Part two is finished! I had already written most of this before I uploaded the first part which is why this is done so quickly.
Chapter three is going to take some time because I haven't even though about where I want this story to go. I'm really happy with the feedback I've gotten so far, I hope this lives up to expectation and I welcome any feedback, comments and suggestions any of you have!
Enjoy!!
July 2006 -- Callie
Pulling into my drive after dropping Lexie off I still can't wipe the smile off of my face, my car is still filled with the smell of her perfume. What is wrong with me? No girl has ever had an effect on me like this, usually when I meet someone I've bedded them by now and will already be chasing the next piece of tail. But there's something about her I just can't seem to shake, something that's making me feel... I don't know. I give my head a good shake before turning the ignition off and making my way into the house.
The second I step through the door the hairs on the back of my hair stand on end, somethings not right. It's eerily quiet, the lights are on and I can hear the television in the front room but there's something wrong. "Lana?" I call out for my sister, she should be home tonight. I know she likes to party with her friends, I don't encourage it but seeing as Dad usually is usually propping up a bar somewhere or is in his study too drunk to function, it's just the two of us. She makes me aware of her plans and I make sure she gets home safe.
"Callie?" I can hear a muffled response come from the kitchen, it's my sisters voice but she doesn't sound right.
When I step into the kitchen I drop to my knees and shuffle to where she's cowered in a corner, her eyes are red and there are clear tear stains on her cheeks falling across an angry looking red welt.
"Jesus, Lana. What the fucks gone on tonight?" I can't keep the panic out of my voice as I pull her into my arms, I can feel my baby sister shake in my arms and a surge of rage flows through me. "Did he hit you?"
Dad's an angry drunk, he usually contends himself with just shouting about something but he's never hit either of us. He usually acts like it never happened in the morning but the peace is always short lived. I can feel Lana nod against my chest and I pull away.
"Where is he?" I think she can sense the rage in my body by the grip I have on her bare arms, my blue eyes sit on her deep brown ones. Unfortunately I inherited my father's appearance. Lana is all mum, she has all the Italian beauty my mother had, dark hair, dark eyes, gorgeous olive skin. People never believe us when we say we're sisters.
"Callie, please don't. He's asleep. Don't leave me." I pull her to me again and smooth her hair down. I know in that instant I need to get her out of here.
"Go get some shit together, it's late we'll go to a hotel tonight and then I'm driving you to Nona's tomorrow."
"What about you?"
I run a hand through my hair and pause for a moment, Nona lives a good two hours away and even though I've only just met her I don't think I want to be that far away from Lexie. "I'll visit. It'll only be for a few weeks whilst I calm things down here, try and get him sober long enough to make him see he needs to sort his shit out. But you'll be safe there and I'm old enough to handle daddy."
We both go upstairs silently, I can hear my father snoring in his room, turning to Lana I hold a finger to my lips to keep her quiet and gesture to her room. I peel off and step into mine and throw some clothes and necessities into a holdall and wait downstairs for her. My car keys are in my hand and my legs feel restless, all the good feelings from earlier this evening have well and truly vanished. It's taking every ounce of self-control I have not to run upstairs and beat the shit out of the man that gave me life. He was always a drinker but since mum died, it's gotten worse, there are some days where I don't even recognise him anymore.
Eventually Lana comes downstairs with a large suitcase, I sling my hold all over a shoulder and take her case off of her and she follows me back out to my car. Filling my boot with our things I get in start the ignition and pull out of the driveway at speed.
"Where are we staying tonight Cal?" Lana's voice is quiet when she speaks, I glance over at her and take her hand in mine.
"I don't know, I'm going to drive to a few hotels in the area and hope we get lucky. I have plans in the morning that I can't cancel but once I'm done we'll make the journey to Nona's ok?"
"Sure."
We fall into silence as I drive from hotel to hotel in the hopes of finding somewhere with a vacant room, I'm about to give up when we finally get lucky. It's a rundown place with threadbare carpets and tired looking decorations but it has a bed, a bathroom and that's all we need.
Lana climbs into bed without even getting undressed and falls asleep almost instantly, I switch out a light and change into the pyjamas I've packed myself before lying next to her and for the first time since dropping Lexie off I check my phone. When I see I have a message from her the panic and anger I've been feeling not vanish but ease, like she has some kind of calming influence on me.
I had such a good time with you tonight, I had every intention of waiting for you to get in touch first but I got impatient. I hope you got home safely. Xx
Hey baby, yeah got home fine. I had a good time as well, I didn't want to take you home but I'm trying this new thing where I actually try and act like a decent human being. I'm going to be frank with you, I've had some stuff go on at home tonight and for reasons I don't want to get into I won't be alone when we go for breakfast tomorrow. My sister will be with me is that ok? I'm driving her to my grandparents tomorrow and I really don't want to not see you. Xx
I feel nervous about the way she'll react to meeting Lana, I mean we've had one date. I've never let anyone meet my family, for good reasons to be honest. Why would I let anyone close to the train wreck that is my father? Before I can contemplate this anymore my phone chimes in my hand and with bated breath I look down and open the message.
Are you OK? Of course that's fine, I know you said you don't want to talk about it but I'll listen if you ever change your mind. Callie, I have a feeling you're harder on yourself than you need to be. The person I met tonight... well let's just say that regardless of any past transgressions, the only reason people have those opinions of you is because I doubt you've ever let anyone see the person I saw tonight. I want to see more of this person. I can't stop thinking about this person. Xx
One day I'll tell you all about it but not yet. You're quite the romantic aren't you? Here's me thinking it'd be me sending you all the messages in the attempt to charm you but here I am, well and truly charmed. What time do you want picking up tomorrow? Xx
Ha, I wouldn't say I'm romantic but I have a few moves of my own. Is 9 too early? Xx
I wait with baited breath to see these 'moves' (; 9 is perfect. Just like you. Xx
You're so full of shit. Baby I only hope you can handle my moves (; I'll leave you with that because I'm going to sleep. It's been quite the night. Before you ask, yes I will. Sleep well gorgeous. Xx
I don't reply I just set an alarm, put it on charge and tuck my hands under my head. Staring up at the ceiling I have the biggest smile on my face. For the first time in I don't know how long I feel like I have this shining light at the end of my long dark tunnel. The last few years have been rough since losing mum, Lana had just started secondary school, I was just about to do GCSE's. Things at home had never been easy but mum was great, dad drank but he actually wanted to be around his family. He was never the angry, hateful piece of shit he is now. Mum did everything for us, she taught us to speak Italian, she taught me how to play piano and guitar. She cooked with us, sang, laughed and played with us. And after she died... well there's no point in dwelling on it.
Looking over at the sleeping figure next to me, I take a deep breath and let my eyes close in the hopes that tomorrow will bring brighter prospects forward onto our horizon.
April 2014 -- Callie
It's safe to say things at work have certainly improved, since that memorable Saturday morning. Lexie has ended it with Torie officially and we're slowly but surely rebuilding our relationship. It's difficult keeping a lid on things in the office, strictly speaking there is no issue with our relationship but I don't want people gossiping about my personal affairs.
In front of others she insists on addressing me as Ms. Jenkins but in private it's Callie which I prefer. I'm impressed that she can still behave professionally when we work together, I find it difficult to keep a clear head when all I want to do is have her in every and anyway I can get her.
That is if we ever get to that point again, it's been a little over two months and we still haven't gotten to that point in our renewed relationship. Despite the fact we have had many hot and heavy nights where I get close, she stops me before we go any further. I respect her choice to take things slow but I'm quite literally climbing the walls. It doesn't help that she insists on teasing me at every given opportunity whilst we're at work. I think she thinks that she's subtle when she bends down in front of me to file away paper work when she knows I'm watching. Or when I catch her watching me through the conference room glass walls and she flutters those ridiculously long lashes at me and chews her lip.
But whatever game she thinks she's playing I play better, when I talk to her at her desk outside my office sometimes I get so close when I speak into her ear I can see the goosebumps form on her flesh or see the ripples of a shiver flow through her.
I'm staring at the screen on my computer, grinning goofily when the phone on my desk sounds and disturbs me from my reverie. Sighing loudly I pick it up and answer it in a clipped tone "Clarissa Jenkins?"
"Ms. Jenkins I have a Keith Lowry on line one for you?" I smile at Lexie's voice and chew on the corner of my lips.
"Am I on speaker?" I drop the tone and my voice comes out husky and I can hear her drawer her breath on the other end.
"No."
"Good. Let me take this call and then I need you to get your arse in here. I have something for you."
"I'll put him through now." I chuckle before picking up the line and greeting my mentor and father figure.
"Hey old timer what can I do for you?" I sit back in the chair and tuck the handset between my shoulder and my ear as I go back to typing out the email I was focused on before the phone rang.
"Old timer? I think you forget who it is that taught you all you know. Just checking in, I want to see how my protégé is getting on. I've been hearing good things, two authors in the Times Best Sellers? Good stuff kid."
I feel a swell of pride in myself at his praise, his approval has always meant more to me than that of anyone else I know "thanks Keith. We're actually launching the Phelps novel in the States at the beginning of the next quarter, digital downloads of the first two chapters have done better than we anticipated so we're hoping to continue that success."
"You always had a good eye for talent Callie, listen there was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
