Don't Let Me Fall

Chapter 4

I reach the others before him, and leap into conversation with the first person I see. 

"Hey, JJ. What's Caleb doing now?" I greet him with a smile before flicking my eyes behind my shoulders to see Caden stood a few feet away, glowering at me. Still glaring, he begins to advance as if I'm some sort of prey, each footstep accompanied with a heavy breath and a deep scowl. Shit.

Shuffling to JJ's other side in a failed attempt to get away from the snarling beast, I keep my eyes focused on Caleb's darting form as JJ replies, "Hey, Meg.", I smile at the use of the name Meg - no one else has bothered to stick to my preferred nickname other than this quiet kid, "I honestly don't have a clue. Celebrating, I guess. I made it up just after him and he was already jumping around then. I'm hoping he'll get tired soon, otherwise Blake is going to push him into the lake."

I follow JJ's line of sight and see that Blake is stood in a patch of shade, eyes marking each place that Caleb lands. A grin is set on his face as he whispers to Fins. Dancing or not, Caleb will be soaked by the time we leave. A grunt at my sides interrupts my thoughts, and I feel him before I see the massive bicep less than an inch from my arm. The skin along my back prickles, well aware of the man currently burning holes into my head with those grey eyes.

His deep voice is barely contained when he bites out, "A word please?"

JJ seems to know that Caden is talking to me, and he silently excuses himself, slouching over to where Blake is plotting with Fins. Dammit. My unknowing saviour bailed, leaving me to deal with the guy who looks like he's about to rip my head off. Honestly, though, I don't get what the big deal is. He needs to back off.

With a sigh, I spin around and begin to step away from, only to be pulled back by his hand gripping my arm. His fingers close around my arm with ease, and despite the anger in his expression, he keeps his grip light. 

"Meg." The use of my actual name makes me pause, I look up and study him. His thick eyebrows are almost knotted together, the creases on his forehead only intensify as he stares at me. I can feel his gaze everywhere, travelling down my body and up again as he stabilizes his breathing. What is he so mad about? 

Our strange trance is broken by the sound of Caleb hitting the water. Water engulfs him, splashing upwards and lapping at Blake's feet as he laughs with satisfaction. Fins and JJ are equally triumphant; their hysterics reach my ears as Caden releases my arm. Jogging towards the edge of the huge lake, I smile as Caleb emerges from the water, seaweed tangled into his hair and his mouth widened in shock. He lunges forward, grabbing onto Blake and yanking his leg so that he topples headfirst into the rippling water. 

"Asshole!" Blake gasps, water dripping from his eyelashes.

"Right back at you!" Caleb laughs as Fins and JJ somehow manage to push each other in simultaneously. The explosion the pair create drenches my legs, and I squeal at the coldness of the water. Caleb calls to me from where he's now treading water, "Come on in and join us Megs! All you need is a little push!" 

His cackle sends a warning signal to my brain; before I can escape, two strong hands are forcing me forwards, down, down towards the water. Squeezing my eyes shut, I enter a realm of silence. Billions of small bubbles float around me as I wave my hands through the water. Icy cold liquid seeps beneath my clothes and latches onto my skin, sucking at the warmth in my body like a leech. Muffled laughter travels into my serenity, and I jump up, gulping down air as sopping hair falls onto my face.

"And that is for earlier." Caden's voice calls as blackness yet again covers my vision. I can't find it in myself to be annoyed at him as that strange fuzziness completely overtakes my senses. Bringing a hand to my throbbing head, I force myself to breathe through it, hoping I'm being subtle.

When I open my eyes, Caden is staring straight at me. His eyes pierce mine and the look he gives me says, I know exactly what you're doing.

                                                                                                 *

Hours later, we're all seated back in the house, blankets wrapped around our still-drying bodies and hot mugs steaming next to us. An air of exhaustion seems to have taken us over; I'm glad to let myself rest whilst everyone else mumbles incoherent words to one another.

Caden seems to have been deemed head chef; he's currently standing behind the kitchen counter, apron on and sleeves pushed back to reveal the muscles hiding under his flannel shirts. He, too, seems to be excluding himself from the quiet conversation - he has his brows pulled together in thought as he stirs something that smells like basil in a pot. As if he can hear my thoughts, his eyes snap mine, and I feel instant relief when my phone blares out my ringtone. 'Mom' flashes across my screen and I answer the call whilst exiting the room.

I make it to my room and pull the phone to my ear in time to hear her say, "...miss you so much."

Picking at the throw on my bed, I sigh, knowing that this same conversation will more than likely happen every day for the next two months at least. My mother has always lived with me; now that I'm gone, she's pretty much alone apart from her best friend Patty, who often comes round on Sundays. 

"I know, mom, I miss you too." , I reply, drawing myself from my thoughts, "But this place is really cool, and the house is massive. The people here are nice - no one's been rude to me. I think this could be really good for me. I'm sorry that I came away so soon, I just thought that it was time." There's no point telling her about Caden. It would only make her worry more, and he is not worth the effort it would take to calm her down.

"I know, honey, I know. The place did look amazing when I dropped you off. You don't have to be sorry for doing what you need to do either - you're growing up and I get that you need this time for you. I'm so glad you like it there. How's everything...else going?" her word choice makes me want to hang up and scream into a pillow, but I respond with a quick 'fine'.

Else can be thought of later. I don't want to think about it now and I definitely do not want to discuss it. I can feel her relief on the other end of the line once the words are uttered; she exclaims, "Great! I'm so happy that you're making good decisions, honey! I know the doctor told me to stop interfering so much and I promise, I will. I just needed to know that you're okay. You're going to call her on Monday, right. I just wanted to remind you that the calls are every Monday. I know I'm fussing, so I'll let you go and enjoy the evening! Bye, honey!"

The beep of the phone signals my mother's hanging up. That's usually how calls with my mother go -  quick, to the point and a rushed jumble of information. I don't mind it, though. Otherwise I'd be on the phone to her for hours.

her concern for me raises guilt deep with in my chest, but I push it to the back of my mind and lay back on my bed, stomach rumbling as I close my eyes. 

                                                                                                  *

My phone reads one in the morning when I wake up. i listen for any signs of the others being awake before I pad downstairs, using the edges to make sure they don't creak.

I hurry across the living room and enter the kitchen, careful not to knock the plates scattered across the countertop. Walking past the dozens of cupboards, I reach the refrigerator and crack it open. A small tub is what I lay my eyes on first; I see that it's full of tomato and basil pasta. I lift the lid off and breathe in the delicious scent before grabbing a fork.