Candice's Story: Falling Series, #1

By Dee Avila

Candice Warner ends her freshman year single, and ready for a summer of fun. When her current crush asks her to be his girlfriend, Candice soon learns what one bad decision can do to your life.
Alex Martinez is the hot and sexy senior that has eyes for Candice. Devastatingly enough, it’s not the only thing he has for her. He convinces her to try drugs and live a little.
Candice is determined to stay away from the drugs, but each time Alex’s withdrawals send him on a rampage, where she is his target, she finds the need to use drugs stronger than ever.
Knowing the drugs are what’s causing the abuse and trying to get him to quite with her, Candice stays. She battles a mental fight about right and wrong. Feeling the domino affect her decisions have on her life, Candice twists and spirals downward, headed for rock bottom. Will she get out and speak up? Can she save herself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. Avila
• Release date: Dec 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493609246

Book preview

Chapter One

The water was cold, sending goose bumps over my arms and legs. Every year, in early June, when the water first came down the river, everyone got together at Black Bridge to do a kind of Polar Bear Plunge. Every year, the water was freezing.  I toed the river, waiting for the right minute to dive in from the beach.

I heard footsteps and laughing and I spun around to see what was going on. Titus was barreling toward me. NOOOOO!

Too late, C!

Wrapped up in Titus’ arms, we fell into the freezing water, the clear, frigid liquid going in my mouth and up my nose. I sputtered and tried to regain my footing.  Damn, it was cold—too cold to be doing this.  It had barely reached seventy degrees that day.

Come on, Candice, invited a familiar voice, as strong arms reached to help me out of the icy current, wrapping me in a towel. Alex Martinez was a senior, and my would-be boyfriend, if I ever said yes to him.

I grabbed the towel and wrapped up in it, my teeth chattering and my extremities turning blue.  Why do I get sucked into doing this every year? Let’s go walk it off and get warmed up, he said, moving away from the concrete pillar, hands on his hips, his red board shorts hanging low and revealing his perfect V. His dark chocolate hair disheveled from being in the water and his deep brown eyes, so dark they looked black, focused in on me, like a laser. His devilish smile showed off his bright white, perfectly straight teeth and caused me to smile back in spontaneous response, as I nodded my head.

Grabbing his hand, I pulled him toward the worn path up the canal bank, into the sun. He stepped up beside me, threading his fingers with mine and we followed the train tracks down to the cornfield, stopping under an old tree that shaded the trail. I met his gaze, his truffle colored eyes searching mine for something; but I didn’t wait to find out what.  Keeping my eyes open, I reached up and kissed him, right on the lips. When he slid his other hand into my hair and deepened the kiss, I closed my eyes and got lost.

I let go of his hand, sliding both of mine up his stomach, feeling his abs on my way to his chest. He had an impressive build. Finally, I snaked them around his neck, pulling him in closer. Alex moaned into my mouth and I clutched him tighter. His arms lowered, his hands gripping my hips as the kiss turned frantic. I couldn’t get enough. Somewhere in the background, I heard the train coming and, when the horn blew, I pulled away, panting.

I could keep kissing you; but every time I do, I want more. Candice, I want more with you. Are we ready to be serious, yet?

I was, and I wasn’t.  We had hooked up three times over the last month, not doing anything more than kissing and fondling at some party or another.  I was still semi-seeing my best friend Reese’s ex-boyfriend, Graham. Of course, no one knew about that.  I also slept with Evan again, last weekend. He and I dated while Reese and Graham were together last year, before the boys graduated. Evan was sexy and good in bed; so when he came home from college on summer break, we got together.

There was nothing serious with either guy and definitely no commitment. I know, it sounds like I’m a slut, like someone who slept around. People thought I did. That’s why I wasn’t sleeping with Alex, yet. I’d only had sex with two guys. Granted, I wasn’t in a relationship with either one, but that’s because I wasn’t ready for a relationship at that time; and, as a soon to be sophomore, I’m still not ready to be exclusive.  Reese thought my promiscuous behavior had to do with my low self-esteem. She Dr. Phil’d me all the time. She believed any guy I talked with at a party, at the mall, or anywhere, really, ended up sleeping with me. I never corrected her and I don’t know why. Maybe she was on to something. I didn’t think it was low self-esteem as much as just not wanting to be alone. But, I don’t want to be monogamous, either. Lucky for me, there are plenty of guys out there who are not looking for monogamy, either

I guess I was taking too long to answer because Alex cleared his throat and started talking, again.

Look, C, we’ve had fun. We have fun. You’re easy to talk to and I like you. A lot. I want to make us exclusive. I want to know you aren’t kissing anyone but me. And, I want you to know I’m not kissing anyone but you. I want to call you whenever I want. I want to tell you good night and know that I can call you in the morning.

You do that now. I laughed. 

He frowned. It’s not the same and you know it. I want you to be mine.

Awe, Alex Martinez, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?

Huffing out a long breath, he pulled me into his chest and looked down at me. Yeah, I am.

Was this what I wanted? Was I ready to give up Graham and Evan? I guess it was time. I guess I was. Yes, I will be your girlfriend.

Alex picked me up and twirled me around, kissing me, deeply.

Alex! Dude, let go of your girl; we need to talk. Josh Gibson’s nasally voice carried over from the bank. Seriously, it sounded like the guy plugged his nose when he talked. It was annoying.

Alex pulled away groaning. Can’t it wait? As you can see, I’m with my girl!

Now!

Come on, babe, he won’t leave us alone until I go over there.

Following Alex, I looked over at the intruder and wondered what he wanted with Alex. I didn’t even know that they talked. Josh started hanging out with our group of friends, recently. He was starting school here in August. I didn’t really know him, but something about him bothered me.

Reaching the levy, Alex bent down to kiss the side of my mouth. Head back over to your friends; I’ll be there in a minute.

Whatever.

Nice girl you got there, Alex.

Yeah, I really didn’t like that guy. Alex brushing me off pissed me off, too. Hello? We just became exclusive and he was already ditching me for the new guy? Storming up to Reese and Titus, I noticed the crowd had thinned. Everybody take off?

Titus looked around. Yep, we were waiting on you. Are you ready to go? he asked, handing me back my shorts and t-shirt that I’d left on the beach.

Yeah, I am. And I was. We walked, as I put my shirt on over my bikini top.

Together we climbed up to the tracks, using the bridge to cross the river, and headed home. Titus’ house was the closest. Ty, can we go to your house for a bit? I didn’t want Alex driving down Main Street and seeing us walking to my house or Reese’s. I was still mad that he chose Josh over me. Maybe I wasn’t mad; I was hurt. It hurt my feelings that he pushed me to the side to hang out with Josh. Thankfully, I had my real friends with me. I didn’t feel like sulking alone.

Yeah, you girls hungry? I can make hamburgers.

Burgers sound great. Reese turned toward me, Everything okay?

Letting out a sigh, I answered. Yeah, Alex and I are going out.

Reese wrapped me in a hug. That’s great, C!

Titus looked confused. He knew about Evan and he probably suspected something was up with Graham. Titus was very intuitive; he always seemed to know stuff without me ever telling him.

Yeah, It’s super. The first thing he did was ditch me to talk to that Josh guy.

Reese’s eyes lit up. She liked him. No damn way was I letting that happen. Josh Gibson? I didn’t even see him down there.

You like him? I asked, in my bitchy voice.

Reese looked away. No, she responded, defensively.

Sure. I kept my comment to myself and dropped the subject.  We walked into Titus’ house and my phone went off.

Alex: What the hell?

I thought about texting him back, but instead shut my phone off. Titus was busy in the kitchen getting