Page 5 of Catch My Fall (Catch)

Me: Really?!?!?!? I’m so excited!! The doctors are finally giving clearance to talk to her about college and the future?

Mary: Things have really and truly finally turned around, honey. She’s in a very good place, but she has a lot to tell you. You’re going to be very surprised.

Me: I’m so glad that the treatment is working…I was scared for so long.

Mary: A lot has changed. You’re going to be blown away when they finally allow visitors aside from her father and me. I just hope that you’ll understand all of the things that she has to tell you.

Me: I’m so happy to hear that…I missed my BFF so, so much.Of course I’m going to understand—I can’t wait to talk to her. I love you!

Mary: I love you too! I can’t wait to tell her that your first day went well.

Me: Thank you Mary. Tell her that I love her and I can’t wait to see her again.

After I finished texting with Mary I tried to gather my thoughts.Not long after the incident Macy had started inpatient treatment at a psychiatric hospital that hadn’t been far from where I lived and I had still able to see her every few days. She didn’t make the progress that she needed to and her mom had found a treatment facility called Choices right outside of Amarillo. Macy’s whole family picked up and moved two and a half months ago to be near Macy while she’s in treatment, and I have missed them like crazy. The worst part of her being in Choices is that I haven’t been able to see or speak to her, and that’s going to go on for several more months. Still, if the treatment is actually working like her mom says it is, it’s worth it. I just want my best friend back.

I wastired and hungry, but was in no mood to go to the cafeteria to eat that food. My meal plan is for three meals a day, but I can already tell that if I eat there all of the time I’m going to gain the freshman fifteenanddevelop digestive problems. Throwing myself down on my bed, I stared at the ceiling and tried to formulate a plan. As I was thinking about what I wanted to eat the door swung open and Darby came in.

“Hey,” she said. I could see that she was worried about me and I dreaded what was coming next. “Mia, what happened to you in the cafeteria this morning? You ran like the place was on fire.”

Letting out a little laugh, I answered, “I got my period. I was freaked out because I wasn’t expecting it for another two days so I didn’t have any pads with me.”

I could tell right away that she bought it because the worried look left her face. “Oh crap! I’ve had that happen to me before. I was in seventh grade the first time I got my period. It was the first time I’d ever worn a pad or anything and I had no idea what to expect. Anyway, I hada little crush on a guy in my science class, Bryan Miller. Imagine my horror when he pulled me aside and told me that my jeans were covered in blood. When I saw that I’d leaked, I wanted to die. I didn’t go to school for two days after that and I never talked to or looked at Bryan for the rest of the year. I wasmortified.”

I laughed in spite of myself, and the two of us had a good chuckle. Every girl has a leaking story, but I have to admit that my own is nowhere near as bad as Darby’s.

“Anyway,” she said with a smile, “Kudos on totally freaking Tristan out. He’s never had a girl pay him no attention before and I could tell that it really fucked with him.”

“Ugh, I wasn’t trying to get his attention at all. I certainly don’t want it. I seriously can’t stand guys like that. They think that they’re God’s gift to girls but they are so not. Mr. Sexy Eyes has probably never had a rough day in his life! I’m going to stay far, far away from him.”

The smile fell from her face as she shook her head emphatically. “Tristan’s a fuck-and-run douche but he’s not a bad guy, no matter how much I tease him. He’s had plenty of rough days, Mia. Trust me when I tell you that his life isn’t a cakewalk. I love him like a brother and I would trust him with my life.”

Fiddling uneasily with the hem of my shirt I said, “I just really hate guys that drift from girl to girl. I’m sorry if you think I’m trashing Tristan in particular.”I let out a little laugh and decided to change the subject. “Anyway, I’m sitting here starving my ass off and if I have to eat cafeteria food again I’m going to vomit. Want to go to Olive Garden with me for dinner? My treat!”

“Do I want to go to Olive Garden? Damn girl, does the Pope wear white? Let me put on my eating clothes and then you can lead my ass to the breadsticks!”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You have special clothes for eating?”

“Duh, Olive Garden has unlimited salad and breadsticks. I’m about to be so stuffed that there’s no way I can wear anything tight or with buttons during the meal. OG is my fave so be prepared to roll my ass out of the restaurant.”

I couldn’t help but look at her and laugh. Darby’s about five foot five and she probably weighs in at about one hundred and twenty pounds. I’m pretty sure that there is no way she can really eat that much.

Since it was apparent that dressing for comfort was what was happening, I headed to the closet on my side of the room and started digging around for my aqua coloredChucks. I found pink, gray, white, black, purple, yellow, brown, lavender, orange and navy before I finally spied the aquas at the very bottom. I startled when I heard Darby behind me laughing.

“Holy shit girl, I’ve never seen so manyChucks in my life! How did I not notice this the night that we were unpacking? You’re a freakin’ Chuck-a-holic!”

My hand automatically went to my neck where my half of the best friend heart Macy and I each wearhung. In junior high we used to share our Chucks and would go to school each day wearing two different colors. It got to be a joke amongst our friends that we were the “Chuck” twins, and hearing Darby comment on my addiction tore at my insides. Macy should be here with me going through a closet full of shoes, but instead she’s in a facility where she isn’t even allowed visitors yet. Tossing the aqua shoes back into my closet, I stood up and slammed the door.

“I never realized I had so many pairs,” I lied. “Anyway, I’m not in the mood to wear sneakers so I’ll just stick with my flats.”

I could tell that she knew something was wrong, but right then there was a knock at the door. Since my closet was closer, I headed to the door and pulled it open. I let out a little huff of annoyance when I saw Chocolate Eyes—I mean Tristan—standing at the door. Then I did a little jig in my head as I realized that the attraction I felt toward him earlier was an anomaly. My eyes were working just fine and I could still see that he’s ridiculously hot; but I didn’t feel the zing at all. Still, knowing that he’s a man-whore does annoy me because I hate guys who think they are IT. Deciding to have a little fun at his expense, I cocked my head to the side and turned to talk to Darby over my shoulder.

“Hey, it’s that guy from the cafeteria today…uh, Stan.”

Now of course I knew damn well that his name wasn’t Stan, but in my opinion, this man-whore needed to be brought down a few (dozen) pegs. I was surprised when he threw back his head and laughed out loud.

“Oh my God, fuckin’ classic!” he said with a laugh. “You think his name isStan?”

Darby’s giggle from behind me clued me into the fact that I was missing something. Turning toward her, I raised my shoulders and said, “What?”

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