Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (19 page)

“I can’t believe she put me through that. And I was so stupid to fall for it. I am so mad at her right now.”
             
“
Well it’s all fine now. You are safe. I’ll text her to make sure she is okay and we will take you home.”

“Oh
,
my
g
osh! What time is it? If I am late and get grounded, I will never ever forgive her!”

“It’s eleven. You are fine.”

“Ok, but I still don’t want to forgive them. Alex, you are so lucky to have Michael.”

“You didn’t see him lying in his muther piss earlier tonigh
t or you wouldn’t think that.”

“Oh Alex,” she
laughed
, getting out of the car, “You are the best friend ever.”

“Ditto,” I smiled, watching her run into her house.

We drove on over to my house. Michael sat down on the swing and patted beside him.

“I’m going to tell my mom I’m home and get us something to drink. You want tea?”

             
“Sure. Sounds good.”

“Mom, I’m home.” She and Dad were watching David Letterman.

“Hey
,
sweetie. Have a good night?”

“It was good,” I smiled, remembering the hot tub. “Michael’s on the porch. I’m going to get us something to eat and drink. Can we sit out there for a bit?”

“Sure, just don’t be too loud. Oh, and I hate to tell you this but we are on red alert.”

“What now?” I sighed, knowing any drama with Rachel was labeled red alert. It had been our code for years and she had no idea.

“They broke up.”

“Really? He finally found out she’s evil or did she finally discover he’s a tool?”

“Alex,” Dad scolded, not ever wanting me to put his Angel down.
I never understood why she could freely call me Little Bitch but
evil was forbidden to come out of my mouth.

“I’m not sure, but she is not a happy camper.
I’m j
ust warning you to stay clear.”

“Ok, thanks for the warning.”

I got our snacks and drinks and headed to the porch. Michael was swinging and looking at the stars. “We couldn’t see all these stars where I lived.”

“The stars don’t like
Dallas
either,” I smiled, handing him his drink.

“Funny, thanks.”

I sat down leaning against him with my feet up on the swing again. “I think this is my favorite spot in the world now.”

“Really, you are way too easy to please,” he wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

“You want to spend the night out here with me,” I sighed.

“I’d love to but I’m sure your parents wouldn’t think it was the best idea.”

“I was just informed by the parents that my family is on red alert.”

“What does that mean?’

I could feel his lips moving against my head while he talked and it gave me goose bumps. “Red alert is
highest level of
 
alert
 
when an attack by Rachel seems imminent. She and pretty boy broke up. I don’t know the details, but I know it will not be pleasant.”

“Why does she run the house?”

“I have no idea. That is all I have ever known. It has always been bad, but now that she is getting to move away, Dad is freaking out and making her even worse. I can’t do anything in my room except be asleep and then sometimes she gets mad at that. I just know she is going to college very soon and then the nightmare will be over.”

I heard a door slam and then another. I heard my mom tell Rachel that she better cool it, or else.

“That’s a broken promise,” I whispered. “All she has to do is tell her Daddykins to please have Mom leave her alone. It’s an endless cycle.”

He took my hand and started rubbing my fingers. “You know, it is none of my business, but this is your home, too. Why do you need to tip toe around all the time? My parents would never treat anyone like that. And you are their child. I just don’t get it.”

The front door opened and Mom walked out, “Michael, do you want to come over tomorrow night? Alex’s grandparents are coming
over
and would love to meet you. We
are
going to barbeque. Hopefully Rachel will be in a better mood than she
is
tonight.”

“Sure, sounds good.”

I could tell he wanted to say something else. His body was tense. I squeezed his hand hoping to clue him that it was fine to not say anything to her.

“I gotta go,” he kissed my head. “I’ve got to get up early tomorrow. I’ve got to take my mom to pick up her car and
we
have the game. Are you going to be there?”

“Have I ever missed a game or practice?” I asked, walking him to his car.

He leaned against it and took my hands, and swung them side to side. “You make me happy,” he said. I leaned against him, hearing his heart beating in my ear. He bent down, kissed me, and sighed. “It is so hard to leave you.”

“I know. Trust me, I feel the same. I leave you and instantly can’t wait to see you again. I even think minute by minute about the time I was with you until I fall asleep.”

“Mmm, I’d love to fall asleep beside you.”
             
“I bet you ten dollars we wouldn’t get any sleep if we were in the same bed.”

“I’m not taking that bet,” he smiled. He opened his door and sat down pulling me to him. He ran his hand across my breast making me instantly tingle, his eyes looking into mine as he gently touched my face. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you and tell you goodnight when I get home.”

I kissed him
,
closed the
door,
and went back into the house.

“Was your day good?” Mom asked. I walked over and helped her finish the dishes.

“What do you think?” I smiled.

“
So how are you and Michael getting along?
”

“
Great. W
hat do you think of him?”

“Me?” She stopped washing
,
turned around
,
and leaned against the counter. “I think he is adorable. He’s extremely polite and I can’t find anything wrong with him. I’m just worried that he might be too mature for you.”

“What?” I asked, worried that she wasn’t happy with him dating me.

“He’s just older.”

“Mom, are you trying to say that you are worried about me having sex?”

“That’s exactly what I am saying.”

“It’s not a problem. He has more self control than I do,” I laughed.

“I don’t find the humor in that, Alex,” she said, hitting me with a towel.

“It is fine, Mom. We even talked about it tonight.”

“Just don’t rush things. Too many girls make the mistake of rushing it and then regret it later.”

“I don’t think I’d ever regret doing Michael,” I teased.

“You are going to send me to the grave!”

“I’ll be careful, Mom. And I will take my time.”

“I know you will,” she said, putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “Go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow with the game and your grandparents coming.
”

“Grandma told me she and Grandpa did it on their first date in the back of her dad’s Bonneville and they are still together after 40 years.”

“She did not, Alex,” she laughed.

“I couldn’t resist. Love you!”
“
Love you too, Babe.”

I went into the bedroom and saw Rachel sitting cross-legged on her bed with the laptop in front of her. She was actually smiling. I heard a familiar voice coming from the computer and knew it wasn’t Pretty Boy she was video chatting with, but couldn’t tell who it was.

Fake laugh, fake laugh, fake laugh and sigh. She was so predictable. I got into bed and texted Erica back, seeing her message on my phone.

Erica: I cant believe
Abbie
is mad at me. Im the one that should be furious.

Alex: I am not getting in the middle. Its
ur
battle.

Erica: she just left Lloyd under the car
!
If we hadn’t heard him screaming, he mite have been there for hours

I started laughing, picturing this loser guy under the car with wine dripping from his chin yelling “Stop stripping my gears, stop stripping my gears!

Alex: He’s fine, don’t worry bout it.
Abbie
will be fine in the morn. U going to the game?

Erica: Yep

Alex: K. c u then. M is calling. TTYL

“Hi,” I smiled, answering the phone.

“Hey you,” he said, his deep voice giving me shivers.

“I was just texting Erica. She is shocked that
Abbie
is mad.”

“Barbarian is what she is,” he said imitating her, sounding amazingly like her. “
Make out? Make out with that nasty ass wine dribbler? I think not!
And let me tell you this, I am totally against cool places. Totally!!”

I started laughing. “You sound just like her!”

Rachel threw a book at me, hitting my face, “Shut the fuck up
,
Little Bitch! I’m video chatting and I can’t hear a thing.”

I rubbed my chin where the book hit me, feeling the sting and put the covers over my head.

“Tell her it’s your room
,
too, Alex. Stand up for yourself.”

“It’s just easier. Trust me. If I ignore her it stops. If I say anything then the whole house gets involved. Everyone has to wake up early. I’ll just go in the other room.”

“No!”
H
e said, startling me. “Stay there. Don’t let her always win. That is why sh
e treats you like that. She know
s she can do it and get away with it.”

“I know,” I sighed. I felt embarrassed that he ever heard her.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It just makes me mad.”

He didn’t say anything. I got up and walked into the bathroom, not wanting Rachel to hear me.

I was scared to death he was mad at me and hung up on me.

“You there?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. I can’t stand you being treated like that. It is wrong.”

“I can’t fight her, Michael. I tried once. I can’t fight her.”

I felt my chest getting so tight and tears were stinging my eyes. I was having trouble catching my breath. I looked in the mirror and saw a small cut on my chin from the book. I turned on the water in the tub and decided to take a bath to relax.

I didn’t know what to say. It was hard to talk because my chest hurt. I took a deep breath.

“I’m putting the phone down.”

“Alex, don’t hang up.”

“I’m not hanging up. I’m getting undressed so I can get in the bathtub.”

I heard him sigh. “Ok, I’ll wait.”

I took my clothes off and stepped into the water. It was so hot that it was burning my skin, but I didn’t really care. I picked the phone back up, “You there?”
             
“Of course.”

“Can we talk about something else? Please. I promise I will talk about it more tomorrow, but I just don’t want to right now.”

“That’s fine,” he said. There was a long silence. “Hang on,”

I washed my face and la
id
back in the tub, trying to get my mind off Rachel.

“Back,” Michael said a couple minutes later.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Getting undressed and getting in bed.”
             
For some reason I wasn’t prepared for that and it caught me off guard.

“You sleep naked?”
             
“I would if you were here, but no, I sleep in my Michael Jordan Hanes boxer briefs
,
”
h
e said, sounding like a commercial.

The thought of that made my heart pound.

“Wanna know one of my talents?” I asked.

“Absolutely,” he said
.
I could tell by his voice he was smiling.

“I can turn the water faucet off with my toes. Pretty impressive,” I said, while doing it.

“I can turn it off with my penis, so not too impressive.”
             
“I’d pay to see that,” I laughed.
             
“D
amn right you have to pay, girl
friend!”

“You are so funny. I love you.”

It just slipped out. Oh my
g
od, it just poured out like I had turrets and had no control over what I was saying. Maybe he didn’t hear. Take it back, take it back. Don’t freak him out.