Fall From Love Read Free

take
another deep breath in and blow it out, trying to calm my nerves.
    We walk in and the
music that’s bouncing off the walls consumes me. The large, dimly lit room
still looks the same; it’s as if nothing has changed. My eyes reach over to the
right and I scan the bar that’s basked in different colors from the neon signs
hanging on the wall behind it. Jenna turns to smile at me and my heart feels
like it’s going to explode through my chest as we squeeze our way through the
crowds. I see a few familiar faces and most of them stare at me with wide eyes
and mouths agape. With each step I take, I realize that coming here was a
mistake and I’m not ready to handle this—the people, the emotions, the memories
of happy times. So many images swirl around in my mind and I try to block them
out and concentrate on something else—anything else. Music, Holly. Just
listen to the music.
    “Holly?!” I hear a
shrill voice call my name and I turn around, hoping it’s not Becca. I just
don’t think I can deal with her right now. “Oh, my gosh, it’s really you. It’s
so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.” Becca hugs me hard, but my arms
hang limp at my sides. “You look awesome, by the way. Have you done something
with your hair?” Her gaze drifts over my hair before meeting my eyes. “It
looks… I don’t know, darker or something,” she says. Her high pitched tone
hasn’t changed one bit. It’s still the same one that could easily be mistaken
for a ten-year-old girl getting a puppy for her birthday.
    “No, I haven’t done
anything to it,” I say, my voice flat.
    “Gosh, I’ve missed
you all summer.”
    “Yeah, um, I’ve
just been busy.”
    “Can you believe
that school’s already starting back again? Summer went by way too fast. Come
sit over here by me. We have so much to catch up on.” She grabs my arm and
begins to pull me away from Jenna.
    Before I even have
a chance to protest, a hard tug pulls me back in the opposite direction. “Nope,
she stays with me,” Jenna says, giving me a wink and a smile. “Sorry, Becca,
she’s my date tonight.” Jenna’s arm flies around my shoulder, almost in a
protective embrace.
    “Oh, okay.” Becca
looks at Jenna and then back to me. “I’ll catch up with you later, then.” She
frowns and turns to walk away. I glance over to Jenna and give her an
appreciative look, hoping she knows how much I love her right now.
    “You know, the next
time I’m feeling a little down, I need to see if Becca will sell me some of
that perky-pick-me-up juice she must drink. She’s always so... bubbly ,”
Jenna says, smiling at me.
    I laugh... a real,
honest laugh and it feels good. Really good.
    It’s not that I
don’t like Becca or don’t want to talk to her. The two of us have been friends
since freshman year, and we are both Journalism majors so we have a lot of the
same classes. I just don’t think I can stand her bubbly personality right now
or the possible question and answer session she may have had planned for me.
Questions like: How am I holding up? What have I been doing to keep myself
busy? Things I don’t want to talk about with anyone; not to my parents or even
Jenna.
    “So, what’s it
gonna be? Vodka and cranberry or dirty martini?” Jenna asks, pulling me from my
thoughts.
    I grimace. “Uh,
it’s been a while; I think I’ll just start with a beer.”
    “Whatever you say, date .
Two beers coming right up.” Jenna smiles and walks towards the bar.
    The moment she
leaves my side, I begin to feel anxious. I’m scared that someone will notice me
standing alone, think that I’m actually lonely, and come talk to me.
    Not even a full
minute passes before I hear a deep voice speak up from behind me. “I thought
that was you.”
    I glance over my
shoulder and see Joe standing there with a large smile on his face.
    “Hi, Joe.” I
stretch my lips out, trying my best to give him a smile. It’s actually really
good to see him. His sweet, kind