The Fragile Fall

by Love, Kristy

  She let go of my hand and I immediately missed her. My traitorous eyes stung with tears. I was tired of being an emotional wreck. I was a guy; I wasn’t supposed to cry. “Thanks,” I said, my voice thick with tears.

  “I’m not trying to upset you. I’m just trying to help you.” She sighed. “Will, I care about you. I see how sad you are and how you are torturing yourself with something. I don’t think you need to torture yourself. Why don’t we hang out sometime? Just you and me. We don’t have to tell Jax. It can be our secret.” She winked at me.

  My heart stalled in my chest. Time alone with Ry, without worrying about Jax, was something I’d wanted for a long time. Not only did she want to spend time with me, but she cared about me. “I’d like that.”

  “Good.” She got her phone out of her pocket. “Give me your number and I’ll text you.”

  “I don’t actually have a cell phone.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No.” I looked around the room, uncomfortable and embarrassed. “My parents never let me have one, and Aunt Liv offered to get me one when I moved in with her, but I refused.”

  She shook her head. “Damn. We need to get you a phone. That’s on the agenda for Saturday. In the meantime, I’ll call the house phone.” She smiled and squeezed my shoulder before walking into the living room.

  I went upstairs, excited about hanging out with Ry … alone. Other than that brief amount of time in the pool, we always had people around, and I wondered what it would be like to be with her and not have to worry about Jax watching our every move.

  “We’re going to do it up big time! Like a couple of kids.”

  Ryanne giggled as we found an empty table in the busy food court. I chuckled with her. When she heard my laughter, her eyes sparkled and she laughed harder. My heart squeezed, my lungs seized and I found it impossible to look at anything but her. She looked like an angel with her eyes shimmering, her hair framing her face and her laughter ringing through the air. It felt like a complete cliché and a total movie moment, but it was my moment, so I grabbed it and held onto it tightly. I didn’t think the moment could get any better.

  Then…

  She snorted.

  She immediately stopped laughing and held a hand up to her nose, her eyes wide with shock. “Oh, my God. That is so embarrassing! I’m so sorry.”

  “That is probably the cutest thing I have ever seen or heard in my entire life.” Her eyes widened even more, and I was pretty sure my heart had just vomited all over the table. Something about being out with Ryanne, just the two of us out on some kind of secret rendezvous, had killed my filter.

  She smiled. Her smile was the sweetest freaking smile I had ever seen. I wanted to touch her skin and run my hands through her hair. I ached to see if her lips felt as soft against mine as they looked. I wanted to stare into her green eyes and never move again. “Thanks. So how was the rest of your week?” She ripped a piece of the pretzel off and popped it in her mouth. Her tongue darted out and licked the corner of her mouth to get some of the cinnamon and sugar mix off her lip.

  I swallowed.

  Hard.

  She cleared her throat and I realized I had been staring at her lips the entire time. I looked away and cleared my own throat. “It was fine. Busy, but it’s getting easier.” I took a big gulp of my smoothie and my eyes burned and my brain ached. My eyes twitched and I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  When Ryanne realized what was going on, she giggled again. “Brain freeze?”

  “Yeah.” When my brain finally thawed, I broke the silence that had descended around us. “How is life for you?”

  She lit up and told me about classes and things going on with her friends. I liked how animated she became and how happy she seemed to be that someone took an interest in her.

  She took a sip of her smoothie and straightened. “This is good, isn’t it?” she asked.

  “What’s good?”

  “This. Us hanging out.”

  “Yeah, it’s good.” We sat in silence for a few minutes. “I didn’t realize this mall was so big.” I felt like I was falling back into the same old awkward conversation, but I didn’t know what to say.

  “Yeah, I guess it is pretty big.” Her foot bumped into my shin and her smile widened.

  My heart ached. I ached in ways I had never really experienced before. I ached to be close to her. There was no way to deny it.

  I was falling for Ryanne.

  I always thought love was a grand thing, something that came after hours spent talking about favorite things and boring normalcies. I thought you had to spend so many hours together and know each other inside and out before love even began to blossom, but it wasn’t something that blossomed with time. It was swift and all-encompassing.

  And irreversible.

  “You okay?” Ryanne asked as I shifted in my chair.

  “Yeah. Just thinking.”

  “I invited you out so we could talk. So…talk.”

  “I’m not sure what to talk about.”

  “Start with what had you upset the other day.”

  I felt deflated. “It’s nothing important.” I was too embarrassed to say anything to Ryanne about Jax’s comment and finding someone worth putting crappy music on my iPod for. And how I knew I couldn’t go there. Ever.

  “It is if it made you that upset. I just want to help.” Ryanne reached her hand out and rested it on top of mine. I closed my eyes, absorbing the heat and the sensations.

  “Jax was just messing around. Sometimes I get too sensitive.” I fought the urge to turn my hand over and wrap my fingers around hers.

  “Jax is always messing around and you don’t get so upset. Spill it.”

  I sighed, realizing she wasn’t going to let it drop. “He was talking about what it was like to have a girlfriend, the kinds of things you sacrifice or do for her, and I know I’ll never have that.”

  Ryanne sat back in her chair and furrowed her eyebrows. “Why?”

  “I’m messed up, Ryanne. Like, a lot. I have so many things going on that no one will ever want to take the time to be involved with me.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  “I’m not. I’m realistic.”

  “No, you’re pessimistic.” She sat forward again, her hand centimeters from mine, and I swore I could feel the heat of her skin. “Any girl should be glad to be considered worthy by you. You have so many good things going for you, Will. Seriously. Don’t get down and count yourself out before you even put yourself in the race.”

  I didn’t agree with her and I didn’t want to keep talking about it, so I decided to turn it into a joke. “The race, huh?” I smirked at her. “What race is this?”

  She laughed and stood. “Come on, speed racer. Let’s go walk around a bit. We have a phone to purchase.”

  Will

  MOST DAYS IT WAS HARD to get out of bed.

  Memories I thought I had suppressed were resurfacing and it was tearing me apart. It was getting harder and harder to pretend I was okay when every smile was fake and every laugh hurt. I was physically and emotionally exhausted, and every time I tried to fall asleep I was assaulted by memories or woken up by horrible nightmares.

  The guilt was debilitating.

  I couldn’t escape the fact that my parents were dead and I had killed them. Nothing would ever take that back. I started having panic attacks at the most inopportune times, but I hid the attacks from everyone, including Aunt Liv. I didn’t her to worry about me more than she already did.

  I would never be normal because a normal person wouldn’t kill his parents.

  Will

  THE REST OF SEPTEMBER FLEW BY. Going to public school was completely different from homeschooling. I had different teachers with different teaching styles and personalities and a ton of homework, but the thing that I had the most trouble getting used to were the other students. It was strange being around people my own age when I was so used to being around adults. I fou
nd the majority of them immature and annoying, but that was to be expected. So much of my life had been spent around adults.

  The buzz around school was homecoming. Jax was going with Lindsey, of course. I wasn’t planning on going because the only person I wanted to go with was Ryanne and Jax had made it very clear that Ryanne and I were supposed to be strictly friends. I was trying to respect that because I didn’t want to come between Jax and his sister, even though it was a struggle to respect his wishes.

  “What are your homecoming plans?” Stacey asked. She had been flirting with me pretty constantly, though I never encouraged her. I knew she had turned down a few people hoping I’d ask her, but I listened to Jax’s advice. Something about her rubbed me the wrong way and I didn’t want to invest more time than necessary in awful people.

  “I’m not planning on going.”

  “What? You aren’t going to homecoming?”

  “Why? Are you inviting me?”

  Jax laughed. “Shit. I’m a bad influence. Listen to you being a smart ass.”

  “What can I say? I learned from the best.” I smiled, feeling oddly proud of myself.

  “Damn right. Linds and I are going to the dance. I wasn’t sure if you were asking anyone.”

  “I don’t know who I’d ask.”

  “Anyone you want.”

  “I don’t want to be a pity date.”

  “Who do you want to go with?”

  I wanted to go with Ry.

  I thought Lindsey was annoying and fake, but I didn’t forbid Jax from dating her. Why should I let him stop me from asking Ry? But I lacked the courage to stand up to him. “I’m not sure.”

  “Most of Lindsey’s friends already have dates or I’d hook you up with one of them,” Jax said. He looked around the cafeteria. “Most of the hot girls already have a date since the dance is a week away.”

  “It’s not a big deal. I don’t have to go.”

  “Fuck that. Let me ask around. I’ll see if I can find you a date.”

  “You can ask me,” Stacey said, batting her eyes at me. For some reason, she thought that made her look attractive. I thought she looked like she had something in her eye. Suddenly, I felt trapped. How could I get out of this? There was no way I could suffer through an entire evening with Stacey. It was time to make a stand against Jax. If it were a choice between upsetting Jax or spending time with Stacey, I’d rather upset Jax.

  I inhaled deeply, gathering courage. “There is someone I’m interested in asking.”

  “Oh, yeah? Who?”

  My heart raced and I felt like I was going to throw up. “What about Ryanne?”

  Jax stiffened and the smile slipped from his face. “Ry?”

  “Yeah. I mean, if that’s okay with you.” I found it hard to get enough air into my lungs, scared of what his reaction would be. Stacey’s face twisted in disgust, but I didn’t care. I wanted one night where I could be with Ry, holding her close, spending time with her. Being with Ryanne would make upsetting Jax and ticking off Stacey totally worth it.

  He ran his hand through his hair, then rested his head in his hand. “Fuck,” he said under his breath.

  “If you aren’t okay with it, that’s fine.”

  Jax sighed and lifted his head. He looked physically pained. “I guess that would be a good option. I’m sure she’d like to relive her glory days.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay with it?”

  “Yeah, go for it.” He smiled stiffly as though he wasn’t totally sure. I knew he didn’t like the idea, but I couldn’t help feeling victorious. I fought to keep my totally sincere smile off my face.

  Stacey huffed, picking up her food and stomping away. Jax rolled his eyes, at least until Lindsey glared at him, clearly upset. “That was an asshole move, Jaxon. You know she wanted Will to take her to the dance.” She stood and put her hands on her hips.

  “He wasn’t interested in going with her. What do you want me to do, force him? That’s kind of a dick move, too, Linds.”

  She stomped her foot. “No, but you’re my boyfriend and she’s my best friend. You’re supposed to be on my side.” She was whining. I don’t know how Jax was able to stay with her. She was completely ridiculous.

  “And he’s my best friend. I’m not forcing him to go out with someone that we both can’t stand.”

  “Fine!” she exclaimed, turning on her heel and stomping away. Jax watched her go before turning back to me.

  “That was pleasant,” he said.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause issues with you and Lindsey.”

  “Forget it. She’d be pissed off no matter what.” He shrugged and stood. “I’ll see you later.” He left the lunchroom, leaving me alone.

  I pulled my cellphone out and stared at it. There was no going back from this. I was about to ask Ryanne out. Maybe it wasn’t a traditional date, but it was a night out. Together. My hands shook from nerves as I pulled her number up and started a text.

  Will: Hey, Ryanne, I have a question to ask you.

  She responded right away.

  Ryanne: What’s up?

  Will: Would you be interested in going to homecoming with me? I mean, if you aren’t busy and you don’t think it’s totally lame.

  Ryanne: When is it?

  Will: Next Friday.

  Ryanne: Let me check my overfilled social calendar.

  I held my breath. My phone vibrated after a few minutes.

  Ryanne: Sure, I’d love to go to homecoming with you :)

  Will: Thanks.

  I sat there, staring at my phone and I couldn’t fight a small smile of victory. She actually said yes.

  Ryanne seemed genuinely excited. She went out with Courtney and picked out a dress, telling me I wasn’t allowed to see it until homecoming, and presenting me with a tie that matched. I felt like my stomach was being turned inside out. I had never been to a dance before and I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

  Would she expect me to kiss her?

  What was I supposed to wear?

  What if she laughed at how horrible of a dancer I was?

  I felt incredible pressure to make this dance mean as much to Ryanne as it did to me. It meant everything. I wanted it to be a turning point for us, one where we could show Jax that she and I could be together without ruining any relationships.

  Ryanne

  IT WAS FRIDAY, BUT JAX was ditching our regular movie night for Lindsey. He actually didn’t know that Will and I planned to still watch a movie together; he was under the impression that the three of us were eating dinner and then all going our separate ways, but I had sent Will a text asking him to stay. I couldn’t wait to have an excuse to spend time with Will without Jax jumping down my throat. I was still reeling from the fact that he had asked me to the dance. When he asked me, I texted Jax to make sure he was okay with us going together. He told me he was fine with it. I was still waiting for him to change his mind.

  “You guys ready for homecoming tomorrow?” Jax asked. We were sitting in the kitchen, eating pizza.

  “Yep,” I said and Will nodded. “Do you want me to pick you up or do you want to pick me up?”

  “I can pick you up. I’ll have to see if Aunt Liv will let me borrow the car, but I’m not supposed to drive without someone over twenty-one in the car with me.”

  “Live a little, man,” Jax said, elbowing Will in his side. “You’ll be fine. Just say she’s your sister.” I raised an eyebrow and Will looked disgusted.

  “She’s not my sister.”

  “Get over it. Do you want your aunt to be your driver or do you want to live a little? You’ve clocked several hours behind the wheel already, you’ll be fine. Just be careful.”

  Will looked at me, clearly unsure.

  “You can use my car. We’ll just pretend it’s your car and you’re picking me up.”

  Will nodded.

  “Perfect, it’s all settled then,” I said.

  After we had eaten, Jax left to go to Lindsey’s place. I was in
the kitchen making popcorn and getting drinks together and Will was sitting on a stool.

  “How come you never do any of the normal college stuff?” he asked.

  “It’s not really my scene. I don’t like getting stupid drunk and sleeping around. Plus, I have to be here for Jax if he needs me. With our dad gone so much, someone needs to be here for him.”

  “Will your dad be home anytime soon?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea. He just kind of comes and goes when he wants.”

  “He should be here with you guys. Family is too important to blow off. I’d give anything to have my parents back. Though, I’m loving going to high school and hanging out with you and Jax. They never would have let me do that. I like being able to feel at least somewhat normal.”

  “I bet.” I poured the popcorn into a bowl.

  “They were killed in a drunk driving accident.” He was staring at the counter and pushing a pencil back and forth. “The one night I disobeyed them, they ended up dying. It sucks. I hate that my family is gone.”

  I stood there, staring at him, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry, Will.”

  “It’s not your fault.” He sat up and hopped off the stool. “It’s my fault. And it’s a reality I have to face, unfortunately.” He left the room, leaving me speechless. I stood there unsure of what the hell to do. He was usually very closed off about everything and I had only learned about his past from Liv. After a few minutes, I grabbed the popcorn and followed after him.

  When I got in the room, he was looking through our DVDs. “What do you want to watch?” Will asked, looking up at me.

  “I’m not sure…” We normally let Jax pick the movie, so it was odd not having him here, dictating which movie we would watch.

  “You pick and we’ll see if I agree.” He stood and went to sit on the couch while I looked through the DVDs.

  “How do you feel about scary movies?”

  “That sounds good. I’ve never seen a scary movie before.” He had the most adorable grin. It was lopsided and it reminded me of how much of a boy he really was, though there was something undeniably sexy about it.