Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (6 page)

“Like
Kaitlyn
would go up there with a guy?” I asked. “Ludicrous.”

“Well, that’s kind of what I thought
,
but then I thought what the hell. So I climbed up there.”

“That’s like 20 or 30 steps? On crutches?” I shook my head.

“Twenty six. I counted. We get up there and dumb ass
Matt
looks at me and said ‘
W
anna do it?’
”

“Oh, so it was romantic,” I laughed.

“Funny” she smiled. “He reached over, touched my boob, pulled down my panties, and stuck it in. Convenient that I wore a mini skirt. Otherwise he would have gotten confused on what to do. Not sure he is smart enough for a button. He sure wasn’t smart enough to unhook a bra.”

“That’s a tender love story you can tell your kids one day. Did it hurt?”

“Funny you should ask,” she smiled, “It happened so fast I don’t think it did. I bent over he stuck it in and came. Like that.”

“Awe, just like a Harlequin.”

“Stop,” she laughed. “At least it’s over with. No more wondering, no more being nervous about it.”

“Can I assume he didn’t satisfy your needs?”

“He came so fast
,
I doubt he satisfied his own needs.”

“I think I really want romance and special and nervous. I want it to be perfect.”

“First times are never perfect. They say they are awkward and painful.”

“You just described
Matt
,” I laughed
,
“
a
wkward and painful. It sounds like it just took you a couple minutes. Why did it take so long to get back?”

“I had to pee so bad I was going to die. We had to walk all the way over to the wooded area so no cars would drive by and I squatted down to pee. I couldn’t balance cause of the cast so
Matt
had to hold me up.”

“He’s such a Prince Charming. Was that not totally embarrassing.”

“Duh, but pee running down my leg would have been more. Right?”

I was thinking not going to the ballpark at all would have been the better decision, but I didn’t want to argue.

“Well Erica, if you are happy, I am happy for you,” I lied, glancing at the computer.

Michael: I’m back

Alex: Same. I noticed your status.

Michael: I wanted you to

Alex: And what exactly was amazing? I saw Hailey liked it

Michael: I saw that also
.

I waited for an explanation on why he wanted me to see his and Hailey’s Facebook posts.

Michael: I want to ask you a favor
.

Alex: ?

Michael: I wanted to know if you had a friend that would be interested in a double date. I don’t want to exclude Derek and we still don’t know people in town yet. And I was hoping you had a friend that might like to hang out for the evening. Nothing serious.

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to get off the computer as fast as I could.

Alex: It would be better if you asked Hailey. She has plenty of friends.

Michael: ?? Why her?

Alex: Isn’t that who
you
are going out with?

Michael: Uh, nope. You??? Sorry, I posted on your wall. I assumed you saw.

I clicked over to my profile page and saw
Please go out with me Saturday night! This is me begging!

“Awe, look how sweet,” I said, showing Erica.

“Precious,” she mocked.

Alex: I’d love to! I thought with the status, you were talking about Hailey.

Michael: As if! (That’s me sounding like Hailey) Spot on, eh?

Alex: that was definitely her. You are so gifted.

Michael: I know, right?
I am a pro at impersonations. Just wait.
But I
want to take you out. Can you show us around the area? Maybe a movie? Whatever you want to do.

Alex: Sounds great. And yes, I will find a friend.

Michael: I gotta get to bed. Tomorrow at 6?

Alex: I’m at Erica’s for the weekend. Here’s my cell number. You can call or text me and I’ll give you directions. 417
555
6652

Michael: Thanks for saying yes
. I’ll text you tomorrow

Alex: Gnite

Michael: Good nigh
t

“You want to go out with Derek tomorrow night?” I asked

“Hells yes!” Erica said, clearing our plates away. “How’d you ever land Michael?”

I didn’t know quite how to take that question.

“Just did,” I shrugged. I felt my phone vibrate. It was a picture of Michael holding up a clock. Message said:
 
counting the hours
.

I smiled, and texted back:
what a dork! Hahaha
Gnite
again
.

I spent the next two hours looking at his pictures and reading his
Facebook
profile until I fell asleep.

Chapter 6

“What do I wear?” I asked going through everything in Erica’s closet. “I didn’t bring date clothes. I’ve never been on a date. I am so scared! My first date is with Michael. Erica, he is the hottest guy I have ever seen in my life and I have a date with him.”

I heard her sigh, “I know. That is all you have said for 6 hours now. Wear these shorts and this top. It looks great on you.”

“What will we talk about? Is he going to expect me to put out? Is he that way, you think?”

“He spent all night at a party talking to your dad. I’m sure if he was a player he would have branched out and had talked to girls. And he hasn’t even spoken to me!”

I wasn’t really sure what she meant by that.

The closer to six it got, the more nervous I was. Michael hadn’t texted me all day after I had given him directions to Erica’s house. I started to wonder if I was going to get stood up. He didn’t seem the type to do that, but you never know what teenage boys are thinking. I started pacing back and forth half watching the show Erica was absorbed in.
             
“Are you not scared?” I asked.
             
“I’m an experienced woman. No need to be scared of a date anymore.”

“Oh Lord,” I thought. She is now going to be
more
unbearable.
             
I heard a car pull into the driveway.
             
“Oh
my
gosh
,
t
hey are here.”
             
“Cool beans. Derek is a cutie. I wonder if I will find out what they say about black guys.”

“Don’t,” I warned. “Don’t you dare ask or offer or do anything to ruin this night for me.”
             
She hopped over to get her crutches. Acting like she was ignoring me.

I grabbed her arm, “I mean it, Erica. Do not ruin this evening for me. I have never wanted
anything in
my life this badly. I want this to be a smooth
fun night with no horny drama.”

“Gosh Alex, chill.”

“I mean it.” I had never been so stern with her. I always let her be her and dealt with it, but I was a nervous wreck and I didn’t want to baby-sit her all night.
             
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
             
“Hey!” I said awkwardly loud.
             
“Hi,” Michael walked inside, looking me over.
             
I nervously shifted back and forth.
             
“You look really cute.”
             
“Side bar,” Erica whispered in my ear.
             
“Give us a minute,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You can sit and watch TV if you want. Oh, Derek
, this is Erica.”

“Charmed,” she smiled.
             
I rolled my eyes again wondering what that was about.
             
“Crutches?” He asked.
             
“Yep
, b
roke the foot. But it doesn’t stop me from doing anything. And I do mean anything.”
             
Derek looked at me. All I could think to do was shrug.
             
I followed Erica into the kitchen where she immediately grabbed my arm.
             
“Oh my freaky freaky
g
od he is a tall glass of water.”
             
Where was she getting these phrases all of a sudden?
             
“I know. He’s not too shabby looking either.”
             
“Shabby? He’s adorable!” She squealed.
             
“You
have seen him a lot
. Why are you now just realizing this?”
             
“Because I am on a date with him?” She said, acting like I was an idiot for questioning her.
             
“Michael said I was cute. I want to be sexy gorgeous or hot. I don’
t want to be cute.”

“Maybe he didn’t want you to think he was a perv by telling you that you are hot enough to screw.”

“Very funny,” I fake laughed.
             
“Are we ready?” I asked, looking at the boys in the living room.
             
“Let’s do this,” Erica chanted as if we were going out on the ball field.

. “What’s the plan?” I asked, walking toward the door.

“I rented a hotel room,” Michael nudged me
.
“I’m kidding!” He said quickly. “Am I that repulsive,” he smiled, seeing the look on my face.
             
“Not at all,” I smiled, “you caught me off guard.”
             
“She’s pure,” Erica blurted out. “Never even kissed a guy. Just warning you.”
             
I glared at Erica which she ignored. She was already full-blown entertainment for Derek. I couldn’t read if he was into her or being polite. But he was laughing and didn’t seem to act like he wanted to slit his wrists.
 

We got into the car and I looked around. “This is really nice. What kind of car is it? It doesn’t make a sound. Is it
even
running?”

He smiled, “Yeah. It’s a hybrid Volt. Saves on gas big tim
e.”

“Why did your family
decide to
move
to this tiny town
?”

“My Dad is a surgeon. He got put in charge of the cardiac unit at the new hospital.”

“From?”

“
Dallas
.”

“Ugh! I hate
Dallas
.” I said, picking up his IPod. “May I?”

“Absolutely. Why do you hate
Dallas
?”

“My dad had a convention there so we decided to do a family trip. It took us 3 hours to go ten miles to the zoo because we
kept getting lost
. Every time we pulled out of the hotel parking lot we were lost.
Even the
GPS
hates
Dallas
, I’m thinking.
It snowed in March. Our windshield wiper flew off during the snowstorm. There were way too many blacks.” I stopped and looked at him, wondering if he would get my humor.

He didn’t smile. “Agree,” he said, looked at me, and grinned. My heart started racing.

“I hated everything about it.” I continued.

“I wasn’t fond of it myself,” He said, pulling onto the highway. “Where to?”

“You and I have the same taste in music,” I smiled, looking through his IPod.

“That’s a bonus. I have no idea where I am going.” He looked in the mirror at the two in the back. “Hey. Food?”

“Anything is cool,” Erica answered.

“How about we go through drive thru somewhere and go down to
L
ake St. Clare?” I suggested.

“Sounds great to me,” he said.

We pulled into Deaton's Diner. I knew Erica would have rather have gone to
Dairy Lane
so she could show off to everyone that she was with Derek.
             
We got our food and headed down to the lake. I gave him directions to an area that not many people went to.
             
“This is perfect,” Michael said, climbing out of the car. He walked over and opened my door for me. I had never had that happen before, but I also had never been on a date.

“Yeah, it’s really nice down here,” I said, helping him gather the food bags.