Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (30 page)

I watched Michael take his shirt off and walk out on the court. Will I always get flustered every time he does that?

I watched them play ball for a while and felt my eyes getting tired. I wondered how long it would be before I felt better. In the hospital
,
Michael had to explain more than once, and I am guessing more than a dozen times what was wrong with me.

“The reason you are hurting so much is about half your body is bruised. You have some broken ribs and a pretty bad concussion. I think the doctor said you have 36 stitches on the back of your head. Your nose is broken, so you have some pretty nice shiners. They are about gone though.”

“That’s all minor things isn’t it? Why am I still here?”

“Alex, you almost died. You lost a lot of blood and were really close to dying. You were on a respirator for two days. They had to do blood transfusions and now you have a really high fever that is just now coming down. It’s going to be a several weeks before you feel a hundred per cent. Whoever did this to you had no mercy.”

I closed my eyes and thought about Brad. I wanted to remember every conversation we ever had, every time I saw him, every look I gave him. I wanted to know what I did to deserve him hurting me like he did.
I wanted to remember every conversation we ever had to know if I ever treated him wrong.

One day we were at the lunch table. Brad sat down beside Erica and me and started talking to us. I wasn’t really paying attention. He was asking if we wanted to go down to the lake after school.

I looked at Erica, knowing she would, but I didn’t want to at all.

“I can’t today,” I said
. “I have a ton of homework.”

“Erica
and
I will go
with out you
then,” he said. It was almost like he was trying to make me jealous or fe
e
l
bad that I was no longer included.
But he didn’t seem mad or upset.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could see
Brad leaning over me in the alley.
He was s
taring at me with
an
almost dead look, like he was in a trance. I had never seen him look that way. It was almost like he wasn’t in his own body.
I shuddered and felt my body shaking. I opened my eyes and saw Michael and Derek still playing ball. Michael stopped and looked at me, “You okay? You look upset. Are we boring you that much?”

“I’m fine,” I smiled, watching him spin the ball on his finger. “Globetrotters have nothing on you, eh?”
             
“Damn straight,” he winked.

I watched him shoot the ball. His body was covered in sweat and he looked sexier than I had ever seen him. I wondered what it would be like to lay naked beside him, his hands...”

“Alex,” Derek said
,
interrupting my on-the-verge-of-thinking-about-sex-with-Michael thought, “See if your friend
Kaitlyn
wants to come over
.
Is s
he dating anyone?”

“No, she’s not dating material.”

“What?” he asked. “What do you mean?”

He started dribbling the ball and walked over to me.

“She’s very naïve and a bit of a worrier when it comes to guys.”

“Good,” he said, “I want someone that won’t fight to get in my pants,” he joked.

“That would be
Kaitlyn
!”

I picked up my phone from the ground and saw I had two missed calls from Erica. I texted her
,
asking if she still needed me.

Erica: We are cruising around and wondered if you want to join us

Alex: I’m at Michael’s but thanks.

Erica: We will stop by. I miss my BFF

“You mind if Erica stops by?”

“Nah, its fine
,
”
Michael said.

Alex: We are in the back yard. See ya in a bit.

I got up and started walking around the flower garden. “Hey,” I said, hearing
Kaitlyn
answer her phone, “Want to be fixed up with a cute funny guy?
”

“O
hhh
,” I heard the hesitation in her voice “how cute and how funny?”

“It’s Derek, so you know how cute and he’s very funny.”

There was a long pause.

“
Kaitlyn
,
y
ou there?”

“Yeah,” she said. “That’s a big leap for me. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. He is so manly. So BIG and manly.”

“You’re funny. You don’t have to do anything. Just come over and hang out.”

“I gotta change. I’ll be there in a little while.”

I heard Erica beside the house laughing. I expected to see
Abbie
for some reason
.
I just assumed “we” was her and
Abbie
but instead it was
Monty
and Lloyd.”

“Be nice,” I smiled at Michael.

“I wouldn’t be anything but,” he laughed.

Erica sat down beside me, “Man you look so much better! I was worried you would look like a freak and then I’d have to find a new bff to hang with.”

“You are so kind,” I smiled.

“What’s the latest?”
S
he asked, watching
Monty
and Lloyd walking to the court.

“Wanna scrimmage,” Lloyd asked, grabbing the ball from Michael. I started laughing; seeing this guy that came just above Michael’s naval challenge him to a game.

“Does he have some sort of Napoleon complex going on?”

“Very much,” she nodded. “I felt sorry for him at first but there is no need for that. He is the most arrogant guy I have ever met. He’s a dick! I hope Michael beats the crap out of him on the court.”

“I bet it will be a tight match,” I laughed harder.

“Michael,” I said, “at least split up in fair teams; you and
Monty
against Lloyd and Derek.”

“Yes dear,” Michael smiled.

“Winner gets her,” Lloyd pointed at me.

Michael glanced over,” Is that okay?” I could tell he was fighting not to laugh.

“She doesn’t look as hot as she did at
The Lane
the other night but she can still give a guy hard on.”

“You did not just say that about my girlfriend, did you?” Michael asked
,
walking over to him.

“Hey Dude, its cool! You are a lucky son of a bitch,” Lloyd punched his arm.

Michael looked over at me and shook his head. I could tell he was so amused by this little guy that he couldn’t be mad.

And the game began. Lloyd instantly started
trash-talking
, calling Michael a pussy. He had the ball and Michael blocked him from moving by putting his hand on Lloyd’s head not allowing him to move.

“Foul! Foul!” Lloyd was screaming.

I was crying I was laughing so hard, making my ribs hurt, but I couldn’t stop. It looked like two dads were playing with their kids.

“This is embarrassing,” Erica sighed, not finding the humor in any of it. “I needed an excuse to stop seeing him, and this is definitely it.”

“Why did you need an excuse? If you don’t like him stop seeing him.”

“He’s okay. I just get tired of Lloyd always being there. I even mentioned that it was over if he didn’t leave Lloyd at home today, but he shows up and there’s Lloyd. It wouldn’t bother me so much but I swear I have never met anyone that annoys me so much. He is absolutely the rudest human being alive. Sometimes I wonder if
Monty
is afraid to go anywhere with out him. It’s just not normal. Come on!” She pointed, “Michael just jumped over
Monty
’s head. How much more humiliating can this get.”

“Hi!” I heard
Kaitlyn
shrill. “You are outside!”

“Uh yeah, I am allowed,” I smiled.

“Oh my gosh
,
you look so great!”
             
“I just saw you earlier.”

“I know, but you look so much better outside. How do you feel?”

“I still hurt but it’s not too bad.”

“What about mentally,” she whispered. “Do you have like the post traumatic syndrome?”

“It’s not too bad,” I lied. “I just want to think of other things but it all comes back to me thinking about Brad. I think as long as I am occupied with other things and not just lying around feeling sorry for myself I will be good. Have you all heard anything from anyone?”

“My phone has rung or vibrated non stop,”
Kaitlyn
said, in a low voice. “Everyone wants to know if it’s true, if you really died. I swear there are so many rumors going around.”

Then she
grabbed my arm, “I heard someone say that Michael’s gang came up here and murdered you to prove a point that he can’t jump out of the gang without repercussions.”

“That’s a good one. I have always thought Michael to be gang material.”

“Oh!”
Kaitlyn
squeezed my arm again, “Another one is that you and Brad have been doing it for years and he got mad cause you knew you were bro and sis and was keeping it a secret while still sleeping with him and he found out, lost it and went nutso.”

“Where are these people getting these stories?” I asked, wondering how much worse it could get. “The nutso part is the only part that was true. Does anyone know if he got arrested?”

Erica looked away, like she was avoiding the question.

“Come on,
Erica,
tell me.”

“
He was arrested and charged
but got bonded out.”

“Really?”

“Has no one told you or called you about it?”
Kaitlyn
asked.

“I never asked. I am sure my mom knows. I guess I should call her.”

No more were the words out of my mouth but my phone rang.

“Hey Mom. What’s the latest?”

“I just got a call from the Prosecuting Attorney. He said that Brad was arrested. His bail was set for $50,000 and he is released.”

“
That’s what the girl’s just told me
. How can they come up with 50,000 dollars?”

“Bail bondsmen. You only need ten per cent usually. I’m sure someone put their house up for him. Ok, I am going to tell you this and I want you to take this more seriously than you have ever taken anything. You are not to be alone for any amount of time. If you are at
The Lane
and need to go to the restroom, you take someone with you. I mean not for one second are you to
be alone. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I do. You don’t think he’s going to be so stupid as
to do anything again do you?”

“Alex, he is not the only one mad at you right now. I am just saying do not be careless. I don’t want you to be scared and paranoid and live sheltered, but I want you to be aware that you need to be cautious.
”

“I promise. How are you doing? You were pretty upset when you left the house.”

“I’m okay. I think I will lie down and take a nap. I am just beat. I will have my phone. Please call me if you need anything at all. I love you, honey.”

“Mom, I am sorry I have been such a problem lately. I know you don’t deserve having to deal with this.”

“Alex, you are everything to me. I am not at all seeing this as a problem. Just a minor bump in our life.”

“You are so optimistic. Call me when you wake up.”

I saw
Kaitlyn
watching Derek bounce the ball intimidating
Monty
with his eyes. “He’s major cute,” she sighed. “What’s he like? Is he a good boy or bad boy?”

“He’s a good boy,” I smiled, seeing her interested.

“Did you kiss him, Erica?” She asked.

I knew that would be a deal breaker. She was never going to go out with anyone that kissed Erica. It just wouldn’t be sanitary.

“Nope. Not that I didn’t try!” Erica said
,
watching him. “He just kept moving away or talking or just didn’t act interested.”

“That’s good,”
Kaitlyn
said, not taking her eyes of him.

He looked over and saw her sta
ring and smiled.

“Oh lord,” she blushed, “he smiled at me. I feel weird.”

“
Kaitlyn
,” I laughed, “You are such a good girl.”

“Where is
Abbie
?” I asked
,
realizing she wasn’t there.

“Getting highlights,” Erica said
.
” You missed out on that weeklong conversation. It’s a good thing you were comatose through that nightmare.”