A Falling Sky

Chapter 9

January 1999: Skylar Reed goes back to school for the first time since her mother died. The teacher reads the class a story just before naptime. Little did the teacher know, Skylar’s mother used to read her the same story. As her and the other children lay down, Skylar can’t help the tears run down her face. The more she cries, the harder the wind picks up outside—but Skylar doesn’t want to hurt anyone anymore. She tries to control it but she can't. Little Heath Crowley hears her whimpers next to him and reaches for her hand. This immediately calms Skylar in a way that she can’t explain. They fall into a deep sleep while holding hands.

 

The teacher claps them all awake an hour later and Heath and Skylar sit up to look at each other. They don’t say anything but somehow they know: they just shared the same dream, of which neither of them can remember the details.

 

For years after that, Skylar and Heath talk about that dream often. They both heard a voice that Skylar has always described as “metallic” though Heath says that doesn’t make any sense. One thing is for certain: this metallic voice spoke these words, “Bound together since birth. She’s the Sky and He’s the Earth.”

 

From then on, both Heath and Skylar knew that they must remain together. Forever.

 

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WE DECIDE TO TAKE my car because I have a parking pass for a lot near the bar. The second we get inside, we are immediately pulled to the bar by Harry who insists on buying us birthday shots. I can already tell this is going to be a good night.

“Lemon drops?” he says and I scrunch up my nose.

“Oh yea, that’s right. I like a girl who holds her liquor.” He turns and orders three shots of whiskey. I don’t necessarily love hard liquor as much as he probably thinks I do. I’m just not a fan of the fou-fou drinks like sugary sweet shots, cosmopolitans and martinis. I much prefer beer to anything else; Budweiser as my first choice since my dad and grandpa raised me with a deep appreciation for the King of Beers.

Although I do love a blowjob shot, despite the name. I just like the chocolatey taste and whip cream, okay?

He hands me and Heath the glasses and Bradley raises his hands.

“What about me, ya dick!” he says

“You seem to forget that I have no money. Hence me crashing on your couch.” Harry says.

“Hence you should buy me a shot for letting you live there!”

“Fine.” Harry says, rolling his eyes. “You want a lemon drop?”

“You know I do.” Bradley loves fou-fou drinks and we give him shit all of the time for it. He always owns up to it, saying ‘I am a proud manly man with rippling muscles and a strong beard, but I still enjoy the occasional cosmopolitan when I chill with mah girlies.’

THE NIGHT BEGINS WELL and we soon get separated as more people come in that we know. Harry, being new to the city, is left alone at the bar. He almost looks uncomfortable as he stares into his drink, but knowing Harry, he will find a girl to talk to soon enough. That thought is what drives me to stumble over to him.