Page 10 of Close to Falling

“Um, yeah, that sounds good,” I say to no one, because he is gone and I look like an idiot standing in the hallway talking to myself. I shake my head and make my feet move.

***

Leaning cool against his car, River blows smoke from his mouth, and I slide my shades on as I make my way toward him.

“Good day?” he asks me.

“Yeah, you?” I answer. He shrugs and opens his car door. I get in, feeling a chill and ready for anything. “So, I heard there was a party going on at Kelley’s tonight.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You and Landon wanna go?”

“That Mikey kid going?” he asks me, and I look over at him. One hand on the wheel, a white filter hanging loosely from his open mouth, he looks James Dean cool.

“Yeah, he is. How would you even know that, though?” I ask.

“Saw you and him in the hallway,” he tells me. “That why you wanna go?” Curiosity looks over at me, and I shrug.

“Maybe,” I reply, biting my bottom lip.

He eyes me and nods before he looks back at the road. A red flame glows in my peripheral vision, and River rolls his window down before he flicks the cigarette out. I put my feet on the dash and smile when the blanket I’m getting used to covers me.

***

I’m walking high beside my boys as we make our way up to the big house, out past Crystal Bay. Irritated that green eyes have been on me since we got home from school, I finally ask him what’s up.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“You’ve been looking at me all afternoon. What’s your deal?”

“No deal, B,” River says.

“Don’t start, you two,” Landon cuts in. “I don’t want to have to go home early because you guys are arguing.”

“We’re not arguing,” we both say at the same time, and I see Landon roll his eyes.

“What’s up, Landon?” Kelley’s brother, Scott, says as we make our way onto the porch.

“What’s up?” Landon replies. River nods, and I give a smile.

“We’ll meet you inside,” River says to Landon, and he shocks the hell out of me when he grabs my hand. He drags me inside, and we round the corner to the side staircase where no one is.

“What the hell?” I say, taking my hand back. River takes a deep breath and leans against the wall.

“What have you been taking?”

“What?” I ask.

“You heard me, Maddie. What the fuck have you been taking?”

“You’re annoying,” I say and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm and spins me around until my back is up against the wall instead of his. He puts his arm above my head and looks back and forth between my chestnut eyes.

“You’re on something now.”

“So?” I reply coolly.

“So?” he says, shaking his head at me in disbelief.

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