Catch Me If I Fall

by Daniele Lanzarotta

  “I love you, Sky.”

  “I love you too, Alec.”

  Neither one of us can stop grinning.

  “I wish we could stay here all night,” she says. And I hate to even be reminded that she needs to go back home.

  “I do too.”

  She rolls over to stretch and I watch her every move. Eventually, this is going to be our everyday… us, together like this, and I can’t wait. Ugh. I sound like such a girl. How can she have this effect on me?

  “What is on your mind, Alec?” she asks.

  “I’m wondering why you are so far away.”

  She laughs and moves closer, resting her head back on my chest.

  I sigh. “I guess we should get ready to go back.”

  She takes a deep breath and starts to move away, but I pull her closer, “maybe we can stay here five more minutes.”

  Ten minutes go by and we finally make ourselves move. We get ready and walk out of the cabin, hand in hand.

  We get to the bonfire and most people are already gone. Kyle and Sebastian spot us right away and we walk toward them. When I notice Sebastian widen his eyes and Kyle grin, I look over at Skylar and I know why. She is blushing. I let out a laugh and lean closer to her, “Did I ever tell you how adorable you look when you blush like that?”

  “Ugh,” she shakes her head.

  “Come on, girl,” says Kyle. “We have time for one song before you have to go back.”

  She sits next to Kyle. They fight over the guitar, but she wins. They agree on a song, and they start singing. She stares right at me when she does too, and she sounds and looks truly happy. I let go of any doubts that we rushed things tonight. For the first time in a while, I feel like everything was meant to be.

  I end up taking her home, following Sebastian. Once we park, I look over at her.

  “Tonight was amazing,” she says and I’m smiling from ear to ear.

  “Can I take you out for breakfast tomorrow?” I ask.

  She laughs. “Like you have to ask.”

  “I don’t have to go back until tomorrow night. We can spend the day together.”

  Sebastian knocks on the window and points toward his watch.

  She rolls her eyes at him before facing me again.

  “I should go. I will see you tomorrow,” she says and I lean in and kiss her before she leaves. I sit in my truck and watch her until they go in and Sebastian closes the door behind him.

  SKYLAR

  “Think about something sad,” says Sebastian.

  “What? Why?” I ask.

  “Because it’s written all over your face.”

  I interrupt him, “shhhh”

  We walk toward the kitchen and see the porch light on. Mom and dad are sitting outside.

  “So, how was it?” asks Sebastian.

  I blush even more. “I’m not talking to you about it,” I laugh. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

  “Yeah, you should be tired,” he teases me and I roll my eyes at him before turning around to go upstairs. “Tell mom and dad I said goodnight,” I say before I disappear into the hallway.

  I get in my room and text Alec, ‘Thinking about you.’ As soon as I hit send, I have the same message coming from him to me. Then another. ‘I’m leaving my window open. Will you sing for me?’ he asks.

  ‘It’s freezing!’ I say.

  ‘Please.’

  ‘I can’t say no to you,’ I text.

  ‘The feeling is mutual.’

  I open my window just as he is opening his. I grin at him, then turn around and start singing on my way to bed.

  I wake up in the morning not feeling too well. I fell asleep before I could close the window, and just my luck I now have a cold. I go back to sleep. At about noon, I wake up to the sound of Alec’s voice.

  “Sky?”

  I open my eyes. “Good morning beautiful.”

  “Ugh. Are you sure about that? I feel awful.”

  “I guess the window thing wasn’t my brightest idea, huh?” He says and I shake my head.

  “How did you get past mom and dad to be in my room?” I ask.

  He laughs. “Your mom has been checking on you all morning. I’m pretty sure she knows you are too sick to try anything. Although she did say to keep the door open,” he pauses, “I brought you soup for when you are hungry.”

  “You did?” I ask surprised. “You’re the best boyfriend ever. You didn’t cook it though, right?”

  He laughs. “No. It’s perfectly safe to eat it. Do you want it now?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet. Just stay here for a while.”

  “Move over,” he says. I do and I think he is about to sit on the bed, but he ends up lying down.

  “Alec, I don’t want to get you sick.”

  “I’ll be fine.” He says, and I feel too awful to argue about it. I just lay down against him and fall asleep.

  I open my eyes some time later and I see Alec sleeping next to me. I close my eyes and fall back asleep.

  “Sky?” I open my eyes and see that Alec is now standing next to my bed. “You should eat something.”

  “Okay,” I mumble but I don’t fully wake up until he gets back with a bowl of soup. I eat some of it. “Sorry I ruined our plans,” I say.

  “You didn’t, Sky. I was the one with the stupid window idea.”

  “What time is it?” I ask.

  “It’s getting late. I actually have to get going.”

  He takes the bowl of soup and puts it of my desk, then sits down next to me.

  “Aside from you being sick, this has been by far the best weekend of my life, Sky.”

  I smile at him. “Mine too.”

  I can tell that he doesn’t want to leave. Baseball practice starts Monday and that is six days a week, plus work and school, it is going to be rough. I try to cheer him up. “We’ll make up for today when you come home during Christmas break,” I say and he smiles. He leans in and kisses my forehead before we say our goodbyes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  As Christmas gets closer, Sebastian starts to look more and more sad. The reason is obvious: he misses his parents. It doesn’t help that people at school know he lives with us now and they keep trying to find out the reason why. Being that they don’t know what the real reason is, rumors are flying… from Sebastian running away because his parents beat him, to my parents trying to get us to date so Alec and I will break up. It’s insane and I ignore the rumors, but I’m used to it. Sebastian on the other hand, gets annoyed by every single one of those comments.

  Lately, every once in a while, he mentions one of his family’s Christmas traditions. One day, he tells me about how they used to go ice-skating the night before Christmas. All of this is heartbreaking. I just don’t understand how some people can be like that.

  Sebastian doesn’t know this, but my parents went to talk to his parents the other day. They came back home in complete disbelief. They told me they said that Sebastian could go back once he ‘changes his ways,’ and that until then, he can stay where he is. Dad was furious. Mom said they left and that they regretted going there in the first place; that they don’t deserve to have a son as amazing as Sebastian.

  That day, they put me on a mission to find out what Sebastian likes. They want to make this Christmas as memorable as possible for him. And Sebastian knows how much my parents love him, but it’s not the same as having his own parents show that same affection and acceptance.

  The day before Christmas Eve, everyone starts to get back in town. Alec, Kyle, and Amanda, who has been dating Uncle J since Thanksgiving. Alec and I keep trying to find a way to be alone, but every time we turn around, someone needs help with something. Uncle J gets in later that day and as soon as he does, dad takes him, Alec and Kyle over to Grayson’s farm.

  “Can I go?” asks Sebastian once he sees all the guys leaving.

  “Actually,” I say, “I told dad I need your help to finish Christmas shopping for them.”

  He looks down.
“Skylar, I don’t have money to buy them anything.”

  “And you think I do, silly?” I laugh. “They gave us a budget to buy their presents. Come on. It will be from the both of us,” I say cheerfully.

  Truth is, I’m trying to keep him occupied and away from the guys while they build him a homemade ice-rink for tomorrow night. Dad already ordered everything. He was just waiting on Alec to use his truck and the other guys to help out. I can’t wait to see Sebastian’s face when he sees it.

  Sebastian and I go to a few stores and at some point, I get a bad feeling, like I’m being watched. I keep looking around, but don’t see anyone.

  “What is wrong?” asks Sebastian.

  “I don’t know. Something feels off.”

  Not even a minute later, a kid pokes my shoulder and I jump.

  He hands me a note, “A guy told me to give you that.”

  I open the note. ‘Missed me? It’s cute that you can sense when I’m around.’

  “Who gave you this?” I ask the boy.

  He looks around. “I don’t know, he was over there a few minutes ago,” he points toward the store that we just left from.

  “What did he look like?” Sebastian asks.

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. Tall. Blond.”

  “Caleb, let’s go!” his mom yells.

  Sebastian and I look at one another. It’s that creepy guy again. We both know it. We rush to the car and go back home.

  No one is there when we get back. So we just make sure everything is locked up.

  “You should call your dad’s friend,” he says, “the one who is a cop.”

  I do and I tell her everything. She asks if I still have the note and I say that I threw it out. ‘That was stupid!’ I think to myself. She says she is going to check the security cameras at the mall and see if she can find anything based on the description I gave her.

  Mom, dad, and Alec walk back in the house and find Sebastian and I sitting here, still freaked out about it all.

  “What’s going on?” asks dad as Alec comes to sit next to me.

  Sebastian tells them everything. I can feel Alec tense as he pulls me closer. I tell dad we told Officer Barrett and that she will call as soon as she has something.

  Dad can’t hide how worried he is. He looks at Alec. “Sorry, Alec. I know you mentioned taking Skylar out today, but maybe it’s best if the three of you just stay here. You’re welcome to stay for dinner.”

  And so, we cuddle on the couch and watch this really bad zombie movie, until dad’s friend calls hours later. She says the guy used a stolen credit card at one of the stores. They were able to get him on video and will be blasting his picture on the evening news.

  We all stop what we are doing to watch the evening news. Alec and dad make damn sure to watch it so they know what this guy looks like. They show the video from the store, but the quality is not great. They ask people to call in if someone knows him or sees him around. I hope someone does.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  On Christmas Eve, I wake up to the smell of mom’s cooking. I rush downstairs and everything is ready. Sebastian seems to be okay today and I’m thankful that he seems happy. My parents and I were worried that today would be tougher on him than the past few days. We all sit down and eat. After, we disappear to wrap gifts, because we have a tendency of waiting until the last minute. Once in my room, I glance toward Alec’s window and see him pace back and forth. Then I see his mom take a step forward. They are arguing about something.

  I just turn around, sit on the floor, and start wrapping presents.

  I don’t hear from him until early afternoon when he knocks on the door. Everyone in the house is still wearing pajamas, except for dad, who went to the farm to check on his masterpiece.

  “Hey beautiful,” he says.

  I grin at him. “Come in.”

  “Actually, I was wondering if you could come up to the roof with me.”

  I give him a puzzled look. Someone who doesn’t know him might laugh if they hear me say that he is scared of heights. He waits for me to get my shoes on. We then go outside and we climb up the ladder.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  “Rough morning. That’s all.”

  I wonder if I should tell him that I saw him and his mom arguing, but end up keeping that to myself. I figure he would tell me if he wanted me to know.

  “I just wanted to sit here with you for a while,” he says.

  “I gotta say, Alec. I’m a little worried. The roof is not exactly your favorite place.”

  We both laugh, then his tone changes. “My mom is worried about us with baseball season starting, and she thinks we are getting too serious, too fast.”

  I blush. “She knows about us, doesn’t she?”

  He nods. “Sorry. She got it out of me the other day. I don’t know how she could tell, but she knew, and then she was mad you didn’t talk to your mom first… remember… our agreement?”

  I gasp. “Please tell me she is not going to tell my parents. We don’t have the kind of relationship that you do with your mom. I could never tell them that.”

  “We were arguing about that this morning. I told her we are being careful and she finally promised to not get in the middle.”

  I feel like I can breathe again.

  Dad gets home a little while later. “Get down from that roof, young lady!” he yells and we get down. I know he hates it when he finds me up there.

  “How does the ice rink look, Mr. Bradshaw?” asks Alec.

  “Perfect,” he says before looking at me. “You should go help your mom with the food for tomorrow, sweetheart. We are leaving in about two hours and I would rather her not have anything to do for the rest of the night or tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  I tell Alec I will see him later and go in to help.

  We are about to get ready to go when it hits me that I’ve never been ice-skating before and I suddenly get nervous. I put on jeans, because I’m sure I’m going to fall, a lot, and a sweater, and go downstairs to meet everyone. We get in the car and meet Alec, Kyle, Amanda, and Uncle J, at the farm. Alec’s parents join us too. Sebastian has no idea, which makes it even better. He thinks we are going to spend time with Grayson’s grandpa so he is not alone on Christmas Eve, which is also true.

  We go in through the front of the house. When we get to the backyard and the ice rink comes to view, Sebastian’s eyes widen and he looks like a little kid.

  “Oh My God! You guys didn’t do this just for me, did you?” he asks.

  “We sure did,” says mom.

  He hugs mom and dad and he is trying not to cry. “You guys are amazing!”

  “Skates are by the back door,” says dad. “Have fun!”

  I stay right where I am.

  “Aren’t you coming?” asks Alec.

  “ME? No way! I can’t ice skate. I can’t even regular skate!”

  He grins and I know where this is going. “Come on, Sky. I will be here to catch you if you fall. Always,” he winks at me and I’m doomed. I can’t say no to this guy.

  By the time I have the skates on, Sebastian is already on the ice and he looks truly happy. I look over at mom and dad and they are both smiling while they watch him. My parents are amazing.

  Alec extends his hand to help me up, and we stop for a moment to see everyone having fun. Alec helps me get on the ice and holds one of my hands. I don’t have anywhere to hold on to with my other hand, so I start to fall, but Alec catches me just like he said he would. “This is not going to go well,” I say.

  “Yes, it will,” he says. “Kyle!” he yells and Kyle comes over and grabs my other hand, and we go around the ice rink twice.

  “Alright,” says Kyle, “You think you got her now? She is killing my hand, and we both know that team is done if I can’t play,” he jokes.

  I roll my eyes at him and when he let’s go, Alec moves behind me and puts a hand on each side of my waist.

  “Holy Hell!” says Ky
le, “Turn around!”

  We turn around to find Uncle J and Amanda at the center of the ice rink. Uncle J is down on one knee with a very surprised Amanda standing in front of him. She nods, in between tears, and he puts the ring on her finger.

  I hear Alec whisper in my ear, “Dang it. I thought we would get married before her.”

  I laugh. “It’s not a competition, Alec.”

  Parents are crying tears of joy, everyone is congratulating them, and next thing I know, dad asks Grayson’s grandpa if we are okay to stay a little later while they go out to celebrate.

  “Sure thing,” he says. “I was about to turn in for the night. But they are welcome to stay.”

  They leave and we skate for a while longer before I feel like I need to sit down. Alec and I sit on a bench and watch Sebastian and Kyle for a while. Then I absentmindedly look in another direction.

  “Good memories?” asks Alec. And I notice I was staring toward the barn, and yes, I was thinking about the night in the cabin right behind it, but I play around with him. “I don’t know,” I say. “Those memories seem a little fuzzy now that you ask.”

  I can’t even keep a straight face as I say it.

  “Oh really?” says Alec as he stands up, helps me up and then picks me up and goes in that direction.

  I laugh so hard, but I can hear Sebastian and Kyle mumble something as we go.

  He doesn’t put me down until after we get inside the cabin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  “We should go back out there,” I say and he pulls me even closer. I don’t want to leave either.

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m not looking forward to this baseball season,” he says.

  “Come on, Alec. You love playing. And I get my license soon, so hopefully I will get to go watch you play.”

  He kisses the top on my head. “I can’t wait for that.”

  He leans on top of me and within seconds, his lips are on mine. The kiss deepens, but we are interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Get your butts out here,” says Kyle.

  “Go away, Kyle!” says Alec as he laughs.