Chapter 4: A fall

Diana

Last night had fortunately been unwitnessed by anyone but me, Walter and Adam. Even in the glaring light of day, I was still shocked, wondering what force controlled my arm, making it act like that. The memory of what I had done kept playing and replaying like someone other than me had a remote controlling it. It interfered with my sleep to the point that I laid awake, staring at the stars I hung on the ceiling, trying to delete the footage. My brother decided to pity me by not saying anything about what happened, but Walter kept giving me a look that was weird for a dog. Because of it, I didn't let him sleep in my room.

Luckily, my aunt hadn't asked what happened when she saw me standing in the kitchen, staring at my hands with my mouth wide open. She grabbed the lemon cake on the counter and cut a slice for herself. Somehow, through the fog in my mind, I heard her praising Nancy's baking, but at the same time, I couldn't hear her.

Now, as I tried to leave for school in Martin's car, I stood in a new spying spot, watching Adam in his shirtless glory, washing Nancy's car. My heart began to panic, and I almost felt faint as I pondered on how to leave the house without being sighted by him.

"Yo, Diana! Move your butt and let's go!" Martin moved to the window side of the passenger's seat and yelled loudly. I bent down when Adam looked towards the house, no thanks to Martin's uncultured yelling. It was times like these that I wished it was Jane I was going to school with.

I heard my aunt's footsteps before I saw her, "What are you doing hiding? Aren't you going with Martin? Did you guys fight?" she asked. I shook my head, too engrossed in watching Adam pick up the empty bucket.

"I am. I just..." I trailed off when I saw him walk towards the back of Nancy's house with the bucket and the washcloth in hand. With the chance fate presented me with, I said a rushed goodbye, yanked the door open and ran out of the house. I forcefully pulled Martin's car door open, jumped in and slammed the door. I was pulling on the seat beat when I turned and looked at Martin, wondering why he hadn't started driving. He in turn was looking at me like he hadn't seen me before, and I stifled the urge to shift because I didn't like being scrutinised.

"What?" I asked at the same time he asked me where my backpack was.

"I didn't bring my backpack?!" I asked stupidly, causing Martin to narrow his eyes at me, a slight frown crossing his face. I looked around me, searching for my backpack which I thought I had carried with me, and tapped my forehead when I realised that I had left it sitting on the bed in my room. I moved to the side, clutching my chest when Martin suddenly growled, startling me. I knew he didn't like that I forgot something despite coming out late.

"I'll be right back. Please don't go anywhere." I begged with my hands clasped together as I pleaded with him. I knew he had a math club meeting before class, because he constantly told me and Jane about his schedule, even though we weren't interested. Thanks to his upbringing, Martin never tolerated late coming, not in himself and not in others. It was even more now when he had been appointed president of the math club. Jane, on the other hand, would have gladly waited if she had been my ride to school, but she had to go to school early today for swimming practice and I couldn't meet up with her time. I jumped out of the car, still pleading and ran into the house. My aunt had been coming out of the kitchen with a hot mug of coffee when I ran past her. She instantly moved out of the way and yelled at me to be careful. I jumped over Walter, ran into my room and picked up my bag. On my way out, Flavia opened her door and walked out wearing a pair of pink boxer pants and a black sports bra. Her hair was rolled into the pins she used to curl her hair.

"Why the rush?" She asked, but I didn't answer, knowing that doing so would only take the time I didn't have. I would be lucky if Martin had not gone without me. As I was coming down the stairs, I heard my aunt laughing, only for me to pop into the living room and see her talking to Adam. He was standing in the same spot he stood last night sans cake. I told myself it was a coincidence.

The sound of my hurried descent down the stairs plus my heavy panting must have gotten their attention, as they both turned to look at me. Freak out of the year was what happened at that exact moment. Under the morning light, he looked much more handsome up close. It was impossible to ignore his type of looks. At that moment, I understood why the girls in school and around our house were acting the way they were. He was just that....beautiful.

The shock of seeing Adam had thankfully lasted a second or five because the next thing I did after my pause was to resume with the speed I ran into the house with. Adam quickly moved out of my way, so I wouldn't hit him in my hurry. I had been so focused on my getaway that I didn't see the stone sitting in front of the house and fell unceremoniously to the ground. I heard my aunt gasp and Martin shout, but I didn't let it keep me down, nor did I wait for help. I stood back up and ran the remaining short distance to Martin's car.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his hands roaming my body in concern. I was mortified, cursing myself for falling in front of Adam.

"Just go. Please let's go." I managed to get out, my hands covering half of my face. Martin glanced towards the house, staring at whatever he was staring at before starting the car. He backed out of the spot he packed, waved at my aunt and drove us to school.