I can’t see him,” Michelle said.

  Katy answered. “You see the coach? Look four players to the left.”

  Alec had turned back around, so Michelle never glimpsed his face. “Cute butt,” she said. “I wonder if he has a KSLB.”

  They laughed, but I could barely think straight. KSLB was our moniker for King Size Levi Bulge.

  “That would be KSFB—football bulge,” Katy said.

  A hand on my shoulder made me turn. Pete, along with Jim and Steve, stood behind us. “What’s so funny?”