Falling Behind (Falling Series)

by Dee Avila

  “I said I don’t wanna talk about it.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you want to talk about. Those are bruises from fingers. I can see it. How many more do you have, C? I hope that’s it and you’re doing the smart thing.”

  “Ugh, fine it was one time. He grabbed my wrist, as I was walking away, after we had an argument. I threatened to leave him. He just grabbed harder than he thought. No big deal, Ty, I promise. We talked about things and we’re fixing things. He won’t do it, again.”

  “I’m going to keep an eye out. If I see anything else, I will kick his ass. I promise you.”

  When we pulled into the school parking lot, my eyes scanned the whole campus. It was covered in green balloons and those cheap cowboy hats. I laughed when Candice squealed.  “I can’t believe they did this! Our varsity team better have done something to their school.”

  We were playing the Riverdale Cowboys for Homecoming. The two schools were cross-town rivals. We always did something to each other’s school on game day. I usually went, but this morning, I woke up late. “I don’t know what they did. But they all went.”

  “I bet that’s where Alex went, then.”

  “Probably. Come on we’re going to be late for class.”

  Lunchtime came quickly, and so did the lunchtime activities. The energy in the air buzzed with the anticipation of tonight’s game. The Student Council had set up a dunk tank in the quad area. There was a long table with a couple senior girls sitting behind it. I glanced around and saw Mr. Wait climbing on to the seat in the tank. Reese was standing at the long table handing her money over and getting three balls in return.

  “Does he know how good of an arm you have?”

  Reese jumped before spinning around and slapping me on the chest. “Don’t do that to me. He should; but if he doesn’t, he soon will.” She glanced over at our Civics teacher. I followed her gaze to see him staring at her with a nervous gleam in his eyes.

  “Oh yeah, he knows for sure.” I chuckled. “Want me to help you stretch your arm?”

  She brought her arms behind her and I pulled them together lifting them above her head. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

  “Who knows, he doesn’t like this stuff. Pull tighter and lift higher.” As I lifted her arms her shirt rose revealing a smooth section of her lower back. I wanted to run my hands along it; I knew it would be silky soft. I had to stop myself. I needed to think about something else. Baseball would work.

  Mets, Red Sox, Yankees…

  “Thanks.” Reese pulled her arms out of my grasp. She stepped up to the line and her tongue darted out of her mouth. Whenever she concentrated, her tongue stuck out─ not a lot, but enough to notice and wonder what it would be like to feel it with my tongue.

  I leaned in to her and whispered. “You’re gonna bite that tongue off.”

  She sucked it in real fast and aimed her arm for the target.

  “Reese, remember you like me!” Mr. Wait yelled from atop his perch.

  She counted out loud to three before pulling her arm back and firing the ball to the target. Boom! Splash! As soon as the ball hit the target Mr. Wait splashed into the tank.

  “Oh. My. Gosh. He’s going to kill me.” Reese screamed, covering her face.

  “YES!”

  “Go, Reese!” Students yelled and cheered Reese on.

  Mr. Wait swam to the surface and smiled in Reese’s direction. “You got lucky. No way could you do that, again.”

  Two more balls and two more dunks later the crowd had grew bigger and the screams were louder. Reese smiled at me before grabbing a towel and walking it over to Mr. Wait. He said something to her that made her laugh before walking away, waving bye to me. Not far from where she was, I saw Josh glaring at me. I smiled and waved at him, too.

  They cancelled our afternoon classes for an extended rally. The sound of locker doors slamming and students shuffling through the halls and across the yard toward the gym filled the early afternoon air. I took a deep breath; my nerves were on edge after seeing Josh glaring at me. He bugged the shit out of me.

  I slammed my fist in to my locker before stalking off toward my mom’s car. I had a little over eight hundred saved up. After another year of working odd jobs, I should have enough to buy my uncle’s truck. He’d been saving it for me, but he wants fifteen hundred. I haven’t made enough mowing yards and gardening to get it, yet; so, for the time being, mom and I share her Toyota Camry. It gets me, and whoever else needs a ride, from point A to point B.

  In the back seat was my game bag. I already had my jersey on, but there was something that I needed inside for a surprise they were going to reveal at the rally. Reese. Yes Reese got me involved, again. She talked me into playing a couple games during the rally.

  The cheerleaders had put together a Game Show theme. Each class did a game show. All four grades had a representatives playing in each game. I walked in the gym and couldn’t believe the work they had put into this event. Each football player had his own sign with his name and number taped to the wall. With twenty-five players on each team that was fifty signs. Plus, the fourteen cheerleader’s names were also in signs on the walls. The signs weren’t small, they were each a good three to four feet long. Every inch of wall space, above the bleachers, was covered. The cheerleaders even went so far as to rotate the blue, white and gold colors of the signs. Each wall had three rows of names, leaving a section in the middle for a huge “Beat Those Cowboys” and “Mustang Win” sign. Streamers hung from the doorways and stage. The curtain on the stage was drawn and a couple signs reading Laton High Game Shows were taped on either side of the stage.

  The gym filled with chatter as the bleachers filled up. I saw the football teams I walked over and joined my team.

  The lights dimmed and blue and gold spotlights started swirling around, causing everyone to scream in anticipation. Our principal, Mr. Gustin, stepped up to the mic. “Can I have your attention, please?”

  Most of the students began to settle down, but there were still a few that yelled and talked loudly. Mr.Gustin yelled, “Hey that’s enough!”

  Within seconds, the gym was silent; well mostly, except when the lights went out, which caused a little bit of a ruckus. When the music started, everyone grew still. From where the football players sat, we could see the cheerleaders enter the gym. They had on neon skirts and shirts with knee high neon socks. When the black lights, at either end as well as in the middle of the gym floor flicked on, the cheerleaders’ outfits glowed. We were on the opposite side of the main crowd and I could see Reese’s face. It looked like she had glow-in-the-dark war paint on her face. She smiled at me before dropping her head to begin the routine. I had to admit they looked really cool. The music switched over and Party Rock Anthem started booming through the sound system. I smiled, watching them spin around and start rocking out their dance moves.

  The girls moved into what Reese had told me was called a formation. And, with the lights out, all we see is a blur of color and then the color flying through the air as three girls, one after the other flew through the air, spinning and landing back in the arms of the cheerleader acting as the base. It was pretty cool to see. Everyone stood and yelled as the cheerleaders ran out of the gym. The lights came back on and Mr. Gustin stepped up to the mic, again.

  “Let’s hear it for your Lady Mustang Cheerleaders!” He gave everyone a minute to hoot and holler before patting the air to get everyone settled. “Alright now, it’s time for the first game show. Will Monroe and Gen please come backstage?”

  The curtains were pulled open and they had a Dating Game set put together on stage. Monroe, the captain and quarterback of the Varsity team, sat on one side of a partition. On the other side sat four empty chairs. Gen was the Varsity cheer captain a senior and Monroe’s girlfriend. She paced back and forth in front of Monroe and the set.

  Mr. Gustin handed Gen some cards and the mic. Her face lit up as she turned toward the bleachers and a wide smile spread across her perfect face.
Gen was the stereotypical gorgeous head cheerleader. There was not a single guy at this school that didn’t dream about Gen. She was tiny, less than five feet tall, and super skinny, with long, straight, shiny straw-colored hair. Her ice blue eyes sparkled as she searched the crowd before speaking.

  “Welcome to today’s episode of Laton High’s Dating Game. Our bachelor is my lovely boyfriend”—she covered her mouth and, with her hand over the mic, you could hear her giggling.

  ─“Oops, my bad. Your bachelor, ladies and gentlemen, is Mr. Monroe Mackay.” She displayed her hands in typical Vanna White fashion. “Mr. Mackay likes talking about football and cars, long walks on the beach and a good hamburger, fries and chocolate milkshake.”

  “Now, for our Dating Game contestants.” She made a grand gesture toward the stage door. “First, our freshman contestant, Miss Davidina, enjoys walking on the beach and long talks.”

  The crowd erupted in laughter as David Pennington, a freshman tuba player, and class president, walked in, waving at the crowd with a sly grin. Dressed in a short purple dress and sneakers, he walked to the first chair, spun around and bowed to the audience before sitting.

  Three more contestants were introduced; each was their class president, wearing similar dresses in blue, yellow and hot pink. Tyler Binson, represented our sophomore class and wore his sister’s hot pink mini dress and a pair of heels. I don’t know where they got the heels from, but it worked. The junior class contestant came out next, Carter Harrington, wore blue, thrusting his hips as he walked to his seat. Finally the senior president entered the stage. Lincoln Nieves came out in the bright yellow dress and had the crowd screaming. Gen began asking questions to both Monroe and the contestants. The game ended by Gen asking the room to cheer for their favorite, before Monroe chose the winner.

  The sophomores had it by a landslide. But since Monroe and Gen were dating and in cahoots with the seniors, he chose contestant number four, the senior. The entire gym booed the co-conspiring seniors.

  The curtains closed and they flicked the lights back on. The director of the next game grabbed the microphone. Watching Reese smile at me as she took the mic made my stomach tighten and my thumb went up to my mouth—I hate that I bite my nails when I’m nervous.

  This was it. I would be asked to make my way down to the center of the gym for The Kissing Game. I am so not ready for this.

  Reese’s soft voice attempted to ease my fears. “Can I please get all the kissing game participants to come down?” She kept her eyes on mine, not looking for the others at all, reassuring me that it would be okay.

  I lowered my hand, drying my thumb on my pants as I stood. I had purposefully sat on the second bleacher and I was the first to reach her. There were four chairs, evenly spaced, in a row. Reese, placing four blue and gold bandanas over her arm, led me to second chair.

  She grabbed one saying, “I’ve got to tie this on you, but no cheating.” She tied it on, covering my eyes and instructing me to close them, as well.

  I heard her repeat the instructions to the other three football player contestants. Now back at the mic, she explained the rules to the audience. “Each participant will be kissed by one girl and they must say out loud who they think the girl is. No help from the crowd, please. The winner gets a surprise.”

  I heard shuffling, as if someone was working their way up behind us.

  “On the count of three.” Reese’s smooth voice sounded further away. Damn, it means it’s not her. “One, Two, Three.”

  I felt a small hand rest on my shoulder and cold, hard lips press a kiss into my cheek. I had no clue, but then I inhaled.

  I heard snickers and giggling. I was pretty sure I knew who it was excited as I waited to be asked.

  Paul Delgado, a freshman, announced that he thought it was Gen and the crowd hollered and laughed.

  I was next, “My mom.” Silence no one said anything.

  Jonathon Springer was next. “Candice.” The crowd roared once again.

  I squeezed my fists. The guy knew it wasn’t Candice. He was messing with his buddy, Alex. I knew Alex would be pissed and Candice would have some explaining to do. I hoped, even though I was sure it was useless, that Alex didn’t take Jonathan’s dumb ass remark out on Candice.

  Alex, the ass I was worried about, practically growled, letting everyone know she was his. “My girl.” There were a few yells and a few boo’s, which didn’t tell me anything.

  “Go ahead and take off your blind folds.” I could hear the snicker in her voice.

  I pulled off my bandana standing before me was my mom. “I knew it.”

  “How’d you know?” Mom asked.

  “I smelled your…” my mom hit her forehead, “perfume.”

  “Dang it, I didn’t think about that.”

  “Sophomores win this game. Congratulations, Ty, you when a date with your mom.” Reese chuckled and walked over to the spirit stick leaning up against the podium. “Two more games and then a special dance will be performed and then we are outta here.”

  All of the Mom’s headed over to bleachers to sit with the teachers sat and we headed back to our seats. Gen started talking about the next game. A three legged race.

  I was surprised to see Candice represent our sophomore class in this one. She lined up with a girl named Grace, and Gen tied a bandanna around their legs. The other classes lined up next to them.

  “Okay, when the music starts you go! The first team to the other end wins!” Gen yelled through the microphone.

  The music started and the contestants took off. Candice and Grace had a good lead but the seniors were gaining on them. Candice must have seen them. She said something to Grace and they sprinted to the finish line. The sophomores won.

  The final contest was a “Karaoke Sing Off”. Each class had a girl representative, singing girly songs, whichever class cheered the loudest won. The winner, if it was a sophomore or senior, would win the spirit stick. If not, they would do a chant off.

  The music from Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” filled the gym as Carla Halloway, a freshman, slowly approached the mic and began humming along with the music. The freshman class cheered and sang with her.

  Kodie Green, the sophomore singer skipped onto the stage, microphone in one hand and a cell phone in the other belting out, “Call Me Maybe,” in a sweet voice. Our classmates were on their feet, stomping and screaming. If the judges based their decision on the noise right now, we would definitely win. Kodie ate it up and danced, as she acted out her version of the song.

  Amanda Clay, or Mandi, as everyone called her, shyly slipped on stage trying to hide behind a curtain before stepping up to the mic. “Summer Nights” from the Grease soundtrack started and Jonathan joined Mandi in a duet. I couldn’t believe they were pulling this card. A guy shouldn’t be allowed to climb on stage and sing with the girl. If they win, I hope someone throws a fit.

  The senior class girl, Juliette Boone, sauntered in wearing the tightest black pants and shirt, ever. I’m pretty sure it was one of those one piece things. I’ve heard her sing before and knew her voice was amazing. The slow, melodic sound of Avenged Sevenfold’s, “Dear God,” filtered through the gym as Juliette sat on a stool and her sexy voice cried out the ballad. The seniors’ hollered for their contestant all the way through. When her song came to an end, the other contestants joined her.

  “Okay, well done, ladies and Jonathan. When we point to your favorite contestant we want you to chant, scream, and make some noise. The person with the loudest cheers wins!” Instructed Mr. Gustin.

  They all did an awesome job. Of course, Kodie was my favorite; and when he got to her, our class stomped, screamed, and cheered her name. “Kodie, Kodie, Kodie!” Kodie’s cheeks flushed with each chant.

  “Alright, I think we have a winner.” He looked over to where the staff was seated. They nodded. “Yes, the sophomores; you have won the spirit stick! Congratulations!” The sophomores cheered as Reese took the spirit stick over to them.

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nbsp; Smiling, I turned away and followed the other football players to the stage. I thought that we were just going to be introduced, but we were quickly instructed to put on cheer skirts and line up in our formation. Really?

  “Just sway your hips and move your arms. Alright?” One of the cheerleaders said.

  “Sure I’ll just sway my hips.” I mumbled. I didn’t even know what song we were dancing to. “Sexy and I Know It” started blaring through the speakers as the curtains pulled back to reveal the football teams lined up, dancing. I moved my hips and waved my arms. I looked over and a few of the guys were grinding and humping thin air. The music was cut and our classmates screamed.

  We quickly stepped out of our skirts and headed out to the center of the gym.

  “Laton High.” Mr. Gustin waved his hand in our direction. “Your Mustang Football Teams. I want to say I am so proud of you boys. We are having one of our best seasons. Both teams, tonight, are currently five and one. Good luck tonight, boys, and let’s take down those Cowboys!”

  We were all roused and excited for the game of the year, starting in just two short hours. I followed the pumped crowd out of the gym doors and into the parking lot, where kids were piling into cars, honking horns, and yelling “Mustangs.” I watched Candice flitter up to Alex’s side lacing her fingers with his as he tried to pull away. He was talking to Gen. It was painfully obvious that he didn’t want Candice interrupting their conversation. It didn’t seem to matter that he had a girlfriend or that Gen had a boyfriend—the same one she’d had for three years.

  My eyes darted around all the cars littering the parking lot. I finally spotted Josh’s little truck back against the fence in one of the furthest parking spaces. Reese stood in front of him, I couldn’t see her face but his was contorted in disgust. I watched for another minute before Josh’s eyes lifted to mine. Pure malice gleamed in his eyes. I glared right back at him. He made a motion toward me with his hand and Reese spun around. The look in her face was annoyance. I had no doubt they were talking about me. I had no clue why. Before I walked away, to my mom’s car, I waved at Reese, with a huge grin on my face. I didn’t see her response, but I hoped she wouldn’t be mad at me.