Falling Darkness: The second book in the Falling Awake Series (13 page)

“Maybe see you Saturday then.” I got up to leave. It was going to be a long journey back.

“I hope I do.”

I turned to wave at him as I walked back to Ressler.

“I wish it was Saturday!” he shouted at me and I shook my head with a grin. I was halfway there. I already had my first link, and he was kinda cute, too.

***

It turns out I couldn’t avoid Caleb forever. As I slipped into what I thought would be another dreamless sleep later that night, I stepped through Caleb’s door and closed it quietly behind me.

“Couldn’t stay away?” I jumped at the sound behind me and turned around to see Caleb sitting on the sofa, shirtless, and wearing only a pair low hanging, black jeans. I looked down at my own sky blue, checked, flannel pajama pants and white tank.

“You’re dreaming.”

“You’re in my dreams again?”

“Actually, no. You’re in my dreams.”

“How do I get out?” This was the last place I wanted to end up.

“I like you in my dreams.”

I turned around, reaching for the doorknob, when Caleb, swiftly as ever, intercepted himself between me and the exit. He was so quick, you would miss it if you blinked.

“Don’t leave.” His voice was a soft whisper against my neck and I sighed deeply. His head was lowered to my collarbone and his hair brushed against my cheek, causing a shiver to run through me from the faint touch.

I wasn’t thinking; instead, I reached my hand up and glided my fingers through his hair, his head raising in the process. As soon as his foggy, blue eyes locked with mine, I was sucked in. When I had Caleb like this, he was hard to escape from.

“I’m glad you came.” Caleb tipped his head forward, his forehead resting against mine.

“I didn’t mean to.” His hand snaked up around my waist and his fingers spread out over my back. “What was it you wanted to tell me?” I asked him, struggling to get the words into solid sound and not just bursts of air.

“Another time.”

“I thought it was important.” I bit down on my lip when Caleb’s head lowered further and nipped gently, but effectively at my neck. I pushed my hands against his shoulders, to steady my footing instead of trying to free myself, and when his other hand wrapped around my thigh, I lifted my leg to get it around his waist quicker. With both legs secured around his body, he reached up and kissed the tip of my nose. I smiled blissfully and kissed him on the lips. His skin felt better than good against mine, and in this very moment, I never wanted to be apart from him.

He carried me through into his bedroom, easing the door open with his back and lay me down on the bed. His gaze never left mine once. He could have carried me with that stare if he wanted to. The bedside light was on and the glow fell over his golden skin. He was the definition of a masterpiece. His hands went to either side of my waist at the hem of my tank and steadily pushed it up over my stomach. I hitched in a breath, wondering if he could hear the pounding in my chest, as much as he could see it.

The surprising coolness of his hands was a relief on my hot, sensitive skin. Just as his fingers were about to skim over my bra, I grabbed them in mine and moved them away, pulling my tank back down to cover me.

I propped myself up on my elbows. Caleb looked hurt and offended, both at the same time, blended with just enough confusion.

“My dad’s right in the other room.” I looked anywhere but at Caleb. That wasn’t why I wanted to stop this before it went any further. Deep down, I didn’t want him when he had someone else.

“This is just a dream.” He lowered himself back over me and I ducked out of the way, standing up.

“Just a dream. Right.” I smiled ironically. He had no idea how true that statement actually was.

Caleb rubbed his palms over his eyes then scrubbed his fingers through his hair.

“If I go next door, will I see him?”

Caleb shrugged. “Probably.”

He stretched out on the bed and folded his arms behind his head, closing his eyes. He was done with me then. That was how easy it was for him to switch it off and go back to being the jerk he was through the day. I don’t know why I expected anything different.

“I thought you said you could be yourself, like this… with me.” I stood with my hand on the half open door, ready to leave.

“I am being myself,” he said, not even bothering to open his eyes.

“Then I think you need to work on your personality,” I retorted, closing the door so hard behind me, it shook on the frame.

I padded down the hall, barefoot, and slipped into the room where my dad slept. “Dad?” I approached the bed slowly. The room was dark. Light filtered in through the crack in the door but it only just fell over my dad’s frame. I scrunched up my eyes.

He looked different.

Long, black hair flowed from his head and down over his shoulders, black as ink against the white sheets. I took another cautious step closer. His skin was different. His bare arms were polished and coppery, and more defined. This wasn’t my dad, it was someone else.

I took a final step, peering over at the man lying on the bed, when snaking coils of charcoal colored smoke, slithered out from under the bed and looped around the stranger’s body. I fell backwards, terrified, and whoever was on the bed jolted upright, before the living, black smoke plunged into his eyeless sockets, ramming itself down his throat.

I woke up to the sound of my own screams.

S
chool wasn’t any easier without Caleb there; it was exactly the same. I still had to see Tamara and she milked it every time. I was just on my way to my locker when Mr. Kelly poked his head out from his classroom. “Pria. Can I see you for a second?”

“Sure.” I went into the class, one of only a handful of students left in the hallway. I was late out of English thanks to Jason cornering me and trying to get a date for Nathan now that Caleb was evidently off the scene.

I stood in front of Mr. Kelly’s desk and he sunk into his chair, crossing one leg over the other. He picked up his glasses off the desk and clipped them into the neck of his shirt.

“How are things at home, Pria?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“That’s good to hear. And how is your father?”

I nodded. “The same, but in time…”

“Of course. Of course,” he said, smiling.

“Is this about my grades, sir? Because I know I’ve been slipping a little, but everything…”

Mr. Kelly held up his hand, silencing me. “Your grades are as perfect as ever. I actually wanted to ask a favor of you.”

Oh god. Please not another school trip. I’d had my fill of those to last me a lifetime. I wasn’t doing it. I would just have to say no and he would have to deal with it.

“Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’m thinking of holding a kind of street festival. I’d like you to organize it.”

Where was I gonna find time to do that?

“Oh,” I said.

“Get some kids together. Food donations, that kind of thing. Promotion obviously. What do you say? Does that sound like fun, or what?”

I was leaning more towards ‘or what.’

“Mm hmm.” I tried for a smile big enough to match Mr. Kelly’s but my face was protesting, angrily.

“I’ll leave that with you.”

“Great.” I was being sarcastic but it flew right over his optimistic little head.

“Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Bye, sir.”

He saw me out and when his door closed behind me, I let out my breath. I guess I could get Gracey to donate some food. She would probably do most of it, she was kind of controlling like that. In a good way, of course.

Outside, I pulled my keys from my pocket, looking up to see Mellissa leaning against the hood of my car.

“What, no Drake?” I asked, unlocking the car. Mellissa went round the other side and got in the passenger seat.

“No Drake.”

“Is everything okay?” I looked over at her and she nodded, smiling.

“Everything’s fine.”

“If you say so.”

We left the school parking lot and I dropped Mellissa home.

“Hey, wanna do something Friday night?” I asked, just as she was getting out the car. “I feel like I never see you anymore.”

“Yeah, sure. How about the football game?”

“Because Jason will be there?”

Mellissa leaned in through the open window. “He is QB.”

Oh really? Knows his position and everything.

“I hate football,” I protested. “And I can’t stand Tamara, who will be there by the way, in case you forgot.”

“Then you’d better make sure you look hotter than her,” Mellissa said, smirking.

“Why do you want to see Jason, anyway? Are you bringing Drake…or-”

“I wouldn’t mind a night just me and you.”

“Me too.” I loved the sound of that. I adored Drake, but a night without seeing him, Ressler, or Caleb, I think was much deserved.

“Just me and you then.”

“Like old times,” Mellissa added.

Just like old times, I thought. Perfect.

***

Friday after school, I stopped by the garage. Caleb was there just as I knew he would be, changing the tire on a worn out Mazda.

"Hi," I said. The driver’s side door was open and I sat down, resting my feet on the door frame. Caleb was at the tire just in front, letting the jack down.

"Hi," he said, no smile, no nothing. Well this was awkward. I'd never seen him since our last 'dream encounter' but I had no desire to bring the memory into conversation now. He didn’t look like he wanted to mention it and neither did I. He pushed himself up off the floor and laid his arm to rest over the car door. "I'm locking this place up."

"You're what?"

"I'm closing up."

"What, you mean now, for tonight?"

"No. for a while."

"Why?"

"It's quiet and I can’t be here as often as I need to be. Neither can you."

"You can't make that decision. I need money," I cried.

"I can give you money," he offered, like the decision had already been made and he couldn’t see why we were still bothering to discuss it.

"It's not up to you if we close." It was hard to tell whether I was more irritated at the fact that he was acting like this was his business to run, or that he was telling me what to do. "I don’t want your money, anyway."

This made him laugh. The notion didn't quite fit on his conceited face. "This isn’t about your pride. I'm closing up, and that's the end of it."

"Don’t have time to work?" I was goading him, but he wasn't taking the bait. He was too clever for that. 

"You know I don’t."

"Maybe you should spend less time with Tamara," I said smugly, trying to conceal my winning grin.

"Maybe you should keep your nose out of things you have absolutely no idea about."

That shut me up.

I got up out of the car and slammed the door behind me, hopeful I might catch one of his fingers in it. He really needed to get himself checked out for Jekyll and Hyde syndrome.

"Bye then," I begrudgingly ground out between my teeth.

"Are you going straight home?" he asked me.

I stopped, turning to look at him. Since when did he care where I was going?

"I'm going to the football game tonight." Take that.

"See you there then," he said, wiping his hands on a cloth and then throwing it over his bare shoulder.

"How will you see me there?"

"My girlfriend’s head cheerleader, remember?"

I could only stare at him, my expression nothing but a blank gaze. Girlfriend? When the hell did she get that title? I wanted to speak but nothing was happening. I wanted to blast him, right here outside of the garage, but my brain was in overdrive. Words had long deserted me so I just carried on staring at him, wide eyed no doubt.

"Come on then, I wouldn’t want to keep her waiting," he bragged, putting a hand on my shoulder, moving me along.

"Tamara is Caleb's girlfriend," I said to Mellissa as we shimmied in through the crowd and into a space amongst the jam-packed bleachers. The game hadn’t started yet. I think there was about ten minutes till the opening kick-off.

"Excuse me? Did you just say something truly disgusting to me?" Mellissa looked at me, her eyes bugging out of her head. "Could you repeat yourself please?"

"You heard me. Don’t make me say it again." I squeezed in next to an overweight, balding guy who smiled widely at me with mustard from his dripping hot dog all over his lips. I smiled back, well grimaced actually. Same thing. I scooted in closer next to Mellissa. I didn’t feel like getting food all over me. Something told me he would be eating throughout this game.

My eyes wandered down to his coat pocket, the zippers bulging, and a packet of milk duds hanging out.

“I can’t believe that,” Mellissa confessed with a disbelieving shake of her head. “What possessed him?” She was looking at me like that was a genuine question and I’d be damned if I knew the answer.

“I don’t even care,” I said, looking up at the glowing score board. Apparently we were playing Orcas Island.

Mellissa smacked her gloved hands on her knees. “You’re funny, Jensen. You should be on the stage.”

“I’m serious,” I contested.

“Oh please. This is me you’re talking to here. I bet it’s eating you up.”

“You could say I’ve made my peace with it. He’s been acting like a douche for a while now. He doesn’t deserve me to care.”

“Hell yeah,” Mellissa cried. “You go girl.” She was grinning and I knew she was trying to be funny.

“Shut up!” I nudged her in her side. “I’m serious here.”

“We’ll see how long that lasts.”

“Yeah, you will see. I’m done. Finished.”

“Okie dokie,” Mellissa said in a sing song voice. I could see her smiling even from out the corner of my eye.

About three hours later the game ended and we won the game by two points. Unbelievably, I was up cheering with Mellissa. The atmosphere of the crowd was infectious. We fell in line with everyone else, heading down towards the exit, and just as we reached the last row, Mellissa pulled me in towards the emptying seats and excitedly pointed out towards the school playing field.

She was pointing directly at Jason who was amongst the group of celebrating players. He’d taken off his shoulder pads and he was swinging his jersey about his head, laughing and slapping high-five with anyone that passed him. Sweat was dripping down from his hair and he pushed it back, swiping his hand down his wet face.

“Would you look at that,” she said appreciatively. I didn’t even get a chance to give Jason a second look when I spotted Nathan wave over at us and set off into a sprint in our direction. I let a loud groan escape my lips.

“Oh my god!” Mellissa gasped, right in my ear.

“What?” I asked, jumping at her outburst. But turns out I didn’t need her to tell me what made her shout out loud after all. My gaze followed hers and I swallowed my heart, whole, when I saw Caleb walk up to Tamara in her skimpy cheerleaders outfit on the sidelines and let her wrap her arms and legs around him, diving in for a kiss. It was a good job I hadn’t eaten or I would have brought the whole lot up. I don’t know how I managed to stay standing, but the next thing, Nathan was blocking my vision, smiling animatedly in my face.

“Did you enjoy the game?” he asked me. I looked at him, stunned for a few seconds until I realized he was talking to me.

“Yeah,” I answered. “You were watching it, too?” I shook my head in confusion. He’d left school but he still wanted to hang around here. What kind of loser…

  “Wouldn’t miss it. You coming to celebrate?”

I could hear Mellissa’s muffled laughter and I smiled sweetly at Nathan. I knew how much he probably wished he was on that field right now. His excitement was pouring out of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if under his clothes he really had on the team’s uniform.

“You bet,” Mellissa cut in.

What?

“Cool.” Nathan looked surprised that Mellissa had even acknowledged him never mind agreed to go anywhere with him, but my head was somewhere else. Caleb, kissing Tamara. I couldn’t picture anything else. The memory was forever scorched in my mind.

“We’re all meeting at Jets. You gonna meet us there or do you need a ride?” Nathan looked from me to Mellissa anxiously, probably scared that we might change our mind.

“We’ll see you there,” Mellissa said.

“Great. See you there.” And he jogged off back down the steps to the field.

Walking to the car, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had just seen. It seemed my heart couldn’t quite believe it either, it thrummed so hard in my chest. I felt like I was sleep walking. My legs were moving, but my brain wasn’t switched on.

“Hey.” Mellissa put her hand on my arm. “You don’t look good. Are you okay? I know it must have sucked to have seen that. Even though you are
over
him.”

Thunder cracked, lighting up the sky overhead and the crowd pulled up hoods over their heads and hurried to parked or waiting cars. Rain started to soak through my coat and I pulled up my own hood. My mood was now out there for everyone to see. I was getting better though, stronger. And I knew now how to keep it under control. Well kind of.

I spotted Caleb’s truck in the parking lot with its tail lights on and I put my hand on Mellissa’s wrist, pulling her along with me.

“Let’s hurry. I’m getting soaked,” I said in avoidance to her question. Really, I just needed to get as far away from here as I could.

Jets was more of a daze than a celebration. I couldn’t get my attention to stay in the room with me for longer than two seconds. When Tamara never showed up, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach and I knew she was with
him
somewhere. It was enough that I had to call it a night.

Mellissa was standing with Jason, laughing and repeatedly finding reasons to touch his arm. He stood directly in front of her and he slipped his hand around her waist, knocking her back slightly towards the bar. He had been changed and showered and was dressed in a snug grey t-shirt and light blue Levis. Nathan was standing too close to me and I had to take a step sideways to find space to breathe. He must have sensed something was up because he didn’t try and get too much conversation out of me, which I appreciated. Looked like we could be friends after all.