Silently Falling (ORIGINAL): Chapter Twelve

At the final bell, Alyse and I rush out of study hall and book it to Toby's truck. He's already there, patiently waiting for us as he taps along to some song on the radio.

I get into the back seat with Alyse, the passenger seat staying empty. I throw my backpack in the middle and buckle up as Toby starts to drive out of the senior lot.

"So...what was that thing with West and Warren this morning?" Alyse finally asks. I know that exact question has been floating through her mind all day, she's just been waiting for the right moment to ask.

I shrug, "Honestly I have no clue. West said he didn't know Warren..."

Alyse purses her lips. "Maybe he lied?"

I shake my head, "I don't think so."

"What about you Toby? What do you think?" Alyse asks, looking to him.

"It was weird and pretty unexpected." He says, pulling out into the school traffic.

"Definitely." I sign.

"But... It was cool of him to do that I guess. Maybe he isn't as bad as I thought." Toby mutters, moving up an inch in the traffic. We aren't even out of the school grounds yet.

But hey, it beats riding the bus.

I smirk. "So you think maybe West isn't that bad of a guy?"

He catches the movement of my hands through the rear-view mirror and rolls his eyes. "Maybe not. I repeat, maybe not."

Alyse nudges me. "I thought it was very heroic. Your Prince Charming came to your rescue." She signs, wiggling her eyebrows.

I narrow my eyes, "Put a sock in it."

She laughs, "You didn't deny it."

"It wasn't heroic, he was just looking for a fight! Don't all delinquents do that?"

"Looking for a fight to get Warren away from you." She points out.

We finally pull out of the school grounds and onto the main road. "Alyse, are you insinuating that West has a...thing for my sister?" My brother asks, scrunching his face up.

She shrugs, "I'm insinuating that I think something is going to happen between them because he's showing interest in her and only her."

Toby's hands on the wheel tighten slightly. "Raine, your thoughts?" He asks as we approach a stop light.

I roll my eyes, "Alyse is making things up. West and I aren't ever going to be a thing, and he isn't showing interest in me."

"That's what she thinks." Alyse says, nudging me.

OoOoO

Tuesday Afternoon

I walk out of my last block class, my backpack pulled around to my front so that I can zip it up. I hadn't been looking at the clock, so I was utterly surprised when the bell rang to signal the end of the day. I packed my things as quick as I could and bolted out of my classroom.

I start to move my backpack to it's normal place behind my back when I see West leaning against the wall just next to the door. When he sees me, he pushes off the wall and walks towards me.

I cock my head, "What are you doing here?"

He smirks, "I asked your brother if I could drive his dear sister home since we have a lesson."

I raise a brow. "And he said yes?"

West nods, "I wouldn't be standing here if he hadn't."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him and start walking down the hall towards the parking lot. West falls into step next to me, and I take a small moment to glance at his lack of a leather jacket.

In it's place is nothing but a short sleeve, white t-shirt with a pair of black aviators hanging off the collar. He's wearing jeans as he always is, but in replace of the boots are a pair of maroon Converse. He wasn't at lunch this afternoon and came in late to English, so I haven't really seen him much today.

I try not to stare too long at his arms, for with the short sleeve shirt they are out for all to see. I haven't seen West wear anything but long sleeve shirts before now, due to the cold weather that associates itself with the month of November here in Chicago.

Today, however, is abnormally warm for November. The temperature got up to 75 degrees, where it's usually been in the mid 50's. Most people at our school are wearing Summer clothes today.

His white t-shirt fits his frame perfectly, just tight enough around his arms to be desirable but not too much to make him seem full of himself; even if he is. His arms are larger than the average teenager from his no doubt vigorous workout routine, but they aren't so muscular to where it's overbearing. I look down at his tattoo that I've completely disregarded every time I see him, but now curiosity drives through me as I stare at it.

"Sunshine, do I have to get your phone out for you so that you can take a picture?" West asks, and my eyes trail up to his face holding his ever so famous smirk.

I look away as a blush threatens to rise on my cheeks. God dammit I was staring.

We reach his Jeep and I get in, throwing my stuff in the back. He starts it up, and almost instantly an Eagles song starts playing at full blast. I jump in my seat at the sudden burst of noise and try to calm my heart as he turns it down.

"Sorry..." He mutters, backing out of his parking place. "I was listening to it this morning."

"You like the Eagles?" I ask, almost instantly recognizing the song as Life In The Fast Lane.

West glances down at me as I sign, and after a short second or two of him putting together what I asked, he nods. "My favorite band. You know them?"

I nod my response, and I see his eyebrows shoot up in approval. An impressed smile fills his lips rather than a smirk.

"I'm impressed, Sunshine. How do you know them?" He asks, pulling out of the school lot.

I get out my phone and start typing my explanation into my notes.

'My father always used to make Toby and I listen to his classic rock CD's. The Eagles were one of his favorites, so he played their songs more than the others. I started to love them, along with others.'

I only pass West my phone when he reaches a stop light. He reads over it and nods, his small, impressed smile sticking.

"Favorite song?" He asks as the light turns green.

I bite my lip in contemplation and look down to see the CD case in the cup holder between us. I reach down and take it, glancing over the list of songs. When I spot my favorite, I reach over to the car radio and flip through the songs until I hear it.

West perks up once it comes on and he glances down at me. "Victim Of Love, eh?"

I nod my head to the music and to answer his question.

"Not my all time favorite, but definitely one of them." West says, reaching over to turn it up slightly.

Then he starts singing along, and I swear my eyes bulge out of their sockets and my jaw hits the floor.

West Love can sing.

His voice carries the tune effortlessly as his hands drum on the steering wheel. I don't know what I was expecting his voice to sound like, not that I was expecting him to sing at all, but I wouldn't have guessed it to sound so...amazing.

His voice has a slight rasp to it, and I can tell he is barely trying. He's singing simply for the joy of it, not to hit every note perfectly as he's doing. If anything he's singing absentmindedly, he may not even realize he's doing it. He bobs his head along to the beat, his hands pounding on the steering wheel with every drum beat. He checks his side mirrors and switches lanes, the whole time never losing the tune. He starts to instead hum along as he merges, and when he gets onto my street he starts to sing again.

The song ends and the next comes on, but since we are only three houses from mine he turns it off.

"You...can sing." I sign dumbfoundedly.

He glances at me a little weirdly and nods. "Yep."

"And, like, really well."

He smirks, "Is my voice making you fall for me?"

I scoff, crossing my arms. "As if."

Just like that, the awe that was associated with his singing voice turns into aggravation.

"You'll admit it sooner or later." He hums as we pull into my driveway.

"Maybe in your dreams." I sign, unbuckling my seatbelt.

"Dreams can come true." He winks.

We both get out and walk up the steps on my front porch. I unlock my front door and we step inside. I throw my backpack on the floor and head to the kitchen.

"I'm starved." I sign, opening up my fridge to look in its contents.

"You're...horny?" He questions confusedly.

I turn to him and shake my head, quickly typing what I actually said into my phone, then I show him how suit is actually signed.

"Well that's not nearly as exciting." He mumbles. "Make me a sandwich, will you?" He asks, sitting down at the bar.

I turn my head to look at him with a bored expression and he chuckles. "Kidding."

This time I give into the urge to roll my eyes and turn back to the fridge. I get out the ingredients for a sandwich, but not for him. I walk to the counter and start to put myself together a turkey breast sandwich, and when I finish West reaches for it.

I lift it to my mouth before he can get his hands on it, and he looks at me as if I've grown three heads.

"Why are you eating my sandwich?"

"Why do you think it's yours?" I sign, setting it down.

"Because I asked you to make me one." He says as if it were obvious.

"Why would I ever make you a sandwich?"

He stares at my hands. "I lost the end of that."

I sigh and turn to grab the whiteboard off the fridge, and when I turn back I see my sandwich in West's hands. He lifts it to his mouth and takes out a huge bite, leaving less than half left.

I gape at him as he chews it. That was a cruel trick.

He swallows and smirks at me, "That was good. Thanks Sunshine."

I take in a deep, angry breath and glare at him. "That was mine."

He shrugs innocently. "Make another."

My nostrils flare and I have to hold myself back from attacking him. Hasn't he learned that it's not a good thing to take my food?

"Don't be mad at me, I didn't have lunch." He defends, leaning forward on his elbows.

"I don't care! That was my sandwich!"

"You're hot when you're mad." He comments with a shit eating grin. It widens at my reaction and he chuckles.

I'm going to kill him.

OoO

"Quiz time," I sign with a big smile. I'm only happy because West despises these quizzes, therefore I love them. We finished his lesson by five today, which was very early. Then again, it wasn't a very difficult lesson.

West scowls, "Yippe."

I bring my legs up onto the couch and face West. I let my back rest against the armrest and criss-cross my legs.

"Question one, name all the core subjects at school." I sign just slow enough for him to pick up.

"English," he signs first, having no trouble at all. "Science and History." He has a little bit of trouble remembering history, but after a second or two of thought he picks up on it. "And math."

I smile in approval, "Good job. Now sign the levels of each."

He nods, "Science can be either...chemistry, biology, anatomy, or popsicle." He signs, messing up on 'physics.'

I hide my laugh and lift my whiteboard. 'Popsicle?'

He reads over it and laughs awkwardly. "Oops...I forgot how to sign physics."

I laugh and re-sign it for him.

"Got it," he says, repeating it a few times.

We finish his quiz and a question comes to mind. I'm just as curious as anyone else as to why West basically attacked Warren yesterday, but the difference between me and others is that I have the ability to find out.

"How come you got all in Warren's face yesterday?" I sign.

West reads my hands and he shrugs. "The guys were obviously bothered he was there, as were you, and he wouldn't leave. If I hadn't stepped up I have a feeling your brother may have caused a scene."

'You caused a scene.' I write, bending my knees to be able to lean the whiteboard on them.

West smirks, "Good."

"You confuse me." I sign, tilting my head at him.

He places his arms around the back of the couch. "And why is that?"

"You give very vague answers."

"I give very what?" He asks.

I scribble it down on the whiteboard and turn it towards him.

"Maybe you just ask very vague questions." He retaliates.

I roll my eyes and start randomly coloring.

"Well you confuse me." He says, keeping the conversation alive.

I raise a brow at him.

"You mentioned that your dad is always on business trips, but I haven't seen him even once and I've known you for almost two weeks now." West says.

I shrug, going back to coloring. But then I stop and look back at him, figuring he deserves an answer. "He's never home."

"I figured that much, how come?" He asks, giving me his full attention.

I bite my lip and debate whether or not to tell him. I glance down at the couch and debate it, he hasn't given me any reason to not tell him...

"My dad lives in New York," I sign, avoiding his gaze.

"New York?" He questions. "Why?"

I sigh. "Because that's where his business is located."

West's eyebrows raise slightly. "Your dad owns a business?"

I nod and continue to color random circles.

"What's the business?"

I scribble it down on the whiteboard.

'Ziff Davis. It's a publishing company.' I hand him the whiteboard and he nods interestedly.

"Then who do you live with here; your mom? How come I've never seen her?" He asks, cocking his head slightly.

I shake my head, 'My father has an apartment in New York, but on papers he writes his main residency as here.' I write, lifting it to West.

"Yet he lives there?" He asks, his eyes moving to me.

I nod, "He lives there for more than the majority of his time, yes."

West frowns slightly, "Well that doesn't sound like a good dad."

I shrug and write down my next sentence, and as I write I hear a jumble of words muttered under his breath, and I strain to decipher them.

"Looks like we've got that in common."

I scrunch my brows in confusion, but let his hushed comment slide. 'He calls every now and then, and sometimes visits. And he pays the bills, so I guess he does everything he's required to do.'

West doesn't answer me and I look up at him. His eyes are on me, the deep brown filled with unanswered questions. The intensity of his gaze causes my breath to get caught in my throat and I quickly look down.

"When did he move to New York?" He asks.

"When I was twelve." I sign, my eyes staying on the couch.

"Twelve?" West asks in disbelief.

I nod, "That's why Toby and I are so close. He kinda raised me." I sign with a small shrug.

"No wonder you've turned out as you have." West says, leaning back against the couch with a small smirk to lighten the mood.

I gape, but I can't hold back my small smile and I lightly kick him.

He chuckles, "I'm just kidding."

I shake my head at him and let out a small breath of air that could be considered a laugh. "You seem to kid a lot."

"Only with my friends." He says.

I smirk, "So we're friends?"

He glances at me and his smirk matches mine. He leans over towards me, his body hovering over mine. I press myself as far into the couch as I can go to create some space between us.

"Unless you would like to be more." He says huskily, his smirk reaching his eyes as he leans down closer to me. His warm breath fans across my face and I can smell the mint on his breath and cologne on his clothes.

"Best friends?" I sign with a hopeful smile.

He stares at me for a few seconds before he bursts out laughing. He sits back on his own cushion and shakes his head at me.

"You're funny, Sunshine." He comments, his laughter now reduced to a few chuckles.

I smile and shrug, "I try." He smiles back and I cock my head. "You know, you aren't as bad as everyone says." I sign.

His smile drops and he looks away. "Believe what you want, Sunshine."

My eyes scan his figure, and I see him rubbing the tattoo on his arm. I get ready to ask the story behind it and when he got it, but before I can I hear the front door open.

Tyler, Toby, and Gray walk inside, talking animatedly to one another, but when they see us they all walk into the living room. I smile and wave at them, making room as Tyler comes and sits next to me.

"Hey, how's the lesson?" Gray asks, sitting on the arm rest.

"I learned school shit." West says.

I roll my eyes, "Be more appreciative."

"You know I didn't understand that." West says.

I smirk and nod at him over Tyler. "Just want you to feel stupid."

He scowls at me, able to understand that.

"Come on guys." Toby says, leaning against the door frame. "Let's go."

"We'll get the snacks while you set it up." Tyler says and Toby nods. He turns and walks upstairs to his room while Gray heads to the kitchen with Tyler.

"Where were they anyways?" West asks.

I shrug, "Heck if I know."

The two come back into the room, their arms filled with snacks. "You two coming?" Tyler asks, smiling questioningly at us.

I nod at him and his smile widens before he and Gray exit the room and walk upstairs.

I stand up, stretching out my arms and legs from an hour of sitting. "Our lesson's over anyways, come on." I sign.

I walk towards the stairs and West follows behind me. I start to walk up the steps, but when I don't hear footsteps behind me I turn around. I see West standing at the base of the stairs, just watching me with his head slightly cocked to the side.

I bite my lip and gesture to the second floor, "You coming?"

His lips twitch into a grin briefly and he nods, beginning to follow me up. I smile and walk all the way to the second floor, waiting for West before entering my brothers room. I walk inside and smile at my brother and he returns the gesture, but when he sees West behind me his smile falters.

I jump onto Toby's bed and sit next to him, and then Tyler fills in next to me. West goes and sits next to Gray on the couch, and Toby starts up the game.

"What did you get on your History test?" Gray asks West.

They begin discussing the class and their teacher, while Toby hands Tyler the controller.

Tyler smiles down at me and places his arm around my shoulders in a friendly gesture. I rest my head on his shoulder, thinking nothing of it. I've always seen Tyler as one of my closest friends, and small gestures like this don't really mean anything to me. I figure it doesn't mean anything further than a friendship to him either since he sleeps around so much.

All of the sudden I feel a familiar gaze on me, driving a shock through my body. I look over and see West staring at Tyler and I through unreadable eyes. For once, he looks away before I do and I'm left wondering what's going on in West Love's mind.