All We Know Is Falling: Fall With Me: Volume One (11 page)

I stopped moving and stood in front of Kenna while Hale stood beside me. “Coulda swore I told you not to call me that.”

She shrugged. “Sorry. Freakshow.” She turned her gaze up to Hale. “You see yet? I guess I should assume you haven’t since you’re still okay touching her.”

“Fuck you,” was all Hale said, calmer than I was expecting.

She smiled at him. “How ya doing, Psycho?” she took a step forward. “Pissed off that everyone knows what you are? You’re welcome for that.”

My hands went to her shoulders as I slammed her against the wall. “You know something about that?” my voice was calm as I held her violently to the wall.

She had fear and anger in her eyes. “L-let go of me.”

I shook my head. “What do you know about the missing file? Are you the one who stole it?”

She stayed quiet so I slammed her into the wall again. She cried, “I didn’t do it.”

“But you know who did?”

“Let go and I’ll tell you,” she said. Her mascara was running down her face and I tried not to love this.

I let go of her and she stared at the glass doors for a second. Then she tried to bolt. I caught her by the neck and again, threw her into the wall. I grabbed her arm and started bending it at what had to be an agony-causing angle.

“You should know better than to try and run,” I said.

“Y-you are insane,” Kenna said through more tears.

I shrugged. “Maybe a little. But unless you tell me what you know, I’m going to break your arm.”

“Lamb,” I heard from behind me. Hale’s voice was gentle. “It’s okay. I can handle whatever these children can throw at me. I don’t care.”

I didn’t look at him. “I do.” I was here to right a wrong. “Tell me,” I ordered the girl.

She looked hesitant but she spilled. “His mom is the counselor. He took her key and we broke in after school.”

“Well,” I bent her arm more and she whimpered. “That’s the how. I’m looking for a who.”

“My boyfriend. Brooks. He did it. I told him about when Hale said that shit to me. And he wanted to get even.”

I loosened my hold on her and she caught her breath. “The lies that I heard in the gym?”

She looked at me in confusion. “How’d you hear that?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not important. Where’s the file?”

She shook her head. “He’s got it.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know. I think in his locker. Maybe his backpack.” I let go of her and she ran out the door like she was on fire.

I had the information I needed. Now I could end this.

Then I remembered that Hale saw everything I just did. He saw a flicker of what I was capable of. Now would be when he ran.

I turned to look at him and his eyes were staring after Kenna in the direction she ran. “What a bitch,” he said.

I was still frozen in place. “I guess I’ll see you around.” No way would he want to bring me home. Or be near me.

When I started walking he ran after me and blocked my way out. I stopped just short of running into his chest. “Where are you going? I’m bringing you home.”

I made a sound of shock. “What? You just saw me almost snap a girls arm and you still think I’m worth your time?”

He grinned. “Yeah. It was kind of hot actually. And she was awful. Not undeserved at all.”

The words didn’t comfort me in the least. “Did that not prove that I’m a bad person? That wasn’t anything new for me. I have anger issues and a tendency to get violent when provoked. If you were to take a peek into my file, you’d see that. I’ve been suspended more than a few times.”

A shoulder went up in a lazy shrug. “But look at why you did what you did. You were provoked. And you were trying to help me.” He smiled. “Because you like me.”

Damn it…he wasn’t wrong. “Maybe.”

He took my hand. “Then let’s go to your house.”

We pulled up to my house and he turned his car off while he stared. I knew what he must be thinking. It was a huge house. Ridiculous, really. More than four people needed. But Mom and Dad had the house since before they even got Hadley.

“Why’d you turn the truck off?” I asked while I picked up my backpack and popped the door open.

He remained staring at the mansion. “Because I’d like to meet your family.” He opened the door and stood while he waited for me.

I ran around the car and got in front of him. “Wait!” I held my hands up and he stopped when his chest hit my hands. I let them linger a little too long and I shoved my hands in my pockets.

“Ashamed of me?”

“No. It’s just—”

“Good,” he moved past me and waited at the door until I caught up to him. He gestured to the door so I’d know to open it. I did, and he walked right into the house.

My mother was in the kitchen eating my cake. “Oh,” she covered her mouth. “Hello.”

“Hi,” Hale beamed. “Nice to meet you in person,” he reached out to shake her hand.

“You too, love.” She looked to me. “Not that I’m not happy to see you,” she looked back at the clock, “but it’s not nearly three yet.”

Hale’s face darkened when I said, “Walter called. His dad died.”

“Oh dear. Is he alright? Where is he?”

“Scotland.”

Her eyes flashed to Hale and I knew she was trying to form a sentence vague enough for him to not understand and specific enough so I’d know. “Who’s he living with?”

“A married couple. They work for…Louie,” I went for the easiest name that she’d understand.

“Ah,” she nodded. “He could have come here.”

“He said Louie didn’t give him a choice.”

She looked down. “Yeah, he’s not one to ask what you want. But he always knows what’s best. Don’t doubt that.”

I laughed quietly.

“Might I ask,” Hale stepped in. “Who the Hell is Louie?”

Mom and I looked at each other. She said, “Just a man we know.”

I stepped in. “Don’t worry, you’ll never have to deal with him. Ever. He doesn’t care much for the lives of us little people.”

I grabbed Hale’s arm. “Why don’t we go to my room,” I said after a couple minutes of silence.

“Okay,” he took my hand and we started walking. We got to my room and I led him in. I didn’t have any place to sit other than my bed. I never have anyone over, so it wasn’t a problem until now. We sat on my bed and I took in how awkward this was. I’ve never had a boy in my bed before. Or my room.

What are we supposed to do now?

Hale looked around my room, taking in every inch of the place. Probably trying to piece together my personality from all of the things I keep in here.

“Your bed is quite soft,” he finally said.

“Thanks…?”

He laid down and rested his head on my pillows. He closed his eyes and I stared at him. His hand was on his stomach. He was tapping his fingers and there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

I wanted nothing more than to lay my head down on his chest and have his arm around me. I wanted to feel close to someone.

Him.

I wanted to feel close to him. I’ve spent my whole life being detached from people. And I was just as okay with it as they were. No one ever tried to be my friend. Enter Hale. The one person who decided that no didn’t mean no. He kept trying to know me and I was crumbling too quickly. He was in my bed and I couldn’t even remember how we got to this point. But part of me was glad that we were here. And that terrified me.

What would happen if I really started caring about him? I’d be his friend and then I’d have to watch him get old. Then I’d have to either watch him slip away, or leave. Because it wasn’t safe for him to know what I was. And I couldn’t be the reason he died. I’d never live past that.

“Rory darling,” Hale said with closed eyes. “Are you watching me?”

How’d he know?! “No,” I lied and looked out the window, just in case he opened his eyes.

He reached out for me and he brushed his fingers against my hip. “Would you lay with me?” he opened his eyes and suddenly we were staring at each other.

I didn’t want to say no. So I just laid down on my side, facing him. He moved so he was facing me too.

“Thank you,” he said. “For trying to help me today. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. I’ll find that file for you. I just need to talk to that Brooks guy.”

He smiled. “Are you going to threaten him too?”

I shrugged and arm. “If I need to.”

He didn’t say anything after that. He just brushed my hair out of my face and watched me. His hand moved down from my face to my side and down to my hip, where he kept it. I didn’t stop him.

Then he moved closer. And I still didn’t stop him.

He moved so that he was half leaning on me. His nose touched the side of mine and he was so close that when he closed his eyes, his eyelashes brushed my face.

I leaned up and parted my lips slightly in anticipation. His lips brushed mine a quarter of a second before the door opened.

“Aurora, I—” My sister said before she saw us. Hale moved off of me and I sat up on the bed. “Oh…sorry. Were you guys about to, like, do it?” she asked. “Totally didn’t mean to interrupt,” she took a step back.

“Hadley,” I said with anger and annoyance. “No. That isn’t what we were doing.”

She waved her hand. “S’okay. You don’t need to lie. I’m actually relieved. I thought that you were asexual or something. But—”

“HADLEY!” I yelled. “We’re just friends. Stop.”

She eyed us. “Really?” she said, doubtfully.

“Yes.”

Hale stood up and walked to Hadley. “Nice to meet you. But I think I should be going now.”

“Oh,” Hadley looked disappointed. “Sorry to cock-block you.”

He laughed. “That really wasn’t what was about to happen. I care far too much for your niece to rush into something like that.”

She smiled. “Life’s short, sweetie. Enjoy the time you’ve got.”

Hale looked back at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Rory.”



I sat down in History and I was still deciding if I was going to ditch the class. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to handle seeing Hale and I’d been freaking out about it since he left my room.

His lips were practically on mine. It would have taken less than a second for it to become real. It was a dangerous road to go down and I refused to entertain the thought.

But I knew why it happened. I knew what kind of guy Hale was. He was a sweetheart—an annoying one, but sweet none the less—but he liked girls. Lots of girls. And we were in a bed. He was just doing what came naturally to him. I was too shocked that it was happening to try and stop him. Plus, his lips looked soft. God knows that boy would be good at kissing…

But again, didn’t want to entertain the thought. He was absolutely beautiful. And kind. But I couldn’t go there. Not with a human. Not with him.

Hale walked into the room and I quickly removed my gaze from the door and focused on the study packet in front of me. Surely if I focus on the stupid homework then I won’t launch myself at the boy that just sat beside me.

After a couple minutes of trying desperately not to look at him, I felt fingertips tapping on my shoulder. I glanced over as Hale was moving my hair from my shoulder.

“Good morning,” he smiled.

“Morning,” I nodded.

His hand moved from my shoulder and he folded his hands together on the table. “How are you?”

“Fine…”

He moved his chair closer to me and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing. Our chairs were touching and my hip was about an inch from his.

“Good…Good,” he nodded. “I’ve been thinking about our date—”

“Date?” my eyebrows went up. “Since when is it a date?”

“Oh,” he gave me a look that made me feel cold and white-hot at the same time. “It’s always been a date.”

I looked down at my hands because I thought if I was looking him in the eye, I wouldn’t be able to say what I needed to. “I don’t date.”

“I know. But that changes soon.”

“It doesn’t…”

He leaned over but I wasn’t aware until his lips touched my shoulder. He hummed against me and my heart started racing. “Are you sure about that?”