Falling (Bits and Pieces, Book 1)

by Shirley Miranda

  26. FALL OUT

  After the dance, we headed to a diner. When Kraig and I got there, almost everyone was there already seated. The table seemed short for our group, seating for eight instead of ten.

  I looked around the table, “We need two more chairs. Patrick and Becca aren’t here yet.”

  Bobby looked at Jason. “I don’t think they’ll make it.” Emily shot Bobby a look.

  Jason continued, “Yeah, they had a detour to make, which could take…” Cassie nudged him.

  “15 minutes.” Bobby interrupted. Emily hit his arm, but Bobby and Jason were already cracking up. “You’re right, he’s in good shape. Ok, or more. Sheesh.”

  I stared at the four of them, not quite understanding what was going on. I looked at Kraig and Tony, hoping they knew what the hell the others were talking about, but I don’t think they were even paying attention, because they seemed fairly clueless as well. At least I wasn’t alone in the clueless department. Patrick had told me that he would be here at the diner, that much I knew. I wonder what happened.

  The guys all seemed really hungry. They ordered a bunch of different appetizers. I took some pictures of the mounds of French fries covered with chili and cheese, fried zucchini, nachos, onion rings, and potato skins. Was there anything fried or covered in cheese that we didn’t order?

  I took pictures of everyone digging into the food, or at least trying to. I got some good shots of long strands of cheese from the plate to Bobby’s or Tony’s mouth as they tried to get their share of the nachos.

  We had been at the diner for about an hour. Half of the food we ordered had been eaten when I saw Patrick walking toward our table. He was alone. He grabbed a chair from a nearby table and put it next to me.

  “Hey! Patrick!” Bobby shouted and put his hand out. They shook hands, well in their own way. “Didn’t think you’d make it.” Bobby laughed.

  “Yeah. Me either.” Jason shook Patrick’s hand. “I thought you’d be too…distracted to remember we’d be here.”

  Cassie slapped Jason’s arm, “Leave him alone. You’re bad.”

  Patrick plopped down in the seat. “Sorry, I’m late.”

  “If you were safe, hopefully she won’t be.” Bobby chided.

  Emily elbowed Bobby. “Where’s Becca?”

  Patrick answered, “Uh…home.” He rolled his eyes, “We had a fight. So I took her home.”

  “You guys okay?” Emily asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders and was indifferent, “Who knows? Whatever.” He put some fries on a plate and started eating. “What’d I miss?”

  The guys caught him up on their antics at the diner. The server came by and we ordered five different desserts.

  While everyone was talking across the table, Patrick quietly asked me “What did you have?”

  I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t believe that despite having a fight with his girlfriend, he was worried about me and my eating habits. “Patrick, I’m fine. I’m more worried about you.”

  “Humor me. You aren’t the only one who looks for a distraction.” He sounded so desperate.

  I understood what he meant. “A little zucchini and onion rings. They have a really good dip here for them.” I had one of each, but I did manage to eat a little.

  The desserts arrived and we passed them around so everyone could have some. It was like a merry-go-round of pies, cakes and sundaes.

  It was getting really late. Tony and Karen had already left and I had a 2:00am curfew. So, Kraig and I started saying good-bye to everyone. Patrick was ready to leave too. I guess he didn’t want to be left there with two couples. I didn’t blame him. The three of us walked to Kraig’s car together. Normally, I’d feel really uneasy about being out so late, but having two guy friends walk you to the parking lot, made me feel a lot better.

  Patrick came over and gave me a hug. “Night. I’m glad you came. You had fun?” Kraig walked over to the driver’s side and waited.

  “Yeah, for the most part.” I looked at him, there was something restless in his face. “Call me, if you want to talk.”

  He nodded. “Yeah…I’ll call you later.” I climbed into the car and he closed the door. He walked over to Kraig’s side. They did that guy handshake of theirs and said good-bye.

  When Kraig opened his door, I could hear him say, “Take it easy, man. Sorry about Becca. Let me know if you want to go paint-balling or something tomorrow.” Guys. I guess that’s their way of supporting each other. Kraig got in and started the engine. We waited for Patrick to start his car before we drove off.

  “Thanks for taking me to the dance.” I told Kraig.

  “No problem. I’m glad you had fun. I did, too.” He replied.

  “I’m… uhh…sorry about what happened earlier.” I was hesitant to bring it up, but I wanted to apologize for making his evening different than what we originally planned.

  “Don’t worry, my toes will recover.” He snickered.

  “What?! I didn’t step on your toes. I’m not that bad.” I exclaimed.

  “No? That wasn’t you? Hmm…maybe it was some other girl I danced with tonight. Then what?” He glanced over at me with a sly grin on his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about then.”

  I guess that was his way to let me know he considered it forgotten. I said the only thing that came to mind, “Thanks.”

  When we got to my house, he unbuckled his seat belt. I looked at him, slightly confused, but a little relieved. “Patrick made me promise to walk you to the door and make sure that you got in okay.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. We got to the porch and I unlocked the door. I gave him a quick hug, “Thanks again, you’re a good friend.”

  “You’re welcome. Anytime. Good night.”

  “Night.” I walked inside and locked the door behind me. A few seconds later, I heard his car door close and his car drive away. Instead of my usual silence when I entered the house, I was unusually loud, to let my parents know I was home on time. When I got to the hallway, I glanced at their bedroom door and the light that flickered underneath from the television was suddenly gone. Whoever, waited up, probably my dad, knew I was home and shut off the television to go to sleep.

  I quickly got ready for bed and hurried back to my room. Shortly after I climbed into bed, my cell phone rang. It was Patrick.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Liz…you get home okay?” He sounded distant.

  “Yeah…” I guess he still wanted a distraction.

  “Did he walk you to the door?”

  “Yes. You’ll be glad to know that Kraig followed your directions. He walked me to the door, waited until I was inside, and the door was locked before leaving.”

  “Good. How was your night?”

  “If you don’t include me freaking out, it was pretty good.”

  “I saw that you did go out there and dance. I thought you said you didn’t dance.” He teased me.

  “Well, Kraig convinced me that I couldn’t really screw up slow dancing and that he could still watch my back, so no one could sneak up on me.” I laughed. “Literally.”

  Patrick chuckled, “That’s true.”

  “I had fun. I’m glad I stayed.” The night did get better, for the most part, with the exception of Becca giving me a hard time.

  “That’s good. I’m glad you did, too.” He paused. “I just wanted to make sure that you got home okay and see how you were doing.”

  “Patrick, are you okay?” There was something in his voice that seemed like he was trying hard to be normal. I knew that sound well, but usually it was from my own voice.

  “I’m alright. Tired, I guess.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I agreed with his sister Lindsey. I didn’t understand what Patrick saw in Becca, and why he didn’t see what his family saw in her. But I didn’t want him to hurt and right now, he was.

  “Not now. It’s late. We’ve had a long day. Can we talk tomorrow?”

  “Sure.�
� Of course. Anytime.

  “You doing anything?”

  “Nope. Nothing really planned.” I was so caught up with the Winter Formal, getting permission and stuff that I hadn’t thought about the rest of the weekend.

  “Hmm…” He was quiet for a moment. “How about I pick you up around 10? Is that too early?”

  “Whenever you want, ten is fine.” Even though it was late, and I was tired, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep in.

  “Okay. I’ll pick you up then.” He sighed. “Good night.”

  “Night.” I closed my cell phone. I laid in bed going over everything that happened tonight. I didn’t see Patrick many times at the dance, but when I did, he didn’t seem…happy. Something was off. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I finally fell victim to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.