Falling Into Us Read Free Page B

wreaking havoc on me now. It was finally happening. I was going out on a date with Nell Hawthorne. I could picture her wearing a demure but sleek knee-length skirt, some kind of top that couldn’t disguise her incredible rack. Long strawberry blonde hair loose around her shoulders, just the bangs pinned back behind her head like always. She liked to paint her fingernails bright colors, usually red or orange or pink. Sometimes blue or green, but never black or gray or any dull colors.  
    I stopped in the middle of the road a mile from her house and tried to pull myself together. It was just a date. We were just two friends going on a date. Nothing else. There was no reason to think I’d get to kiss her. I wouldn’t even try to hold her hand. Just…hang out and talk. No need to get excited.
    But I was. I was wired, I was so excited.  
    I let out a long breath, slapped my steering wheel with both hands, and whooped as loud as I could, releasing some of my built-up excitement.   I was pumped, so worked up at the prospect of going on a date with Nell that I didn’t even feel my bruises.
    I put the truck back in drive and pulled up to Nell’s driveway. My cell phone rang just as I was stopping in front of her house. I glanced at the screen, sliding the “answer” key when I saw Kyle’s name. The digital clock readout at the top of the screen read 6:54 p.m., so I was a bit early. I’d been ignoring the fact that I’d have to tell him I was going out on a date with the girl who was closer to him than a sister. Now that he was calling, minutes before the date, I almost didn’t want to tell him.  
    “Hey, Kyle, my man! Whassup!” I faked enthusiasm to cover the rush of nerves.
    The hesitation on the other end was louder than a shout. “Actually, Jason, this is Nell. I’m calling from Kyle’s phone…I—I forgot mine.” Nell’s voice hit me in the chest like a ton of bricks.
    Then her words registered. “Forgot yours? Where are you? I’m pulling up to your driveway right now.”
    An even longer hesitation. My stomach shriveled and sank at her next words: “Listen, I’m sorry, but I can’t go out with you.”
    Shit. I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. “Oh, I gotcha.” I tried to cover my disappointment, but I was sure she could hear it anyway. “Everything okay? I mean—”
    “I just—I may have said yes too quickly, Jason. I’m sorry. I don’t think…I don’t think it’d work.”  
    “So this isn’t a rain check, is it.” I couldn’t disguise my hurt at this point.  
    “No. I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s fine, I guess.” I laughed, realizing how stupid that sounded, especially since she could obviously tell I was upset. “Shit, no. It’s not. This is kinda shady, Nell. I was all excited.” I had to get it together. I clenched my fist around the steering wheel and squeezed my eyes shut.
    “I’m so, so sorry, Jason. I just realized, after really thinking about things…I mean, I’m flattered, and I was excited that you asked me, but—”
    I interrupted her. “This is about Kyle, isn’t it? You’re with him, on his phone, so of course this about him.”   I should have known. I really should have. Everyone always thought they were together anyway.  
    “Jason, that’s not—I mean, yeah, I’m with him right now, but—”
    “It’s fine. I get it. I think we all knew this was coming, so I shouldn’t be surprised. I just wish you’d told me sooner.” I sounded like a dick, but I just couldn’t help it.
    “I’m sorry, Jason. I don’t know what else to say.”  
    “Nothing to say. It’s all good. I’ll just…whatever. See you in chemistry on Monday.”
    I was about to hang up when her voice stopped me. “Jason, wait.”
    “What.”
    “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but…Becca has had a crush on you since seventh grade. I guarantee she’ll go out with you.”
    “Becca?” Shock laced my words. “Wouldn’t that be weird? I mean, what would I