Chapter 127 Falling

Chapter 127 Falling
     ZOE'S POINT OF VIEW

The moment Seth and I stepped down from the stage, the crowd immediately started cheering again.

“Zoe and Seth!”

“Look at them!....They look good together”

“Awwww!”I covered my face, laughing as I tried to make my way through the crowd.

“Oh my God,” I muttered.Seth laughed beside me.

“I think they enjoyed that more than we did.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“You were laughing.”

“Because you looked ridiculous in that crown.”He touched the birthday crown on his head.

“You're still talking about this?”

“Yes.”

“You're never going to let this go, are you?”

“Absolutely not.”He shook his head, but he was smiling.The music had changed while we were on stage.

The loud, energetic song had faded into something slower, and several people had already paired up on the dance floor. Some were talking while they danced, while others simply swayed to the music.The entire atmosphere suddenly felt calmer......Seth looked at me.

“You know something?”

“What?”

“You look really beautiful tonight."I smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

“I swear, I love seeing you dressed like this.”I looked down at my dress before looking back at him.

“You do?”

“Yeah.”He smiled.

“You always try to hide yourself under oversized clothes and act like you don't want anyone noticing you.”I laughed softly.

“That's not true.”

“It is.”

“Maybe a little.”

“I like this.”He gestured toward me.

“You look confident.”I smiled.

“Thank you, Seth."He nodded.

“You deserve to feel confident.”For a moment, neither of us said anything.
Then I remembered the conversation we'd had yesterday.

“So, concerning........”

“I don't want you to rush your answer.”I blinked.

“What?”He gave me a small smile.

“About what I told you.”

“Oh.”I looked away.

“I just want you to take your time, Zoe.”He continued before I could say anything.

“I'm not asking you to give me an answer tonight. I'm not forcing you to feel the same way I do. I just wanted you to know how I feel about you.”I listened quietly.

“I like you,” he said. 

“More than just a friend. But if you don't feel the same way, that's okay. I don't want you to feel like you have to say yes because I told you how I feel.”My heart softened.

“Thank you.”He smiled.

“Think about it.”

“I will.”

“Good.”He nodded.

“No pressure.”I smiled.

“No pressure.”Before we could say anything else, someone tapped Seth's shoulder.
We both turned......Alicia stood behind us.

“Oh, hi, Alicia,” I said.

“Hi, Zoe.”She smiled before looking at Seth.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Seth replied.

“You've left me for a while now.”

“ I'm sorry.”He shrugged.
"You came??"I asked Alicia and she nodded with a smile.

“Yeah I brought her......She said she was going to be bored at home, so I drove her here.”

“Oh.”I nodded.

“That makes sense.”Alicia smiled at me.

“I'm glad you're here too.”

“Thank you.”There was a brief silence thenAlicia looked at Seth.

“Can we go get something to drink later?”

“Sure.”She nodded.

“Okay.”She glanced at me again before smiling.

“Enjoy the party.”

“You too.”She walked away.I watched her for a moment before turning back to Seth.

“She seems nice.”

“She is.”

Before I could say anything else, Maya suddenly appeared.

“Sorry, guys.”She grabbed my arm.

“I need to borrow Zoe.”Seth laughed.

“Sure.”Maya pulled me away before I could even say goodbye.

“Maya!”

“What?”

“You literally dragged me away.”

“Because I need to talk to you.”

“About what?”She looked at me with a knowing smile.

“So…”I already knew where this was going.

“So what?”

“How was it?”

“How was what?”

“Don't play innocent with me.”She lowered her voice.

“Seth. The confession. Everything.”I sighed.

“He told me I don't have to give him an answer yet.”Maya's eyes widened.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“He's so sweet.”

“I know.”

“But do you like him.”I looked away.

“Maya…”

“You do.”

“I didn't say that.”

“You didn't have to.”I rolled my eyes.

“He said I should take my time and think about it.”

“And?”

“And that's exactly what I'm going to do.”She nodded approvingly.

“Good.”Then she suddenly grinned.

“So what are we doing tonight?”

“Having fun?”

“Yes, but how?”

“I don't know.”

“Come on.”She pointed toward the drinks table.

“Let's get something.”

“Okay.”We started walking then she leaned closer.

“Should we try alcohol tonight?”I immediately stopped.

“Absolutely not.”She laughed.

“Why?”

“Because I don't want to.”

“Come on!”

“No, Maya.”

“This might be one of the last parties we have before we graduate.”

“And?”

“And you're telling me we're going to graduate without even trying it?”

“Yes.”She groaned.

“Zoe!”

“No.”

“Come on. Let's make our high school life lively.”

“Maya, no.”She laughed.

“Fine.”I shook my head.

“You're impossible.”

“Maybe.”We continued walking then Maya suddenly looked at me.

“But there's something else I want to ask you.”

“What?”She gave me a suspicious look.

“I saw how you were looking at Andy earlier.”I immediately looked down.

“What?”

“Don't do that.”

“Do what?”

“Look at the floor.”

“I wasn't.”

“You were.”I started fiddling with my fingernails.

“I don't know.”

“You don't know what?”

“I just…”I sighed.

“I don't know what's going on with me.”Maya's expression softened.

“What do you mean?”

“I don't know.”I looked around the room.

“I like Seth. I know I do.”

“And?”

“And then Andy...…”I stopped.Maya raised an eyebrow.

“Exactly.”

“I think I like him too but I don't even know what it is.”She crossed her arms.

“You're confusing me too, you know.”

“Sorry.”

“You act like you like Seth, and then the next minute you're looking at Andy like you're into him too.”I groaned.

“Because I'm your best friend and I know you.”I shook my head.

“I don't know what I'm feeling.”Maya sighed.

“Then maybe you should take your time and figure it out.”I looked at her.

“That's what I'm doing.”

“Good.”She smiled.

“And whatever you do, don't let either of those boys slip away before you figure it out.”I laughed.

“Maya.”

“What?”

“If I were you, I'd date both of them.”I stared at her.

“You're crazy.”She burst out laughing.

“I'm joking!”

“You better be.”She linked her arm through mine.

“Come on. Let's dance.”

“Okay."We started toward the dance floor, but suddenly my phone vibrated.....I stopped.
Maya looked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”I pulled my phone from my purse......There was a message from Andy and immediately my heart skipped slightly.I opened it.
Can you come outside? I need to talk to you please ........I'm at the poolI stared at the message.

Why was he asking me to come to the pool?I looked toward the doorway.....Maya noticed.

“What is it?”

“Andy.”Her eyebrows rose.

“What did he say?”

“He wants me to come outside.”

“Why?”

“He said he needs to talk to me.”Maya immediately grinned.

After the way he'd looked at me earlier, maybe he really did want to talk.

“I'll be back.”

“okay Zoe…”I smiled.

“Keep dancing. I'll be back in a minute.”She pointed at me.

“Don't disappear.”

“I won't.”I turned and walked away.As I reached the door, I looked back.....Maya was already dancing.

I smiled before stepping outside.The noise from the party became quieter behind me.

The cool night air touched my face and I breathed in slowly.Maybe I really did need some fresh air.

I walked around the side of the house, following the direction I thought the pool would be......The area behind the house was much darker than the main party area.

I pulled out my phone again and reread Andy's message......I'm at the pool.

I frowned.....Why would he come all the way back here just to talk to me?I continued walking.A few seconds later, I spotted Carl.

“Carl?”He turned.

“Hey, Zoe.”

“Have you seen Andy?”He thought for a moment.

“Andy?”

"Yeah"

"No I haven't.......The last time I did was when he was inside the part hall"

"Could you please show me the way to the pool??"I asked.

"Oh yeah....Just go straight then take the first turn on your left"I smiled.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“No problem.”I continued in the direction he'd pointed.The farther I went, the quieter everything became.

The music from the party was still audible, but it sounded distant now.....I looked around.

“Why would Andy come all the way here.....far from the party?”I chuckled softly then the house came into view........I stopped for a moment.

“Wow.”Carl's house was huge......I stared at the massive building.

“His parents must be insanely rich.”I shook my head.

“In my next life, I want to be born rich.”I laughed quietly at my own thought then I finally spotted the pool.....It was larger than I expected.

The lights were dim,the area around it was mostly quiet and empty.....I walked closer.

“Andy?”No answer.....I looked around.

“Andy?”Still nothing......I checked my phone again.The message was still there.......I frowned.

“He said he was here.”Maybe he had stepped somewhere else......I walked slowly around the pool, looking toward the surrounding area.....still nothing.....I sighed.

“Where is he?”I turned around and suddenly, I heard something....A faint sound behind me and immediately my footsteps stopped.

I listened but then heard nothing......I frowned,Maybe it was nothing.I took another step but then heard it again......Like someone walking.

My heart began beating faster.....I slowly turned my head.

“Hello?”No response.I looked behind me.
 But saw nobody.....I swallowed.

“Okay…”I tried to laugh.

“I'm probably just imagining things.”I turned back toward the pool then I heard the footsteps again.....This time, they were closer,I froze.

My fingers tightened around my phone.I slowly turned around.

“Who's there?”Silence.I couldn't see anyone.
I took a small step backward then another.My heart was pounding now.

“Andy?”Nothing......I looked toward the path I'd come from but it was empty. ....I turned back and before I could understand what was happening, I felt someone rush up behind me.

A sudden force hit me from behind and my  eyes widened.I lost my balance,my phone slipped from my hand.

I tried to grab onto something, but there was nothing within reach and the next thing I knew.......I was falling into the pool.