Page 21 of Close to Falling

“Nah,” I reply as I lean back on my hands. Fire crackles and smoke follows beauty, causing River to have to get up.

“Shit,” he says, tossing the burnt-out joint into the pit. He’s laid-back high and slides his hands into his dark jeans pockets. His arms flex, and my eyes watch. Tan skin and unruly hair, this boy is crazy cute. He looks down at me, and I look away when Mikey speaks.

“Did you pass that test we took last week?” Mikey asks me, and I’m wondering why he wants to talk school.

“Yeah,” I say. “Barely.”

“Me, too,” he says. I look across the pit at John. Poor guy doesn’t even exist to my girl, who only seems to have eyes for Landon tonight. The one he brought with him keeps giving Cali dirty looks, but no limits is riding high, and she’d probably beat the girl’s ass on pills or not.

“Let’s ride out,” River says a little while later. Landon agrees. “Come on, B. Frankie will be wondering where you are.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll see you at school, Mikey.”

“Yeah,” he replies. Disappointment shows on his face, and I’m sure he wanted this date to go better, but no chemistry can kill any relationship, and ours has zero.

I crawl into the backseat of River’s Crown Vic. He grabs his pack from the dash and pulls a smoke out with his teeth. Holding it between his lips, he tosses the soft pack back and lets his window down.

“Did you have a good night with Mikey?” He’s looking at me in the rearview mirror when he asks. I shrug and see my girl laughing and walking too close to my brother.

“What’s up with that?” I ask River, lifting my chin toward secret laughs and reticent looks. I see River’s eyes go to the front windshield.

“Landon has a thing for your girl,” he says.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.” He nods, looking back at me.

“I think the feeling is mutual,” I respond, not sure how I feel about that, but then I see Clarissa walking behind them.

“Did you have a good night with Clarissa?” I question. He looks toward her.

“Not really.”

I don’t say anything else because Landon and Cali get in. My pockets full of my habit and my urge for another rush are making me feel anxious. I see a drink up front and ask whose it is. River picks it up and holds it up for me behind his head.

“It’s mine. Here,” he says. I take it because my mouth is dry from the weed, and I won’t be able to swallow the pill.

“Another one?” Cali whispers. I shrug like,what’s it to you?

“Wanna stay with me tonight?” I ask after I take a sip and chase down tranquility.

“Yeah, let me just run in and tell my parents.”

***

When we arrive at Cali’s, I walk in with her. Mrs. Dalton loves her martinis and often drinks too many a night. She’s flushed skin and a little light on her feet when we step into the kitchen. Supper is being cooked, and Mr. Dalton steals a taste when his wife isn’t looking.

“Can I stay at B’s tonight?” Cali asks.

“Does Frankie care?” Mr. Dalton asks me.

“It’s cool with him,” I say, and it always is. Mr. Dalton has an issue with the boys being there, but he always ends up letting his only child do as she pleases. Cali’s spoiled and has plenty of freedom, but I think freedom is her problem. He looks uneasy, but tells Cali to be home for dinner tomorrow.

We run up to Cali’s room, and I sit down on her bed as she grabs a bag. Christmas lights her dad let her have line her mirror, and lime green stick-on stars are all over her ceiling. Pictures of her and me and her and everyone else hang from clothespins from a string that goes from one end of the wall to the other.

“Wanna do our nails tonight?” she asks. I look down at my toes.

“Sure.”

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