Just Hold My Hand and Jump (sequel to Have You Ever Really Danced On The Edge?)

Chapter 1

*Vic's POV*
The sun came beaming through the window, and I pulled my pillow over my face so that I could pretend I didn't see it. A few minutes later, Jaime groaned and rolled over towards me.

"Vic, it's time to wake her up." I tried to pretend that I didn't hear him, but he just began poking my back. I sat up and shot him an angry look. He rolled back away from me, and I got out of bed. I walked down the hall and knocked on Ainsley's door.

"Ainsley, wake up. Time for school!" I yelled to the door. I jiggled the knob but it was locked. I sighed and walked back down the hall, and downstairs to the kitchen. I began cooking eggs and bacon. After a while, I heard Jaime come down the stairs and sit at the table.

"When did she start locking her door?" I asked. Jaime just shrugged and ran his hands through his hair.

"I guess about the same time she started wearing makeup," he sighed.

"Jesus!" I yelled. "She's in the fourth damn grade, you've been letting her wear makeup?" I turned away from the stove and looked at Jaime.

He laughed and stood from his chair. "You're just as much her father as I am; don't try to turn this on me." With that, he was out of the kitchen and onto the front porch. I sighed and turned back to the breakfast I was cooking. As I was setting the plates, Ainsley came down the stairs. She had her blond hair hanging in her face, and she was wearing heavy eyeliner. Her pants were tighter than I'd ever seen them before, and she wore an Of Mice & Men t-shirt. I sighed and watched her eat her breakfast with her headphones in.

I waited until Jaime had left to take Ainsley to school, and then I changed into my daytime clothes and raced to her house. I parked in the driveway and ran to the front door, letting myself in. I walked straight to her room and sat on the bed. "Rachel, wake up."

I watched as she stretched under her blankets, and then she rolled over to face me. She smiled tiredly and reached her hand out for mine. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon," she mumbled.

"I know," I sighed. I had spent most of the summer with Rachel, while Jaime thought I was with my parents in Mexico. Last night I had snuck out to see her again and snuck back in just before the sun rose. "I loved being with you."

"It was nice," she laughed. "When are you coming to stay?" she asked, giving her best puppy dog eyes. I smiled and ran my fingers through her hair. I couldn't come up with an answer just yet, so I changed the subject.

"Let's go get breakfast."
~
At breakfast, I told Rachel all about how Jaime and Ainsley had changed over the summer. Rachel listened and ate her breakfast in silence, only communicating in one-liners and head nods. When I ran out of things to say, Rachel quietly answered "then why don't you just come be with me?"

I sighed and took a bite of my waffle. "It's just not that easy, Rach. This isn't high school, I can't just leave with no explanation."

Rachel looked me dead in the eye and shook her head. "Explanation? Here's an explanation. You don't love him. He doesn't love you. We've been together for years now, while you've been married to him. You spent all summer with me, and he didn't call you once. Those sound like explanation enough, Vic." She slammed her fork down and got up from the table. "I think I'm going to walk home. You call me when you figure out where you're sleeping tonight." And with that, I was alone again.