In Another Life

6. The Falls

Amlyne was home for summer break from college in her 2nd year. Jeff was calling her all the time to go out. Sometimes it was just to go for a chili cheeseburger or Italian in the next townover. Sometimes it was to got to the movies or to the mall. Amlyne decided to give him a chance. She still loved him and she decided to give him a chance. She wanted so much for him to open up to her and tell her all his worries. She wanted to know what was so heavy on his heart. She was his best friend, but there were still parts of his life he just could share with her.

No matter what, Amlyne always loved spending time with Jeff. He was still in a bad place and there were things he did that really concerned her. She felt like she was going to lose him. While headed out one day he said he had to make a quick stop. He stopped at a house in a bad part of town and went inside. He told her to wait in the truck and lock the doors. When he came back 10 minutes later, his eyes were bloodshot and he smelled like pot. She knew exactly what he had been doing. Damn, she thought. When she tried to talk to him about it, he shut her down.

One night they went to a bar. They saw some of Jeff's friends, a couple name Bonnie and Frankie. Bonnie was nice and Amlyne liked her. Frankie was a lovable pot head. He and Jeff were buddies. He wasn't part of the Greg crowd. In fact, Greg had disappeared. Rumors said the Greg had cheated Nico in a drug deal gone bad. Nico was at the bar that night. Amlyne and Bonnie were sitting at a table with sodas. Frankie and Jeff were across table with beers. The two couples were laughing and having good time. Then, Nico came in with 2 other men. "Well, well, well, who do we have here? J., where have you been my brother? And who is this fine specimen?" Nico sneered. He bent over and picked up a piece of Amlyne's hair and brought it to his nose. Jeff jumped up. He got between Nico and the table. "Outside, " Jeff said. Frankie told the girls to stay put. He went after Jeff but one of Nico's men pushed Frankie back to his seat.

Outside, Nico told Jeff he needed to make a decision about running drugs. Jeff told him, no. He wanted to clean up. He wanted to start fresh. Greg had dragged him to the dark side. He drugged Jeff. He took him to places, got him stoned, and left him there. Jeff never wanted to go through that again. He wanted to feel safe again. He wanted it all to go away. Nico grabbed him by the collar. "This will come back to you one day, big boy." Jeff walked back inside. Nico and his guys left, motorcycles roaring through the little town. Amlyne felt sick. "I have to go to the bathroom." She got up and walked away. Amlyne thought Jeff was selling or buying drugs. She didn't know that he was trying to stay clean and away from all that.

Bonnie put her hand on Jeff's shoulder. He was about to cry. Amlyne was walking across the room. "What can I do for you honey?" she asked. He was watching Amlyne. "I want her. I want a girl like that." Bonnie told him that maybe he needed to change his ways. He said a girl should accept him just as he was, and then, he would change. Bonnie just nodded her head. She thought that would never happen.

Summer went on. Amlyne and Jeff saw each other every weekend. He was clean and sober. He was getting along with his parents. He even went to Amlyne's house and spent time with her there. He was trying so hard. Everything between them had been a close brother-sister relationship, nothing more. Without even knowing it, Amlyne had thrown him a life preserver just when he needed it. The friendship was tight. They told each other everything. But still was still a little reserved when it came to moving to the next level.

The day it all changed was June 14. Jeff called Amlyne to go out. They picked up one of his friends and another girl. The plan was to go to the Falls. All four of them squeezed into the front seat of the truck. Jeff's friend Ronny lit up a joint and they passed it around. When it got to Amlyne, Jeff spoke up, "No, she doesn't smoke." Ronny took the joint and shrugged his shoulders. It didn't matter that she didn't smoke because inside the truck with the windows rolled up got her just as high as smoking the damn thing.

When they got to the park out in the middle of nowhere. Jeff stopped the truck and they got out. The other 3 smoked more pot. Amlyne just shuffled her feet nervously. Again she thought, he had to get high to hang out with her, his mousy neighbor. But, no, that was not the case. Jeff had other issues, she knew nothing about.

"Hey, anybody want a drink? Jeff pulled out a bottle of liquor. "I'll take one," Amlyne replied. "Oh, hell no!" Jeff yelled. " I can't take your ass home drunk and high. Besides, this is Jack Daniels. It is pretty strong."

Amlyne grabbed the bottle and knocked it back, taking a huge swig. Everyone just gasped. She never even flinched. "Damn girl! You can drink!" Ronny's girlfriend yelled.

Amlyne drank a lot more and started to get that warm feeling all over. "Hey, man, me and Lisa are gonna take a little walk, "Ronny said. "Ok. We will be here," Jeff replied.

"Let's get back in the truck," Jeff told Amlyne. She was a little wobbly but in full control of what was going on. They climbed back in the truck. Jeff turned on the radio. He put is arm around her. "Are you ok?" He asked. "Yes," Amlyne replied. "Can I kiss you?" Jeff almost shyly asked. It would not be her 1st real kiss, but the 3rd "boy" she had really kissed. Amlyne put her had on the back of Jeff's head and pulled him to her. She wanted this so much, but she was scared. He gently kissed her. Carefully parting her lips with his tongue. He tasted like the Jack Daniels and she liked it. Jeff put his arms around her. She couldn't get close enough. It was like heaven. "I am gonna touch you but over your bra, ok?" he asked. Hell, yeah she thought. She replied, "umm hmm." He caressed her breasts over her bra. She felt so good and could feel herself getting wet down there. They continued kissing. She wanted this to go on forever, but a knock on the window stopped them.

Ronny and Lisa were back. They jumped in the truck. Amlyne quickly buttoned up her shirt. "Oh, shit man, sorry, " Ronny slurred. Amlyne was a little embarrassed. Lisa was giggling. "I guess we were faster than y'all," she bragged. "It's ok," Amlyne replied.

They headed back out and started home. Amlyne was aflutter with emotions. Jeff put his arm around her and she leaned on his big, strong chest. Again, she wanted to feel like this forever.

They dropped Ronny and Lisa off. Lisa promised to party with Amlyne again. Then, Jeff headed to Amlyne's house. She was still high and a little drunk. They got to her driveway. Jeff took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. "I'll call you tomorrow, ok?" He promised. Amlyne told him that she did have a good time and they would talk the next day. She wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she wanted it to go on forever.