Fall From Grace (12 page)

"Oh my God! Are you ok? Are you hurt?" Stella, breathless, crumples beside me, trying to assess whether the dog did any real damage.
 

"Uh yeah, I mean no, I'm ok, just my pride I think." I look to the beast as he lolls his tongue out, unaware of his clumsiness. "Protecting his master and taking me out. Clever dog," I say getting up slowly and faking some pain as she pulls up my arm at my elbow and dusts some mud off my t-shirt. Sympathy from a pretty girl is always a good thing right? The beast circles around me, nudging my legs and trying to take me down again.

"Harve! Stop doing that!" she yells. "He doesn't realize his own strength. He's harmless I swear. That's why I started running over here on the east side, it's pretty desolate as he has a tendency to become over zealous when he sees newbies on the trail. He jumped up on some lady once and it took every ounce of my charming self to convince her he was not a menace to society that needed to be executed."
 

Her face is beet red from the run, her hair up in a high pony with some pieces falling around her cheeks. She's not a high fashion guru in sports wear that's for sure. Just donning some old holey sweats and t-shirt; but she looks unbelievable.

She begins to realize I'm seeing her in a non-makeup, hair un-done, grubby sweat clothes state. Embarrassment sets in as she nervously tucks some hair behind her ear, and adjusts her shirt.

"The other trails in the west are better for hiking and stuff, but I like this side myself, more wild and unpopulated," she tells me.

Even covered in a layer of sweat, her beauty is amazing. She continues to smile and leans towards me removing a clump of dead grass from my hair, so much for looking cool myself. "You sure you ok? Nothing broke? You're not in shock, unable to feel pain are you? Follow my finger," she says, moving her right index finger from side to side.

"I think I'll live Stella. Aside from a bruised ego, I'm ok. Do you come here often then?" I say.

"Ya, I live right next to this property, in the big farmhouse beside the south entrance. I like the quiet and Harve is insanely in love with it." She leans down to give him a good rub on his side. He's enjoying the little break and plunks down beside her with a heaving sigh.

"Harve eh? I like it. Suits him well." As I look down at her, I see something very unique about her whole being. She isn't at all like the other demons I know, she radiates a sort of warmth about her, an energy that seems to draw me in. It makes me want to touch her; her skin, her face, her lips, run my fingers through her long hair. It really feels like a spell that's drawing me in. Like an invisible rope pulling me closer, compelling me to reach for her hand. I almost do it too, but I manage to snap myself back to reality as I'm standing here, not speaking and staring at her like a tool.

She's looking back at me and grinning, like she can see right through to my thoughts. Maybe she can read minds? It's as if she knows I'm lying, faking this runner bit. It makes me feel nervous as I shuffle my feet pretending to shake out the kinks from the fall.

"Ok, well, I should let you get back to it, you sure you're ok? You don't need CPR or anything?" she asks with a sly smile.

"Yes, CPR, I desperately need CPR. Are you offering?" I question.

"Nah, I couldn't pass the course. Harve is excellent at it though," she jokes, gesturing back to the beast.

"I'll take your word for it Stella. See you Monday then." I turn to leave, "Um, one thing though. I have to say that I really love that Brittany number you did, I think you got the pitch down perfectly." I raise my eyebrows at her with a big grin and jog back from where I came. When I look back after her, she's watching me, smiling, hands on her hips. Seeing me look, she flips the bird before adjusting her ear buds and running in the opposite direction. I like this gritty side to her. I like it a lot.

STELLA

Physics sucks. I'm mentally incapable of learning this stuff, I'm convinced of this fact. I've been sitting here at the dining table staring off into space for the last 45 minutes and have nothing to show for it. I could ask Dad but then I'd be afraid that he'd get all excited and launch into a full-blown nerd lecture on the laws of gravity or formulas for acceleration. Nope, I'd rather suffer in silence, thanks.
 

I've procrastinated like a champ today. I've had four glasses of chocolate milk, braided my hair into a knotted mess, doodled 7 pages of swirls and stars, and thought about Ash about 252 times. I can't help but wonder if he was actually following me yesterday. He seemed kinda jittery and I really don't think he's a runner. He wasn't even breaking a sweat, though he must've parked 3 miles away.

I still don't get him though. I catch him at school, watching me with an intensity like he's trying to intimidate me. Not in a creepy way but like trying to read my mind or something. He's got confidence up the ying yang and yet he still hasn't asked me out. Maybe he's gay? No, I can't see that. He exudes a sex appeal that every girl in school is drooling over. Could we all be fooling ourselves? Well, at least it seems to be over with Francine. She was all over Troy Hutchins this week and appears to have forgotten to make my life a living hell, bonus!

As I start sticking pencils in my braids the doorbell chimes, is Dad expecting Age today? She's probably coming for dinner tonight – we always have a big spread on the weekend and tonight is Italiano Sunday, viva meatballs and stinky cheese! Dad's voice interrupts my precision pencil placement into the back knot of my hair.

"Uh, Stella you have a visitor," I hear Dad as I turn around expecting to see Gabby as my jaw hits my knees on the way to the floor.

"Hey Stella, sorry for barging in on you without calling." Ash is standing in my kitchen. MY kitchen. With my Dad - Shit, my Dad!

I fumble to stand up and a shower of pencils fall from my hair, oh my God, why am I such a freak?

It takes a moment for me to close my mouth and regain some sort of composure, "Uh, no worries, what are you doing here? I mean, what's up?" Did I sound casual enough? Dad's frowning, nope.

"Oh, um Dad, this is Asher Grey. He's taking French with me this semester."

"I introduced myself on the way in, it really is nice to meet you Sir, I've heard a lot about you," Ash replies.

"Funny I haven't heard a stitch about you.
Ash
, is it?" Gee thanks Dad. He says his name like it's some sort of venereal disease.

"Well, I'm new in town, just getting used to the place and settling in I guess."

"Who are your parents?" What's with the inquisition? I glare at him in annoyance.

"My Dad's name is Robert, Robert Grey. Right now he's traveling for work and we're renting the old Peller estate near Jericho. My Mom passed away when I was little."
 

"Just you by yourself over in that big old place?" What is he so bristled about? I mean he just told us his Mom is dead. Frig Dad, chill pill.

"Nope, never alone. We have a few full time staff and my Aunt Luce is staying with me until he returns from France." Staff? Perhaps he has some valid reasons after all to be leery of some young rich punk showing up on his doorstep asking to see his only daughter.
 

"Oh. Ok. Well then, I suppose welcome to Alessa," Dad says flatly with no real attempt an an actual welcome. "I'll leave you to it I guess. Stella I'll just be out in the barn sharpening my axes. Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all." He gives him what could only be described as the evil eye, but on Dad it looks more like he has just been sprayed with mace. After he heads outside, Ash takes a deep breath.

"Wow, I'd better watch my back then eh? Should I sleep with one eye open tonight?"
 

"Ah he's harmless really. Although they never did find that poor bugger who took me home four minutes past curfew last fall; quite the mystery disappearance," I say with a grin, which quickly fades as I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Just great. Yesterday he sees me covered in sweat, today I'm sporting pink pj bottoms, and an old, holey sweat shirt. My stock is quickly plummeting. I pull the last of the pencils out of my rats nest.

"I see. Well I guess I had better adhere to the rules then," he says still staring at me.

"I'd say that'd be wise. Which rules do you need to brush up on? I've got a plethora to choose from."
 

"I think the rules of dating his daughter would be a good place to start."

My skin starts to sweat instantly. I'm sure I'm as red as a hot poker. Why can't I handle stress with grace like my last name suggests? All I can do is stand there, and stare like a weirdo. Words have failed me yet again in my time of need.
 

"Wow, I guess I expected a little more encouragement then a blank stare Stella, you're starting to crush my ego a little bit," he says, leaning over the island, placing his elbows down and plays with a large silver ring around his left ring finger. He looks back up to me with a half smile spinning the ring around in a nervous gesture.

 
"Shit Ash, sorry, you just took me by surprise. Hey wait a sec, how did you know where I lived?"

"You told me yesterday, in the park, remember?" He isn't quite smiling anymore. "And I think you've just dodged the question."

"Sorry, you just caught me a little off guard. You could have at least given me some notice so I could change out of my jammies you know."

"Sorry for coming unannounced, I just wanted a chance to talk to you without the whole school watching our every move. Plus I thought if I waited for class, Gabriella would be sure to shoot me down for you. I thought I would ambush you at home instead," he says looking way too adorable. "Plus I think your jammies are really hot. I don't normally go for polka dots, but you can certainly rock them."

The way he's looking at me, I feel like I'm blushing from my cheeks down to my toes. My stomach is brimming with butterflies and a strumming vibration.

"So what did you want to do on this date you are proposing?" A surge of confidence envelops me, I can so do this. I mean he came to me right? He actually came and asked ME. Cosmo was right on the money, I will forever be a lifetime subscriber.

"I have a few ideas. If you're up for it? Does this mean it's a yes?" His eyes never leave mine and it feels like the room suddenly evaporates leaving the two of us staring at each other with an intensity that renders me speechless. I can feel the hairs on my arm stand up in reaction. If this is what his gaze feels like, I can't imagine a kiss.
 

"I'm ready for anything. Surprise me."

"Oh I think you can count on that Stella." He stands back from the island and retreats to the front door with a grin. "I'll pick you up on Friday after school. Now get back to your Physics homework."

When Ash leaves I'm feeling lightheaded. Did I dream that whole thing? It couldn't have worked out better if I had. He actually came to my house and asked me on a date. I'm wearing my purple polka dot pyjamas and Asher Grey asked me on a date. I am awesome.

GABS

I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. I'm still fuming over Stella's revelation; she accepted a date with Asher. What the eff is wrong with her?! I sense doom and gloom all over this turn of events, but I can't even put it into a coherent argument, not even for myself. Asher is just bad news; I feel it in my bones. I keep thinking about what I saw outside of The Grind that night. I never told anyone about it, I mean who would take me seriously? You had to see it for yourself to believe something was not quite right. I can't even pinpoint what I did see, I just know it was not normal and I've tried very hard to give Ash the 'what for' ever since.
 

I really thought he was playing Stella, I never thought he would actually ask her out! Don't get me wrong, I mean I've seen him ogle her in French class, hell I've seen the whole school ogle at her as of late. But I really thought she would pull through for me and continue in her 'AlessaU guys aren't worth my time' mantra.

I mean what is up with her too? How can someone all of a sudden change so drastically without surgery and a wicked stylist working on you day and night? She doesn't even see it herself. Is she freakin' blind? When I broach the subject she waves it away with a 'you're insane Gabby', but c'mon, I'm not crazy and she can't possibly be that clueless either. Puberty was NOT that kind to me, or anyone I know. Especially Sally Clemens. Poor poor girl. Uh-uh, something is up. Has everyone gone nuts in this town, or maybe it's just me? Oh my God, have we been invaded by alien body snatchers? This seems more plausible every day.

I just figured I was at least safe from him and Stella teaming up. I've called in reinforcements though. She's coming for dinner tonight and I made Mom cook her favourite dish to butter her up. I thought if I could get her here on my turf, woo her with comfort food, then I could slap some sense into her.

Will I tell her about the alley? Prob not, who would believe me anyways? Especially not her in that goo goo eyes state she's in. I've got to make her decide for herself, but how to do that? As I ponder the strategies over some really delicious lip-gloss, I hear the doorbell and sprint downstairs.

"I got it!" I call out to probably no one. Deaf as door nails in my house. Sprinting to the front door I whip it open for Stella.