Too Close To Falling

Always Late

Chapter 1

      I woke up to my alarm, only to shut it off and fall back asleep. Waking up at 6:30 sounded like a better idea when I planned it last night. Eventually the annoying ringing happened again at 7:00 and I reluctantly got up. It was just me in the house this morning. My parents both worked and my siblings were in college. I had two older sisters. On my kitchen table my mom left me 20 dollars and a note that read, "Dad and I won't be home for dinner, use this- Love Mom."

     With hot water dripping down my face, I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to pick up my best friend Liam. I pulled over a loose-fitting shirt that was tied at the bottom with tight skinny jeans and combat boots, and I headed for the door. The winter air harshly scraped my cheeks and froze my wet hair. I was laying on the horn. It was 7:45 already and school started at 8:00,Liam trotted out without a care in the world. He was dressed in joggers, vans, and short black sleeves, pretending like it wasn't 32 degrees out. Coming back from Christmas break was never fun, especially as a senior, and I had no motivation to do anything.

                "Why do you look like a wet dog?" Liam taunted.

                 "Who allows you to speak?" I snap back.

                  "Woah, someone forget about me again...?" He says frowning.

     Liam could always make me laugh no matter what was going on in my life, something I always appreciated but hated at times where I just wanted to wallow and be alone. He knew how to crack me. It was crazy because I had been friends with him for 7 years and still never saw him upset.

                     "Shut up, maybe you're lucky I remember you at all" I reply with a chuckle.

                     "Ouch." He replies with his brown eyes pouting at me.

     We arrived at school with two minutes remaining to go to our lockers and get to class. We parted ways, and I ran to my locker. I quickly shoved everything into my locker, not caring about squishing my lunch or books, and I took out books for periods 1-4. I quickly turned on my heel and slammed my locker shut. I tried to scurry off to class, but something hard blocked my way and I hit the ground. That hard "something" was Kieran Randal's toned body.

    All of my belongings sprawled onto the floor and my wet hair flew into my face. I tried to mouth the words "what the fu...", but I was cut off by an annoying and piercing voice which I have come to be all too familiar with. It belonged to Kieran Randal- Football captain in the fall, Lacrosse captain in the spring, and the most arrogant man to roam these halls. I mean, BOY. He was also annoying because of how good looking he was with his brown hair, green eyes, olive skin, tall figure, and perfect teeth.

                 "Woah, falling for me already?" He mocked.

I rolled my eyes, but he couldn't see through my hair.

                "Have my looks stunned you that badly, that you're speechless?" He teased.

I flipped my hair back into place, and got up on my own. Kieran would never help. Once on my feet, I started gathering my belongings.

                  "I didn't know that Willow Redding became mute since the last party." He pried.

                  "I didn't know they still allowed people with low IQ's to speak" I hissed back at him.

                  "Oh there she is! Hmm... I understand. You're still bitter about me spilling beer on you. Look, I said I was sorry, sweetie." He smirked.

                  "Don't you have some tests to fail? Or some college to be rejected by?" I barked back at him.

                  "Ooh. Ouch Redding. I'm gonna need an ice pack if I keep talking to you. Actually though, I've never been rejected, sweetie." He stated with a smirk.

    I would never be able to understand how Kieran Randal, the guy who literally cheated on every single test and still managed to FAIL, got accepted by schools. My friends informed me that it's because of his athletic ability, but I still wonder how they aren't still a little bit concerned about his GPA. I finally managed to gather all my books and started to move past him, but he stepped in front of me stopping me in my tracks.

                       "Gone so soon?" He teased

                       "Get out of the way. You're annoying me and I'm late to class, just like you, but you wouldn't know, would you?" I hissed

He stared into my eyes. This forced me to look up at him, since he is taller than me at 6'2, while I am only 5'6.

                      "What?!" I yelled

                      "Make sure you tell your little friend that I still have her underwear." He winked, and walked away.

    Ugh. He's so annoying. I felt bad for Elle. We played truth or dare at the last party during Christmas break and she was dared to either take off her underwear or drink. She took off her underwear and, of course, Kieran took them. Asshole.

    I entered the first period late, apologized, and sat next to my friend Tori. The rest of the day flew by and before I knew it, I was already at gymnastic practice. I got dressed and headed to the gym. As I practiced, I was getting excited at how I was really starting to get my skills on beam down. As I was practicing, Liam ran into the gym. He's on the basketball team at school. He yelled across the gym that he didn't need a ride home from me. I acknowledged that I heard him but kept practicing.

   After practice, I sped to my favorite diner, Karen's, and ordered chicken fingers and french fries. I paid using the 20 that my mom left me, and left. When I got home I started on my homework. As I opened up my planner, my phone beeped.

One new message from Kev

                    "Hey, I heard you are going to the mountain bash and have an extra seat! Can I snag that?"

                      I replied,"Sure!"

   Mountain bash! I had almost forgotten that it was this upcoming weekend. Mountain Bash is a yearly party where everyone goes up to a cabin in the mountain and basically just gets drunk. I was planning on driving up on Friday after 9th period. I guessed I would be driving Liam, Kev, Tori, and Elle too.

End