The Price of Falling

Chapter 16

Jason slammed the trunk of his jeep and clapped his hands together. Then he said, "All set. You guys ready to get this show on the road?" It had been about a week since graduation and we were all ready to get out of Ellensburg for the week.

Molly yelled, "Woohoo!" and jumped on Jason's back. He piggy-backed her around the car one time for good measure, then dropped her by the passenger door. I laughed at them. I had to admit, they were one of the cutest couples I had ever seen. They had their fair share of arguments, but they always solved them as a team.

The plans for the first half of the week were low key and I was grateful for that. However, Conner would be there, and it would be our first real interaction since that day at the coffee shop. Conner had passed his exams and graduated, just barely. However, he did not walk across the stage with us. He opted to have his diploma mailed to him.

I sat in the backseat with my earbuds in for the majority of the hour drive. It wasn't a far trip. But we were going to Seattle for the last part of the week, so Molly packed her whole closet. She had claimed to have brought some outfits for me as well, saying that she was going to "teach me how to be sexy."

Somewhere between Ellensburg and Ronald I fell asleep. I could get the best naps in the backseat of a car. Molly woke me up by climbing on top of my lap, taking my face in her hands, and squealing. I jumped awake, so much that Molly hit her head on the roof of the Jeep. "Ouch!" She said. Rubbing her head, she glared at me. "You're lucky we're on vacation and that I'm in such a good mood, or I would totally whoop your ass for that." She kissed me on the cheek and hopped out..

I flipped Molly off, reoriented myself, and got acquainted with my surroundings Then I stepped out of the car with my duffle bag on my shoulder. The house I saw in front of me was massive. It wasn't a house, it was a mansion. It had a two car garage, and a winding path to the front steps. The view was incredible. The pine trees surrounding the house were so tall. And the lake behind the house was so blue. I was almost too distracted to hear the cars pull up behind us. I turned around to see Macy Thompkins' car, Felix Whitaker's car, and Conner's car parking in the available spaces. That driveway was huge. Macy got out of her car, and her flavor of the week, Jack Nickson, climbed out of the passenger side. Felix, plus his brother Ferguson, and their girlfriends got out of their car. Then finally, Conner, who looked like a model stepping out of his Challenger. He looked at everyone, smiled, and nodded. Then finally, his eyes landed on me, and they took on a glint of flirtatiousness. He winked at me, and I'm pretty sure my face turned cherry red. I would have to remember to add a rule to the list later. No one should know about us, except Molly of course.

Suddenly, another vehicle pulled into the driveway. A giant Suburban parked beside Conner's car. I looked at Molly and asked, "Who is that? I thought it was just the ten of us?" She just looked at me with a puzzled expression and shrugged her shoulders. I could hear the bass thumping through the closed, tinted windows of the tank. When the engine turned off, the driver door opened, and a tall, auburn haired, tall, skinny, beautiful girl--no, woman--stepped down. Did I mention tall? She slammed the door of her vehicle and walked straight over to Conner, planted a kiss on his cheek, and then waved to the rest of us. "Hey guys! Ready to get this party started?" She said. Her voice was like butter. I was planted in the same spot I had been standing in the driveway. Had Conner brought a date to senior week? After our discussion at the coffee shop? I mean, obviously that was allowed, and totally none of my business. But I was thinking we would begin our little arrangement this week. And this was throwing a wrench in my plan.