Meet You At Home

Free Fall Into You

"Yes! I knew he was going to ask you!"

I can tell Dr. Kelly is a bit more entrenched into my story then she'd like to let on, because her eyes are wide, almost panicky when she says this. Then she clears her throat and scribbles something in her pad to appear collected.

Honestly, I'm stalling with the story telling because I know how the week I'm telling her about ends. It ends with everyone's life changing, and never ever going back to normal. That's the truth. Saying it out loud won't change that.

"Go on." Dr. Kelly prompts.

"Well, after we had gotten arrested that night, I was grounded for the weekend..."

It was a Sunday afternoon in Topia, late June, school was almost over, and I was stuck at home, not allowed to leave or talk to my friends. But honestly, I didn't mind. It's kind of weird but one of my favourite past times was day dreaming about different scenarios. I had been fantasizing for so long about Nolan asking me to prom, I was so excited to have something else to finally dream about: the actual prom. So I was glad to have the day to think about what things would be like around Nolan at school tomorrow, what he would say when he picked me up for prom, what he'd look like. How he'd smile when he saw me come out in my dress...

Jackson and I made my mom breakfast in bed as an apology. It doesn't quite make up for getting arrested, but she seemed to like it. I spent most of the day watching reruns, and talking to Jackson about whether or not Nolan had just asked me to prom as a friend.

"So are you like, together now?" He asked.

"I don't know." I was so excited he had actually asked me, I didn't even stop to think about what it all meant.

"Well, did he kiss you?"

"Well... No."

Jackson didn't say much to that, but his look of embarrassment said it all.

"Oh gosh, I'm still in the friend zone, aren't I?"

"No, no, I'm not saying that."

But we didn't keep talking about it because my dad walked into the room, and I signaled Jackson with my eyes not to let him know. My dad is totally the type to get all weird if he found out I was dating, or even liked someone.

...

I had decided I would go to bed earlier than usual that Sunday night, just to make the day end quicker so it could be Monday and I could see Nolan again at school. That's when my phone started going off with that rising and falling twinkling sound again.

Nolan.

Come outside. Back yard.

I grab a sweater, and throw on a pair of jean shorts I see sticking out from under my bed. Carefully, and quietly I slide open my terrace door to my backyard, listening for any footsteps in the hall outside.

I know this might sound creepy, but there are certain moments in my life that I remember by what Nolan was wearing. I promise I didn't memorize everything he wore every day, but on nights like that night, I remember it exactly.

He had on a grey shirt, it came to his elbows and bunched a little where his arms bent. It had 3 buttons at the neck line, with one closed, and two undone. He wore black skinny jeans, and black laced shoes. Every time I think back on that night, I can see him so clearly. The way he used to wear his hair shorter, it was so thick it could never lay completely flat.

"Uhm... Hey." I say to the back of his head. He's so lost in thought he didn't even hear me enter the yard."

He spins around, with a big goofy smile. "Hey."