Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(63)

My mind keeps going back to Nor and what happened a few nights ago.

My fist itched, wanting in on some action. This morning, when I saw her dad—that son of a bitch—leave their house, I was three seconds from charging at him and giving him a piece of my mind using my fist.

Christ.

I can’t stand the sight of him. I want Nor out of that house.

Scratch that.

I want Stephen out of that house. The thought of him living with them, terrorizing his entire family with his words and actions makes me want to hurt him so badly. A few weeks ago, Nor told me that she’d often thought about reporting him to children’s social services. The only thing that held her back was her fear of being separated from her sisters and mother.

I shut my eyes tightly and inhale deeply, pulling my last memory of her into my mind. The way she seemed to avoid my eye when we’re talking, the hesitant touches as if she’s afraid to touch me, but that became desperate as if fighting to tell me something. I’ve seen the red marks on her skin where her fingers pinch her arms, or the way she scratches her scars. I’ve been studying her since she and I got close so I know something is bothering her.

Why won’t she talk to me?

My eyes open in time to see the professor finish scribbling ‘How does Roman technology influence us today’ on the white board, right below the words ‘Technology and Revolution in Roman Architecture’ then turns and glances around giving the class a meaningful look, which halts us from packing our books in our bags. He starts to talk and I grab my notebook and a pen, my gaze moving to the interpreter. I flip through the pages and quickly glance down to make sure I’m writing on a blank page, then look up again.

“Write five hundred words. This assignment is to be sent to my email by eleven thirty at night on Thursday. That gives you a week before Thanksgiving to get it done.”

He turns and walks to his desk and begins to put his books into his leather bag.

Simon is waiting for me outside the lecture hall. We had planned to go for a run on the university’s track. He attends his undergraduate lectures at Montgomery campus, located two miles from here. The reason I choose Eastern Lake while I was applying for the Architectural program in colleges was that, it’s close to home and they have a special needs class.

We are changed and warming up ten minutes later. Simon touches my arm to get my attention.

“How is Josh?” he signs.

“Better. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday.” My brother seemed put off, when the doctor sternly told him that this time he should take his orders about the low-fat diet very strictly. He explained the high risks associated with multiple acute pancreatitis flares, which include cancer. That seemed to sober him up fast.

“Do you want to talk about what’s crawled up your ass?” he signs, jogging in place.

I bring my arms down from the stretch and rub my jaw, feeling frustration coil in my gut. “Something is going on with Nor, man. I can feel it. I have asked her but she says everything is fine.”

“You mean something else, other than her * of a father coming to her room? Dude. That shit would mess with anyone.”

I nod. “I feel as if there is more going on.”

He stops and slaps my shoulder all of a sudden, catching me off guard. I turn to glare at him after righting myself.

“Let us forget our man cards for just a second and pull on frilly pink panties because I feel this conversation needs confessing of feelings and shit.” He grins and pretends that he is pulling a pair of underwear up his legs. “How do you feel about Nor?”

I drop my gaze to the ground, contemplating his words and I realize that I don’t even need to think about it. What I feel for Nor is something I can’t even explain. The depth of that emotion terrifies me. The thought of losing her makes me break into a sweat.

“Man to man. Just thinking I might lose her does all these crazy things to me. I don’t think I could handle it.”

“Then you know what you have to do.” He starts jogging in place again.

I nod. It’s becoming increasingly clear what I need to do after evaluating my feelings for her. I have to get her to talk to me.

“Good. Let us reclaim our man cards quickly before I start bawling all over the place. My little spitfire is waiting for me at home.” He starts to run off, but I grab his arm. He turns around to face me.

I smirk. “Speaking of feelings. What about you and Megs?”

He spreads his hands out on either side of his body and says, “Simple. I’m crazy in love with that girl,” and then he takes off down the track without looking back.

Shaking my head, I smile and trail after my best friend.





SUNDAY MORNING, I WAKE UP to the smell of bacon and pancakes wafting into my room. My stomach grumbles as I swing my legs from the bed, wondering if Elise decided to surprise us with breakfast, something she was quite fond of doing in Ohio.

When I reach downstairs, I follow the voices drifting from the kitchen. I stop and take in the sight in front of me. Mom is standing by the oven, flipping pancakes and humming under her breath. She’s dressed in a pair of yoga pants and T-shirt, her hair swept up in a neat ponytail. It’s been a while since I saw her like this. Her mood could switch back any second. Elon is sitting on Cole’s right side and Elise on the left, watching his fingers intently as he signs.