Page 9 of Already Falling

We get to school just as the bell for class rings, and Chloe and I run to our classrooms to not be late for the first day back from spring break.

The day goes by so slowly, and I’m counting the minutes until history class. In gym class, the classes were separate, so I haven’t seen Reid yet. Which is probably for the best because I think I’d throw up from nerves.

Finally, the fourth period rolls around, and I arrive early, placing the postcard, picture side up, on Reid’s desk. I contemplate going to the bathroom as class starts to avoid seeing him look at it.

Chloe comes in and walks to her desk, noticing the postcard on Reid’s desk, giving me a giant smile with two thumbs up. I give her a wobbly smile and thumbs up back.

The final bell rings, and Reid still hasn’t come to class. He is never late. I notice our teacher starting to walk in between the seats, and I swipe the postcard back, shoving it in the back pocket of my binder.

Just as he passes my seat, I tap him on the shoulder. “Hey, Mr. Francisco, is Reid sick or something?” I try to ask casually.

“Reid Parker? Oh, yes, he moved. Friday before spring break was his last day.” He must see my pained expression and continues. “However, that doesn’t mean you can take his seat just so you’re closer to Chloe. Stick to the seating chart Miss Gomes.”

I hate how he says my name, Go-mez. It’s almost right that it bugs me even more than when it’s pronounced terribly wrong. Wait, did he just say Reid moved?

“Chloe!” I whisper to her, leaning over Reid’s former desk. “Did you just hear that? He moved!”

“Who moved?” she asks, looking confused.

“Reid, Reid moved!”

A kid who sits in front of Chloe, I think his name is Steven, turns around to us, clearly listening to our entire conversation.

“I heard he moved to Colorado,” he says. “His dad got a job, and they moved, lucky. He didn’t have to take all the midterms.”

Chloe gives Steven an evil squint and fans her hand at him, which makes him turn away from us.

My heart falls out of my butt. Reid moved. I’m devastated.

As soon as I get home, I run up to my room and launch myself into my bed, crying into my pillow. I think I hear one of my brothers coming in after me.

“Get out!” I say, muffling into my pillow.

I feel a small hand caressing my head. “Why are you crying?” It’s Joey. He might dress in all black, but he’s a big softie on the inside and hates whenever I’m sad.

“Just leave me alone.” I don’t feel like explaining what heartbreak is to my nine-year-old brother.

He stays for a few minutes, not saying anything, just brushing my hair with his fingers. I feel him give me a little kiss on the head, and my bedroom door closes.

I wish I had asked Reid out earlier. But I was scared. I didn’t want to find out he didn’t like me back. I don’t know what is worse, being rejected by Reid or him moving and never getting the chance to find out. I roll off my bed and sit at my desk. I unlock my secret drawer in my desk and find my diary. “A+R,” I wrote on the cover with my favorite gel pens. I run my fingers over the letters and open the diary.

Fourth Grade - December

Dear Diary,

There’s a new boy in our school. He just moved here and doesn’t know anyone but has a ton of friends. He’s kind of cute, but I don’t like boys like that. They stink.

Love, Anni

Fifth Grade - September

Dear Diary,

You’ll never guess who is in my class this year. Well, yeah, Chloe, she’s always in my class. I’m pretty sure my mom is behind her, and I am always in the same classes. Anyway, it’s Reid. I think I have a crush on him. I didn’t know what it meant to have a crush, so I looked it up when we did computer lab. It said something about flutters and feeling excited to see someone. I have both of those things whenever I see him.

Love, Anni

Fifth Grade - March