Read Online Falling Darkness: The second book in the Falling Awake Series by T.A Richards Neville - Free Book Online Page A

will?” I said. I hadn’t really expected him to agree to that, but a small part of me was relieved. The other ninety-nine percent was quietly hysterical.
    “If it’s what you really want.”
    I looked at him skeptically. “What’s the catch?”
    “No catch. I’ll drop out of school. You won’t have to see me.”
    “What about your wings?”
    “I’m still going to be there for you. I’ll be like the invisible man.” He smiled and pushed his weight onto his shoulder, standing up straight and walked over to me. His hands were still tucked into his front pockets and his shirt hung half out on one side. He still looked good. If not, better.
    “Do you understand why I need to do this? I asked him.
    “I understand, but I don’t agree with it, and I don’t like it. I think it’s a trap.” He stopped right in front of me and pinned me with a full on stare. “Don’t do it.”
    “I have to.”
    “No, you don’t. Please, I’ll stay away. Just promise me that you’ll forget about the note.”
    I shook my head. “Caleb-”
    He put his hands on my waist and pinned me up against the lockers. His blonde hair flipped down over his eyes and my breath caught in my throat. Despite my better judgment, I reached up and pushed it away.
    “Pria, listen to me. That notes a lie, you know who your dad is.”
    “I can’t ignore it.”
    “You can.” His fingers gripped me tighter and he pulled me towards him so I was completely pressed up against his body. “I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he breathed. The notion was intoxicating and I closed my eyes in surrender.
    “I’m doing it with or without you, Caleb.” Suddenly, he let me go and my eyes sprang open. He moved back and every single one of his facial features tightened. The gym doors broke open and Drake, Ressler, and Mellissa piled through.
    “I hope you two weren’t making out,” Mellissa said playfully, smiling at me. Ressler looked from me to Caleb, his body rigid.
    “Do you need me to take her home?” I knew Drake was talking to Caleb, even though I wasn’t looking at him. My eyes were still fixed on Caleb. He hadn’t answered me yet.
    “I think you better,” he said to Drake. His eyes were still on me. He moved forward and whispered. “Without me, but don’t come crying back to me when this whole thing bites you in the ass, got it?” And he left, sliding between the exit doors.

Heart over mind
     
    D rake dropped Mellissa home and the two of us rode in silence to my house. The night had turned into an absolute bust. I felt like an utter and complete loser. I clenched the note that was pinned to my locker tightly in my fist. My knuckles had turned red, I held it with such force. Drake stopped his car in my drive and followed me into the house. None of this was Drake's fault but I was pissed and I stormed straight upstairs to my bedroom. I tore my wings off, which now seemed totally ridiculous and so un-important, and threw them onto the floor. My boots followed shortly after, and I threw myself down onto the bed and hugged my pillow to my face to kill the noise of my crying. A hand clamped its self on my shoulder and tugged gently until at last, I relented and lifted my head, sniffing back my tears. Drake was crouched down by the side of my bed, minus his ginormous hat.
    "What happened tonight?" he asked me. My fingers loosened around the note and I stuffed it under my pillow.
    "I found out that my dad's not actually my dad," I said with a crack in my voice. I lay my head on my pillow and looked at Drake sideways through heavy, dripping lashes. I wiped my hand over my wet cheek and sniffed loudly.
    Drake raised his hand and pushed my hair away from my face. "Who told you that?"
    "Someone left me the same note, twice."
    "But who would do that?"
    "Someone who really wants me to get the message."
    "What does Caleb say about this?"
    "He wants me to ignore it. You know Caleb, he’s always right. He thinks it’s one big stitch up. He