Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (11 page)

“He won’t be,” I smiled. “He
is driving up to see Rachel at her
modeling camp. I am guessing that little venture set him back a year’s salary.”

Kendra grabbed her drawer and started signing in, “At least if she gets a modeling job she won’t ever have to work here again. That was the worst week of my life.”

“It was a cake walk for you compared to what I went through. Every night she would whine, “Daddy, I can’t work at the store. I feel like a mess every time I clock in. Is there anyway you can just give me a
paycheck
without actually being there?
Little Bitch can work for me. She’s pathetic and doesn’t have a boyfriend like I do.
”

“You are kidding me,” she gasped.

“Swear,” I laughed. “I don’t complain because I would be willing to give her my check also for her to stay away. Is it just us tonight?” I asked, looking at the schedule.

“Yeah,” she said, scanning her customer’s groceries. “Thank goodness. Jean called in sick, of course.”

“I would literally die if I had to work here,” Hailey said, walking through the door. “Hey Alex!” she sang, pretending she didn’t see me when she said it.

“I bet you are glad you don’t work here Hailey. I am guessing Corn Dog Hut pays more than ten dollars an hour.”

I watched her stomp off.

“You get ten an hour,” Kendra asked angrily.

“God no, but she doesn’t know that. Remember, I have a best friend that is the ultimate in evil to Hailey, so I guess some rubbed off on me. Should I feel guilty?”

“Hell no! She’s awful. How many times has she called and complained about you to your Dad.”

“28
,
”
I smiled.

I watched
B
rad pull into the parking lot and walk into the store, “What time you get off?” He asked
,
leaning against the conveyer belt.

“I close. So depends on how long it takes us to get finished. We are short handed.”

“I’ll at least give you a ride home.”

“I drove. But thanks, Brad.”

“I haven’t seen you and Michael together. Did you break up?”

“No,” I said
,
not wanting to talk to him about Michael. “He is in
Kentucky
.”

“I’d never leave my hot girlfriend in town alone. Never know what could happen to her
,
”
he said as he walked out the store.

“That was kind of on the creepy side,” Kendra said. “He is really hot, Alex. Not Michael hot, but pretty hot. He’s got a killer body
,
too. Damn his arms are bigger than my thighs.”

“Are we still going to
Abbie
’s party tonight,” Erica asked while we were sitting in her backyard.

“I guess,” I said, not wanting to
,
but remembered my mom said not to neglect my friends. I really wanted to just lie around the house and eat “yuck” food, make myself sick and feel sorry for myself.

“Have you heard from Michael
?
”
S
he asked, knowing that I was thinking about him.

“He called me Wednesday. They aren’t allowed to have phones, but he borrowed one from a guy at the dorm. We only talked for a few minutes. I guess that camp is really structured. I’m relieved that he can’t go out and party and meet people. Sounds selfish, doesn’t it?”

“Nope. I totally understand. At least they will be back tomorrow.”

“
Abbie
and
Kaitlyn
went to the mall to get new outfits for tonight. Did they ask you to go?”

“Yeah,” she sighed, leaning back to get some sun, “I didn’t want to go. They try on everything in every store and I just am not in the mood to have a fashion show today.”

I agreed on that. They were ridiculous when it came to the mall. Every store, everything. One outfit was a full day shopping. They loved something in the first store but thought they would look some more. Ninety-nine
percent
of the time, they went back for the first item. I couldn’t do it anymore. I hated shopping.
I h
ated every minute of it. I always just let my mom buy what I needed and was always satisfied.

“What time you want to go to the party?” I asked. “She just texted that we
should
come over and help her set up.”

“What is there to set up?”

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “She is having
a
summer luau thing. Since they redid their pool and made it super fancy. I see a new post everyday, me by the new pool, me cleaning the new pool, me jumping into the new pool.” I looked at her next text, “She’s in a panic. Let’s go on over.”

We walked to
Abbie
’s house and I could hear her screaming from the backyard. “Over there! Over there!”

I looked at Erica and cringed. “That doesn’t sound good.”
No one answered after the fourth ring, so we went on in.

Abbie
and
Kaitlyn
were dripping sweat from decorating. I could tell
Abbie
wanted to cry.

“What is wrong?” I asked, watching her set the tiki torches into the sand buckets.

“I look like shit!”
S
he practically bit my head off
.
“
A
nd people are coming in thirty minutes.”

“Go get ready. We can finish this,” I offered.

“Are you sure,” she said on the verge of crying.
             
“Go,” I pushed her toward the door. “We got it.”

I started arranging the cups and napkins. “I don’t know why she is so worried about what things look like. It will all be trashed thirty minutes after they arrive.”

“She’s a worrier. That’s what she does,” Erica said, busily helping me finish the decorations. “When are ‘we’ supposed to get ready?”
S
he asked, looking at the clock.

“I’m ready,” I said, sitting in the lounge chair.

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I. This is me ready for the party.”

“You look like crap,” she said, looking me over.

“Thanks!” I laughed, knowing she was probably right.

“Well, I am changing,” she said
,
walking to the patio door. “At least get your swimsuit on.”

I walked into the pool house and changed into my suit and put a t-shirt on over it. I had no desire to prance around in my bikini like I knew most of the girls would. I just wanted to swim and have a good time. I walked back to the pool area seeing it was still guest free. I sat down on one of the chaise lounges, leaned back, and felt my eyes getting tired. I hadn’t slept too
well
the last few nights. I was extremely nervous. I figured it was the anticipation of Michael coming home. I missed him more than I ever thought I would. I just knew that every minute I had been with him was so amazing that it was enough for me to feel extremely in like with him.

On Wednesday, I was pleasantly surprised when he called me, “Hey,” I heard his wonderful voice when I answered the phone.

“Hey! How’s camp?”

“Grueling. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but this is kicking my ass.”

“Poor thing. Life isn’t any easier here, my friend.”

“What’s going on there?”

“I am sitting in bed painting my toenails. And I have to say that I can’t decide what color. So while you think you are having a rough time there, think about the torture I am having here.”

“Been there, I feel your pain,” he laughed. “How has your week been?”

“It’s been uneventful. I basically have been watching a lot of TV and feeling sorry for myself
if I’m not at work
.
It has not been a good week.
”

“Why is that?” He asked.

“Well, I sort of have a crush on this guy that really got my attention and he just up and left town. Now I am lonely and all I do is think about him.”

“Anyone I know?” He asked.

“I’m thinking you know him very intimately.”

“You are really funny,” he laughed. “I’ve got to get off the phone. I am sure this guy isn’t too happy having to wait on his phone. I hit rock bottom and started crying until someone felt sorry enough for me to use their phone to call you.”

“How long did you have to cry?” I laughed.

“Only three days. Hey, he needs to go. I can’t wait to see you. Oh Pink! Paint you nails pink, that’s my favorite color,” he laughed.

“Pink it is,” I said.

“Hey Alex,” he sighed.

“Yes Michael.”

“
I’m still falling for you
.”

I closed my eyes and thought of Michael, feeling the warm sun on
my
legs, remembering how it felt to have his hand on my thigh. My first kiss, his hand on my stomach. I imagined what it would feel like to have his hand on my breast, his finger inside my panties. He would gently move my legs wider apart so his fingers could…..

“Hey
, what
are you thinking about?”

I jumped, realizing I had almost fallen asleep.

I looked up and saw Brad standing over me.

“I must have dozed off,” I jumped up and grabbed a towel and covered up.

He just smiled. “You didn’t tell me what you were thinking about.”

“Nothing. I’ve got to go in.”

“I’ll wait,” I heard him say as I closed the door.

I walked into
Abbie
’s bedroom.

“What’s wrong?”
Kaitlyn
asked “You are white as a sheet.”

“I’m fine,” I said, walking into her bathroom. I looked in the mirror and saw my face was pale. I was shaking. I sat down on the side of the
tub
and took a few deep breaths. I didn’t want to go back out there until the party was in full force. That way I had a good chance of staying away from Brad.

I heard a knock on the bathroom door and it startled me. Erica peeked in the door. “You okay?”
             
“Yeah. I was just sitting by the pool. I guess I fell asleep but when I woke up Brad was standing there. Scared the shit out of me.”

“Brad is probably harmless,” she laughed.

“Why do people keep saying that, when he’s a complete psychopath?”

“Psychopath? Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Probably,” I agreed. “He just caught me off guard. I’m fine.”

She sat down beside me,” Are you sure you are okay?”

I look a deep breath, “Yeah. I’m good. Did you get
Abbie
calmed down?”

“Oh yeah. She is in party girl mode now. What was the deal with her screaming? You can safely refer to her as a psychopath.”

I laughed, “Ok, lets go on out. I think I‘m going to swim for a bit.”

We walked out to the party and to my surprise there
were
close to
40
people. I looked around to see who was there. I saw Brad in a corner talking to a girl that I didn’t know. I felt a wave of relief that he found someone to talk to and I wouldn’t have to deal with him. I felt a bit embarrassed that I had made an issue earlier
,
but with everything that had gone on with him the past few weeks just made me on edge
. What did he mean at the Lane
? Your pretty face or Alex? Did Erica hear him right? I never asked anyone else. I just took her word for it. I bet she heard him wrong. That was just the stupidest thing for a guy to say to another guy. Your pretty face? Although Michael had a pretty face, I had to admit.

I walked over and sat down next to Erica and
Abbie
. They were talking about the new guy from
New York
. “We saw him at the mall,”
Abbie
said. “I asked him to come over tonig
ht. He said he would. Chills!!!
”
S
he sang.
“
OMG
, he looks exactly like Mathew
M
cconaughey.
”

I went over to the table and fixed me a bite to eat and grabbed a can of diet coke.

“You don’t need to diet,” I heard Brad’s voice behind me.

“I’m diabetic,” I lied, not wanting to go into the topic that I actually liked the taste better than regular coke. I don’t even know why I blurted it out. I just did.

“
Really
? I had no idea,” he said, sounding sympathetic. “Do you just watch your diet or do you have to take medicine
?
”