When We Fall

by Sloane Murphy

  “Exactly, Erin! I’m just trying to be your friend. You said how much you missed your friend, Charli, and I care about you. I’m just trying to look out for you. So is Scottie, and this is hurting her, too. What did she ever do wrong but try and be your friend?”

  “Just stop! Please. What I do is my choice, even if nobody else gets it. Did you ever think I was doing this for her? Making her less of a target. I’m big enough and ugly enough to look out for myself!"

  “I always hated that fucking saying,” he growls, moving closer to me. He’s so close I can feel his breath on my cheek. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever known. Inside and out. Don’t sell yourself short.” He inhales, tucking my hair behind my ear. The bell rings and he steps backwards.

  "At least, unlike you, Evan doesn't tell people that he's just my friend because I give good head. Yeah that’s right. I know all about it. So much for being my friend. Yes, he told Tegan I slept with him, but even if I hate him for it, he didn’t lie about it," I hiss.

  "What the hell are you on about?" He asks.

  His voice has dropped so low that for a second, I’m scared.

  "Evan told me exactly what you've been saying. He at least had the decency to tell me to my face. I heard the whispers while you were off, they followed me through the halls. Slut. Whore. I can handle all of them, I can even handle Tegan calling me out in front of everyone, but I can't handle you betraying me like that.”

  "I didn't say anything like that, Erin. I would never!" He protests, and I sway. He seems so sincere, and it did seem out of character.

  "I don't know..."

  "This was Evan, that motherfucker! He hates that we're friends! I bet he started those rumors for this exact reason."

  "Evan wouldn't do that to me," I state.

  "Are you sure? A hundred percent sure he'd never do that to you?"

  "I... oh I don't know! I just want to pretend none of this ever happened."

  “He's not a good guy, I wish you could see that."

  "At this point, my head just hurts," I say. The bells rings.

  "This isn’t over, Erin but for now, I’ll drop the subject. Just know I’m only trying to protect you.”

  “Okay."

  "Okay?"

  "Okay. I believe you, but I'm not sure it was Evan who started the rumors, either. But regardless, thank you, for being my friend,” I say, touching his arm as my heart tries to calm itself. “But I’m not some china doll who’s going to break. I’ve got a thick skin. I can handle this; I’ve lived it my entire life.”

  I walk home and I think about everything that’s happened since Mason came into my life. Yes, some things have been bad. Like bad. But some things have definitely gotten better. It’s nice knowing there’s someone who cares about me. I know I have Monica, but Mason is different. Every day, he shows me maybe Evan isn’t the guy I thought he was, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet. I know he’s a good person deep down. He has to be. Right?

  Monica always told me to see the good in people, even when they can’t see it in themselves. I try to live by this, regardless of how people treat me. People might think that it makes me weak, but I like to think it makes me a better person – stronger, because I can look past it all and still be happy with who I am at the end of it.

  My cell chimes in my pocket and when I check it, I see a message from Evan;

  Evan: Hey, can we talk?

  Me: Sure, what’s up?

  Evan: No, I mean in person.

  Me: Erm, okay. I’ll be home in 10 mins.

  Evan: No. Meet me by the lakes? 20 mins?

  Me: Sure, see you soon

  Weird. He’s not normally so short, but then, he doesn’t really like that I’ve been hanging out with Mason. I change direction and head towards the lakes. I love it there, it’s like a giant park made up of three huge lakes, which are all connected. It’s beautiful, and other than the few bridges and benches, it’s basically untouched by man.

  I walk across the fields and sit on a rock by the lake and wait for Evan. I lose track of time, staring out across the water. The sun is starting to set and I realize Evan isn’t coming. I brush the dirt from my hands and stand. I let my long hair blow in the breeze and close my eyes. Maybe everyone else is right about him; he just keeps letting me down, but for some reason, I can’t give up my faith in him. That’s when I hear the cackles before I’m shoved from behind, falling face first into the water. I’m off balance and in the water before I have time to react, my face catching a rock under the surface. The skin on my cheek tears and the pain is excruciating. I push myself up and gasp for air, my lungs burning, and my nose stinging from taking in water as I fell. I hear their laughter before I turn and face them. Tegan and her merry band of bitches. Shocker. I touch my cheek and wince; blood trickles down my cheek.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I shout. Apparently, today is a day for it.

  “Nothing, though you look like you could use a towel – and maybe a face transplant.” Tegan smirks.

  “Don’t forget the lipo. Did you see how much she floated. Not a surprise with an ass that size. I mean, have you seen how many cupcakes she stuffs in her face,” Chrissy chimes in.

  “Oh, I don’t know, I thought with all that weight, she might just sink. Or she might just do us all a favor and stay under the water. Nobody wants you here, Erin. Do us all a favor, next time, and just die,” Becca rounds up the taunts before they turn and walk away from me. I’m still stood in the lake, with my face cut, and freezing from the breeze that’s whipped up now the sun has set. Well what a fucking joy this evening turned out to be.

  My phone rings in my bag, which luckily didn’t take the plunge with me. I slip as I struggle to pull myself up onto the rocks at the side of the lake and cut my hand in the process. Fucking wonderful. By the time I get to my bag, my phone has stopped ringing. One missed call from Mason, and nothing from Evan. I sigh before dialing Mason.

  “Erin, are you okay?”

  “I’ve been better,” I say, my teeth chattering. “What's up?”

  “I stopped by to see you, see if we could make a head way on our history paper and Monica said you hadn’t been home. I was worried.”

  He sounds it, and I sigh.

  “I’m at the lakes. Can you come and get me?”

  “Sure thing; I’ll be there in five. Stay put,” he says before hanging up. I grab my bag and carry it in the hand that isn’t bleeding then walk over to the road preparing myself for Mason getting a glimpse into the reality of my life. The things I tried to hide, but I guess, if he’s going to be my friend, he’s going to work it out eventually. I mean it’s not like he hasn’t seen it before.

  I barely wait for a minute before I see his Camaro coming towards me. He pulls to a stop in front of me before jumping out of the car and stalking towards me. The anger on his face scares me a little before I realize he’s not angry at me.

  “What the hell, Erin? What happened?"

  “Not what? Who,” I say quietly.

  “Who did this?” He growls, reaching up and touching my face, pulling back at my wince. “Christ, you must be freezing!”

  He bundles me up in his hoodie and walks me to the car like I might break. “We’re going to need to go to the hospital to get you checked over, and then you’re going to tell me exactly what happened.”

  He’s not let me speak yet, but I stay quiet, doing as he asks. I know I’m hurt, that’s why I asked him to come and get me. This isn’t like normal. This is worse. We’ve gone from casual taunts and slushie showers to me possibly needing stitches. I’m not stupid – I know it’s bad. He drives us in silence to the small town hospital, which is more like a doctor’s office, but it does the job.

  Once I've been seen by the doctor, and I'm all patched up, Mason drives me home. He's barely said a word to me since he picked me up. Pulling up in front of my house, he turns to me, his anger barely contained. His eyes look like a raging storm ready to punish the world.

>   "Tell me everything, Erin. Everything. I mean it," he demands through gritted teeth.

  "There's nothing to tell; I slipped and I fell," I lie, I mean, it would be completely believable to anyone who actually knows me.

  “You already told me someone did this to you, Erin. Don’t lie to me.” He pulls at this hair, and I can see he's not going to let this go.

  "Please, just let it go, Mason."

  "Let it go! Are you fucking kidding me, Erin? I just took you to the hospital. The fucking hospital! And you want me to let it go?" He hits the steering wheel making me jump before turning to me again. "I have my suspicions about what is going on, but you are going to tell me the truth goddamn it; I refuse to let you be hurt like this."

  "If I tell you, then it’s real," I say softly, touching his forearm. "Then it's not something I can just brush off."

  "This isn't something that should be brushed off, Erin," He says softening and cupping my chin. I wince a little as he strokes my cheek. "I hate seeing you hurt. Worse, is not knowing what is going on. Let me help you."

  I sigh and tell him everything. Right from the beginning of Tegan’s tirade about how it got worse recently; the messages online, my stuff stolen from the locker rooms, my locker; about the strange messages from Evan, followed by them showing up tonight. Tears stream down my face by the time I'm done, and he lifts me over the center console, taking me in his arms and hugging me tightly.

  "Thank you for telling me and for trusting me. I am so sorry you had to deal with this alone. I'm here now, and believe me, this is going to stop." I take in his words and feel like a weight has lifted from my shoulders. There’s a knock at the window and Monica is peering in the window. Oh hell. I quickly climb off of Mason's lap and back into the passenger seat, grabbing my bag.

  "Erm, thank you again for everything. I'll see you soon?" I say as I scramble for the door handle.

  He chuckles lowly behind me. "Sure thing, Erin. I'll be around," he says as I climb out of the door to face a smirking Monica.

  "Bye, Mason," I squeak before shutting the door and heading to the front porch, Monica hot on my heels.

  "So that is Mason, huh? Nice!" She exclaims and I can feel my blush rise to the roots of my hair. This night has been so far from what I ever expected.

  "Please, just don’t," I say, opening the front door and waving to Mason as he drives away.

  "Okay, that I'll get go. But the stitches on your face. Yeah, that not so much. I should be calling the police, Erin," she says sternly, following me in the house to the kitchen.

  "Was it those bullies again, Erin? You need to tell someone. Anyone. But it can't keep happening, and if you won't let me talk to the school or their parents, you need to take control of it," she says indignantly

  "I told, Mason. Does that count?"

  She raises her eyebrows, and it’s all I can do not to laugh at her expression.

  "Probably not, but it’s a start. I will respect your wishes of not getting involved, but if it gets any worse, Erin, I will have no choice but to go to the police. You ending up with stitches isn't a small thing."

  "I understand. Thank you for treating me like an adult and letting me handle this. I know it’s getting worse, but I can handle it."

  "You're growing up, what else am I going to do?" she says and shrugs with a smile. "Though, not too old for Taco Tuesday, right?"

  "Never!"

  Chapter Eight

  “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

  ~Martin Luther King Jr

  “Yo, Erin! Hold up.” I turn and see Scottie half-running, half-waddling towards me, her arms juggling the biggest stack of books I think I’ve ever seen her with. I take half from her before she falls and everything goes tits up.

  “Thanks, dude; I genuinely didn't think I was going to make it.”

  “What even is this stuff?” I say, laughing at her.

  “You know, bits and bobs,” she shrugs noncommittal.

  “Put me down, assholes!”

  I turn at the shouts and see Tommy and a gaggle from the football team lifting Josh and carrying him towards the big trash skips near the cafeteria. I head towards them but I’m stopped when Scottie grabs my arm.

  “Dude, you already have stitches. I’ve not asked questions, but I can only imagine. You don’t need to be getting involved in that, too.”

  “Ignoring it makes us as bad as them, Scottie.”

  “No it doesn't – it’s survival. How many times do you think he’s walked past something happening to you or me and just kept going? High school is survival of the fittest, or in this case, the ignorant.”

  “I can’t do nothing,” I tell her before heading towards the idiot jocks manhandling Josh. Before I can get to them across the quad, Josh is thrown into the trash before they walk away, laughing and high-giving each other like they’re proud. I look around and see my classmates stood around me, each ignoring what's happening, going on as if nothing’s happening. What is this world we live in when bullying is overlooked and accepted as a norm?

  “Come on, Erin,” Scottie says, pulling me back towards the library. “There's nothing we can do for him." I sigh defeated. I hate it, but what I hate more is the small sliver of relief that it’s not me.

  We drop her books at the library, before heading to my locker. Mason is leaned against it, playing on his phone. That guy is addicted to Candy Crush. Seriously, it’s unreal.

  “Hey,” I say quietly. I have no idea how we are after last night. I laid a lot out for him, none of it pretty.

  “Hey, yourself, pretty girl,” he says with a smile. “Hey, Scottie.”

  “Hey, pretty boy. Yeah that's right, I’ll say it,” she says laughing and rolling her eyes. “I’ll catch you guys later.”

  She waves as she enters the crush of students in the hall.

  “How are you feeling today?” he asks softly, brushing my hair from my face with his fingers to get a better look at my face.

  “Puffy, and bruised, but other than that, I’m peachy.”

  “It looks like it hurts. More than yesterday?”

  “Thanks, just what every girl wants to hear,” I laugh.

  “Still the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” he says lowly.

  His stormy eyes darken but he keeps his distance. I’m pretty sure Mason Knight looks like sex; pure, dirty, raw, and passionate sex. The look he’s giving me is like the ones you see on the movies before the alpha hottie picks up the damsel and tears her panties off with his teeth. I take a step back, these are not thoughts I need to be having on a Wednesday morning.

  “Erm,” I clear my throat. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving next week?”

  “I don’t know. Probably dinner with Grams and Parker.”

  “Oh! You guys should totally come over to ours. Monica always cooks way too much.”

  “I’d love to, I’ll run it past Grams.” I pull my books out of my locker and put them in my bag, when Mason takes it from me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Exactly what my Grams would beat my ass for not doing.”

  “I’m fine carrying it,” I protest.

  “I know you are – I learned that well and truly the last time, but you want Grams to beat my ass, is that it?”

  “Well, I suppose not, it is a very nice ass.”

  “Oh, I see. Someone's been checking me out,” he says walking a few steps ahead of me, shaking his ass.

  “Well, you flaunt it so much, it’s hard not to.” I can’t help but laugh at him.

  “Hey, you gotta shake what your momma gave ya. It would be a crime to keep all this hidden away.”

  “Oh my god, what a goof!”

  “Yeah, but it made you laugh, so it was totally worth it. Now then darlin’, let’s get you to class.”

  “Oh, and he brings out the southern drawl, ladies and gents. Lock up your daughters.”

  He laughs at me and shakes my hand before taking
hold of it.

  “There's only one girl that gets all this southern charm.”

  I blush as he pulls out the chair for me before and then sits down next to me. I have a feeling I might be in trouble in all matters, Mason Knight.

  “So I have a surprise for you,” Charli says to me over Skype. I’m still half-asleep and in bed. I’m so glad we have fall break next week for Thanksgiving.

  “A surprise?”

  “Yeah,”

  “Dude, why are you walking? It’s making me feel lazy.” I yawn, wiping sleep from my eyes. The doorbell rings and I wait for Monica to answer, before I remember she went out early today for a class.

  “Hold on a minute, I just need to get that.”

  “Sure thing, chickadee.”

  I throw off the comforter and run down the stairs. The bell goes again and I roll my eyes.

  “Coming!” I shout as I pad across the lounge to the door. I open the door, and scream as Charli jumps up and hugs me.

  “Oh my fucking god!! What are you doing here?”

  “Miss me bestie?” I hug her so tight and try not to cry.

  “How are you even here?” I ask.

  “I told Daddy it was either this, or I move back and live with you and Monica. I told him you needed me, and that I was going with or without his permission, so to make it easier on us all, it would be better if he just agreed.”

  “Man, your dad has mellowed!”

  “No, not really, it was a shit storm, but totally worth it. After we spoke Wednesday and I saw your face, I knew you needed some Charli loving.”

  “What on earth is all this noise?” Monica calls down from her room, huh, so much for the yoga class. She appears at the top of the stairs, rocking a bedhead and tying her robe.

  “Hey Mom, number two. You don’t mind that your favoritest second adoptee is staying for the week, right?” she exclaims, flicking her fiery hair behind her tanned shoulders.

  “Charli? Oh my lordy, what are you doing here?” She says, rushing down the stairs and hugging her. “Get in here and close this door, please tell me your folks know you’re here? I cannot deal with Lord Uptight calling me and yelling about an abducted daughter.”