Falling Behind (Falling Series)

Dee Avila

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 Dee Avila

All rights reserved.

Copy editing: Kim Swain Redline editing

Cover Models: Carlie Hammond and Christian Pilgrim

Cover Art and Design: A’s Creative Design

ISBN-13: 978-1490962023

ISBN-10: 1490962026

To my mom who taught me that no matter what is going on in your life, stay positive, it makes the rough roads easier to handle. I miss you so much Mom
.

Chapter One

Titus

T
he crowd in the quad grew as I clumsily balanced my size twelve shoes, heel-to-toe, on a small wooden plank. Breathing in deeply, I stretched out my arms to balance myself and inwardly cursed Reese for talking me into doing this in front of the entire school.  She stood facing me from the other end of the beam; perfectly balanced, of course. Her lips stretched into an evil grin as she tossed the pillow up in the air and caught it behind her back. “Come on, Ty,” she taunted. “Afraid to hit a girl?” All the girls watching let out an “Ooooh”, in unison, and I rolled my eyes.
Afraid to hit a girl, with a pillow?
No
. Not if it meant protecting my favorite Metallica t-shirt from a muddy death in the kiddie pool full of brown goop, below. A pillow was thrust into my hands and I held it up in such a way that it would work as both a shield and weapon. “Let’s get this over with.”

Opposite
me, Reese bounced on her toes, making her long, bare legs look even longer. 
As if that was even possible
. Her short shorts hung on her hips and the tight white tank top, with a rainbow and the words “Taste the Rainbow” scrawled across it in vivid yellow, lifted with each bounce, revealing the smooth skin of her stomach and—

Thwack,
Reese’s pillow hit me on the shoulder. As I struggled to catch my balance, I realized, too late, that the match had started. Unable to steady myself, I fell face first into the kiddie pool of goop. Bracing with my arms, I was able to keep my face out of the slick mud.

Several g
uys called out. “Get her Ty!” and “Cover her in mud.”

“That was a cheap shot.”
I heard Candice’s voice rise above the others.

Laughing,
I looked up into Reese’s smiling face and slowly brought my hand up.

“Don’t you
dare! Ty, please I am begging you not to”—

It was too
late. I threw the mud at her chest. If my Metallica shirt was ruined, so was her Skittles shirt. My best friend sat there glaring at me.

“You deserve
d that. I don’t know how I ever let you talk me into this.” I smiled a toothy grin; she did deserve it.

Jumping up
, I reached for her hand. As I pulled her up, she pulled me into a hug. I knew she was sneaky, so I caught her hand before it landed on my head, mud dripping through her fingers as I held it out to her side.

“Huh uh, No you don’t.”

“Fine.” Laughing, she turned her hand over and let it fall back into the kiddie pool. There was no way I was letting her talk me into any of these homecoming activities, next year.
Yeah, you will.
I shook my head before we climbed out and headed toward the locker rooms. I looked down at myself and then over at her. Standing there, caked in mud, she looked so damn cute. She smiled. “I’m going to shower.”

“Well
, come on, then.” I grabbed her hand as we walked across the quad. “You know, you’re lucky you’re my best friend. You took a cheap shot and I should have kicked your butt for it.”

Rounding the corner to the girl’s locker room, Reese released my hand and stepped away. I didn’t have time to look for him before I heard his nasally voice
.

“Reese
, Baby, nice hit.” Josh stepped up to Reese, looking her over.

“Re
ese, Newbie, I’m gonna go clean up. Later.” I started to turn away when I heard Josh call after me.

“Don’t act like you don’t know my name.”

I stepped toward them, again “Oh, I know your name. I just choose to use ‘Newbie’.” Josh scowled at me.

Reese rolled her eyes, shoving me. “Stop it, both of you. Can’t you play nice?” Josh mumbled something to Reese.

I stalked off, scraping the now drying mud off my arms and shaking it from my hair. I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the dried dirt and frustration. Because of my promise to Candice, I had to watch Reese be with Josh. Tipping my head back, the water pelted my face and I recalled the day I promised Candice that I wouldn’t tell Reese about my feelings.

I always thought I would end up with Candice. She was the girl everyone wanted to be with and I was her best friend. Sure, we were boyfriend-girlfriend in elementary school; but by fifth grade, we had become just friends. Good friends. That’s when she introduced me to Reese. Reese was this shy little girl. She’s still shy, if you didn’t know her; and I suppose that is why I didn’t think things would happen as fast as they did between her and Josh.

Anyway, the day Candice had made me promise to
never date Reese, she also kissed me.

It was one
day last summer, she and Reese had one of their fights and Candice asked me to go with her to Black Bridge.

“Come on
, Ty, there’s a train coming. Let’s hide by the track.” Candice’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s the best rush, come on.”

I’d never been able to say n
o to Candice. After grabbing my shirt, we crawled up the levee and headed down to the train tracks.

The rusted metal
bridge had braces every four feet, creating the perfect niche for teenagers looking for an adrenaline rush to hide. “Let’s duck down into this first niche,” I suggested.

“No way.
To get the full effect, you have to be in the middle.” She pulled me along behind her to the center of the bridge. Smiling, she ducked down into the alcove.

I pushed back against the bridge wall and stared at the graffiti on the other side. The newest was a funny fish with sharp teeth, signe
d SPAZ. Everyone left their signature, here. Whether it was a gang sign, like F-14 for the Fresno County Dogs, or just a name and date, it was immortalized in spray paint for all to see.

I leaned forward looking left and right for the tra
in that Candice swore she heard. It was coming from the south and I heard it before I felt the vibrations or saw it. I hoped it would be an Amtrak. They were shorter. I took in a lung full of air, wiping my sweaty palms on my shorts to hide my shaking.

Watching Candice chew her upper lip and search the track, I knew this was her first
time. Screeching metal on metal and the whirl of the train’s engine had her clutching my hand. My heart raced in panic, my chest tightening.

Burying her head in my shoulder,
Candice said, “Hold me, I hate trains.”

Candice had
always been one to do overly stupid things—things that scared her, things that made absolutely no sense, just to seem brave. I never completely understood it.

A
Thunderous roar filled my ears as screeching metal grated on my every nerve. Each one of them was alive and pulsing in rhythm with the train. I opened my eyes to catch the tail end of the train pass by. Thank goodness, it was an Amtrak. My shoulder was sore where Candice had dug her nails in deep.

“Candice, we’re s
afe. Open your eyes.” I lifted her head, my finger on her chin. That was when Candice kissed me. I expected it to send my head reeling and my heart pounding, but it never happened. I didn’t feel a thing.

“Thanks for keeping me safe.”

She quickly jumped up and trotted down the tracks, heading home. Kissing her had proven to me there were no longer any feelings other than friendship.

As we
headed home, Candice grabbed my hand, stopping not far from her house. “I need to ask you something.” Her big hazel eyes searched mine as I nodded and waited for her to continue.

“I need you to promise me two things.”

“What?” My brows pinched together in concern. I never knew what to expect from Candice.

“Promise me you won’t tell Reese about our
kiss, today,” she pleaded, dropping my hand and holding hers together in front of her as if praying.

Nodding
, I said, “What else?”

“We’re best friends.
The
three
of us. I think that.” She let out a long sigh and I r

olled my eyes.

This was not new news. We’ve
all been friends for quite a while, now. What was she getting at? “And?”

“And I
think it’s best if we promise to never date each other and you promise me you’ll never date Reese.” She paused and I didn’t react or comment.
If she didn’t want to date me, then why did she just kiss me? We’re sophomores in high school, I don’t play little kid games.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited for her to continue. She quickly spat out the rest of her reasoning.  “I need both of you. Neither of you realize how much I’m going to need you this next year. And if you date, and I know you like her”—

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Huh?”

“I know you like her. I see the way you look at her. Watch her. I just need to know that you won’t date her this year. Not yet. In case, if you break up and never speak to each other again. I need you. I need you, both.”

“It’s that important to you?”

Candice nodded. “It is.”

“Why?”

Shaking her head she
answered, “It just is. Please Ty, please promise me.” Candice blinked away the tears in her eyes and I wondered what had her so worried.

“I promise.”

Turning off the water
, I grabbed my towel from over the shower door. Angrily, I raked it over my hair before drying my body and cinching it around my waist. It had been five months since I made that promise to Candice. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could sit idly by and watch Josh manipulate Reese. She was so blinded by love, or infatuation, that she didn’t see how possessive and controlling he was.

Chapter Two

Reese

Homecoming week was my favorite time of year. Lunch time activities and rallies kept me busy. I barely had time to worry about my relationship w
ith Josh. Today’s pillow fight between Titus and me was the best, except that I ruined his favorite t-shirt. I felt bad for that. I’ll try and surprise him with a new one. And walking away from the games with him, holding hands, felt good—comfortable and safe; until I saw Josh, which made me immediately drop Titus’ hand.

“Reese
, baby, nice hit.” Josh stepped up to me scrutinizing my body with his antifreeze green eyes.

“R
eese, Newbie, I’m gonna go clean up. Later.”  Titus huffed as he turned away.

“Don’t act like you don’t know my name.”
                           

My gaze flicked b
etween the two guys. Titus spun around, “Oh, I know your name. I just choose to use, ‘Newbie’.” 

I roll
ed my eyes, shoving Titus. Those two never stop going at it. I thought Titus was going to be nice for me, giving Josh a chance, for my sake. When I first started dating Josh, I talked with Titus and he agreed to play nice. I didn’t know what happened, but recently he’s been a prick toward Josh. “Stop it, both of you. Can’t you play nice?”

Josh lean
ed in and whispered in my ear, “He’s just jealous. I’m leaving with you and he’s not.”

I look up to find Titus gone. I step
ped away from Josh to look him in the eyes. “Knock it off. He’s not jealous. We. Are. Friends.” I paused to wipe a layer of drying mud from my shorts. “We have been friends for years and nothing will change that. He has no reason to be jealous.”

“Whatever. You need a shower. You want me to wait for you?” Josh looked me over
, again, but not in the way a boyfriend should. He looked as though I disgusted him. I didn’t know why.

It’s the mud
, Reese, you’re covered in mud.
Yeah that’s it. “I can walk. I have to pack my stuff to head over to Candice’s, anyway.”

“Suit yourself
. I have to meet the guys.” Before I could respond he spun around and sauntered over to his truck. He climbed in and slammed the door, before peeling out of the parking lot.

My phone rang while I was in my room, packing my overnight bag for my stay with Candice. It was Josh’s ringtone, I glared at my screen flashing a picture of him. 

“Hello?” I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice.

“Hey, Babe, wanna grab some dinner?” Josh asked.

“Josh, I can’t. I told you earlier that I couldn’t.”

“That’s right, you’d rather be with Candice.” His voice changed from syrupy sweet to venomous in seconds. That was one of the many things that had been bothering me, lately. His sudden mood swings.

“Listen
, Baby.” It was time to lay on the sweetness. “I do this every year. Shoot, every week. I stay the night with her before a game. This is a huge game. With a
huge
rally. We will be home the whole night, going over our routine and cheers. I will see you first thing in the morning.” I waited for a reply.

“
Hmph.”

I needed to lay it on a little thicker. “Baby, I promise I’m not going or doing anything else and
, if I hadn’t already promised her that I’d stay the night, I wouldn’t go. Call me, anytime.”

“Alright.
You owe me. It’s been so long since it’s been just the two of us. Please, Reese, soon.” His voice started out strong and irritated but it switched mid-sentence back to syrupy sweet. My head hurt just talking to him.

“I know
, I do. Tomorrow night, after the football game, we’ll sneak away from the party.”

“Don’t tease me,
Baby.” I could hear the excitement rise in his speech. “I’ll pick you up, tomorrow.”

“Okay. Call me before you go to bed.”

“Bye.” He hung up before I had a chance to say anything else. Before I threw my phone on the bed, I called Candice.

“Hey
, C, leaving in five.”

“K, I’ll head out in a few. Meet
ya halfway.” Candice sounded chipper, tonight. I needed to push all thoughts of Josh out of my mind and have fun with my bestie.

I tossed the phone on my purple comforter and finished packing my cheer stuff. Grabbing my uniform out of the closet, I slipped it into a garment bag. Mom was sitting on the couch reading a book and my little sisters lay on their stomachs, on the floor, watching Spongebob.

I reached down and ruffled Ally’s hair before
reaching out and doing the same thing to Maddy. The twins were four years younger than me. At eleven years old, they were just starting to get the
attitude
my mom said I was born with.

“
Reeeeeese, stop it.” Ally whined, as she ran a hand over her hair trying to fix it.

“Ally, don’t be such a baby. It’s not like you’re going to see anyone
, tonight. Look you already fixed it. Geez.”  Maddy rolled her eyes and sighed.

Giggling, I stepped up to
Mom, dropping my bag on the couch. “I’m headed over to Candice’s.” I leaned in for a hug and kissed her cheek. “Night, Mom.”

She finally tore her gaze away from her book. She refused to
read from the Kindle we got her for Christmas last year. She still preferred her
real
books. “I’m sorry, honey. I wanted to finish that paragraph.” She shook her head, laying the book in her lap. “I didn’t want to lose my place. Anyway,” she waved the air as if to ignore her randomness, “what are you doing?”

I smiled. Mom was always in her fictional world. But
, I loved her. I couldn’t blame her. She worked a full time job and ran me and my sisters all over the place. Dad worked eighteen hour days. He helped when he was home. But he usually got home after the twins were in bed. Shaking my own head, I finally answered her. Maybe I was more like her than I thought. “Candice’s. Tomorrow’s homecoming. Any of this ringing a bell?”

She smiled swatting
me on the arm. “Of course, no need to be a smart”—

“Mom!”
The twins yelled before she could curse.

Laughing
, she tossed a pillow at the girls and managed to hit them both in the head. “I was going to say ‘aleck’, girls. As in ‘
smart aleck
.’” She looked back to me and smiled. “Do you need a ride?”

“No
, C’s meeting me halfway.”

“I don’t mean to pry, but does Josh know you’re staying?” I pinched my forehead in frustration and she quickly continued. “All I mean is
, does he know where to pick you up? Or am I supposed to tell him something when he gets here in the morning?”

I relaxed. I thought she was trying to ask me if he was going over there. I would never betray Candice’s parents
’ trust that way. They’re my family. I scooped up my bag, shouldering it and started toward the door. “He knows, Mom. He’ll pick us up, there.”

“Alright
, honey, have fun and good luck on your Homecoming Rally. I’ll see you at the game.”

I waved bye as I stepped out the door
and then closed it, behind me.

Walking down the
well-worn sidewalk toward Candice’s, I thought about Josh. The only time I let myself think about what happened with us was when I was alone. Two weeks ago, he took me out for dinner after I’d babysat all day for the girls. Mom allowed me to go on a Sunday because I’d watched them so my parents could go to the beach for the day. Mom even extended my curfew until eleven. After dinner at
Applbee’s Josh took me back to his house.

“
Wanna watch a movie?” He’d asked, as he unlocked his front door. As soon as we walked in, I realized neither his parents nor his sister was home. It was the first time we were truly alone for an extended amount of time.

“Sure.” I headed over to the couch.

Grabbing my hand, Josh pulled me into the hallway. “I’ve got a TV and surround sound in my room. I’ll even let you pick the movie.”

Inhaling deeply
, I followed him to his bedroom. I walked in behind him, taking in the massive, four-poster bed and the dark comforter with coordinating curtains. Everything was black or dark wood and sleek. His room was surprisingly tidy. I looked around, noticing a picture of him and his sister on the dresser and a few old baseball trophies along with a single poster for a rock band I didn’t recognize on his closet door.  Under the TV was a box labeled DVD’s. I squatted down and started sifting through them. “Anything you want to watch?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

“Nah, whatever you want.” Josh was sprawled out on his bed
, arms bent behind his head and looking perfectly at ease, except the strong emotions in his eyes. I wasn’t exactly sure what the look was, but if I had to guess, I would say desire.

I turned away from his intense stare and quickly shifted the DVD’s ba
ck and forth, searching for something interesting to watch. I finally chose “The Hangover”. It was perfect—funny and not a romance. I stood and flashed it at Josh before looking for the DVD player.

“That works. The player’s right there in the cabinet.”

After putting it in, I stood and glanced around thinking about sinking into the beanbag on the floor. But Josh cleared his throat and patted the spot next to him. I kicked off my ballet flats and crawled up on his bed. It was soft. I don’t know why, but I expected it to be hard. As Josh fumbled with the remote, I moved the pillows and sat up crossed legged against the headboard.

He looked over at me with one eyebrow raised, “Come here.”

I stretched my legs back out, scooting closer to him, the previews for new movies played for a moment before he hit the menu button, starting the movie. He turned away to put the remote down on his nightstand. And when he turned back, he slipped his arm around my shoulders. He softly ran his strong hands up and down my arm, sending shivers through out my body.

Josh chuckled. “I’ve been waiting for this for a while.” He smiled down at me. I looked up into his light green eyes. His pupils were
huge, almost masking his irises. “We never get any alone time.” He bent his head forward, resting his forehead on mine.

Cupping his face with my hand, I ran my thumb along his jaw line. The nerves in my stomach squirmed and it felt as if a thousand monarch butterflies were trying to break free. “I know. There’s always someone around. Your friends or mine, parents, sisters someone is always with us. I’m glad we’re finally getting this time together.” I reached up and pressed
my lips against his.

He sighed when
I pulled back, running his fingers through my hair; grasping the back of my head and pulling me back in. I searched his eyes. They were full of want and heat, his eyes asking for more. I knew I wasn’t ready for the real thing. Maybe we could keep things simple. I leaned in, kissing him, again. This time, allowing him access into my mouth. When he moaned and kissed me deeper, my thoughts going haywire.

I’m not ready for more than this. No, please don’t let him ask for more.

Josh rolled over on top of me, movie forgotten, and began pushing himself on me, harder. I pulled back so I could talk. “Josh, please your squeezing my arm.” I looked down to where his fingers were squeezing so hard they had white around them. I was sure I would have a bruise.

He
quickly let go. “I’m sorry, Reese. I, uh, we don’t…”

“I understand. It’s okay.” I lifted my head back up to meet his lips, swiftly brushing my lips against his.

He gripped my hands. “I don’t think you do.” He lifted them above my head and whispered in to my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “I want you so bad.”

“I’m not ready. Josh
, I told you I’ve never done it before. I, uh, I can’t.”

He growled as he pushed off me and headed toward the bathroom, “Then I guess I need a minute. I’ll be right back.” He stomped off toward the bathroom across the hall. I heard the door slam
, grabbed his pillow and began crying. I knew this day would come. I knew dating a senior was going to be hard and I explained to him, up-front, that I wanted to wait until I was married. That was sort-of a lie and not necessarily what I was waiting for. But I wasn’t comfortable giving
him
that piece of me. Anytime we were alone, he always seemed to push the issue. I sat up and dried my eyes; sliding off his bed, I went to the bathroom door and knocked, softly. I didn’t want him upset with me. I may not be ready to give him my v-card, but I couldn’t lose him, either. I had to make it up to him.

“Josh
, let me in. Please.” I rested my head against the door.

“Give me a second. I’ll be in my room in a minute.”
His voice was tight and his speech fast.

I heard the water running in the sink before spinning around and heading back to his bed. I could fix this. It would be easy. There
are other things we could do, without going all the way. I checked my phone it was only nine-thirty I had plenty of time. On his bed, I pulled my shirt down to cover all exposed skin and held up my head with my right hand. Josh walked in, his head down. He looked up at me and smiled a soft smile. His pupils so large there was a thin, lime green halo around them. I briefly wondered why they were so big.