Falling
a coming-of-age novel
Katherine Cobb
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Some references to businesses, street names, bands and schools are intentional, representing reality in the time frame of this novel. This book also contains sexual themes, profanity and some behavior or scenarios which some may find difficult or offensive. It is intended to realistically depict issues some teens face.
Copyright © 2020 by Katherine Cobb
Copyright © 2014 under title Skyline Higher
Printed in the USA
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who many quote brief passages for a review.
Published 2018, 2020
Printed in the USA
Bandito Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 166
Farmville, VA 23901
To the high school friends who had such an impact on my life— Chews, Renny and Tash, and PT Alright, Red, Head, Bean, Pirate, Slon, Tav, Mike and Scott.
To Natasha Singh and Doug Young—rest in peace, my friends. You are both in my heart and greatly missed.
Since the first edition of this book, Cathy Peterson also passed. She was like a second mother to me during my high school years and I remember her with enduring fondness.
Contents Sophomore Year, 1978
1: Slopmores
2: Flirting Practice
3: Crush
4: What Happens at Rock Concerts
5: Steady
6: Rivalry
7: Boy Trouble
8: Surrender
9: Homecoming
10: Round Two
11: The Undoing
12: Lost
13: Limbo
14: Out of Purgatory
15: Gimme an A
16: Tryouts
17: Taking the Plunge
18: Summertime
19: Heavy Breathing
20: On Your Mark, Get Set…
21: Go!
22: Day on the Green
23: Last Hurrah
Junior Year, 1979
24: Back to School Specials
25: Enjoy Coca-Cola
26: Teen Drama
27: White Christmas
28: Jailbreak
29: Sweet Sixteen
30: Prom
31: Easy Come, Easy Go
32: Pregnant
33: Countdown to Summer
34: Free at Last
35: Country Club
36: Busted
37: The Nightmare
38: The End
39: Surreal
Afterword
A Special Message from Author to Reader
Hey! Don’t miss this part where I share my real life experiences with you—you know, the heavy stuff. But don’t skip to the end and check it out first because there are plot spoilers, and we don’t want that. Read the novel, then the Afterword, then connect if you want to.
Author Note Acknowledgments Playlist About the Author
“This book is hella cool!”
Hella is a word associated with Northern California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, believed to be in existence since at least the mid-1970s. Basically, it’s the shortened version of “hell of” but typically used in place of “really,” “totally” or “very” (the Titans are hella better than Tech) or to describe quantity (I’ve watched hella TV). You’ll find the word in Falling, because we said it all the time (like, hella)—and still do. I just wanted you to know before you started reading so you were hip to the slang (now you’re hella cool too!).
Sophomore Year
1978
1
Slopmores
I stepped off the bus for my first day of high school, palms already sweating. I had finally advanced to the big time: Skyline High, class of 1981. I wiped my hands on my favorite bell-bottoms, which flared so wide at the hem, they obscured my sandaled feet.
“Pretend we’re not related,” said my older brother, Anthony, as he shoved past me toward campus.
“Thanks, bro’. Love you, too.” Chump! I had my own friends, thank you very much. I didn’t need him, or his lame buddies, to navigate the waters.
“Michelle!” I yelled as she exited another bus. With her bushy red hair and oversized glasses, she personified her last name of Homely, which incited plenty of torment throughout her school years. She waved and wound her way over. Her jeans were at least three inches too short, and I fought back a comment. High school is going to be the nail in the coffin, Mich.
Michelle’s gaze darted in several directions, taking in the chaos. “This place is a madhouse.”
“For real! Let’s see if we can find Katy.”
We joined the throngs of students making their way into the nearest buildings, the drab green exteriors resembling old office structures. Michelle and I squeezed together, but were jostled like apples on a conveyor belt. Skyline was humongous—one of the biggest high schools in Oakland with five junior highs funneling into it. I studied the map yesterday to avoid getting lost, relieved the buildings were numbered in a layout that made sense, as long as I could keep it straight. Powers that be, please let me find my locker and classes easily. The last thing I need is more of Anthony’s stupid gloating.
Ethnic diversity populated the student body. We passed black, Hispanic, Asian and white kids in the hall. My olive-toned skin—a direct contribution from my Sicilian father—made Michelle’s fair complexion seem even paler in contrast. Some students towered over us, and I gawked at the manly facial hair protruding from some of the boys’ faces.
Michelle pointed. “There she is.”
Katy tossed her thick sable hair and shoved a hairbrush into the back pocket of her jeans. Her sea-green eyes, highlighted with sparkling shades of purple eye shadow, matched her shirt, and her cheeks glowed a pinkish-orange. Pretty but not overdone, as usual.
I compared myself, silently determining whether I measured up. Michelle may have been hopeless in the looks department, but Katy always looked pulled together. Tall and slender, clothes hung just right on her. Even so, my chestnut eyes and matching long hair made me a standout. Clear gloss coated my lips,
