Gravity (Free Falling) by Raven St. Pierre Page A

it was parked anymore because the lot had filled up since the morning.  It crossed my mind that Antonio might try to say his goodbyes with another kiss and I couldn’t risk it.
    “I’m feeling really bad.  I’m gonna take off,” I said.  After a brief hug I hopped in the car and felt my chest heaving from stress.  Antonio stood beside my car looking lost for the few seconds it took me to start the engine and back out.  From the rearview mirror, I could still see him standing there when I pulled out into the street. 
    Nothing I was doing or thinking was like me.  I’d completely put my moral values aside to play around with the idea of getting to know AJ a little better.  Is it worth it?  Is it worth losing Antonio?   Next week, will AJ even remember my name, or is he the type to jump from one girl to the next like Antonio used to do before we hooked up?   It would almost serve me right to hurt a good guy who changed his ways for me and then be taken advantage of by someone who was just like Antonio used to be.  How ironic would it be for me to tame one lion only to be devoured by another?  The sad thing is: it was too late.  I’d already lied to Antonio and started on the path that led to AJ.
    When I pulled into my driveway, he was driving up behind me.  Quickly shutting the door, I walked swiftly to AJ’s car and climbed in and immediately began looking around at all the extras he’d added to it; he definitely had money to throw around.  My attention was averted from all the gadgets when I laid eyes on him. 
    “Anywhere in particular you wanna go?”  He asked.
    I shook my head.  “No, not really.”  All I really wanted was to be next to him, but there wasn’t any way I’d ever say that out loud. 
    “Then we’ll just drive,” he said and backed away from my house.  The breeze was blowing through my window, causing me to close my eyes.  I felt more relaxed around him now outside of school.  There wasn’t much of a reason to worry about anyone seeing us and thinking anything.
    The sound of AJ yawning made me face him and reopen my eyes.  “Tired?”
    “Just a little.   I didn’t get much sleep last night,” he replied.
    “Wh y not?  What was wrong?” 
    He smiled.  “Nothing was wrong ….…I just couldn’t stop thinking about you.” 
    That was the exact moment that he stole Antonio’s butterflies.  The same familiar feeling now perked up when I heard AJ’s words.
    “I was thinking about you too,” I admitted shyly.  “A lot .”  That made him smile as he looked onward at the road ahead.
    “Is tha t why you wouldn’t kiss him earlier?”  AJ asked cockily.
    “Y ou saw that.”  He’d confirmed my suspicions.
    “Made my day actually,” he replied.  “How’d he handle the rejection?”
    “I caught him off guard, but I made something up about being sick and not wanting to pass it to him.  The same thing I told him to make sure he didn’t try to come by yesterday.”
    “Did you two have plans?”  AJ asked, turning to look at me briefly. 
    “No, not yesterday.   He just called when you were on your way and I told him I didn’t feel well and he bought it.”  I paused.  “We were actually supposed to go to the mall this afternoon, though…..but I wanted to be here instead.”
    AJ seemed to play it cool most of the time, but that made him grin harder than I think he intended to.  “What’d you tell him this time?”
    “Cramps.   That was all he had to hear.  He basically said it was cool and walked me to my car.”
    AJ laughed.  “So, that’s like ten lies in one day.  Sounds like somebody has a bad habit.”
    I looked at him and then down at my feet.  “Not until lately.”  He looked at me again, but didn’t say anything.  I think he understood that I was only being so dishonest because that was the only way I could be with him.  He was righ t; lying is a terrible habit, but getting him out of my system would be a much bigger