Falling Read Free Page B

exchange my Jeep for her parents any day of the week.
       “Of course. We will have to hurry because I have to be at home when the beast gets off the bus. You can come to my house after school if you want.”
    “I can’t. My mom and dad have planned a family night out. Don’t they understand that I have other things to do besides hang out with them? “I hate it when she gripes about her parents. She just doesn’t understand how lucky she is. I love hearing about her family’s adventures. Maybe I should ask Mom and Dad if we could do something. Maybe I just need to try harder.
    “We are going out to eat and then bowling. They said family only, or you would be coming with me. Connor would probably bring a different girl to every excursion if they would let him. Speak of the devil, I heard he about knocked you unconscious today. Someone from your English class told me. What the heck happened? Did he really mow you down, or did you just fall?" she asks with a chuckle.
    “We were both running late and ran into each other in the hall. I have a bruise on my knee and one on my shoulder. I am just one lucky girl." The bell rings dismissing us from lunch and back to our last two classes. Leah starts heading in the wrong direction.
    “Where are you going? We have pre-calculus next.”
    “I gotta run by my locker and grab something before class. See you there!” she says as she dashes off down the hall. As I walk into pre-calculus, I notice Connor is already in his seat in the back of the room. Leah and I sit in the front. Just another difference between us. Connor is a good student but doesn’t focus on academics like I do. He has a lot of other things going on, like sports and being a womanizer. I just can’t figure him out. Leah interrupts my thoughts as she rushes in the classroom with a big grin on her face.
    “So Miles just walked me to class again. That is twice in one day. He even squeezed my arm when he said bye. He is so dreamy,” Leah sighs.
    “So that was the important something you had to do at your locker?” I start to giggle and soon we are both laughing.
    Mrs. McKinney silences our laughter with a look as she starts class. We take notes the whole class period, and by the end my brain feels utterly exhausted. Yet, I still have chemistry to survive through. As we leave the room, I notice Connor standing by the door. I wave to Leah as she heads off to English. As I turn to head to Chemistry, Connor steps in front of me before falling into step with me.  
    “Hey. I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were okay after this morning?  I have been thinking about you all day." Those words make my heart flutter, even if they don’t mean exactly what I want them to.
    “I told you I was fine.” I laugh and roll my eyes at him.
    He laughs, “You wouldn’t tell me if your leg was about to fall off, Abby. You are so independent, never needing anyone. You can handle anything on your own, except maybe a scary movie, right?" I notice as we walk, all the girls tracking Connor’s every move. I guess I am just one of the many.
    “How can you stand it?” I ask before I can stop myself. I hate it when people watch me, especially when I walk because it makes me feel more clumsy than usual.
    “Stand what?” he says with a glance at my face.
    “Them all watching you? Doesn’t it get on your nerves or make you feel uncomfortable?”
    “Usually I just ignore it, but sometimes it gets to be too much. Like Saturday when I came to your house. I just needed to get away from everyone. You and Leah don’t stare or try to get my attention by flirting. I can relax around you two. I love the guys I hang out with, but there are always so many girls around, sometimes it makes me crazy, and I just need to escape." He continues to look at the floor as we walk, like he is embarrassed by his response.
    “You’re lying. You love all the attention. You go out with a different girl every weekend,” I smirk.
    He