Gravity

Gravity

By Lacy Diaz

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Published by Lacy Diaz

Smashwords Edition

Gravity

Copyright 2012 Lacy Diaz

Thank you for purchasing Gravity. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, places, things, and events are solely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination.

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A special thanks to my husband for always pushing me to publish, and taking the kids so I could ‘write in my book’. I love you so much!

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The entire Gravity Series has multiple first persons. Read at your own risk.

Chapter 1 Anna

I hate funerals. Things that depress most people don’t depress me, but funerals are pathetically sad. The pastor is talking about celebrating life, but we’ve only been grieving and mourning. How is any event where the dress code is solid black going to be a celebration? It isn’t amusing, but ridiculous; a bad joke that everyone finds humorous.

My grandmother was seventy-nine years old. She was spunky and full of life. She was a star so bright she could be seen during the day, but she died of cancer. We weren’t aware she had cancer until three weeks ago, by then it had spread everywhere. The doctor said he believed it was skin cancer originally. She wasn’t upset when she found out her time was nearing the end. She said that we’re all terminal, and that she hadn’t lived cautiously.

She told me never to live my life with caution, but to embrace every opportunity to be different. I was her only grandchild and was treasured.

We were a small family. My dad was an only child, and my grandfather died years ago. Most of the people in attendance were daddy’s clients or colleagues. I wasn’t paying much attention to who showed up; they were all just brown nosing anyways.

Anna, it’s time to give our respects, come on honey, Momma whispered tugging my arm.

I was lost in a trance. We stood, walked out of the pew, down the aisle, and paused in front of the open casket. Then we walked about five feet away and turned around to receive respects robotically. I shook hand after hand, repeating thanks, thank you, thanks, and thank you. I was annoyed. I loved my grandmother dearly, but funerals were phony. She would’ve wanted a party celebrating her life and adventures held in her honor more specifically.

Hey Anna, I loved grandma, too, Cynthia said hugging me.

Cynthia was my best friend. She was followed by Megan and Candace. The four of us grew up together and all of their parents attended the funeral. We were close, and we were only children of wealthy parents.

Hey, cute guy alert five behind me! Megan whispered in my ear when she hugged me. Seriously, I muttered rolling my eyes.

Megan was a jerk sometimes. She wasn’t as refined as Cynthia was, as bubbly as Candace was, but she was always the first to have your back. She was new money. Her parents made their fortune in franchises. They had a chain of Mexican fast food restaurants, and a chain of shipping stores.

Then I saw the guy to whom she was referring. He shook my dad’s hand first.

I’m sorry for your loss Will, he said.

Thanks Tyler, my dad replied.

Then he hugged my mother, If you need anything Valerie let us know, he said.

Of course, sweetie, and thank you for coming, My mother replied. She was using her fake, professional tone translating, ‘I wish I didn’t have to be in the same room with you, but your criminal activity pays for our trips to Europe.’

I hid a giggle as I started thinking. I had never met this guy and he couldn’t be much older than I was. How did he know my mother? My mother and I only met the clients that held my father on retainer spending over a million a year with him. She never met them without me present did she? My father used the family aspect to dazzle his clients into thinking he was honest and trustworthy which he was sometimes. He was with me, but not many other people. I was different, special.

The guy was extraordinarily good looking. I felt guilty for even thinking it at my grandmother’s funeral. Grandma would’ve elbowed me at this point and told me to loosen up if she was alive. The guy turned to me next and I reached out to shake his hand, but he just froze. My nerves turned into a wild frenzy as I tried to control my hand from shaking. He didn’t say anything. The guy behind him nudged him, and then nudged him again a little harder; he grabbed my hand awkwardly,

I’m sorry for your loss, He said quickly looking down as if he was guilty of a mortal sin.

Thank you, I answered smilingly politely as I took a deep breath. I didn’t react to guys like that. They were never able to manipulate my nerves or thinking.

The next six guys were young like him and each paused looking at me like there was a secret between them. All of them were handsome, but none of them was as eye catching as Tyler. I looked at the guys as they exited the sanctuary. Each of them turned to look back at me, but only one smiled, the tall, blonde haired guy.

Honey, it’s time for the memorial, come on, My mother tugged my arm again. I still wasn’t paying attention, but this time it was because I was thinking of Tyler and his friends. I was extremely close to my parents, but I couldn’t understand how they would know seven guys my own age, and I wouldn’t know them.

Hey momma…who was the young man who hugged you? Daddy called him Tyler? I asked trying not to sound eager, just curious. Simply saying Tyler’s name made my body shiver slightly before I could recompose myself. Her expression changed from solemn to worry as if she had tempted me with the forbidden apple.

Just a client, no one special, She replied vaguely.

Who were the guys with him? I asked trying to pry some information out of her. The distraction was nice I would have to admit. I was close to my grandmother, and not feeling the emptiness she left inside me was comforting even if it was only for a brief moment or two.

His brothers, he has a large family sweetie, now why don’t you go join your friends. She suggested changing the subject. She turned away from me trying to find someone to start a conversation with unsuccessfully.

This is your grandmother’s funeral. It’s not the time for this Anna! Momma scolded allowing her frustration to show.

I’m sorry, Momma, I answered sincerely as I walked away allowing her an out.

Megan, Cynthia, and Candace were grouped together in a corner. Hey have you seen those guys? Megan asked eagerly.

Yeah, who are they? Candace asked.

Guys, this is Grandma’s funeral, I lectured.

Oh you know Grandma would have been the first one to tell you about the cute guy, Cynthia laughed.

Yeah, she would have, I agreed smiling. After my grandfather died, she turned into a boy-crazed schoolgirl for the remainder of her life. She never agreed with my scarce dating.

So…who are they? Megan asked again.

I’m not sure; all I got was that they were Daddy’s clients. I answered disappointed.

Too bad, I think that first one liked you. Cynthia teased, Maybe that other one with the blue eyes and blonde hair.

****Tyler****

Hey Tyler, her friends are school cheerleaders, Ben said obviously proud of himself.

And…there’s a basketball game tonight, Chad added a little too excited.

I have something tonight, but why don’t ya’ll go and see if you can’t get one her friend’s numbers, I suggested.

She was the only girl that had ever left me speechless without saying a word. She scared the hell out of me. We didn’t even stay for the memorial; Ben wasn’t too happy about that because he wanted to meet one of her friends. I knew I wasn’t good for her, but it didn’t matter.

The game is at seven, you can’t even come for the half-time show, Brandon said pretending to be more interested than he really was. He wasn’t trying hard enough.

Yeah, you know you want to see her again, Ben added laughing.

See her yeah, but make an ass out of myself again, hell no, I replied smiling. Anyways, there’s no guarantee she’ll even be there tonight.

I think the odds are in our favor; did you see how close those families are? Brandon said.

Okay, Demetrie, and I will take my car though, so we can leave right after half-time, I agreed.

Demetrie and I were late, we missed the first period, but Ben was right her three friends were all cheerleaders. They had gotten seats right in front of where the cheerleaders perform their half-time show.

So is she here? I asked Ben once we sat down.

Yeah, she’s sitting down one row and over a section. See the girl in the he replied, when I interrupted.

Yeah, I see her. How did you find her in this gym? I asked.

She had long, curly, dark hair past the middle of her back. She wore a white tank top and a denim skirt. She was beautiful. Naturally, though, not like she had to work at it. She had pale skin and dark, almost black eyes that looked like they could see through to your soul. She didn't seem as bubbly and outgoing as her friends. She's shy and reserved, but it just made her more appealing to me.

I think she is a photographer or something because she was telling the guy with the camera down on the court what to take pictures of and then she climbed the rail and sat down with those other two guys, Ben replied.

I was staring at the back of her head when she turned and looked my direction. She wasn’t looking at me though; she was looking at Chad. I hadn’t realized I had been staring until that moment. She glanced my way and smiled at me, and then the buzzer sounded the end of the period. She turned her attention back to the game. I was definitely not ready to talk to her yet.

The little blonde cheerleader grabbed a microphone. Her voice was stronger than I imagined.

We need some volunteers to help us do our half-time cheer! she shouted excitedly.

The other cheerleaders ran out and started grabbing students. The blonde one grabbed her. She was clearly embarrassed and didn’t want to perform, but went anyways. She already knew the cheer and routine, and was fairly good at it. She made eye contact with me several times, but only briefly. Her face was turning bright pink as her hips swiveled to the beat of the music. She made me smile without even realizing it.

Hey man, we gotta go. We’re gonna be late, even with you driving. Demetrie urged standing up.

When I turned around to look at her one last time, she made eye contact again. She looked distracted as if she didn’t understand something.

****Anna****

Tyler just got up and left. He hadn’t been here half an hour. Who comes to a basketball game for thirty minutes? His blonde haired friend smiled at me, almost sympathetically. After the game, the three remaining guys from the funeral came over and asked if we wanted to hang out. Candace’s boyfriend wasn’t thrilled, but once he realized none of them was interested in her, he relaxed. I didn’t say anything at first, but the blonde haired guy fell in step with me as we walked.

Hi, I’m Chad, what’s your name? the blonde asked me. He didn’t bother to introduce himself to Cynthia or Megan. The two other guys were talking to them.

Anna, I offered. We walked over to one of the dorms and hung out there.

So your Will’s daughter huh? he asked leaning against one of the pool tables next to me.

Yeah, for the last 22 years at least, I joked turning to face him. He slid his hand to where it was touching mine on the edge of the table. He wasn’t holding my hand, just touching our fingers.

I’m 22, also…um…so do you have a boyfriend? he asked sounding interested.

Not exactly, I answered, Are you attached? I asked.

No…not exactly, he replied smiling at me. Chad didn’t seem the shy type, but something was causing him to lack confidence. He stepped closer to me where our bodies were almost touching.

So what are you majoring in? I asked. We were so close to each other that I couldn’t look him in the face.

Um…business, but I mainly work on cars, he replied intertwining his fingers in mine, You?

Um…graphic design, I replied laughing a little. I looked over to Cynthia who was just as close to another one of his friends.

So who are your friends? I asked.

Well, the one talking with that tall friend of yours is Ben, and the one dancing with the short one is Brandon. He answered leaning closer to me touching our bodies. He took a deep breath.

You want to dance? he asked pulling away a little.

Sure, I replied. I hadn’t been that close to a guy since Jackson, my high school boyfriend. Our families were neighbors, so when he came home from college we still saw each other. The closeness made me nervous. We danced to some rap song I didn’t know, but then a slow song came on. We danced through half of it, when I thought he was going to kiss me. He had one hand draped around my waist and the other cradling my neck, but his friend Brandon grabbed his shoulder, saying his name as he was walking by. Chad immediately stepped back a foot.

****Chad****

Chad, Brandon said under his breath as he grabbed my shoulder. I came out of my trance pulling away.

Why don’t we play pool? I asked taking another deep breath.

We didn’t even finish the song, Anna said confused.

She had a deep accent, but spoke well. I knew if I pursued her in front of Brandon or Ben, then Tyler would find out. She was hard to resist. I almost screwed up and kissed her right in front of them. She smelled like lilacs. Her skin was milky and soft. I pulled her out the door knowing we only had a couple of minutes before one of the guys came out here to check on us. As soon as the door closed, I ran my hand behind her neck and tilted her head up planting my lips on hers. I pulled her hips into my body as I felt her tongue graze the top of mine. I hated that I had to rush kissing her, but at least I was kissing her at all. She moved her hands up to the back of my head pulling my lips into hers. I pulled back breathing hard.

I…uh…I need your phone number, I said kissing her again. She removed her hand from the back of my head pulling her phone out of her pocket.

What’s your number? she asked as I stuck my tongue in her mouth causing her to start giggling. I grabbed her phone and pressed my number into it until my phone started ringing. She slipped her hand in my back pants pocket pulling out my phone.

There ya go, she said kissing me again. The doors swung open, and I jerked back away from her. She gave me a weird look, but didn’t say anything.

I’ll call you later…okay, I whispered as Ben and Brandon came outside. They stared for a second, and then started walking to the car. I ran to catch up to them turning around to smile at her.

I can’t believe you did that, Ben said shaking his head, Tyler’s gonna be pissed dude.

Really, what’d you see? I asked as we got in my car.

We didn’t see anything Ben, Brandon chimed in smiling. Give Chad a break…Tyler will end up getting the girl, so let Chad have his fun.

Dude, if he sleeps with her, and she gets her feelings hurt. Well Tyler would kill him; he’d kill you, Ben said more to Brandon than to me.

Man…I’m not trying to screw her, I confessed. Both of them looked at me wide eyed.

Oh shit…dude you’re in love with the girl Tyler wants, damn man, Brandon said almost yelling.

Chad, how do you even know what love is? Ben asked.

Dude, can we just drop it, I insisted looking straight ahead at the road.

I think you just want her because you can’t have her, Ben argued resting his arm on the dash turning in his seat.

It’s not like that man, I replied.

All the girls that parade through your room and you expect me to believe that this one is different, Ben lectured.

I don’t give a shit what you believe, I snapped.

Ben this is between Chad and Tyler; it’s none of your business man, Brandon interrupted before I lost my temper completely.

Let’s just not say anything to Tyler, I said pulling inside the gates of Chatum. Ben and I were the same ranking within the family, so I couldn’t actually control whether he kept his mouth shut or not.

Whatever dude, it’s your ass not mine, Ben said smiling, I got the girl’s number I wanted.

Ty, I got her number, haha! Ben said excited as we walked inside the house. Her name is Cynthia.

Congratulations, so whose number did you get? he asked me.

No one Ty, I know you like her, but if she turns you down I call her after that, I lied.

So, does she have a man? he asked.

No, she’s been single for like a year, I answered. I had given serious thought to lying, but didn’t think he would respect her having a boyfriend anyways.

Ty, you’re gonna like what Brandon did. Go ahead and ask him, Ben said grinning.

"Okay, I simply told Cynthia that you had a thing for her friend Anna, but had business to take care of and couldn’t stay. She said that her, Anna, and Megan were going shopping for her friend Candace’s birthday party next Thursday, and