Falling

by Katherine Cobb

  Predictably, Alec was overly attentive, taking his place at my side as if Pete never existed. His low voice whispered compliments in my ear. His gorgeous face popped up in my thoughts without effort. He called me relentlessly. He had won the battle. I could not resist him and no longer had a reason to try.

  “Guess who asked me to the Homecoming Dance?” Katy said to Michelle and me during our Friday morning break.

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Blonde hair, blue eyes—”

  “Jake? Oh, my God!”

  “I wish. Jeff Scott. He’s in my math class.” She pulled her brush out of her back pocket and swept it through her dark hair, making it tumble in perfect waves around her shoulders.

  Michelle shrugged with visible irritation. “Did you say yes?”

  “Of course. He’s hella cute!”

  I grabbed her arm. “Maybe we can go to together!”

  Katy nodded. “Does this mean you finally said yes to Alec?”

  “Not yet, but I’m going to.” To hell with Pete O’Reilly.

  Michelle gazed over her shoulder, pensive.

  I touched her arm. “Why don’t you just ask someone to the dance yourself, Mich? I think a girl asking a guy is totally fine.”

  “Absolutely not,” Katy said. “It comes off as desperate.”

  I shook my head. “She’s wrong. It’s better to go for what you want.”

  Michelle shrugged. “I could never do that. I don’t have the guts.”

  “For what?” Alec said, sneaking up from behind.

  “Nothing!” we shrieked in unison.

  He tugged at my hand, pulling me gently. “Come with me.”

  I smiled. He didn’t let go of my hand as we walked down the breezeway to the 20 Building, where Alec pulled me around the side. He stared at me intently. His hand reached over and smoothed a stray hair out of my eyes, his fingertips lightly brushing my forehead. My stomach fluttered.

  “Are you going to be my date for Homecoming?”

  “You’re asking me now, are you?”

  “Humbly.”

  A smart-ass response rested on my tongue but damn if he didn’t seem totally unassuming, almost vulnerable.

  “Well?”

  I smiled. “Yes, I’ll be your date.”

  He scooped me up in his arms, lifting me off the ground, and I whooped in surprise.

  “You’ve made me one happy guy.” He grinned and placed me back on the walkway as the bell rang, summoning us to class.

  Over dinner, I waited until my mom asked about my day to broach the subject. I needed permission, but I didn’t want to sound too eager.

  “I was asked to the Homecoming Dance today.”

  My mom smiled. “By Pete?”

  “No, we broke up. You know the other boy who’s been calling?”

  Surprise registered across her face. “You and Pete split up?”

  “What boy?” my father said.

  “Yes, Mom, it’s over, and the other boy is Alec.”

  My brother’s fork clattered against his plate. “Alec Mays? That guy is a total creep, and he’s too old for you.”

  I glared at Anthony then turned and met my father’s gaze. “He’s not, Dad. Anthony’s just jealous because Alec is popular. He’s a football player.”

  “How well do you know this boy?” he asked.

  “We’ve been talking at school and on the phone for the past few weeks. He’s nice.”

  “And the dance is at Skyline?” my mother asked.

  I nodded. “In the cafeteria. Don’t ask me how they’re going to make that work. We’ll all smell like french fries once we leave. Katy’s also going, so I’m sure we’ll hang out together.”

  “You may go,” my father said. “But I fully expect this young man to properly introduce himself.

  Yes! “Of course. Thank you.” My father’s head turned, and I smirked at Anthony.

  My father directed his attention to Anthony. “What about you, mister? Do you have a date for the dance?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  My father sighed. “You’re always working on it. Grades, dances, cars…and yet nothing ever happens—no A’s, no girlfriends, no gas. You make me crazy, Antonio. Pazzia!” He threw his hands in the air, stood and left the dining room. The mood dampened, I cleared the table and washed the dishes.

  Homecoming was a major deal. The football game signified the last home game of the Titans season. And for the big event, the entire student body voted for a royal court: King and Queen, Prince and Princess, and Duke and Duchess. The winners—usually the cutest, popular couples on campus—were announced and crowned at the Homecoming Dance the night of the game.

  Katy and I shopped for dresses at the department stores in downtown Oakland. I had never been to a formal dance and worried when I found most of the selections hideous. Through perseverance, Katy and I scored two stunners. I went sophisticated with a black floor-length gown with rhinestone accents. Katy bought a cobalt blue strapless number that accentuated her eyes and fair skin. With this level of fabulousness, our dates were going to swoon!

  I managed to score a beautiful gown today. Alec’s going to love it! I’m so excited to go to the Homecoming Dance, even if it is being held in our stupid cafeteria. That’s so skeezy! I haven’t been to a formal ever, and the last time I wore a long dress was that ugly thing my mom made me wear for the sixth grade church dinner. I bet Alec will look amazing. He’s so handsome. Sometimes I can hardly breathe when I see him...and he chose ME! (I still can’t believe it.) I can already picture him in a black and white tux, which will match my black dress. We might have been nominated for Homecoming King and Queen if we had been a couple longer! Not to rain on my happy parade, but Pete has been awful. He turned out to be such a jerk! I can’t believe how mean he’s been to me. HIS LOSS! Good riddance, Pete O’Reilly!

  Overcast skies permeated the day of the big game and a chill filled the November air. My friends and I wouldn’t have missed it even if it had poured rain. Most of the student body showed up to cheer the Skyline Titans to victory, and they succeeded after a tough contest where they won in the final three minutes with a field goal. Alec played terrific, scoring two touchdowns.

  I ran onto the field with the rest of the school. I zoned in on Alec, who picked me up and swung me around as I clung to his dirty, sweaty jersey.

  “Not bad, Mays.”

  He grinned. “I’m glad you approve.”

  I loved being in his arms.

  “You better hustle home and doll up. I’ll be there before you know it.”

  “You better do the same. I hope you’re not picking me up looking like that.”

  “I clean up pretty well and quick, if you catch my drift.” He released me.

  I smiled. “I’m going.”

  “Not so fast.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him in one fluid movement. His arms encircled my waist, holding me tight, and his lips touched mine, intense yet gentle. Heat burned straight down my torso with the velocity of a lightening strike.

  “Mays! Let’s go,” ordered his coach, attempting to herd his players back to the locker room.

  Startled, we jerked apart, his arms letting me go. My knees buckled, and Alec put out an arm to steady me, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

  “Trouble standing?”

  “Apparently,” I admitted, surprised.

  He leaned closer and said softly, “Same here, gorgeous.” He broke into a run but stopped and yelled over his shoulder that he’d see me soon. He and a few other players bumped each other, still celebrating their win, before he was soon out of sight.

  I walked to the parking lot where my mother waited to take me home. Despite the cold, I was on fire.

  9

  Homecoming

  When Alec presented himself to my parents, I sensed my father’s wariness behind his polite demeanor. He didn’t realize my date would be so tall, broad or red-blooded American male. Although I mentioned he was a football player,
I avoided mentioning his senior status. Now that he stood in our house expecting to whisk me away in his devil-red Camaro, there was no turning back.

  “You look stunning,” Alec said as I approached in my sparkling black dress. My father agreed, but I could tell he didn’t want to hear this boy say it.

  I smiled shyly. “Thank you.”

  “Allow me,” he said, presenting a corsage made from tiny red roses and miniature white flowers. He carefully slid it on my wrist. I beamed, admiring the arrangement.

  My mom waved her camera, indicating we should move closer. “You make such a handsome couple! Let me take a picture.”

  I smiled, embarrassed, while Alec happily obliged. After we scooted together, he placed his hand on the small of my back and my mother snapped a few pictures, the flash bulb blinding us between shots.

  “We don’t want to be late,” I said, antsy to leave.

  “A pleasure meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Trapani,” Alec said. “I assure you, Anna is in good hands.”

  My mom grabbed my hand, her eyes betraying her emotion. “Have fun, you two.”

  “And have her home by midnight,” reminded my father.

  “Yes sir, I will.” Alec reached out to shake his hand, a gesture I read as a binding act of agreement.

  Once we stepped out the front door, we both breathed a bit easier.

  “You really are gorgeous, Anna.”

  “You’re looking mighty fine yourself, Mr. Mays.” Alec wore a black suit, crisp white shirt and a red and black striped tie. On his lapel was a matching rose boutonniere.

  He held out his arm, and I slipped my hand into the crook, allowing him to escort me to his car. In my high heels, I welcomed his sturdy presence. He opened the passenger door and I slid into the black bucket seat.

  I loved Alec’s car: loud, fast and hot, and a far cry from my family’s boring Volvo. He told me with pride it was “a 1969 Camaro SS with a four-speed 327, dual exhaust, aluminum intake with a Holley double-pumper and 4.11 gears,” whatever all that meant. He proved he could go zero to sixty in fewer than seven seconds, and I loved the telltale cranking idle and deafening roar as he gunned it down the street.

  In record time, we were back at school and walking into the Homecoming Dance.

  Hundreds of white snowflakes hung from the ceiling while the silver garland draping the walls twinkled in the low light. A stage stood where the lunch line normally formed and a DJ played records in the corner of the dance floor, where several couples moved to the beat. Other students flanked the sidelines, and soon after Alec and I entered, yells rang out from the football players clustered together. As we headed over to talk to them, I searched for Katy. In a sea of formal wear, I couldn’t find her.

  Alec introduced me to his friends, all brawn, like him. They launched into a rehash of the game—who had made the best tackles and caught the toughest passes. I listened politely, like the other dates. Out of my comfort zone, I thought about starting a conversation with these girls, but they were seniors who cast a decidedly ambivalent vibe about my presence. One heavily made-up girl with bleached-blonde hair scrutinized me with open disdain. She whispered something to the girl standing next to her, who giggled in response. I shrugged it off. She probably liked Alec.

  Alec grabbed me around the waist. “Want to dance, beautiful?”

  “You know it.”

  He led me to the center of the floor, never taking his eyes off me. We grooved to a few popular disco songs. He knew how to move. Why was I not surprised?

  “Always and Forever” eased out of the speakers, and he pulled me into his arms for a slow dance. For a second, it reminded me of last year’s dismal junior high event where the same song was our theme. No one asked me to dance, including Manny Rodriguez, the object of my desire. I shoved those thoughts away and concentrated on being in Alec’s protective arms. His breath brushed my cheek as I rested my head against his broad chest.

  We swayed to the music for a few glorious minutes. Alec shifted and I met his gaze. His lips kissed mine, tenderly at first, then with more intensity. I held on to him tightly, and he pulled me in closer. We paused, my body tingling from head to toe. He kissed me again, and I could have stayed there forever.

  The song ended, but I didn’t want to let go.

  “Need a breather?” Alec asked.

  I shook my head no.

  “C’mon, let’s get some air.” He tugged on my hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Parking lot.” He smiled. “Just for a few minutes, and then we’ll come back.”

  I followed, wondering why we left the dance floor and each other’s arms.

  Three couples traipsed out to Alec’s car, including the bitchy girl. He opened his trunk, pulled out two bottles and tossed one to his friend, Jim, who unscrewed the top and took a long swig. The liquid sloshed as the bottle made the rounds. Cheap wine. Gross. I caught Alec’s eye just as he lit up a joint, leaning casually against his car. My eyes didn’t give anything away, but my heart sank. I didn’t want to get high or alter my perception. I wanted to be back inside dancing with my date, kissing in the dark corners and feeling every second with the clarity of sobriety.

  “You party, right, Anna?” asked Alec.

  The blonde girl smirked. “Let me show her how it’s done.”

  “Spare me.” I grabbed the joint from Alec’s fingers, thwarting her opportunity to make me look like a fool.

  I took a hit, held the smoke inside my lungs and slowly exhaled. I passed the doobie, now circulating with the two bottles of wine. When a bottle found its way to me, I wiped the top with my palm and took a long drink. I swallowed the unpleasant liquid, and shuddered. Hella gross. Alec put his arm around my shoulders while he and his friends bantered. I took my turn in each rotation, the effects quickly emerging. I wanted to go back to the dance. This whole parking lot scene bored and irritated me, especially blondie shooting daggers at me with her overly made-up eyes.

  Alec grabbed my hand. “Ready to head back?”

  I nodded.

  As soon as we stepped inside the cafeteria, Katy ran over. “There you are!”

  “Hi!”

  She eyed me. “You are, aren’t you?”

  I smiled, contrite. “We partied a little.”

  “I can tell. Your eyes are red.”

  “Damn.”

  “I hate to interrupt.” Alec said.

  “No you don’t.” Katy gave him a good-natured swat.

  “But I want to dance with my date.”

  Back on the floor grooving to the music, the weed took full effect. My arms and legs moved sluggishly, as if underwater. I couldn’t think straight. I longed to relish every moment with Alec and this night, and my buzz threatened to ruin everything.

  Despite my lethargy, I put on a happy face. Alec’s energy remained unchanged. He was having the time of his life, completely unaffected by the drugs. Within an hour, I thought I would collapse.

  Alec eyed me. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy.”

  He laughed. “Let me see if I can help.” He pulled me close and kissed me again. I slumped in his arms, unable to hold myself up.

  “Seriously, what’s going on?” The worry in his voice was palpable.

  “I think I’m going to pass out.”

  Alec grinned. “I always knew I’d have that effect on you.”

  I grabbed his arm. “No, really. I don’t feel so well.”

  He scooped me up and carried me outside, back to the parking lot. I inhaled the fresh air, praying it would clear the cobwebs. Alec leaned me against his car while he reclined the passenger seat, then he helped me get settled before sliding in on the driver’s side.

  “Thanks,” I whispered, thankful he behaved so well mannered.

  “Just relax for a while and see if it helps.”

  Woozy and disoriented, I shrugged off my embarrassment and closed my eyes. Alec yelled a few sarcastic remarks out the window at friends,
and the term “smart alec” came to mind, amusing me.

  I stayed in a bizarre limbo, struggling for normalcy.

  Light kisses grazed my face, first forehead, next cheeks, then lips. Alec picked up my left arm, kissing my hand and working his way up to my shoulder. Nice. Suddenly, his hands touched my breast on the outside of my dress, and I startled upright.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Um…I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  A puzzled expression crossed his face, but his self-assured nonchalance quickly returned. “Trust me. Relax.”

  I cautiously reclined once again. What did he mean—trust me, I won’t touch you like that or trust me, you want me to?

  His fingers caressed my arms and legs through the satiny material of my dress. I tried to unwind, closing my eyes and willing myself to believe him. When his lips found mine again, I kissed him weakly.

  He held my hand, murmuring, “Do you know what you do to me?”

  I smiled in my dream-like state.

  He moved my hand, pressing it to his bulging crotch.

  “Alec!” I bolted upright again.

  “What?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Showing you what you do to me!”

  “Didn’t you hear me before?”

  “What I heard is an immature sophomore.”

  That stung. What did he expect me to do—go all the way? This was our first date!

  “I’m sorry,” I stammered. Was I? Should I be? Everything garbled in my brain, especially coupled with his guilt trip.

  “You’re not a virgin, are you?”

  “No,” I lied.

  “Good. It’s easier this way.”

  What did that mean?

  “So what’s the problem?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing.” Why couldn’t I say what I really thought?

  “Prove it.” He grabbed my hand again. “Touch me.”

  I panicked and couldn’t think straight. Although I wanted to please Alec and exhibit my maturity level, this threw me and felt all wrong. I averted my eyes, avoiding his, and bit my lip. I didn’t see a choice—either do what he wants or get dumped, and the latter petrified me.