Gravity (Free Falling) (24 page)

AJ
and I walked up the stairs and said our goodbyes to Mr. Holmes on our way to the car.  When we pulled up in front of my house, my father had the light on for me already as I fully expected him to.  Before climbing out of the car, I leaned in and kissed him quickly so that I could get inside on time.

             
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” he said as he glanced down at my skirt.

             
“Oh yeah, that could’ve been bad.”  I grabbed the jeans from my bag and shook the wrinkles out.  AJ was watching me closely as I changed again and shoved the skirt into the bag. 

             
“You should go while I’m still willing to let you,” he warned suggestively as he bit down on his lip.  Something about the way he said that, made it clear that he wasn’t playing around.  So, I took heed and smiled at him one last time, got out and disappeared inside the house. 

Chapter Nine

Monday morning, I awoke and got dressed in a hurry, knowing that AJ was returning to school.  When I pulled into the lot, I saw his car and immediately started smiling. It was apparent that the seasons were changing when a rush of cold air hit me square in the face as I climbed out of the car.  To keep warm, I drew my hands inside my hoodie and held them to my ears as I ran toward the school entrance. 

The halls were still pretty crowded
as I paced to my locker to grab my Math book.  When I turned around, I gasped loudly and bumped right into AJ who’d been standing there waiting for me. 

“Didn’t mean to scare you,
” he smiled

             
“No, you just surprised me a little.”  It was impossible not to gawk with him standing so close.  I smiled shyly, realizing that he was aware of what I was doing.  “I’m glad you’re back finally.”

             
“Me too,” he replied and casually reached for my hand to walk me to Mr. Talbert’s class.  “You ready?”

The gesture was sweet,
but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was ready to put our relationship on display just yet.  It was too late for second thoughts now though.  AJ wouldn’t have understood my reasoning if I rejected him, so I reluctantly put my hand in his and clutched my book to my chest.  My footsteps were a little hesitant, causing me to trail behind slightly as we walked down the hallway.  The stares from our peers made me uncomfortable because I could almost hear everyone’s disapproving thoughts aloud as we passed.  But somehow, AJ didn’t even seem to notice any of it. 

At the entrance to Mr. Talbert’s class, I couldn’t help but to search around for judgment
al eyes staring at AJ and me.  That was going to take some getting used to, but I suppose being the target of a few close-minded individuals was a small price to pay to be this happy.  It amazed me that AJ still seemed to be oblivious as he contentedly kissed my forehead and walked toward his homeroom.  How does he always make everything look so easy?  Or maybe I just over-think everything.  With that behind me, I suddenly felt more at ease as I thought of the next time the situation would arise.

When lunch came
, I was as nervous as the first day I returned to school after Antonio found out about AJ and me.  I walked straight to my table, sat down and opened my book. This was quickly becoming my routine. The sound of someone’s footsteps averted my attention, and I looked up.  Deanna stood across from me with her tray of food in hand.  “Why are you over here alone?  Come sit with
us
,” she said cheerfully.  I hesitated a moment as I glanced over at their table.  AJ hadn’t made it in yet, but I saw Leila there next to Trevor.  Deanna and I walked over to the table and I took the empty seat across from her.  My presence immediately made Leila cringe as she rolled her eyes in my general direction. 

             
“What’s up Sam?”  Karl yelled in spite of the fact the he was only two seats down from me. 

             
“Hey,” I responded shyly.  I still wasn’t completely comfortable with AJ’s friends, but they were friendly so I imagined that it wouldn’t take me long to warm up to them. 

Just then
AJ, Randy and Chris entered the lunchroom together. 
What if he felt like I’d invaded his space by sitting here with his friends without him inviting me?
That concern quickly faded when he noticed me and smiled.

             
“And I didn’t even have to beg,” he said as he took the seat to my right.  I returned the smile, pleased that he wasn’t upset by this change.

             
“So, you coming back to hang out with us next weekend?”  Deanna asked.  I looked over at AJ briefly before responding.

             
“Um…..I guess so, if I’m invited.”

             
“Of course you’re invited,” AJ replied without looking in my direction.

             
“I guess that’s a yes then,” I said answering Deanna’s question.

             
“Good because we’re having a bonfire Saturday.  Karl’s dad’s gonna grill and everything.  It’ll be a blast.”

             
“Sounds like fun,” I replied.

Deanna was
really easy to get along with and I made a mental note of the fact that I didn’t see her interact with Leila much.   That was strange seeing as how they were the only two girls in the group before I came along.  As I thought of her, I automatically looked down the table to where she was seated. Her bright hair was pulled into a ponytail that looked like it should’ve been uncomfortable, but I don’t honestly think she was aware of
anything
at the moment other than AJ. She was unmoving as she sat staring intently at him.  She didn’t even notice that I was watching her.  As AJ laughed and talked with Randy, Leila seemed to be mesmerized.  I couldn’t blame her; it was an easy thing to do.  I jumped a little when she shifted in her seat and crossed her long legs, but she still didn’t notice me.  Deanna, on the other hand, had.

             
“Don’t pay her any attention,” Deanna whispered as she leaned in toward me.  “She’s a bit of a stalker, but she’s harmless…..I think anyway,” she amended. “But if I were you, I’d just keep my distance.  She’s
totally
obsessed with AJ, which means that she already hates
you
by default. It’s pitiful really.  I don’t know how Trevor doesn’t see it.  I guess love really
is
blind.”

When I smiled at Deanna, it was a weak one
.  “Does she just stare at him like this all the time?”

             
“Yeah…..pretty much.  She has some serious issues if you ask me.  Her infatuation goes wayyyyy beyond a normal teenage crush.  She’s a freakin’ weirdo.”  Deanna assessed the concern in my expression.  “But I wouldn’t worry about it.  A.J can’t stand her, so she doesn’t usually interact with him much.  She just……watches him like that.” Deanna trailed off as she glanced over at Leila.  As she watched him it was like she was off in her own world; like no one else existed. 
Creepy.

The laughter coming from my friends’ table in
terrupted my train of thought.  No one noticed me sitting here…….except for Leslie.  Our eyes met and she dropped her gaze to the table, her expression thoughtful. AJ put his hand under my chin, drawing my attention back to him.  “You ok?”  He asked.

             
“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He moved his hand away from my face
, and after analyzing my mood once more, turned back toward Randy.  I fidgeted with my water bottle and continued to think about Leslie.  I couldn’t help but to worry about how our relationship was about to change.  We hung out a lot as couples, she and Terrence and Antonio and I.  Terrence was Antonio’s most loyal friend, so I knew that he’d never consider us hanging out with AJ in Antonio’s place.  And I couldn’t expect Leslie to abandon Terrence for my sake either.  This wasn’t going to be an easy transition, but there was nothing I could do to change it. 

At the end of the day I walked slowly to my locker, still dwelling on
the deterioration of me and Leslie’s relationship that I foresaw.  AJ, Karl and Deanna were waiting there for me already.  Deanna smiled at me in her usual welcoming way.  I ignored my thoughts and forced a smile.  “Hey guys,” I greeted them as I approached.

             
Deanna stepped forward with her cell phone in hand.  “Hey, I have to run, but I wanted to get your number.”  She smiled sweetly.  “I know I could’ve asked AJ, but I figured I should just ask you.”

             
“Oh, sure that’s fine.”  I was in no position to turn down new friends, so I may have been a little too eager when I recited my cell phone number to her.  She smiled and then waved goodbye as she grabbed Karl’s hand, dragging him along behind her. 

             
“See?  I told you you’d get along well with her,” AJ said.

             
“Yeah, she’s really nice,” I replied.  “Maybe we’ll hang out sometime.”

I didn’t hesitate this time when,
AJ reached for my hand again as we walked to my car.  Just as he’d opened my door and helped me in, I looked up to find him glaring across the parking lot with a frustrated look on his face.  Unable to keep myself from spying what had him so flustered, I followed his gaze to find Leila coming in our direction.  I fought against the feelings of intimidation that tried to overtake me again as she came toward us.  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that she was gorgeous; maybe even pretty enough to be a model. She had her green eyes fixed on AJ who straightened his posture protectively when she approached. 

             
“What?”  He asked coldly.

“My car
won’t start.  Can give me a ride home?”  She asked, not even acknowledging that I was there.

             
“No, ask Trevor,” AJ replied in the same dry tone.

“Trevor left already.  There
isn’t anyone else to take me.”

             
“Well, that sucks for you, cause you’re not getting in
my
car,” AJ blurted.

There was a brief flicker of rage that filled
her eyes for a second and then her expression returned to normal.  She looked at me for the first time since she’d walked over.  “Well, what about you?  Can you take me?”  She asked. 
Unbelievable.

I stared at her in disbelief and so did
AJ. 
Is she serious?
  It was already pretty apparent that she wasn’t my favorite person and I definitely wasn’t hers……and yet, here she was asking
me
for a favor. 

Before I could answer
, she turned back to AJ.  “Or, I
could
just sit up here while you practice like I used to and wait for my dad to come get me.” She smiled and I suddenly had a change of heart.

             
“Nope, it’s fine I’ll take you.  Where do you live?”  I asked.  As much as I didn’t want her anywhere near me, I
definitely
didn’t want her anywhere near AJ.

             
“About 15 minutes from here.”

             
“Fine.  Get in,” I replied.  AJ was still in disbelief.  Leila sat there motionlessly as AJ and I said our goodbyes.  He shot her a warning look before closing my door, and seconds later, I was pulling out of the parking lot.  

Leila
didn’t seem to be uncomfortable sitting next to me, but I wasn’t nearly that relaxed.  The thought crossed my mind that she might be lying about the car trouble just to have an excuse to talk to AJ, but I guess she probably wouldn’t have asked me for a ride if that was the case.

From the corner of my eye, I could see that she was staring which made me turn toward her
.  Her eyes were vacant; she didn’t even blink.  Kind of like the lights were on, but no one was home. 

             
“So, are you and AJ really together, or just hanging out?” She asked, startling me when she spoke.

I was
reluctant to respond.  “Yeah, we’re together.”

             
“Hmm……What’d he tell you about us?”

Her forthrightness came as a shock
.  “He said you two were together for a while, but it didn’t work out.”

             
“Is that
all
he told you?”  She asked implying that there was
much
more to tell.

             
“Basically,” I replied.

             
There was a devilish grin on her face.  “How nice of him to spare your feelings.  It must’ve been hard for him not to confess all the juicy details.  Well, you’ll have to ask him to show you the pictures someday.  I’m sure he still has his copies.”

I felt my palms start to sweat.   My head was pounding and all I could think about was tearing her head from her body and rolling it down the street as I sped
toward it in my car to run it over.  Leila had no idea how close I was to letting the life out of her.  It took every shred of control in my body to restrain me from losing it. 

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my cool.  “
Look, in case you haven’t noticed, AJ doesn’t want you; hasn’t for a long time.  And if you’re wondering, I’m a
lot
crazier than I look.”

She laughed.  “Don’t get all
ghetto on me.  I’m just making sure he’s being upfront with you.  It seems like he’s being pretty honest so far.”  She paused and turned to look out the window. 

“So, what, you’ve been with him for like a week or something?”

I didn’t respond.

“Not before homecoming, I’m
sure
,” she added.

“Why you all in
our
business?” I asked harshly.

Leila smiled again, obviously pleased with my irritation. 
“Just checking.” She paused momentarily.