The Price of Falling Read Free Page B

wasn't interested in talking to me.
    ‘I've got money,’ I said, not sure what else to do.
    This got his attention though; Jason snapped back to look at me, frowning again.
    ‘Good for you,’ he said, sounding annoyed. He swigged back some beer and started to walk away. I noticed a couple of his friends watch the departure, but they didn't leave their game. I decided I didn't care if they looked or not and followed Jason as he sauntered over to a pin ball machine.
    ‘Jason...’ I started, not sure what I should say.
    He looked at me, then glanced at the pin ball machine he was standing in front of, raising his eyebrows momentarily. He seemed to be waiting for something.
    ‘What?’ I asked, oblivious.
    Jason rolled his eyes. ‘Put a quarter in, dummy,’ he said, taking another swig of beer and placing the bottle on top of the machine.
    ‘Oh, sure.’ I fumbled in my pocket for change. I wondered why yet again I got a small thrill from obeying an order from him. As I dropped a couple of quarters into its slot the machine whirred to life with flashing lights and loud bells.
    ‘Alright!’ Jason exclaimed, shrugging off his jacket and throwing it on the floor. He gripped at the sides of the machine and leaned over, concentrating on the balls and paddles.
    I stood next to him and watched, not quite sure what to do. Instead of watching the game I watched his face, illuminated by the red and orange flash of the lights. Even though he seemed pretty drunk he played the game well and got over five hundred points before he lost the ball. He swore, then glanced over at me before he released the next ball.
    ‘So what d'you want, jock?’ he asked me.
    ‘It's Mike,’ I said.
    Jason snorted again. ‘So what do you want, Mike ?’ He released the shutter and the ball entered the game, ringing and whooping as he snapped the paddles.
    ‘Well, I wanted-’ The machine clanged loudly as I tried to speak. ‘I wanted to know what you do.’
    Jason, still staring down at his game, raised one shoulder in a shrug. ‘I dunno,’ he answered, as if considering. ‘What d'you want? You want me to suck you off?’
    My heart leapt into my throat as I tried to answer. Jason's sudden change had shocked me but the heat travelling down to my groin answered the question.
    ‘You do that?’ I managed to get out.
    Jason's eyes flickered up at me. ‘Duh,’ he said simply, going back to his game. He soon lost the ball though, and swore again as it went down the hole with a dramatic 'glug glug' sound effect from the machine.
    ‘So?’ Jason rose up and faced me, waiting.
    I nodded, silently agreeing. I could feel myself sweating all over.
    ‘Alright,’ Jason smiled, picking up his beer. ‘You give me cash up front.’
    I nodded again.
    ‘Two hundred bucks.’
    ‘What?!’ I said in surprise. ‘You're kidding?’
    Jason was still smirking, obviously trying to subdue the laughter building inside him. ‘For you, jock, it's two hundred. Take it or leave it.’ He turned back to the pin ball machine and held out his hand. ‘You got any more quarters?’
    My mind was racing. I didn't have more than sixty dollars on me, but I had money at home. I always saved pretty much all my allowance to use at college. I knew I'd have enough. I could be home and back within an hour. I had to get the money, there was no question about what I wanted now.
    This was it.
    I delved a hand into my pocket again and fished out all the quarters I had. I handed them over to Jason, his fingers felt cool and smooth as they brushed mine, accepting the coins. My hand flexed involuntarily after his as he drew it away, but I pulled it back quickly. I didn't understand what had come over me.
    ‘OK,’ I found myself saying. ‘But I need to go home to get the money.’
    ‘Mm-hm,’ Jason had already counted the quarters and placed them in a small pile on the top of the machine.
    ‘Will you wait for me?’ I asked, not entirely trusting him.
    ‘Yeah, yeah,’ Jason