The Perfect Fall

Chapter 5- Shadow Of The Day

“What do you want to know about me?” I asked studying the face of the captivating stranger, named Jason.

“Anything you’re willing to share.” He smiled softly.

I smiled with a small laugh looking down at my hands. “Well, it is helpful with questions you ask me. And how about, you ask a question and we both answer, then I’ll do the same.”

“Sounds fair,” He agreed. “Okay, first question; how old are you?”

“I’m turning 18 at the end of September. You?”

“I’m 19 and I’ll be 20 in March.”

“So do you still live with your parents or do you live by yourself?”

“I live in a fairly large house that’s owned by my dad and my step mom with a guest house which I’m living in but I’m planning to move out soon with a buddy of mine.” I nodded in interest.

“I’m obviously living with my dad and mom still. I’m not sure when I’ll move out, maybe not until after my first year of college.” I explained. He smiled at me.

“Good plan.” Jason said. “You seeing anyone?”

“Nope.” I shook my head.

“Me either. I just broke up with my girlfriend.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” I frowned. “You seem like a pretty good guy, from what I’ve seen so far, so I’m sure you’ll find someone.”

“Yeah, I hope.” He nodded with a smile before looking down. Jason looked shy in a cute way which was completely attractive. I stood up and stretched. His eyes watched me as I leaned against the balcony. “So how’d you end up here?”

“My sister dragged me here.” I turned and leaned my back against the railing to get a better look at him. “I didn’t want to go though.”

Jason stood up and leaned the opposite way just half a foot away from me and smiled. “You glad you did?”

A smile appeared on my face. “For the most part.” That’s when he did it, something I never really saw coming but in a way, hoping for. Jason leaned into me and kissed me so gently I wasn’t sure if it was real. It was a quick one but a meaningful one.

“So?” He laughed.

“Okay, you changed my mind completely. It’s one of the best decisions so far.” I grinned. He slid his hand around my neck so his palm was flat against my neck, his thumb by my ear, and his fingers sprawled around the back of my hairline and through it. His other hand found its way to my lower back. He pulled me tight against his body. I don’t know what about that position made me feel weak at the knees but it was quickly addictive. We both went into a deep passionate kiss.

---

“You did not!” Amy looked at me wide eyed as I told her all about what happened last night at the party.

“I did.” I nodded sitting on her bed.

“You didn’t go all the way, did you?” She had a very skeptical look.

“Amy!” I laughed. “No way! I just met him. We only made out and then he got a phone call and had to leave. He said he’d call me sometime this week.”

“Just checking.” She shrugged and sat down next to me leaning into her pillows. Her fingers were spread out on her stomach while she looked to see where a new life was forming. I put my hand on hers.

“Your parents still don’t know about this baby, do they?” I asked. Her blonde hair moved side to side to answer no. “Have you decided when you’re going to tell Clay?” I asked staring at her stomach and our hands. “Or even at least decided how you’re going to?”

“I was thinking maybe telling him next week or something.” Amy looked up and sucked in a lot of air. My eyes watched her carefully as she let it out very slowly. “Will you come with me to tell him?”

“Of course. You really don’t have to ask me twice.” I smiled as I leaned in to hug her.

Amy whispered, “Thank you, Rami.”

“That’s what best friends are for, Amy.” I said rubbing her arm .

Her bedroom door opened to reveal Will with a paper bag. He set it down on the edge of her bed and pulled out three small ice cream containers. “Here is your request.” Will said handing Amy a strawberry ice cream container. He handed me a chocolate one and he took the vanilla.

I got up from the bed. “I’ll go get us spoons.” I said walking out of the bedroom as Will took my spot. I watched the pictures on the wall as I headed down the stairs. Most of them were of Amy and her parents. They were such a happy little family, I could only imagine their reaction to find out their little baby girl was pregnant with an older guy’s child.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the utensil drawer. I pulled out three silver spoons and headed out toward the stairs.

“Oh, Rami, it’s so nice to see you.” Amy’s dad, Mr. Reynolds, walked in from the front door. I smiled at the tall, blond haired man.

“Hello, sir.” I nodded. “How are you?”

“I’m doing good. How about you?” He asked politely as he walked into the kitchen.

“Just fine.” I replied as I headed up the stairs.

“Hey, Rami?” Mr. Reynolds said causing me to stop mid track. I turned to look down at him.

“Yeah?”

“Could you tell Amy that her mother and me made her a doctors appointment at the end of this week. She’s been sick an awfully long time now.” He said to me. I slowly swallowed the lump that grew in my throat.

“Yeah, of course.” I said quietly as I continued up the stairs. Will and Amy were waiting patiently for me in her room. I handed each of them a spoon before we began to eat our late afternoon dessert. I watched Amy eat her frozen treat happily. She didn’t notice right away that I was looking at her, but when she did, she stopped eating.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked sitting up.

“Your parents made you a doctors appointment this week.” I announced to her. Will, who didn’t even quite know what was going on yet, stopped digging into his ice cream and looked up. Amy’s blue eyes widened from shock.

“Bu-but, what!” Amy exclaimed. “They’ll find out I’m pre-.” I quickly leapt forward and covered Amy’s mouth with my hand.

I leaned in and whispered, “Amy, shh. Your dad is downstairs.” I slowly removed my hand from her mouth.

“What am I going to do?” Her voice began to quiver. Will put his arm around her before pulling her into a hug. I heard Amy begin to cry into his shoulder. I moved our ice creams onto her side table and leaned in to hug them both.

---

“Rami!” My mother’s voice rang up the stairs a few days later. “The Reynolds’s and Will are here!”

“Coming!” I yelled back. Amy was able to talk her parents into letting Will and I go with her to her doctors appointment incase things went bad. I grabbed my purse and ran down the stairs. I kissed my mom on the cheek before stepping outside to meet up with Amy and her parents, along with Will. They were in the car waiting for me.

“Hello, Rami.” Amy’s mother, who looked almost identical to her daughter, smiled at me as I climbed into the back seat with Amy and Will.

“Hi.” I waved before buckling in my seatbelt. Mr. Reynolds began down the street as we headed to the doctor’s office. I glanced at Amy who was sitting in between Will and me. Her eyes were frozen to the road ahead as she gripped onto Will and me with each hand. I felt so bad and scared for my best friend. Her breaths were staggered as she breathed in and out slowly. I knew she was trying to avoid crying.

The drive was silent between the three of us in the backseat. Every now and then, I’d see Will look at us or I’d look at them. After fifteen minutes had passed, we arrived at a small building with a few cars in the parking lot. We all climbed out and walked into the waiting room where Amy’s dad checked his daughter in.

Will, Amy, and me sat together in the middle of the room and stared at the door that led into the back room. It wasn’t long -which was unmoral but just our luck- before the doctor called Amy in. She looked back at us sadly before following him into the back. I glanced over to where her parents were sitting. They were both off in their own little worlds, reading magazines, completely unaware of the news that was about to hit them.

Will and I watched some kids play in the corner with toys the office provided. I tried to picture a little Clay or little Amy playing happily with them, but it was slightly difficult. It was really hard not to think or worry as the time ticked away on the wall. Will had eventually fallen asleep on my shoulder while I tried to think of how our lives would change. About an hour had passed when Amy’s doctor walked out with his clipboard. I quickly nudged Will to wake him up.

“Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds?” He said reading names off of the paper. Amy’s parents stood up and my stomach dropped. “Would you please follow me.”

“Can we come?” Will said standing up. I followed his lead. The doctor was about to speak but Mrs. Reynolds interrupted.

“They’re like Amy’s siblings.” She insisted. The doctor nodded and the four of us walked into the back. Everything was so white as we walked into the backroom where Amy was waiting for us. She had a mini pile of crumpled Kleenex next to her as she cried softly into her hands. Will and I walked up and stood next to her as her parents took the two seats available.

“So what’s the news?” Mr. Reynolds asked. Amy began to cry harder. Will and I tried our best to calm her down some. Everyone was looking at her now. The doctor cleared his throat to get our attention.

“There is a very serious reason your daughter has been sick lately.” He said. The doctor even seemed nervous about this whole situation. I looked over at Amy’s parents who seemed slightly worried. “You see, you’re daughter is six weeks pregnant.”

Silence. It hit the room like a brick wall. Amy’s crying became worse when she seemed to notice. My heart was pounding hard in my chest. Time suddenly felt slower to me as I looked up to see the Reynolds’s expressions.

“I’ll leave you to talk.” I heard the doctor say before leaving us.

“Oh. My. God.” Mrs. Reynolds mouthed in bewilderment. She began to weep into her hands as well while Mr. Reynolds’s eyes suddenly hardened. He looked over at Amy.

“Who did this to you?” He asked in a slightly deathly tone. Mr. Reynolds was strict but never the violent or mean kind of guy. His reaction, though, scared me. Amy didn’t answer or look up at her father. “Answer me, Amy.”

“This guy I met about two months ago.” She cried looking up. Her eyes were bright red and puffy.

“Who is he?”

“Clay Michaels.” Amy whispered.

“Does he go to school with you?” Her dad shot angrily. This made Amy and I jump. She quickly shook her head. “Then where does he go to school? How did you two meet?”

“He works at the movie theater. He’s twenty.” The silence lingered some more. I was beginning to feel sick to my stomach and I could only imagine what Amy was feeling.

“Does he know?” Her mother finally spoke up.

“Not yet.” Amy sniffled. “I was planning on telling him next week. Rami was going to help me do it.”

“Bring him over. We’ll tell him together.” Mrs. Reynolds took in a deep breath. The doctor came back into the room. He examined the Reynolds’s.

“So we have a few options.” The doctor said placing his clipboard on the counter and crossed his arms. “Amy can follow through with the pregnancy and keep it. She can have it and give it up for adoption. The last option is to abort it.”

“I want to keep it.” Amy spoke up clearly as she looked at the doctor. “It was my fault for getting into this. It’s not the baby’s fault. I want to take full responsibility.” I was surprised but not at the same time. I knew Amy wanted to keep it but I didn’t think she’s be so strong to admit it to her parents. I looked over at Will who was half smiling.

“Let’s go home and talk about it.” Mr. Reynolds said standing up. “Thank you doctor.”

“Of course.” He nodded and let us out the door. The five of us walked outside.

“Will, Rami,” Mrs. Reynolds said looking at us. “Would it be okay if you found another ride home? We would really love to talk to our daughter in private.”

“Yeah, we can find a ride.” Will answered. She smiled and hugged us both before getting into the car. Amy glanced at us nervously as she climbed into the back seat. Will and I watched the car drive out of the parking lot and down the road.

“So what do you think?” I asked once the family disappeared. Will and I began to walk down the sidewalk.

“It was nerve wrecking.” Will answered. “I was scared to see what Amy’s dad was going to do.”

“I hope everything turns out okay.” Will nodded. After a couple blocks, we headed into Midnight Sun Café. We sat down at a table and decided what we wanted to order.

“Welcome to Midnight Sun Café.” The girl that stood before us was the same one I remembered from the first week of school. Trinity had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and smiled cheerfully at us. “What can I get you two today?”

“I would like a protein shake.” Will said sliding the menu into the center of the table. I glanced at the drinks.

“A Shirley Temple, please.” I smiled handing her our menus together.

“They’ll be right out.” Trinity walked away.

“You and your protein shakes.” I said shaking my head at Will.

“Hello,” He said matter-of-factly, “Star track runner right in front of you.” I laughed and shook my head.

“Yes, yes, yes,” I said leaning back. “I know that.” A couple minutes had passed before the brunette brought out our drinks. Will and I started to talk about the upcoming mile we had to run at school for P.E. Of course Will was perfectly fine with it but I was dreading it. I hated running. The doorbells jingled merrily as someone entered the café.

“Skyler!” A girls voice cheered happily. I looked over to see the other girl who worked here, Rachel, wave at Skyler.

“What’s up Rachel?” He smiled. Skyler leaned against the glass counter that held the sweets inside.

“Nothing. Just working.” Rachel laughed. The blonde seemed really bubbly. I smiled knowing we needed more happy people in the world.

“Sounds like fun.” Skyler said staring at the desserts under him.

“It’s always fun working here!” Skyler shook his head laughing. Trinity came from the kitchen with a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. The sweet smell lingered their way over to our table within seconds. It quickly made my mouth water.

“Oh, Skyler!” Trinity smiled as she set the tray down in front of them. Skyler reached over and took a cookie before biting into it.

“Mmm, these are delicious!” He declared.

Trinity laughed. “Thank you. So how’s Aeris?”

“My aunt’s doing just fine.” Skyler nodded as he finished off his cookie.

“You should tell her to stop in sometime.” The young brunet nodded.

“Of course.” Skyler smiled.

“Rami... you know, it’s rude to stare.” Will’s hand was waving in front of my face. I quickly snapped out of it and looked at my best friend.

“Oops.” I laughed nervously.

Will looked over at Skyler. “Hey, isn’t that the kid that plays in that band...”

“Silent Existence.” I finished for him. “Yeah, it is.”

“Right.” Will nodded. Skyler looked around the café and spotted us. He waved enthusiastically and headed over to where Will and I were seated. Skyler pulled up a seat from a neighboring table and sat down.

“Hey, Rami.” He smiled.

“Hi, Skyler.” I felt myself blush. “This is my best friend, Will.” I said directing my hand across the table.

“Hey.” Will nodded.

“Hey, nice to meet you.” Skyler nodded as well. “So what are you guys up to today?”

“Well, currently we’re just sitting here having something to drink while we figure out how to get home.” I told him.

“I can give you guys a ride home if you want.” Skyler said pulling his keys out of his pocket. I glanced over at Will.

Will looked at me. “You can go with him. I’m going to take my daily run.” He glanced at Skyler, “You be careful with her.”

“Definitely.” Skyler smiled causing Will to as well. I got up with Skyler. He held the door open and even opened the car door for me.

“What a gentleman.” I laughed as he climbed into the drivers seat of his car. He grinned.

“Eh, what can I say.” He shrugged with a smirk. We headed down to the suburb where I lived. “So I finally met your two best friends. Will really seems protective over you.”

I nodded. “We grew up together so he can act like a big brother sometimes.”

“Never a bad thing to have someone like that in your life.” Skyler said staring straight ahead. “So, how’s Amy doing?”

I was hesitant to answer this but it was already out in the open with her parents. “Pregnant.” Skyler seemed stunned by this.

“Woah, woah, woah!” He said as we slowed down at a stop light. “When did this happen?” I began to explain the situation from start to finish. He seemed surprised by this. “She really doesn’t look the type.”

“That is,” I sighed. “She isn’t the type to get herself into something like this.”

Skyler looked at me as we pulled in front of my house. “She’s lucky to have a best friend like you.”

“Such a charmer, Skyler!” I laughed looking at him. He smiled at me with a small laugh.

“Hey, would you want to do something this weekend?” Skyler asked as he parked.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, maybe we can go to the park or something.” He suggested.

I nodded. “Sure,” A smile crept onto my face. “That sounds like a fun plan.” He smiled and got out of the car. Skyler sprinted to my side and opened the car door. He walked me all the way up to my front door. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you at Common Park, Saturday, about noon?”

“Yes, you will.” I smiled, placing my hand on the doorknob. Skyler nodded and walked down the sidewalk to his car as I let myself into the house. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

So many things all at once. Amy’s secret was officially out in the open and I was caught in between two amazingly wonderful guys. I was moving nice and slow with Skyler, like I would with any normal guy. He was by far the sweetest and most gentleman like out of all the guys I know. I was on the fast track with Jason which was slightly more exciting. I shook my head in despite of myself.

“Rami?” My mom walked into the living room from the kitchen. “How’s Amy?”

“I’ll explain everything in a little bit.” I sighed standing upright.

“Well, you can tell us at dinner. You sister says she has some exciting news to tell us. Luke’s here for dinner as well.” My mom smiled. I didn’t even realize Luke’s car was out front when I arrived home. I knew exactly what news my sister had in mind and I knew for a fact that my parents were about to be thrown for a loop themselves.

“Come on Rami!” My dad called from the kitchen. “It’s dinner time!” I tossed my purse onto my dad’s lazy chair, along with my jacket.

“I’m coming!” I called back to him. I took in a deep breath and headed for the upcoming war zone.

A/N: sorry it took so long to update, i had a lot of things going on. I actually even forgot about this site.. haha... i've been busy with fanfiction (dot) net.