Page 14 of Close to Falling

“Hey,” she says, looking up from her desk.

“Hey,” I reply. “I finished the book. It was good. I had a feeling they were going to end up together.”

“Yeah, that’s a good one. I’m glad you liked it.” I put it back on her bookshelf and take a seat. “So, how was your visit today?” she asks me.

“It went well,” I reply. “I figured some things out.”

“Oh?”

“I think I am going to go back to school after all. I want to do something with my drawing, and I’m not going back to Frankie’s. I need a fresh start,” I say, lifting my leg up into the chair and resting my chin on my knee.

“You wanna start drawing again?” she asks, smiling.

“Yeah, it’s been a while, but I’ve been thinking about picking it back up.”

“I would love to see your work. I think a fresh start is exactly what you need, but you also need to keep good friends and family in your life. Don’t shut anyone out.”

I laugh. “It’s funny you say that. Frankie actually mentioned moving closer to the city, too.”

“So, the city is where you want to move?” she asks.

I shrug. “Maybe. We will see, I guess.”

“Yes, we still have work to do. Outside today?” she asks.

“If you don't mind.”

“Of course not.” She smiles and stands up from her chair.

The sidewalk is still damp from all the rain we had last night, and we dodge puddles as we make it to the small dock out by the water.

“We should have brought a towel,” I say.

“Nah, a little water never hurt anyone.” She smiles and I agree, but I can change. She has to drive home still. The dock moves under my feet, throwing me off a tad, and when we make it to the small bench, I feel that it’s actually pretty dry when I run my hand over it.

“We were at Kelly’s party, I believe,” Ellie says.

“Oh, yes.”

***

After the incident in the hallway, River takes off outside, a little pissed off that he thinks he can tell me what to do. I hope Mikey does show up. I pass River on the porch, some girl already by his side, and with an eye roll, I walk out to the keg. I spot Cali and Landon, so I make my way over to them.

“Maddie B!” Cali says, a little too excited, and I can tell she is already drunk.

“Cali,” I mock her and smile as she wraps her arms around my neck.

“Let's dance,” she says.

“Let me get a drink first.” I hold my hands up in a calm down gesture.

“O—kay.” She drags out the O. I look over at Landon who lifts his brow and gives me a look that saysgood luck with that. I laugh as I walk over to the keg and grab a Solo cup. All the parties in town and out of town are the same. Keg, Solo cups, and something to get you high. But that is the thing about small-town kids. There is nothing else to do, so everyone starts the bad stuff early. The parents aren't stupid; they know what’s going on. I think they secretly hope we'll get it out of our systems and be done with it all by the time we are adults. But what do I know?

“Hey, grab me one, B,” Landon says as I finish filling mine. I fill his, too, and walk back over to them. Handing Landon his cup, I hear my name and turn around to see Mikey.

“You made it,” he says with a too cute smile.

“Yeah,” I say, smiling back. His teeth are pearly white perfection, his hair a dark brown. He wears high-top Chucks, dark jeans, and a white shirt with a black hooded jacket. It’s not cold out, so his sleeves are pulled up to his elbows. Like I said, he is really cute, but he doesn’t compare to my boy sitting on the porch with a girl whispering into his ear. River is looking down, but I can tell he is grinning, and I wanna slap that smile off his face.

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