When We Fall

by Sloane Murphy

  Mason: Okay, awesome. Want me to pick you up?

  Me: Believe me when I say, this is for your own good, but hell, no!

  Mason: I’ll try not to be too offended LOL. See you at mine at 6?

  Me: Sure, shoot me your address and I’ll be there

  I put my phone down and smile. It sounds so god damn corny and I hate it, but I love the possibility that I have a friend again. Don’t get me wrong, I have Evan, but well, not really, and Charli is so far away that she doesn’t count right now. Never tell her that, that bitch will cut me. I wolf down the lasagna before waving to Monica and heading upstairs to get ready. The phone call looked serious, but if it’s anything major, I know she’ll tell me.

  I strip off and jump in the shower before shimmying into my clothes for tonight. Jaded Hearts ripped tee. Check. Denim cut offs. Check. Knee High chucks with bright blue lace. You’re damn skippy! I blow my hair out but leave it down and straight, remembering to stick an elastic on my wrist along with the many bracelets. I have a glance in the mirror to check I don’t look like a complete dork with my bright white legs out. I do, but I realize I’m too excited to care. I’ve never been to a gig before; it’s real high on my bucket list. I go to the corkboard on my wall, where I’ve got a ton of pictures of different things I want to do before I’m too old to, and on there is a picture of Jaded Hearts, which I tore out from a magazine covering their night at Hyde Park in London. This might not be London, but I am already too excited. I practically bounce out of my room and down the stairs. Monica is sat on the sofa, looking solemn, but she sees me and seems to shake it off.

  “Erin, you look amazing!”

  “Flying the freak flag high,” I giggle.

  “Erin!” she scolds, “we don’t use that word. Quirky, we like quirky.” She winks at me.

  “Yes ma’am,” I laugh back at her.

  “Now then, you go and have some fun; you deserve it,” she says after hugging me. “Though not too much fun, you hear!”

  I laugh as I open the door, and pop my headphones in to my ears. “Love you too, Mon.”

  I head across town to the address Mason sent over. I’m listening to some JH to pump myself up – Like I need it. I see my surroundings almost like for the first time. I’ve never really thought about it before, but I guess I live on the ‘money’ side of Rocky Falls. We’ve never really struggled for anything, material wise I mean, it’s just not something I’ve paid attention to. I guess that makes me a little entitled? Or naïve maybe? I contemplate this as I walk the miles to Mason’s. I spot his car first; a black, shiny monster parked on the driveway, of a small bungalow. It looks a little worn, but it also looks loved. The front gardens are tended to perfection, and other than the cracks in the paint, there’s nothing wrong with it. It stands out on its street, the houses around it look tired, and some are more than a little unloved. I open the gate and walk up the pathway to the wraparound porch. The door opens before I reach it.

  “Mason, your girlfriend’s here,” a young boy yells, before running into the front yard, followed by three others, all in football jerseys.

  “You must be Parker,” I say to him with a smile.

  “That’s me. Mason’s inside with Grams.”

  “Nice to meet you, Parker.”

  “Thanks, I’m going to go now.”

  “Parker Knight, you watch your damn manners.” I turn and see who I assume is their Grams, hollering from the front door.

  “Sorry, Grams,” he grumbles. “Nice to meet you, too, Erin,” he says before running off to join his friends.

  “Come on in dear. Mason’s just sorting out the sink for me. Damn thing has a mind of its own.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Knight.”

  “None of that now, Mrs. Knight is my mother-in-law. You call me Grams, everyone else does.”

  “Grams give the poor girl a break, she’s hardly in the door. Hey Erin,” Mason says, as he hugs his grams and kisses her cheek. He’s in sweats and topless, and damn hot. That tattoo, I’d seen peeking out of his t-shirt at school before, and that one time when he stripped off to save me from my slushie humiliation, but I couldn’t really pay attention fully then, but no, now it is on full show, and what a work of art it is. A phoenix, rising from the ashes and fire, wings stretched out. My cheeks blush as I realize I’m staring – with a slack jaw. God, this is embarrassing. I look to the floor.

  “Boy, go put some clothes on!” Grams swats at him. “You should shower, too, you sweaty ape.”

  “Yes, Grams!” He shouts out as he heads off down a corridor. “I won’t be long, Erin.”

  “Would like a drink, dear?”

  “Yes please.” I feel a little awkward, but there’s something about Grams that makes you feel at home.

  “Come on in, I won’t bite,” she says, ushering me into the kitchen with her. “You just take a seat; Mason won’t keep you waiting long. He’s a good boy, really.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So you’re tutoring my Mason, too? He said that’s how you became friends.”

  “I guess you could say that,” I laugh. “But yes, I am tutoring him.”

  “You do well in school? You have many plans for after?”

  “You could say that. I’m working towards starting my pre-med at UT next fall.”

  “Ah, so my Mason is in good hands. Do you have many friends, girl?”

  “Erm, I tend to keep to myself. Well, until Mason, obviously.”

  “He badgered you until you gave in, didn’t he?” She belts out a laugh.

  “Something like that,” I laugh quietly.

  “That boy, he’s just like my Enzo, rest his soul. Stubborn as a bull, but once he saw what he wanted, he’d persist until he got his way. That’s how I ended up married to him – best decision I ever made,” she tells me, handing me a glass of sweet tea. “But you don’t let him talk you into anything crazy. You just do you, you hear me girl? You’re far too pretty to let anyone tell you what to do. Smart too. You’re a good girl, I can tell,” she rambles.

  “You talking crazy again, Grams?” Mason asks as he swaggers into the room. He’s just wearing jeans and a white tee, but it’s tight enough for his arms to strain against it as he grips the door to the fridge and bends over to grab himself a drink.

  “Don’t you sass me, boy. You’ll never be too big to go over my knee.”

  “Awh, come on, Grams, you know you love me too much for that. Plus, you love my sass,” he winks at her and kisses her on the cheek. Its sweet to see him like this with her. I know he can be teasing, he’s like it with me, but he shuts himself off from most people, from what I’ve seen.

  “You ready?” He asks me.

  “Sure,” I smile and stand. “Thank you for the tea, Grams.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. Mason, she’s a good girl; you don’t screw this up.”

  “Grams,” he groans.

  “We’re just friends, Grams. I could use a few good ones,” I smile at her.

  “Ummmhmmm.”

  “See you later, Grams,” he says, placing his hand on the small of my back and ushering us out of the house to his car.

  “Sorry about Grams; she can be a bit full on,” he apologizes as he opens the car door for me.

  “Don’t be – she seems great.”

  “She’s a crazy old bat, but I wouldn’t change her for the world,” he laughs before closing the door and strolling round to get in. “I set us up a playlist, Jaded’s best hits. That cool with you?”

  “Hell yes! I’m so excited, so I’m just going to say sorry now. I’ve never been to a gig before – or done, well much of anything, so thank you.” I trip over the words as they fall out of my mouth.

  “Well, time to pop that cherry then! Here’s to firsts.”

  ***

  Holy shit, this is amazing! I’ve never been so tightly packed in between people before. I feel like a sardine, and it’s amazing! To be in a room full of people, all there for the same reason, feeling the same things
you are. The magic is indescribable. I’ve never felt so on fire; screaming lyrics at the top of my voice and losing myself in the music. It’s something new, and I never want to not feel this way again.

  “You can’t control what they say,

  you can’t control what they do.

  Just be who you are,

  this time you might break through.

  They might not back down,

  but you know that they can’t break you.

  Just be who you are, just be who you are!!”

  The lyrics wash through me, and though I’ve heard them a thousand times, this time it’s different; like they settle inside a piece of my soul, giving me a strength to pull from.

  We sing and dance, bounce and thrash, the night away, and before I know it, the encore is done and the lights are up. We walk, wordlessly with the crowd, out of the stadium and back to the car.

  “Thank you so much for tonight, Mason. It was incredible.”

  “Thank you for coming with me. It wouldn’t have been the same on my own. It was fun being your first gig buddy, too. I forgot how much fun they can be when you get lost in it all.”

  He stands so close in front of me it’s like I can breathe him in. The wind picks up and my skin pimples, but I barely feel the cold what with the heat coming from him.

  “Erin…” he murmurs my name as he looks down at me, and my head swims as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me in line with him, my curves fitting somehow along his hard edges. I put my arms around him and rest my head on his chest. He feels safe, which considering I’ve not known him long, is weird, but I’ve learnt not to question these things in life. Good people don’t pop up every day. His lips touch mine, and I sigh into him. Holy crap, Mason Knight is kissing me! I find myself reacting to him, my hands running through his hair, pulling him closer to me. I’ve never felt like this before. Ever. His hands move down and grip my waist, pulling me closer to him, and I can’t help the pleasurable groan that escapes me. He slows the kiss, and I pull back, my lips swollen.

  “We should get back, huh? Do you want me to drive?” I ask, taking a step back and putting my hand on his chest. The distance helps clear the fog in my head. He puts his hand over the one I have on his chest, the other on my hip.

  “I won’t push this, Erin, but there’s something about you; you’re special. I can wait for that. I might not have known you long, but know I’m not going anywhere.” He leans down and kisses me lightly on the lips. I close my eyes as his lips touch mine, so soft, and yet, demanding. He pulls back, his hands still on me. “Let’s get you home.”

  ***

  He pulls up in front of my house and I stretch out in the hoodie he gave me when I started to get cold on our drive.

  “Tiger really is a fitting name for you. Enjoy your cat nap?” He chuckles.

  “I did not sleep, I just got reallll comfy,” I protest.

  “Your snores said otherwise.”

  “I do NOT snore!” I say, horrified. I mean I hope I don’t. Please God, no.

  “It’s cute. Kinda like a purr,” he teases.

  “Oh, shut up, you bloody brute, I do not!” I say, swatting his arm.

  “Violent too, I’ll have to remember to keep those claws in check.”

  “Oh my God, I’m going now,” I say, opening the door.

  “Night, kitten.”

  “Night, asshole,” I say, slamming the door shut. I can hear him laughing as I walk up the front path. I send him the finger, laughing as I open the front door. He’s still laughing as he restarts the car, letting the engine turn until I’m safely inside.

  “Fun night?”

  “Holy shit!” I squeak, holding my heart.

  “I scare you?” Monica asks with a childish glint.

  “Something like that. What are you still doing up? It’s gone one.”

  “Couldn’t sleep. Soooo, did you have fun?”

  “It was quite possibly the best night of my life. Bar none.” I sigh, dropping down onto the sofa beside her, taking a spoonful of her ice cream.

  “I’m glad to hear it. Evan dropped by tonight…” Monica says with disdain. I really don’t get why everyone has such a problem with him, I mean, yes he can be a jerk sometimes, but it’s not like he’s a bad person.

  “He didn’t seem happy at all when I said you were out with a boy; who I’m assuming from the cuss words he threw around is called Mason?”

  “That’s right, I don’t get his problem with Mason. It’s weird, but anyway, can we reconvene in the morning? I’m shattered.”

  “Sure thing, honey. Good night.”

  “Night, Mon.”

  I make my way up the stairs with a smile on my face, before falling face first on to my bed.

  Chapter Six

  “Words, like nature, half reveal,

  and half conceal the soul within.”

  ~ Lord Alfred Tennyson

  I wake up the next morning with a smile still on my face. It’s early when my alarm goes off, and I’m shattered, but it was totally worth it. I hear my laptop ringing from across the room. I look over to see Charli’s face staring at me. Throwing off the covers, I pad across the room and grab it before getting back into bed.

  “Morning,” I yawn.

  “Hey, bitch. Why are you so sleepy?”

  “Late night. You okay?” I ask, pulling the comforter around my shoulders.

  “Late night? You? Huh?”

  “I went to a Jaded Hearts gig with Mason,” I tell her casually, trying to play it down, because 3…2…1…

  “HOLYSHITOHMYGODWHATDOYOUMEANTELLMEEVERYTHING!” she gushes without taking a breath and I can’t help but laugh. She always makes me laugh.

  “This is no time to laugh at me, Erin Michaels! Don’t you dare hold out on me!”

  “What? There’s not much to tell, he invited me to the gig after we went out last weekend. We talked about our epic love for Jaded Hearts, then he surprised me with tickets yesterday. Nothing major.”

  “Nothing major, my fucking ass! This is HUGE! You went out, and not just out, out with the new hot guy in town!”

  “Stop it, he’s just my friend. I mean, he kissed me, but we’re just friends.”

  “Shut the front fucking door! He kissed you? These are important details; I demand to know abso-fucking-lutely everything!”

  “You’re such a potty mouth, you know that, right?”

  “ERIN!!!”

  I sigh and fill her in on the night before – not that there’s much more to tell her, because like I said, it really was no big deal. Except, he kissed me. After saying he’s not going to push me…

  I push the thoughts to the back of my brain. I can’t focus on all that right now, not when Evan is stood at my bedroom window again. I roll my eyes and make my excuses to Charli before opening the window.

  “You could knock on the front door like civilized people, you know? Or don’t you want people knowing I’m your dirty little secret?”

  “Seriously? Already, Erin? I literally just got here.”

  “Yeah, well, when you only talk to me in private, what am I meant to think. What do you want?”

  “I came to check in on you. Monica said you were out last night, with Mason? He’s not a good guy. You need to steer clear of him.”

  “That’s real funny, cause it’s what everyone keeps saying to me about you, too, Evan.”

  “I’m being serious, Erin. He’s been telling people at school he’s only hanging out with you because you sucked his dick real good, and he’s just waiting for you to put out.”

  “Shut your face, Evan. Mason wouldn’t say something like that.”

  “Are you sure about that? Because I heard it from Tommy, just after he was speaking to Mason. The other guys on the team said they’d heard it, too. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

  “Well, maybe I don’t want you looking out for me. You don’t seem to have a stellar reputation for good judgment – I mean, look at your goddamn girlfriend. You said yo
u’d speak to her, get her off my case; her and her flunkies destroyed my clothes yesterday, after gym. Maybe you should just leave me the hell alone, Evan,” I say, panting with anger. I don’t remember ever feeling this angry. Maybe it’s the humiliation of what he told me, but I don’t believe it. Mason isn’t that sort of guy.

  “You hardly know the guy, Erin.”

  “GET OUT!” I scream, and throw the glass on my bedside cabinet at him.

  “Fucking hell! You’ve actually lost it,” he screams, ducking the glass.

  Monica bursts in the room and sees me about to burst into tears, the broken glass, and a very angry Evan by my open window.

  “Evan, I suggest you leave, and think twice before coming back here. If I find you in here again, I’ll be speaking to your parents. Now leave, through the front door, not the window – let’s have a bit of grace,” she tells him quietly, her anger just barely contained. She has no idea what’s gone on, but she’s instantly in my corner and on my side, and I love her for it. Evan storms past her, followed by the loud slamming of our front door.

  “That boy,” she mutters, shaking her head. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

  “I’ll be fine; he was just being a jerk.”

  “Oh, honey, you can call him an asshole,” she says and I giggle. Hearing her cuss is weird. “Hey, I just call um as I see um!”

  She walks over and hugs me tightly. “Well if that’s all, I’m going to go climb back into bed for a few hours. I’m exhausted.”

  “Are you okay, Mon?” I ask, she looks really tired, and thin. How have I not noticed how thin she looks?

  “I’m fine, don’t you worry that pretty little head. How about after I get in a few more z’s, we go shopping? Stationary supplies, and all things book?”

  “Hell, yes!”

  “That’s my girl, and there’s that smile. Wake me up at eleven and we’ll head out, okay?”

  “Sure thing, Mon. I can’t wait.”

  ***

  I let out a long groan as soon as I wake. I really do not want to head in to school today. If it wasn’t already bad enough, what with the whole Teagan and her shower ‘joke’, Evan is bound to be orchestrating some kind of revenge – and then there is Mason. Mason who kissed me. Kissed me!