Free Falling Awake by T.A Richards Neville Page A

so everyone gets a student that can lead the tutoring.” So that would be me trying to teach Nathan the dumbass. I was steadily going off the idea of this trip.
      “One last thing before we finish up here. Caleb Dcruz will also be joining us. I think it will be a fantastic way to really welcome him into the school and help him get to know you all better,” he said, looking rather pleased with himself. This meeting could not get any worse, but at least the stupid smirk had been wiped clean off Nathans face, who looked like he was as happy about the news as I was.
      When Mr Kelly told us we were finished, I grabbed my bag and made a mad dash out of there. We left for Paris in a few weeks, therefore that was how long I had to get Mr Kelly to rearrange the groups or just leave Nathan behind, but I didn’t hold out much hope for the latter.
    The meeting only lasted twenty minutes and I still had time to meet Mellissa for lunch.
      I found her in the cafeteria giggling into her cell, oblivious to anyone else in the crowded room. I slid onto the bench opposite her and she looked up at me smiling.
      “Hey I gotta go,” she said into the phone. “See you tonight though?” she asked, and after saying goodbye, hung up.
      “Drake?” I asked, checking my own phone for any messages, hoping there would be something from Caleb even though I had at no point since meeting him given him my number; yet still managed to be disappointed when there was nothing from him.
      “Yep, and were all going to the bonfire tonight,” she announced cheerily.
      “Whose we?”
      “Me, you, Drake and Ressler.” Still no Caleb then I thought miserably, and I hadn’t seen Ressler since my alcohol induced coma.
      I looked out at the grey skies. It had rained nearly all day; I was surprised the bonfire was still happening.
    Every second week after the end of spring break, the town held a bonfire on Jackson’s Beach welcoming the beginning of summer. It was a family friendly event, but there were always kids there who managed to get their hands on alcohol and succeed in causing trouble and tainting the whole thing. I wouldn’t be drinking that was for sure.
      “But it’s raining out,” I said, still watching the heavy overcast sky as sheets of silver rain now crashed against the windows.
      “So what?” A little rain never hurt anyone. You can borrow my cagoule.” She was mocking me and just as she was about to re-open her mouth, Tamara came over to our table and sat down next to Mellissa. We both looked at each other unsure of what was going on. We weren’t unpopular or anything, but we absolutely did not keep company with the likes of her and her infamous jock friends.
      “Are you guy’s going to the bonfire tonight?” she asked, forging a smile like her coming over here wasn’t the most unusual thing in the world.
      “Uh…” Mellissa looked at me waiting for me to say something, but I could only stare at Tamara, picturing her sitting back on Caleb’s knee, offering herself up like the tramp that she is. 
      “What do you care if we’re going to the bonfire?” I snapped. She had a nerve coming over here when normally we weren’t good enough to smile at, never mind sit with. She pushed her hair behind her ear as she spoke.
      “It’d just be nice to see you there that’s all,” she said sheepishly. I strongly suspected she was here with an agenda, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what that was. Mellissa, reading my mind, was the first to speak.
      “If you’re looking for Caleb, he’s not interested in you, so just get lost. You’re putting me off my lunch with your stench of desperation.” Tamara’s blue eyes darkened with anger and she stood up. Coming over to where I sat, she leaned over me with her hands planted firmly on her tiny hips.
      “You may think you’ve won him, but let me tell you something. The reason he only wants to JUST be friends with you, is because he likes