Fear of Falling...In Love

Later in the afternoon, all the girls were at class. Shane was in the backyard, moving some limbs out of the way. He had gotten hot in the late spring sun, and was wearing only his jeans and boots. Sweat covered his torso and back, and he was almost done with the chores his sister “asked” him to do. He picked up the last limb, a huge piece of deadwood, and was carrying it to his truck, when he tripped over the garden hose. 

“Oh, Shit!” he said to himself. He fell forward, and his head hit the branch, cutting it. He could have sworn he heard someone gasp, but he figured it was just the smack of his head. He felt the blood, and finished loading the branch, before walking towards the door to patch up the cut. He saw something move just inside the door, but he couldn’t make out what, maybe a person. He walked inside, and noticed a soda sitting on the window sill, still cold. He looked into the living room, and saw Kelly sitting on the sofa, flipping through the channels. 

“Hey Kelly? Where’s the band-aids?” Shane asked, holding his shirt on his head.

“In the bathroom, why?” She looked up, and jumped up, running to him. “Oh, Shane, what happened?” She walked to the bathroom, grabbing the first-aid kit. She cleaned his head, and bandaged it up. 

“Thanks, Kelly.” Shane stood up, realizing he didn’t have a shirt on. 

Kelly seemed to notice at the exact same time. She looked him up and down, then said, “umm, oh no problem!” She walked back to the living room. 

Shane was walking back into the backyard, when he heard Kelly talking to herself.

“I know I had a Mountain Dew, where did I leave it?”

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Shane was kicked back on the sofa bed, watching TV, when he heard someone yell outside. He couldn’t make out the words, but he knew it was Kelly’s voice. He jumped up, running outside in just boxers and a t-shirt. He saw a beat up compact car, and it was shaking.

“Gene, I said NO! Let me out of the car!” Kelly sounded serious. 

Shane walked to the driver’s side, but it was locked. He didn’t know what else to do, he pulled his arm back, and slammed his forearm sideways into the window. Reaching in, he opened the door, grabbing the guy by the collar. He slammed him down on the hood of the car, cracking his head against the glass. “Hey, she said back off, so back off jackass!” He threw Gene to the ground, and went over to help Kelly out of the car. She was shaking, and her eyes were red with tears. 

Gene had stood up, and gotten back in the driver’s seat. “Hey, she’s nothing but a fucking tease anyway! Good riddance!” He slammed his door, and had just cranked the car when Shane kicked the other door shut hard enough to shatter the glass in it, too. 

“If I ever hear your messing with Kelly again, I won’t stop with your car, asshole!” Shane held Kelly while Gene roared off.

Kelly was still shaking, but she smelled something familiar. Metallic, strong. She smelled blood. Shane’s arm was cut up, and his foot was bleeding too. “Oh, God! Shane, you’re hurt! Come on, get in the truck.” She fumbled through her purse for her keys, and soon, they were on their way to the emergency room. 

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Shane sat on the hospital bed, the stitches standing out on his arm like an ink stain on a white sheet. He had just cut it barely bad enough to need stitches. He sat there in nothing but his Superman boxers. He had wrapped his shirt around his arm. His foot wasn’t bad, he just stepped on a piece of glass. 

“God, Shane, I’m so sorry this happened to you.” Kelly had stayed with him, feeling guilty.

“Look, Kelly, don’t worry. I’ve had stitches before.” Shane reached out to her, stroking her arm.

The doctor walked in, telling Shane he could go home. They would be in touch to talk about removing the stitches. He could use his arm, but nothing to strenuous. Shane and Kelly walked out of the ER, and drove home. It was 3 AM before they got there.

Shane laid back on the sofa bed, and Kelly sat next to him. “Oh god, Shane, I’m so tired, I can’t even make it to my room.”

“Well, lay back for a few minutes Kelly, it’s fine with me.” Shane scooted over, making room for her. 

Kelly laid down, turning to face Shane, scooting up against him. “Shane, I feel so horrible for this. I’m sorry you got hurt.” 

“Kelly, it’s no big deal. I’m just sorry I couldn’t help you fast enough.” He looked into her eyes, feeling himself get lost in those emerald pools. 

“Shane, you did help me. I might be at the ER right now if you hadn’t come out.” Kelly stared back, seeing his deep blue eyes pulling her in again. She leaned against his side, and felt her eyes getting heavier. She soon felt herself drifting off, the night catching up with her. 

Shane just held her close, smelling her hair, feeling her skin against his. What if.....what if that fortune cookie wasn’t total bull?

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Kelly woke up, the sunshine in her eyes. She looked around, realizing she was on the sofa bed. “Oh my god, I fell asleep in here!” She looked over, and Shane was gone. She turned over, and saw him, sleeping on the love seat. He was twisted around, and he didn’t look comfortable at all.

“He always does that. If someone falls asleep with him, he’ll move to somewhere else, so they can sleep better, and not feel crowded.” Kelly looked towards the voice, and saw Jessica sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. Kelly got up, and walked over to her, sitting next to her.

“Kelly, why does my brother have blood stains on his boxers, and medical tape on his entire arm and foot?” Jessica looked at Kelly with a cocked eye, waiting for an answer.

Kelly sighed deeply, and put her hand on her friends. “Jessy, we really need to talk.”