Tale of Life (Essence Series #2)

by Todd, E. L.

Calloway sighed. “I really like her, Breccan. Please don’t mess this up for me.”

  “What about Weston?” he asked.

  “What about her?” Calloway asked. “She hardly wants to be my friend as it is. There’s nothing to discuss.”

  “So, that’s it?” Breccan asked.

  “Yes,” Calloway said. “Weston was just a dream. I’m moving on.”

  Breccan sighed. “I guess,” he said. “But I don’t know if Beatrice is right for you.”

  “You don’t even know her.”

  “And neither do you,” Breccan said.

  “We are taking it slow,” Calloway said. “We are just friends.”

  “That kiss?” Breccan asked incredulously.

  “We kissed—really kissed—one time. Now we just kiss on the cheek.”

  “That’s steamy,” he said sarcastically.

  “I told you it was nothing serious.”

  “So, is she your girlfriend?”

  “No,” Calloway answered.

  “So, she can date other guys?”

  The thought made Calloway want to vomit. “No.”

  “I’m confused,” Breccan said.

  “Just be nice to her, okay?”

  Breccan sighed. “I’ll try. But I can’t just forget about everything she did to you—I don’t know how you can. I’m harder to win over.”

  “Well, hopefully she brought more cookies.”

  Breccan rolled his eyes. “Here comes the food jokes again.”

  “Let’s get to class,” Calloway said.

  The students were walking across the campus toward their classroom buildings. Calloway and Breccan walked inside and headed toward their classrooms on opposite ends of the structure. When Calloway came into his classroom, Beatrice was already sitting in her seat and she smiled at him when he walked in.

  “Hey,” he said to her.

  “Hi.” She smiled.

  “Did you sleep well last night?”

  She nodded. “Really well.”

  “Me too.” He smiled.

  Mr. Avey caught their exchange but he didn’t comment on it. He addressed the class and handed out copies of the novel they were analyzing. A student started to read the beginning of the next chapter but Calloway wasn’t listening. He was staring at the long, blonde hair that trailed down Beatrice’s back. The fair color of her skin reminded him of the sun, pale and glowing, and he thought of the emerald color of her eyes and felt hypnotized by the memory from the evening before. The feel of her lips felt gratifying and exciting—he hoped he would do it again. He wasn’t sure how long this platonic friendship would last before he lost control of his willpower.

  He finished his morning classes but didn’t listen to any of the lectures. All he thought about was Beatrice and running his hands through her soft strands of golden hair. His daydreams lasted so long that his periods ended as quickly as they began.

  When the lunch bell rang overhead, he walked to the library to meet his friends. He wasn’t sure if Beatrice would join him but he sincerely hoped she would. He didn’t want to ditch his friends to spend time with Beatrice, but he didn’t want her to suffer the taunts of his friends—he was torn.

  When he sat down at the table he knew Easton was aware of everything by the angered look on her face. She stared at him with a heated gaze. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her brow was furrowed. He had seen her angry before, but not like this.

  “You’re being stupid, Calloway,” she said without preamble. “She’s just going to break your heart. People don’t change. I don’t know why you don’t get it.”

  Calloway sighed. He had expected this from her but he didn’t want to have this conversation now. Beatrice might arrive soon. “You can argue with me all you want but please don’t be rude to Beatrice. Can you at least do that?”

  Easton stared at him for a moment. “Are you going to tell her about our cause?”

  “I promise I won’t say a word,” he said. “She’ll just think I’m crazy anyway.”

  She sighed. “I’ll try. That’s all I can say. But I think you’re still making a big mistake. This will be more trouble than it’s worth.”

  “I’ll decide that,” Calloway said. “And we’re taking this slow—she isn’t my girlfriend.”

  “And it better stay that way,” Easton said coldly.

  They heard the library door open, and Calloway smiled when he saw Beatrice walk inside. She approached their table with her binder held tightly to her chest, like it would protect her from the insults made by Calloway’s two friends. Calloway pulled out her chair and helped her into the seat.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hello.” She smiled. She turned to his friends. “Hello.”

  Breccan nodded. “Hi.”

  Easton leaned back in her chair. “What’s up?”

  Calloway and Breccan both stared at her. She never talked like that—ever. Easton shrugged and opened a textbook, ignoring them completely.

  Beatrice opened her backpack and placed a bag of cookies on the table. “I come in peace.” She smiled. Calloway laughed at her words, admiring her cool wit under the nervous circumstances. He knew how intimidating his friends could be—especially Easton.

  Breccan opened the bag and stuffed a cookie into his mouth. “I accept your peace offering.”

  Easton glared at him then returned her gaze to her history textbook.

  “How has your day been?” Calloway asked.

  “Good,” she said. “How’s yours?”

  “Really good.” He smiled.

  Breccan started to laugh then chocked on his cookie. The corny words that Calloway said elicited an unstoppable laugh that Breccan couldn’t control. He grabbed a bottle of water and washed down the crumbs lodged in his throat.

  Calloway ignored him. “Has Hawk given you any trouble?”

  “I haven’t seen him.”

  Calloway nodded. “I hope it stays that way.”

  “I just hope he leaves you alone.”

  “Like you care,” Easton scoffed.

  Calloway glared at her. He just asked her to keep her rude comments to herself and she agreed. Now she was making jabs at Beatrice and it irritated him. Beatrice was important to him—he didn’t want to hurt her. “What did we just talk about?”

  Easton returned her gaze to her textbook. “My apologies,” she whispered.

  Calloway turned back to Beatrice. “Please accept my apology on behalf of my friends.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I can handle it.”

  “Is that a challenge?” Breccan asked as he shoved another cookie into his mouth.

  Calloway glared at his cousin then returned his gaze to Beatrice. He felt her hand grab his under the table and his heart fluttered at the touch. He wasn’t sure if they were going to display public affection, especially since they weren’t an item, but he thought this was appropriate—no one could see. The smile on her face was directed at him and his heart melted at the sight. He always wanted to know what it would feel like—it was a good feeling.

  “Can I see you after school?” she asked.

  Calloway thought for a moment. They were going to the Headquarters to locate the portal entrance—he couldn’t abandon it. “I have a few obligations,” he said. “I can if it’s later in the evening, around eight.”

  “My parents won’t let me stay out late two nights in a row,” she said sadly.

  “Then let’s try to do something tomorrow,” Calloway said.

  “Okay.” She smiled.

  “I thought you were just friends?” Breccan blurted.

  “We are,” Calloway said.

  “It sounds like you’re going on a date.”

  “Friends hang out together.”

  “And hold hands?” Breccan asked incredulously.

  Calloway pushed the sweets closer to him. “Just eat your cookies.”

  Breccan glared at him and shoved another one into his mouth.

  The lunch bell rang and ended thei
r free period. They grabbed their belongings and headed to their afternoon classes. Calloway walked Beatrice to her next period and saw Hawk in the hallway. He was staring at them with a look full of anger. The absence of light in his eyes indicated his dark despair. Calloway ignored him. Hawk had his chance with Beatrice and he ruined it.

  Calloway stopped walking when he reached her classroom. He was aware of Hawk standing just a few feet away, watching them intently, and he knew that Hawk planned to speak to her after Calloway departed. “I’ll see you later,” he said.

  “Bye.” She smiled.

  Calloway waited for her to enter the classroom before he left, ensuring that Hawk would miss his chance to converse with her. After she disappeared inside the room, Calloway turned away and moved down the hallway where Hawk was standing. They blatantly glared at each other as they passed.

  “It looks like I stole your girl,” Calloway said.

  He walked away without looking back. The imagined anger on Hawk’s face made his smile widen. The gloating comment would come with payback and retribution but Calloway was too happy to care. Seeing the ferocity on Hawk’s face was priceless. And the fact that he kissed Beatrice the evening before only made it better.

  When his photography class arrived, he walked into the classroom and took his seat without looking at Hawk. Beatrice was smiling at him and she waved from across the classroom. Calloway nodded to her and leaned back in his chair, waiting for Hawk to throw something at this head, but the assault never came. After they checked out their camera, Breccan and Calloway joined Beatrice and her friend Maddie, taking pictures outside in the crisp winter air. Instead of snapping photos of the flowers or a line of crawling ants, Calloway focused his lens on Beatrice and took her picture.

  “Stop taking pictures of me!” Smiling, she slapped the camera away.

  “Why?” Calloway asked. He held up the camera again, ready to take another shot of her fair face. “You are so photogenic.”

  “Take a picture of Breccan.” She laughed.

  “Why would I want a picture of him?” he said in a disgusted voice. He captured another image of Beatrice, laughing and smiling, and the portrait was perfect, natural. Of all the wonderful shots he captured, this was his favorite.

  When they walked back to class, Hawk was glaring at him, as usual, but he didn’t comment or insult him. Hawk had finally been silenced and Calloway was elated. He hoped it would stay that way. The happiness he felt was so strong that Hawk’s taunts wouldn’t affect him anyway—he had Beatrice, something that Hawk had thrown away.

  The bell rang and ended the school day, dismissing the students from their classrooms and sending them to the parking lot. When Calloway walked out of the classroom with Breccan, Beatrice joined them and walked alongside Calloway, her binder still tucked under arms. Hawk glared at Calloway as he sauntered behind them, furious that he was denied his opportunity to speak to Beatrice in private.

  “I feel like a scarecrow,” Calloway said, referring to Hawk. “I’m glad that bloody nose finally scared him off.”

  “I’m sure he’ll get his courage back.” Breccan sighed. He tightened the straps of his backpack and walked alongside Calloway, his lips still smeared with the remains of chocolate sauce. “He has a poor memory.”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about him anymore,” said Beatrice, who tucked a stand of blonde hair behind her ear as she moved closer to Calloway. “It’s a good feeling.”

  Calloway smiled at her. “You should get used to it.”

  When they arrived at the building, Calloway stopped before he entered through the door and looked at Breccan and Beatrice. “I’ll see you guys later.”

  “Bye,” Breccan said over his shoulder. The other students ignored him as he passed by, not bothering to comment on the cookie crumbs still on his lips, and he headed to Easton on the other side of the parking lot.

  “Where are you going?” Beatrice asked. She stopped in front of Calloway and shifted her weight, tightening the binder to her chest and pulling another strand of hair behind her ear. Every touch of her locks made Calloway wish he was the one doing the touching.

  “I need to speak to Mr. Avey,” he explained. “I usually see him after school.”

  “Okay,” she said. It was quiet for a moment and Calloway wasn’t sure what to do to break the tension. It seemed like she was waiting for something.

  When Calloway reached toward her, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips lightly against his. After he recovered from the shock, he returned her embrace and allowed his fingers to graze her hair. The smell of her skin was intoxicating and it reminded him of wildflowers, bright and colorful on a summer day. He pulled his lips away before the moment became too intense. The size of her petite waistline made his arms circle around her entire body, protecting her in the sheath of his touch. She was small, smaller than Easton, and it made Calloway feel huge, like his arms were the size of ancient tree logs. His hands lingered on her waist for a moment before he pulled away, hesitant to leave the sanctuary of her embrace. He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Bye.” She smiled. Beatrice left his presence and searched for her car.

  The blonde hair swayed behind her back as she walked, and Calloway stared for a moment, mesmerized by the sight. When he finally found his bearings he entered the building and approached Mr. Avey’s classroom. When he walked inside, he was grinning like an idiot, captivated by the feel of her kiss. He’d been walking around with this smile plastered on his face all day. he wondered if anyone noticed.

  “You look stupid when you do that.” Mr. Avey smiled. He was seated at his desk, grading papers, and he looked up when Calloway entered the room.

  His smile widened. “As long as I’m happy, I don’t care how I look.”

  “So you and Ms. Reese, huh?” he said. “Hawk’s former squeeze?”

  “I can’t believe it either,” Calloway said. “And Hawk hasn’t been pestering me. It’s a dream come true.”

  “Just be careful,” Mr. Avey said. He placed the stack of graded papers off to the side and pulled out a handful of essays. “Young love is always the hardest.”

  “She and I are taking it slow—we’re just friends for now.”

  “It doesn’t seem like it.”

  Calloway smiled. “I did kiss her last night—it was cool.”

  “Cool?” Mr. Avey shook his head. “Was that your first?”

  Calloway’s smile stretched wider. “Yes.”

  “And how did it go?”

  “Awesome.”

  Mr. Avey laughed. “I am very happy for you. And I hope you stay that way.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  “Hawk hasn’t given you any trouble?”

  “No,” Calloway answered. “And I don’t care if he does. There’s nothing he can do to ruin this happiness.”

  “That’s a good attitude.”

  “I suppose.”

  Mr. Avey turned off his computer and grabbed his bag from under his desk. It was a brown leather satchel that his teacher always wore. It was falling apart from excessive use over the years, and rips and tears were becoming more prominent every day. “I have to cut this session short,” he said. “I have a doctor’s appointment.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes.” Mr. Avey smiled. “Just a routine check-up, making sure everything works right.” He opened the classroom door for Calloway, allowing his student to enter the hallway first, and then locked the door behind them. “How is your essay coming along?” he asked as they moved to the exit of the building, reaching the winter chill of the afternoon air. The clouds were obscuring the sun, making an overcast sky, and the wind was blowing slightly through Calloway’s hair.

  “Good,” Calloway said. “It’s convenient having a computer at home. Breccan uses it, too.”

  “That’s very nice of you to share,” he said.

  Calloway shrugged. “When Breccan steal
s it, there’s nothing that I can do, really.”

  Mr. Avey laughed. “So you aren’t as nice as I thought.”

  When they came to the parking lot, Calloway’s friends were waiting for him, leaning against the car door while Breccan ate another bag of chips from a vending machine. Easton was staring at him, her face a mix between disgust and surprise.

  Mr. Avey stared at her car. “That’s a sweet ride.”

  Calloway laughed. “I’ve never heard you talk like that before.”

  “Well, dawg, school hours are over.”

  Calloway laughed uproariously at his words, shocked that this teacher could speak in such a way. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Have a good evening, Calloway.” His teacher opened his car door and tossed his bag into the passenger seat. After he got inside, he drove away from the parking lot and down the road, toward his house on the other side of town. There was loud music playing from his stereo and Calloway recognized the sound—it was Led Zeppelin.

  He chuckled to himself as he shook his head then approached his friends across the way. They piled into the car and left the school grounds, heading to their home away from home, the Headquarters.

  “Why are you so chummy with him?” Breccan asked viciously. “He’s just an old teacher.”

  “Why do you care?” Calloway asked. “He’s a good instructor. And he isn’t that old.”

  “You just hang out with him to get free stuff,” Breccan snapped.

  “That’s not true,” said Calloway, stung by his hateful words. “I like him. He’s helped me a lot.”

  “You’re a teacher’s pet.”

  Annoyed, Calloway didn’t retaliate to his comment and tried to forget about the conversation altogether. There were nothing his cousin could say to change his mind—he liked his teacher. Easton drove down the street to the Headquarters, ignoring their argument as she changed the stations on the radio and searched for something to listen to, anything to drown out their insistent bickering. It was difficult to anger Calloway or annoy him, but his cousin’s constant comments were irritating him. First it was Beatrice, and now this. The approval of his friends was impossible to come by.

  When they arrived at the Grandiose Historian Library, they came inside the building and checked for any wandering Hara-Kirs, making sure they were truly alone. When they discovered none, they came further into the room and placed their backpacks and supplies on the dark-wooden surface of the table. The Christmas tree still remained by the window, its lights sparkling in the dim library.