Trouble Falling (coming soon)

I. Meeting Ella

Dispatcher: 911 what's your emergency?

Caller: You've got to help me. My boyfriend ... h- he..he

Dispatcher: Take a deep breath. Now, can you tell me what happened?

Caller: My boyfriend he... tripped. I was too late; I couldn't catch him! He f-fell into the street. He got hit by a-a car!

Dispatcher: It will be okay, miss. Where are you?

Caller: 25th Street. By Ocean Crest Academy.

Dispatcher: Alright. Help will be there soon. Everything will be fine.

• One Month Later •

"Thanks for letting me crash with you," I thank my best and now only friend, Skye. Being alone is just too much to handle right now. Nothing has been the same since the... accident. Skye is the only one I can trust -- the only one that believes me - and that's pretty much all I need right now.

Setting down my bag of essentials I've been carrying around the past couple weeks, I head for the couch. I sit down and instantly relax. I haven't sat in a comfortable seat in so long. I prop my feet up on top of the coffee table just as Skye comes back with a fresh cup of coffee.

"Here, you look like you need it," she says, handing me the Snoopy mug that I use every time I would come over. It hasn't been the same since she moved, but I guess I should be happy. Moving into her own place has definitely helped me out.

"Thanks."

"You really need to stop thanking me," she almost smiles as she sits down next to me. "You're my best friend, Erin. You know I would do anything for you."

I smile because I know it's true. Skye has always been there to beat up the kids who picked on me or drive me home from school. Even though we're technically the same age, she will always be the big sister I never had.

"After all you've done for me, I should do more than thank you. You got off easy," I grin at her and we both laugh. The laughing stops when we hear a knock at the door. I glance over at Skye, but she just rolls her eyes at me and stands up. She walks into the kitchen, still ignoring the knocks, and comes back with a Walgreens bag.

"Just in case you don't want anybody to recognize you, Miss Chamberlain," she teases, handing me the bag. I take it and leave the room before she lets them in.

Once I make my way into her bathroom, I hear the front door open. The friendly greetings and jokes relaxes me. It's not who I think it is. I look into the bag seeing hair dye and brown colored contact lenses. "Why didn't I think of this?" I whisper to myself turning over the dye to read the directions. It would've made life so much easier this past month.

___

After my 25 minutes are up, I jump into the shower letting the water rush over me while rinsing the dye. I haven't taken a shower in a long time; it's strange to say, but it feels so good. I'm surprised Skye actually let me sit down and without dragging me to the shower first.

Reluctantly, I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body. The absence of water makes me feel cold. I turn and see myself in the mirror. I see how different I look. Not because I dyed my hair, but because all the dirt and grime that used to cover me, is gone.

After getting the fresh clothes that Skye must've left for me on her bed, and drying my now blonde hair, I walk back down the hallway towards the living room. I am about to say something but I hear Skye talking to someone. As I listen, I hear them talking about plants and microorganisms. I smile to myself. She's on a "study" date. But it's not going very well. I decide to jump in and help her.

"Hey Skye so about that..." I trail off as I see the boy she is sitting with. His gorgeous blue eyes look up at me. He looks tall and muscular. His dirty blonde hair sticks up in a few places, which makes him even more attractive. I smile at him. "Sorry, I didn't know we had company!"

"Oh yeah, um, Connor, this is my friend-"

"Ella," I interrupt, reaching my hand out to shake his, "Ella Cooper."