Crystal Falls - Heather Lawhun (black male authors .txt) 📗

all of second block. “Rori, can I talk to you?” Isaac asked as I ran downstairs.
“Sure” I said, trying to figure out what I’d done wrong.
“Emi talked to me and I am fine with your friend coming for the summer. However, I’d like to talk to her parents first, just to ensure they know that I am taking care of you and would be responsible if anything happened. Also, she would have to know the rules of the house, which weren’t really a problem for you, but if she smokes or drinks or something like that-”
“She doesn’t” I cut in, and then felt bad since he was being so polite to me. “Sorry” I mumbled.
“As I was saying, that’s not allowed here. If she agrees to that and helps a little around here, I won’t mind having her at all.” He said with a smile. “Now let’s get you to school” I walk in right as third block is starting. Why couldn’t I have missed math instead of art? It’s hard to focus in math when I want to call Rachelle and tell her she can come. A note appears on my desk. I open it.
Hey Sleepy head,
Did you have a good rest? Maybe we can hang out after school. Go to the movies.
Adrian
I smiled and the bell rang to go to lunch. “Sounds great, Adrian, but I have to work. Maybe we can go after dance, though.”
“Okay, that works. Emi has practice, so David will probably tag along.” Lunch was filled with plans for what to watch. It was decided we all needed a pick me up, so we wanted to see The Hangover Part 2.
“If you guys wait, I can go with you and we can go to dinner, too.” Emi said.
“Sounds great” I said with a smile. Then it was back to math. I found myself doodling instead of doing the work. I was surprised when the bell rang. “Did you get any of that?” I asked Adrian as I headed to the choir room.
“Yeah, I’ll let you borrow it later.” Choir has got to be my favorite class ever. We get more free days there than anything else.
“Would you like for me to play for you?” Austin asks. He is one of the few people I am friends with outside of Emi and her family.
“Sure” I said. Everyone was watching a movie except us, so I danced while he played, just like normal. Adrian works in the office this block, so I shouldn’t be surprised when he shows up. He looks kind of hurt when he walks in. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Why is he allowed to watch you dance, but when I watch, you stop?”
“Adrian, what he thinks of me doesn’t matter. What you think does. If I mess up, which happens a lot, I don’t want you to see me fall. You have seen so much of the wrong in my life; I only want you to see the right.” He wrapped me in a hug.
“Rori, it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, I will help you up because that what I’m here for.” Austin had gone to watch the movie at some point and Adrian had to continue delivering notes, so I decided to dance without the music. It is the best stress reliever I have ever found and it feels so good to just dance. Before I knew it, the bell was ringing and everyone was staring at me.
“You’re really good” one girl told me. I had no clue who she was, but she sounded shocked that the new kid has a talent.
“Thanks” I said, hurrying out of the room. I hate people watching me! I am very self conscious. I checked in with my seminar teacher and then left, leaving a note in Adrian’s locker. I got to the dance studio and Lily was already there. She looked adorable in her ballet outfit and I started working immediately with her. When the other girls started showing up, I lead them through warm-ups while Lily worked on what I had taught her. Today we started working on twirls on toes. You’d be surprised how hard it is at first to just walk on toes. When the time was done, I found a note on my desk.
I need you to watch Lily until 5. I have work.
I took her to the park where Adrian and David were waiting.
“Hey. Who is this?” David asked.
“I’m Lily.” She said, hiding behind me.
“Well, I’m David.” He said with a smile.
“And that is Adrian” I said, pointing at Adrian. Lily’s feet hurt her after practice, so I picked her up and walked to the movies.
“Your daughter is so cute!” one lady told me.
“Thanks, but she’s not mine” The lady had walked away before I even finished talking. Great! Just what I needed.
“In her defense, she does look a lot like you” David said, cracking up laughing.
“It’s not funny! That lady was not nice!” Lily yelled at David, which made him laugh even harder. By the time we got to the theatre, it was 4 and Emi was waiting for us. Lily gave me her dad’s number and I texted him that we were at the movie theatre and he texted he would wait for us when he got there. We decided to try and find a more kid friendly movie. We decided on Kungfu Panda 2. It was a cute movie and it made us laugh a lot. Afterwards, Lily’s dad took her and we went to dinner. Then, we went back and watched Hangover Part 2. It was hilarious and by the time we got home, Isaac was off work and I called Rachelle. She was really excited to hear from me and her mom talked to Isaac immediately and was okay with her staying here. I knew that something was up this morning when everyone was acting weird. I found out it was because they had turned their basement into a bedroom for me. It was so pretty and was perfect for me. One half of the basement was set up like a dance studio, complete with a wall covered in mirrors and a pirouette bar. The second half of the room had a bed, dressers, and a full size bookshelf completely empty and waiting for me to fill it. I had my stuffed animal that I have from stepdad number 3 and it was in a place of honor on my pillow. I was so tired I fell into my bed and went to sleep.

Chapter 13

I’m glad that Rori likes her room. David has been in a very good mood lately and seems to have gotten over the fact that Adrian is going out with Rori. I think it started when Rori started talking about Rachelle. He’s really interested in Rachelle. Rachelle is coming this summer, which is like only a couple of months away. Wow this school year has gone by fast. Right now, the school is making us do a series of tests and it’s really nerve wracking; like I’ll finish a test, but then I can’t relax because I have another one coming up. It’s driving me nuts. David has been coming to me for help and this time I don’t think it’s because he feels bad about going to Adrian for help. No, I think it’s because Adrian is helping Rori out, so I’m helping David out. I’m happy about helping him though. Studying for the tests became harder for me because track practice has become scarce because we have a meet this Saturday. So I’m at school practicing for the meet more than I’m studying, not that it will count against me, but it might count against David, because I usually help him. So I have to call and make sure Adrian is helping him and not just Rori. I also know that they have friends over while I’m gone, but I trust that they study. Right when I got home from practice, I went straight into the kitchen, chugged a whole glass of water, and got started on my studying. David walked looking annoyed. “Adrian isn’t helping you, is he?”
“No, he keeps staring off into space when Rori isn’t around and when she is, he only helps her and pretty much ignores me.” I sighed.
“I thought you guys worked it out.”
“I guess not.” He said sitting down next to me.
“I’ll help you.” He nodded.
“Thanks.” I hugged him.
“You’re welcome.” I let him go and we got to studying. Adrian walked in later, looking guilty.
“David, I’m sorry for ignoring you.” He said looking down at the ground. David sighed.
“It’s okay I guess.” He said shrugging. Adrian smiled.
“Do you still want my help?”
“Nah, Emi’s got it.” He said grinning. Adrian rolled his eyes. “Maybe tomorrow.” Adrian grinned.
“Okay.” Then he left. Now I know David said that because he felt bad. I shook my head. Those two, what am I going to do with them? My cell phone rang and I answered it.
“Yes?”
“I got the job!” Isaac said excitedly. I grinned.
“That’s great! When do you start?”
“As soon as I send my two week notices and quit my other jobs.”
“David and Adrian are going to be happy when I tell them.”
“You guys will be seeing me after school all the time starting Friday. Oh, I’ve got to go.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow morning.”
“Bye.” Then we hung up.
“What is it?” David asked.
“We’ve got to find Adrian and I will tell you.” He nodded and we went looking for Adrian. When we found him, he was in his room and looked like he was going to kiss Rori. David and I cracked up laughing when they looked at us, blushing. When we calmed down, Adrian asked,
“What do you want?” They were still blushing. I grinned.
“Isaac called and said he got the new job and that we’d be seeing him after school all everyday starting Friday.”
“Awesome!” David and Adrian said grinning. Rori smiled.
“I’m happy for you guys.” Rori said smiling. “Oh, I’ve got to go to work.” Adrian nodded and I let him drive her to work. David was still grinning as we went back down the stairs and went back to studying.
“Emi, I’m bored.” He said pouting. I chuckled.
“What do you want to do then?” It’s been an hour and Adrian came back ten minutes ago.
“Let’s go to a carnival or something.”
“I think there’s one in town today.” Adrian said grinning.
“Then let’s go.” I said smiling. We all got up and I drove us to the carnival. We played some of the games at the little booths and then we went on the Ferris wheel. Thirty or so minutes later, David and Adrian were getting upset stomachs, so we went home and I gave them some medicine for their stomachs and made them go lay down. Rori called and asked for a ride home, so I went and picked her up.
“Where are Adrian and David?” She asked as she got into the car.
“They got stomach aches and I made them go lay down. We went to a carnival earlier and I think they ate a little too much cotton candy.” I said shaking my head as I drove us home. She nodded.
“Well, I hope they’ll be okay.”
“I’m sure they will. They’re big boys you know.” I said grinning. She laughed. When I pulled into the driveway, I noticed that the door was halfway open. I frowned. “I know I didn’t leave the door open.” Rori and I got out of the car and ran inside. We looked around and noticed that things