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    Will's Story: A No Place to Fall Novella
    Will's Story: A No Place to Fall Novella
    Will's Story: A No Place to Fall Novella
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    Will's Story: A No Place to Fall Novella

    By Jaye Robin Brown

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    About this ebook

    Will McKinney is a bad boy. At least, he used to be. After nearly getting arrested for some poor decisions involving prescription drugs, Will has been trying to turn over a new leaf. Well, it’s that or suffer the wrath of his father, the judge. Will's starting to get his life in Sevenmile, North Carolina, in order. He’s applying to colleges. He's dating the most popular girl at school. And he recently discovered a love of playing the banjo and performing in front of a crowd. But it's that same love of music that draws him to Amber Vaughn, his younger teenage brother's best friend. Now Will finds himself wondering if he just might really be a bad guy because even though he's got a girlfriend, he can't stop thinking about Amber.

    Will’s Story is a companion novella to Jaye Robin Brown's young adult debut, No Place to Fall, and perfect for fans of her novel and newcomers alike.

    Epic Reads Impulse is a digital imprint with new releases each month.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperTeen
    Release dateApr 5, 2016
    ISBN9780062387400
    Will's Story: A No Place to Fall Novella
    Author

    Jaye Robin Brown

    Jaye Robin Brown is the critically acclaimed author of the young adult novels Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit and No Place to Fall. She lives in North Carolina with her dog, horses, and wife. You can visit her on Instagram @jayerobinbrown or online at www.jayerobinbrown.com.

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      Book preview

      Will's Story - Jaye Robin Brown

      DEDICATION

      To my brother, Ken—one of the good guys.

      CONTENTS

      Dedication

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Acknowledgments

      Excerpt from No Place to Fall

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Excerpt from Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

      One

      Two

      Back Ads

      About the Author

      Books by Jaye Robin Brown

      Copyright

      About the Publisher

      CHAPTER ONE

      Blue lights flash

      A girl by my side

      My brain’s half-baked

      What a hell of a ride

      The patterns in my textured ceiling aren’t doing their usual let the buzz die by finding hidden faces trick. All I can think about is Amber Vaughn walking home on the shoulder of the road as I three pointed the hell away from the blue lights flashing in front of her house.

      Shit. Smooth, Will.

      Amber Vaughn is not my girlfriend. But Amber Vaughn is the one I just had sex with. What’s even worse, or at least right up there with cheating on your actual girlfriend, I didn’t bother to drive her to her door. I let her out on the curb like a piece of trash. To be fair to myself, I really didn’t expect any of it to happen. It was just a ride home, a moment to chill. I mean, the girl had been given a detention on the first day of school. I was only trying to cheer her up by driving to the bald, pulling out my banjo, lighting the pipe. In the two years we’ve known each other, never once have we tried to hook up.

      I groan. And grin. Then . . .

      Fuck. My brother will hate me for treating his best friend like that.

      It was a panic move, pure and simple. If that deputy parked in her driveway had figured out I was stoned and word got back to my dad, the shit would fly fast and furious and my life would be screwed. It’s bad enough having concerned parents but add in the paternal career choice of judge and you are doomed to a life of great expectations and people, specifically those dreaming of their own day on the ballot, up in your business.

      Screwed.

      I close my eyes and think about the earlier part of the afternoon. The way Amber’s voice tangled with my banjo chords. The way her body felt knitted up next to mine. That moment of no return or better yet, her moment of consent, and damn, my lucky right hand travels south more than ready to let me relive the best part of my day.

      Devon flings open the door.

      Dude! I yank my hand back.

      Were you . . . ? Devon laughs until he sees my face. He steps into the room and shuts the door. What the hell, man. You’re stoned? On the first day of school? Are you trying to end up grounded till you graduate? He throws his soccer bag into the bathroom that connects our rooms.

      If I was brave, I’d tell him right now. Bro, me and your friend Amber? Well, we went up to the bald, played some music, talked a little, smoked a little, and well, she’s pretty cool and one thing led to another and . . .

      Did you give Amber a ride home?

      What the hell? Is this brother mind meld or something?

      He quickly clarifies. Plain and Small, I mean. His specificity is needed. My girlfriend, the one I haven’t done the deed with, is also named Amber.

      I scoot up against the pillows and grab my banjo from its stand. I’m not sure why my brother calls his Amber, Plain and Small. She’s anything but. The girl has a voice like Patsy fucking Cline and a body that doesn’t quit. But Devon would never notice that body, not his thing. I run the first phrase from Dueling Banjos. Yeah, man, you told me to, right?

      Jesus, Will. I hope you weren’t baked.

      Quit being Captain Safety, Dev. Anyway, me being baked is the least of that girl’s worries right now.

      What are you talking about? My brother folds into my desk chair, I guess making himself comfortable to hear me play.

      I pick out a little rhythm, finding comfort in the twang that my friends in our old Raleigh neighborhood love to mock. My guitar was cool. This banjo, not so much. Should I tell Devon the whole story? Shit. I can’t. The other Amber, my Amber Rose, will be furious. More than furious, she’ll be hurt. And Devon won’t let me take my time to figure out what to do. He’ll push me into a breakup or honesty or something that will have her crying and me feeling like the most colossal dick on the planet.

      Her sister was in the process of getting arrested when I dropped her off.

      What? Devon scoots forward in the chair.

      I shrug. Yeah, cop car, lights flashing, handcuffs, the whole nine yards.

      Are you sure?

      Yeah, I’m sure.

      He pulls out his phone and I freeze. Is there a chance Not So Plain and Small will tell Devon about what she and I did?

      Like some kind of mad karma, my phone rings. My Amber. Amber Rose Slagle, the girl who, for whatever reason, sees me as something more than a fuckup, is waiting for me to answer. And I cheated on her. Granted, our relationship is pretty brand-new, but I never thought I’d be that guy. I’m relieved when Devon gets up and heads to his own room to give me privacy.

      I stare at the phone. To answer or not to answer. Crap. The sooner I talk to her, the easier it will be. Whatever that means.

      Hey.

      Whatcha doing? Amber Rose is pretty much the cheeriest girl on the planet. And why wouldn’t she be. She’s got an amazing family, she’s gorgeous, she makes decent grades without trying, and already knows exactly who she wants to be in life. I’m still kind of flabbergasted she agreed to go out with me.

      Nothing much. Messing with my instrument.

      Will!

      I grin. It wasn’t what I meant, but her reaction is pretty perfect. My banjo, Amber Rose.

      She giggles and the shit feelings hit me square in the gut. No girl deserves a douche boyfriend. I try to bring the confession to my lips. I beg off the call instead. Hey listen, can I call you later? My mom needs my help in the other room.

      My life, which I’d been boo-hoo’ing to her about the day on the lake when we first connected, is finally turning a corner. Dad, though still convinced I’m a fuckup because of my unfortunate tangle with that dealer, Sammy, is only seventy-five percent pissed at me now. I’ve got a girlfriend my parents approve of, and except for the occasional slow burn on a Monday afternoon, I really am steering clear of anything but recreational relaxation.

      So why the hell did I hook up with Amber Vaughn?

      She’s been hanging out with Devon for two years, and yeah, I mean, sure I’ve noticed her, how could I not? But it’s been in more of a you’re my brother’s cool friend way, than in a let’s talk about you and me way.

      Today was a fluke.

      Had to have been.

      CHAPTER TWO

      An old country tune

      A wide gym door

      Got to open your eyes

      To see what’s in store

      Spanish class and I can’t stop thinking about the wrong Amber. In the commons before the bell, the right Amber’d had her hand tucked into my back pocket, her slender body snugged up against my arm. Then, the wrong Amber walked by, confident and self-assured. All soft and curvy. Sexy as

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