Falling Behind (Falling Series) Page 8

  “That’s good, Son. That’s the right thing to do.” She stood up to leave and I stopped her with my next question.

  “So I can’t kick his ass, then?”

  She laughed. “No, that would hurt her more.”

  “Okay, okay. What about Candice?”

  Mom’s eyebrows shot up. “What about Candice?”

  “How do I help her?” I sat back up; my mind was racing and I couldn’t keep still. I folded my hands together, resting my elbows on my knees dropping my head.

  “For her, Ty, you just have to be there. If you catch her with Alex or see any bruises or anything that would suggest she’s still seeing him, come talk to me. We’ll figure out what to do, together. You can always talk to me.” She reached down and grabbed my hands, tugging me to a standing position.

  Mom wrapped her arms around me, her short frame barely tall enough to place her head at my shoulders. “Thanks, Shorty.”

  She slapped my chest. “Just because you’re a giant does not mean you can call me shorty.”

  “Alright; thanks, Mom.”

  I headed to my room, needing to be alone for a while. I turned on some music and started lifting weights. Not much else to do without my girls. I needed to get a life. A life with some other, maybe guy, friends. Not that I didn’t have any friends, I just never made time for them, in the past; and finally they all stopped pestering me to go out and do things with them. Now, I wished they would.

  Monday morning sucked. Actually, the whole damn day sucked. Candice was quiet and kept to herself. At lunch and break, she was nowhere to be found. I heard, through the grapevine, that she was sitting in the office during both. Reese never even looked my way. Every time I passed her, my chest tightened and I plastered on a fake smile. It didn’t matter she never looked. She switched desks in the few classes we had together.

  Candice was steering clear of Alex, me and Reese from what I could tell. Reese was glued to Josh’s side, but she looked happy. She looked as if she was in love. I was starting to think my mom was wrong. It looked to me like their relationship was going to last a while.

  We were all in the locker room, showering and changing after P.E., when I overheard Monroe and Jonathan talking.

  “Hey, Monroe, what’s up?” Jonathon’s deep voice boomed throughout the room.

  “Not much. You going to the party tonight?” Monroe’s question surprised me. There wasn’t normally a party at The Orchard on Monday nights.

  “Party? Oh, wait, you mean the thing at Josh’s?”

  “Yeah, I guess it technically isn’t a party.” Monroe sounded irritated.

  “Gen going?” Jonathan asked, like she doesn’t go everywhere Monroe went.

  “Yeah, she’s bringing her cousin to meet Josh. He asked about her and said he’s done with Reese.”

  WHAT? If they were broken up then why wasn’t my friend back to being my friend? And why were they together this morning? Why did she tell me to put distance between us? Oh God, she doesn’t know.

  I must have spaced out for longer than I thought because the last thing I heard was Monroe telling Jonathan bye. I rushed out of the shower and got dressed and ready for my next class. I was early, so I jogged over to Mr. Wait’s room and knocked on the locked door.

  His door swung open and my Civics teacher stood there, looking confused. “Titus?”

  “I need your help. Please, Mr. Wait.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to talk to Reese. Josh, there’s something going on with him and I need to tell her. But I can’t talk to her out there.” I pointed behind me to the quad area, “He can’t see me talking to her.”

  “Okay, I’ll go get her. I’ve been worried about her, anyway; maybe you can talk some sense into her. I’ll be right back.” He walked out the door.

  I slipped in to the first desk and hoped I could talk some sense into her.

  Reese

  I chewed my nails all morning; and by break, my right hand was tender and bleeding. Josh met me outside my classroom and walked me to his truck. Reaching his truck, he opened the door and sat, pulling me onto his lap, trying to twist me toward him for a kiss. Public display was not okay with me. My teachers respected me; I was a good student and never got into serious trouble. Kissing in the school parking lot, right next to the gym and cafeteria, was not going to happen.

  When I stood up and stepped away, Josh looked hurt. But this wasn’t something he could sweet talk me into.

  “Reese? You and your friend should not be in the parking lot during break or lunch. This is your first warning.”

  My cheeks flared red. I felt the warmth travel all the way up. Mr. Wait was my AP Civics teacher. “Yes, Sir.” I had his class next, with Titus. I did not want to have a conversation about this.

  “Oh, and Reese, I need to see you in my class before the bell. I’m heading there, now.” He smiled at me and turned toward his classroom.

  “You better go, run to your teacher.” Josh slammed his door and walked away toward his group of friends.

  Instead of standing there, watching him walk away, I spun around and headed to my locker. I might as well grab my books and head to class, early. I reached my locker and noticed someone walking toward me from the corner of my eye. I continued putting in the combination. Once I got the door open, I used it and my hair to hide myself. Peeking around it, I saw the Principal standing right beside me.

  “Hi there, Reese, everything okay, today?” Mr. Gustin and I got along great. He was a joker and would tease me during my Office Aide period.

  “Yeah, fine Mr. Gustin.”

  “Okay. Well, Candice’s father was in my office this morning, Alex didn’t come to school today and I noticed that you and your other friends are not together as you normally are. It concerned me.” He stepped closer and put a caring hand on my shoulder. Most students think he gets to close and personal, I think he just cares about his students.

  “It was a heck of a weekend. It’ll turn out all right.” I closed my locker, arms full of books, and looked up at him. “Do you know if that is what Mr. Wait wanted to see me about?”

  His forehead scrunched in concern. “No, I don’t believe he knows, unless kids are already talking.”

  “Okay, well I better go see what I’ve done.”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing.” He patted me on the back and finished his walk down the hall. I opened the door to Mr. Wait’s room to find him talking with Titus. “Hi, Reese, your friend asked me to go find you.” Looking up from his paperwork he noticed the tears and mouthed, “Are you okay?”

  I shook my head. “Thank you.”

  “I’m going to step in to the library for a few minutes. I will be back before the bell rings. I’m trusting you two in here alone, with the door locked.” He looked at both of us, pointedly. “Please do not disappoint me.” He reached the door and turned back toward me. “Reese, what I saw in the parking lot, today, was upsetting. You are better than that.”

  I just nodded and brushed away a tear.

  “Tissues are on the desk; you have five minutes.” He walked out shutting and locking the door behind him.

  Titus waited a whole thirty seconds before coming to me. “What’s wrong?” He wiped my tears and hugged me. “Just don’t cry. Please.”

  “Josh, ugh, nevermind.” I slumped down in one of the desks, crossing my arms on top and laying my head down on them. Warm tears fell down my cheeks and pooled on the desktop.

  “What did Josh do?” I could hear the anger in Titus’ voice.

  “Nothing, everything. I don’t know. Right now I’m more disappointed in myself for sitting with him in his truck during lunch. I didn’t allow anything to happen, but what Josh did do, Mr. Wait saw, and the look of disappointment on his face killed me.”

  Titus sighed before he spoke. “Reese, what’s going on between the two of you?”

  I snapped my head up. “What do you mean?”

  “I know you cried all day Saturday, first in th
e morning over Josh and Candice and then later because of what you had to tell me. If it makes you that unhappy to not be my friend, then why do it? If you’re not happy with him, then why are you still with him?”

  “I have to Titus. I have to keep you at a distance. I have to stay with him. You wouldn’t understand.” I shook my head. The door jingled and I knew class was about to start. I got up from my desk and grabbed a tissue.

  Titus grabbed my hand smoothing his thumb over the top of it. “I would understand. It doesn’t have to be this way, Reese. Trust me, you can talk to me.”

  I gripped his hand before letting go as the door opened. I whispered, “I wish I could.”

  After school, I practically ran out the front gate and headed home. I barely made it to the corner when I heard Josh’s truck pull up. “Reese, get in please, Baby, we need to talk.”

  I looked over at him and he smiled that sexy crooked grin, as he reached over and popped open the passenger door. “I’m so sorry for the way I acted at lunch; and for ignoring you the rest of the day. I just don’t know how to feel when you turn me down.”

  “Josh you know I”—

  He brushed his thumb against my mouth to stop me from talking. “I know you don’t like PDA. I shouldn’t have pushed you. I’m sorry.” He looked up at me through impossibly dark thick lashes. “Forgive me?”

  Nodding, I slid into the truck. He owned me. What else was I suppose to do? I wasn’t about to let something so silly ruin my relationship, especially since he was my first. I needed it to last more than a couple months. I didn’t want to be some notch on his belt.

  “Can you please take me home? It’s been a rough few days and I need some me time.”

  “But, Reese”—

  “Please, Josh? I just want to go home.” I drop my head staring at my hands in my lap. He had already passed my street. I knew where he was headed and I didn’t want to go there.

  “Fine.” He had just made the turn heading for the White Oak when he pulled the e-brake.

  The tires squealed. My body was forced into the door. Squeezing my eyes shut, I held my breath. The truck fish tailed, whipping around and came to a sudden stop. Someone’s screaming pierced my ears and I forced my eyes open. When my throat started aching, I realized I was the one screaming. I looked out the window to see a telephone pole blocking me in. If the truck would have slid any further, my door would have been smashed in and I would have been crushed. My heart was already breaking. How could he do this to me? Tears streamed down my face. I turned to look at Josh.

  Josh sat behind the wheel, right hand on the gear shift and an evil grin smeared on his face. His body lunged toward me. I couldn’t get out. My breath came out at a short, quick pace. My fingers started to tingle. My vision blurred. I felt as if I was going to hurl all over him. My stomach twisted and my heart rate increased. I couldn’t get out! He was going to force me to be with him. I had to get out. How?

  Crap! I could feel myself losing all control. I was in the middle of a full blown panic attack and Josh was still coming at me. It felt like an eternity for him to move across the small space in his single cab Nissan truck. Once he got his body on my side of the console, he was able to start sliding forward. I felt the bite of the arm rest on the door in my back as I pushed myself further away. I knew I needed to work on controlling my breathing. I couldn’t. I couldn’t think about anything but getting away. There was nowhere for me to go. Josh was in front of me and the door beside me was blocked by a freaking telephone pole.

  “Reese, Baby, you need to breathe.” He lifted his hand toward me and I flinched away. I was blocked in; there was no way I could breathe. I tried to move my hand to push him back but nothing moved.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he said. His hands slid up my thighs. “You’re sweating and shaking. What’s wrong?” He slid back away from me and it was as if my lungs suddenly kicked back into functioning mode.

  I took in a deep breath relieving the pain from my air-starved lungs. “H-h-home.” It was the only word I could get out. If I thought my legs could have held me, I would’ve gotten out as soon as he pulled forward and my door was no longer barricaded. I sat there, staring forward. I never looked at him. We passed back by the high school and I counted the seven seconds until we were pulling up alongside my house.

  I reached a shaky hand out and grabbed the door handle as he reached toward me. I shook my head and climbed out, barely able to stand. Warm tears streamed down my face. Pushing the door shut with my hip, I heard a faint, “I’m sorry.”

  Lucky for me, no one was home. I slipped into the house and headed straight for the bathroom. After washing my face, I fell on to my bed. The last thing I remember was wishing I could call at least one of my best friends; but I ruined both of those friendships. I chose Candice’s life over our friendship, and I would do it again, without regret. I chose my boyfriend over Titus. I’m not sure that was the best thing for me, but what was done was done. There was no turning back. He probably hated me now, more than ever. My lids grew heavy as I sank further into my pillow.

  Chapter Eleven

  Reese

  “Reese, Honey, wake up.” Mom’s voice was soft and I could feel her gently shaking my shoulder.

  “Mom?” My voice was rough with sleep and the word came out more like a gasp.

  “I know this is a stupid question, but is everything okay? It’s not like you to sleep after school. Especially this late.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Just after seven. Dinner’s ready.” Mom stood up from her spot on my bed, reaching a hand out to help me up.

  I felt weak, drained, really. Since it had been so long since my last attack, I had forgotten how much they take out of me. I reached for Mom, clasping her wrist, allowing her to help me up. “I wish I was okay. I wish Candice wasn’t mad at me. And I really wish I hadn’t told Ty we couldn’t be friends.”

  “I knew it was a stupid question.” Mom smiled, “Candice will forgive you and you can fix things with Titus.”

  I shook my head. “I wish I believed that.”

  Mom didn’t say anything, just led the way out of my room. Dinner was unusually silent. I finished up and asked to be excused, telling everyone goodnight. My parents both looked at me curiously, or maybe it was concern, it was hard to tell; but neither said anything more than, “goodnight.”

  Once I was in my room and had changed into my pajamas, I dug my phone out of my bag and scrolled through the missed calls and text messages. Twenty-two calls from Josh. Eleven texts from him, and one from Titus. A smiled stretched my cheeks as I opened the message from Titus. Maybe he didn’t hate me after all.

  Ty: Hey just checking to see if you’re ok.

  I missed him like crazy, even though I had talked to him earlier, today. I quickly tapped out a response.

  Me: I am now.

  Seconds later my phone dinged. I hadn’t even had time to start to go through Josh’s messages.

  Ty: Why now?

  Me: I got a text from the best guy friend ever. :)

  This time he didn’t text right back. As I waited, I read through all of Josh’s messages. They all had the same theme. He was sorry and would never put my life in danger like that, again. Eleven messages that all basically said the same thing. I was just starting to think Titus wasn’t going to text me back, when my phone beeped again.

  Ty: I know. Ha ha. If everything’s cool, I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m lifting weights, right now.

  Me: Talk to you tomorrow. In class.

  I felt the need to make sure he understood that we still couldn’t talk in front of Josh. I didn’t need more problems with him over Titus.

  Ty: Gotch ya.

  I sighed, running my fingers through my hair before I found the courage to text Josh back.

  Me: I’ll see you at school, tomorrow. I have to be there early for a project.

  Not completely a lie. I did have to go to the library at some point tomorrow to do some research for Civics. I
wasn’t ready to face Josh first thing in the morning.

  Josh: Can’t I pick you up?

  Me: No. It’s okay. I have to be there super early. I’ll see you at break.

  There, that gives me some time to myself in the morning. I hoped he bought it and let it go. My phone rang. I looked at the screen that was flashing a picture of Josh. I wasn’t ready to talk. I hit decline and shut off my phone. Curling up into a ball, I cried myself to sleep. How much longer would I have to stay with him?

  Chapter Twelve

  Reese

  I rushed through my morning routine, grabbing a banana off the counter before hastening out the door toward school at seven-fifteen. I knew if I was on my normal time schedule, Josh would be there to pick me up. That could not happen. I wasn’t ready to see him.

  I didn’t remember anything from my first three classes. I was too stressed out over having to see Josh. Our school was small. I had arranged my morning so I ended up in the office at the end of each period to hide, and was late to class for the next. I managed to avoid him before and after my first two classes.

  At the end of third period, I rushed toward the office and ran into Mr. Wait.

  “Slow down, Reese, where’s the fire?” He smiled, flashing me his adorable dimples. The guy was old. But not too old. I would say he was probably in his early thirties, but he was cute. The youngest and best looking teacher we had at Laton High.

  I flashed him a grin. “Back there?” I pointed over my shoulder.

  He laughed. “Reese, I talked to Mr. Gustin and Titus. I know there is a lot going on with you, right now. I may not be a licensed counselor, but my door is always open. I am a great listener.”

  That wiped the smile off my face. What had they told him? “Um, thank you, sir.”

  “I’m serious, anytime you need to talk; you know where my room is.”

  I nodded my head and before I could slip into the office, I heard Josh call my name. Mr. Wait turned toward him and quickly glanced back at me. Louder than necessary he said, “So if you could come to my room as soon as you’re done talking with Mr. Gustin, I’ll help you with that assignment.” He winked at me before strolling down the hall toward his room. I think I love Mr. Wait. I slipped into the library doors and dashed into the office. Almost knocking over the Office Aide.