Edited by kenjisato. A huge thank you as usual.
Proofreading and suggestions by OldDave51
She was the ultimate hardass. He was wounded and scared to love again.
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Hi, welcome back to Middletown!
If you want to check some background about the MC, she made her first appearance at "Wheels of Love". However, you can read this story as it is, and hopefully enjoy it.
CHAPTER 1
My phone pinged and I took a quick look at the screen. It was a message from my best friend in high school, Ray Clarke. He and his family had moved out of Middletown as soon as he graduated from high school. We sent each other yearly birthday and Christmas cards and texted from time to time, but we weren't in close contact after he left.
What would he want?
I was tempted to type something back, but texting on a date might be considered rude, even when my date was boring me to death and I was dying to go home.
I placed my phone back on the table, and did my best to focus on the guy in front of me. Not an easy task.
I had met this guy at the mall. He was obviously a tourist. I was bored, so I let him start making conversation. I learned that he was an architect and he was thinking about moving to a small town.
"How is it living in Middletown?" he asked me.
"Small towns are not for everyone. Most residents have lived here since they were born, and they're very, um... set in their ways, protective, and routine-oriented," I explained.
The guy just looked at me.
"Middletown is a quaint old place. It has kind of a weathered feel..." My voice trailed off. "We are surrounded by all the best Mother Nature has to offer. It's a very small town, quiet, and peaceful. People ride their bikes around in the summer. On warm nights, they sit out on the front porch and watch the sun begin its nightly symphony of painting the sky in vivid shades of orange, red, and violet. Anyway, this is how it feels living here."
Then, he had said he would like to ask me out, but he said he was too shy. I thought it was a cute way of asking-slash-not asking me out. I know how some guys feel about that stuff, so I helped him ask me out and we went on a date.
So, here I was. Worst date ever.
He went from cute to having issues in no time. Everything he had said about himself was negative, like "I know I'm not really at your level;" "you're probably used to dating better-looking guys;" or "my life is not really that interesting."
"So, you're a Leo?" he said.
I shrugged, "So I was told."
"I'm a Libra."
I had no idea what that said about him or me. Astrology had never been my thing. I did my best to avoid yawning.
"How many siblings do you have?" he insisted.
"Still just the one I told you about."
I was not trying to be a bitch, but he made it difficult when it was clear he didn't pay attention to a single thing I said.
Here he was this handsome guy, and all he could do was tell me what a loser he was, while putting away drink after drink and getting more and more depressed.
Needless to say, it was a big turnoff. No one wants to date a conceited ass, but who wants to date a person that thinks so little of himself?
So, I started asking him questions, but he was as interesting as a wet noodle. Which I suppose, to some, could be thrilling, but not to me.
I yawned a few times and said I was tired.
He wanted to walk me home, but I firmly told him I was fine. I ended our date early with a handshake.
It was not easy to find your better half in Middletown. It's true that in a small town, there is a greater sense of community and the potential for more close-knit relationships, but it also offers a limited supply of dating material.
My name is Kara Grant, by the way. I had lived in Middletown all my life and I have no plans to leave. I'm happy here.
I have a degree in business administration, and I work with the local contractor, Percy Wittmore. I am a multitasking worker, kind of a wild card.
In my line of work, I'm surrounded mostly by men. In my first weeks, some of the single guys flirted with me, or tried to get into my panties, but I put them in their place. Growing up, I loved playing baseball. I used to carry with me a pink baseball bat, and sooner than later, everyone knew I was not afraid of using it. To be honest, I hadn't had to hit someone since I was eleven. But the stories of how I hit a bully in the stomach with it stuck around.
Once my friends and co-workers understood I was not one to mess with, we got along well. I like to hang with them and go for a few beers after work. After that, I was regarded as 'one of the guys', whatever that meant.
I am outspoken and opinionated; don't like to wear makeup or stereotypically feminine attire (which is generally not appropriate for construction sites). Some people say that I'm a tomboy, but I can get really girly if the right guy comes along. I love to shop. I love to eat, too.
My parents and my older sister Jenny live in Middletown too. She was involved in a horrible car crash on prom night. The driver was drunk, hit a curve too fast, and crashed against a tree. Jenny woke up in the hospital bed unable to feel her legs. The doctors said that she was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Knowing my sister was never going to walk again was hard for everyone in my family. When Jenny finally left the hospital, she looked drawn and gray, as if the accident had sucked out half her soul.
My parents are wonderful people, but they are extremely overprotective. That was the last thing my sister needed.
I had to be strong for Jenny. I couldn't allow myself to become broken. Being my sister's rock as she went through the most terrifying rollercoaster of her life, took everything out of me.
My best friend Ray was there for me the whole time. He was the one I could always count on for anything. He was the only one I let my guard down with. When I became anxious, Ray would give calm reassurance that things were going to be okay. He was the one that kept me from falling apart. He let me cry on his shoulder when I couldn't hold the tears anymore.
Ray never asked for anything in return.
One day, I realized I was in love with him. Ray was a man, who genuinely liked me for something, other than getting in my panties. And it made me feel terrifyingly good to be around him.
I never had any reason to believe Ray felt the same way. He never pushed me to be more than friends. So I let things be the way they were.
I never got to confess my feelings to him. I wouldn't have been able to pursue a relationship with him anyway. I was too busy taking care of my sister.
As soon as we finished high school, his family left Middletown for good. His father had gotten a job with a big company. Sadly, many residents leave our town in search of better employment opportunities.
I knew losing my best friend would be hard, but I didn't realize just how difficult it would be.
I focused on helping my sister and did my best to forget Ray.
I did some crazy stuff, dated some guys in college, but nothing serious, because I couldn't get Ray out of my mind.
CHAPTER 2
On the way back home, I finally got to read the text from Ray. It was a simple, "Hey, Kara, may I call you?"
I called him back immediately.
"Hi, Ray! It has been years since I heard your voice. I thought you had forgotten me. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" I greeted him.
"Hey, Supergirl, since when did you become so formal?" he asked.
Ray always thought my parents were nerds, who had named me after Supergirl's Kryptonian name, Kara Zor-El. The truth was, my parents, had named me Cara, an Italian name that means 'beloved'. When I was a teen, I started spelling it with a 'K' to make it more interesting.
"I'm a big girl now, Ray. I became a responsible member of our community."
"It's about time." He was trying to joke, but his voice sounded low and husky.
"How are your parents?"
