Tale of Life (Essence Series #2)

by Todd, E. L.

  Calloway felt more relaxed now that the ordeal was over. He had no idea what he ordered—he wasn’t even hungry.

  “I didn’t know you liked tomatoes so much,” she said.

  Calloway nodded then took a drink from his water, having nothing intelligent, or even coherent, to say. They sat together in silence for a long time. Calloway stared outside the window and watched the cars pass by on the street. There were groups of kids walking down the sidewalk, riding their skateboards and bikes as they headed for home after school. The weather was starting to grow warmer now that spring was approaching.

  “Did you go to prom last year?” she asked.

  “No,” Calloway answered. “I told my aunt I was sick.”

  She smiled. “The same mistake won’t work two years in a row.”

  “I don’t need an excuse this year—I want to go.”

  She smiled at him. “I’m glad.”

  “Did you go with Hawk last year?”

  She was quiet for a moment. “Yes.”

  “Does he bother you outside of school?” he asked.

  “He calls me and texts me—that’s it.”

  “I can get him to stop,” Calloway said. “I don’t want him to pester you.”

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I just ignore the calls.”

  “Okay,” he said.

  The waiter brought their food and Calloway stared at his plate for a long moment. It was a tomato soup of some sort. That was the only thing on his plate—tomatoes. Beatrice picked up her sandwich and started to eat. Calloway picked at his food then stuffed a grilled tomato into his mouth. The food wasn’t bad but he would prefer a hamburger and fries—especially since it was cheaper.

  “When did you want to go shopping?” she asked.

  “For what?” Calloway asked.

  “For your dress clothes,” she said.

  “Well, I already have a tie, so I don’t need another one.”

  “Is it pink?”

  “No.”

  “You need a pink one,” she said.

  “Why?” he asked. The tie he bought already cost him thirty dollars—one sale. He was planning on using the same tie for the rest of his life.

  “It won’t match my dress if it isn’t the same color.” She sighed.

  Calloway was annoyed with her ridiculous need to match but he bottled his frustration, hiding it deep inside of him. This dance was obviously important to her and he didn’t want to disappoint her. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll find one.”

  “And we need to get your suit,” she said.

  “I’ll just rent the same one I wore to formal—that way I don’t have to try it on again.”

  She took another bite of her sandwich. “I’ll pick it out,” she said.

  “What’s wrong with my suit?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “But I want to make sure it’s the one I want.”

  Calloway remembered how pleased he was with his own appearance the night of the formal. It was the first time he felt confident and he wanted to feel that way again. “I like that suit though.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll pick out another that you like.”

  Calloway sighed. He knew there was no point in arguing with her—she always got her way. The waiter brought the check and Calloway opened his wallet. When he saw the total he almost fainted—it didn’t even include the tip. He shoved the cash inside and left it on the table for the waiter to retrieve. Calloway looked down at her food—it was untouched. Beatrice only ate half of her sandwich before she pushed her plate away. Calloway hated wasting food—the sight annoyed him.

  “Are you ready to go?” She smiled.

  Calloway looked down at her food. “Are you done?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Do you want a box?”

  “No,” she said. “I won’t eat it anyway.”

  Calloway took a deep breath and tried to control the anger in his body. If he was going to take Beatrice out to an expensive meal he expected her to eat everything on her plate—not half of it.

  “Okay,” he said. He rose from the table and helped Beatrice out of her chair. They returned to the car and Calloway was silent. Beatrice’s behavior was irritating and he wanted to hide his frustration—he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

  “Should I take you home?” she asked.

  “Actually, can you take me to the Grandiose Historian Library?”

  “Isn’t that place abandoned?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “But that’s where we do homework—it’s quiet.”

  She started the car and pulled onto the main road. Calloway stared out the window while she drove and tried to erase the annoyance he felt toward her. If she were Breccan or Easton, he would just say how he felt, but he didn’t feel comfortable doing that with Beatrice—he knew she was sensitive. Since he liked her so much he focused his thoughts on the night he first kissed her and the anger dissipated.

  When they stopped in front of the library, they sat in the car for a while, saying nothing for a few moments.

  “Thank you for giving me a ride,” he said.

  “Sure,” she said.

  He waited for her to thank him for lunch but she never did. The annoyance returned.

  The seat creaked when Beatrice moved closer to him and he felt her hand on his shoulder. The touch sent shivers down his spine. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen but he knew he wanted it to come to pass. The anger that consumed him a moment a go disappeared at her close proximity, and the touch of her lips on his neck sent his heart into overdrive. The sensations coursing through his body were novel to him and he enjoyed the pleasure she was giving him. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her kiss, and all the anger and frustration he ever felt toward her disappeared when he felt her embrace. He didn’t even remember why he was angry.

  Then her lips were on his and he moaned at the touch. He grabbed her face and kissed her passionately, leaning toward her in the seat. Her hand slipped under his shirt and ran up his chest and stopped when it was resting on his heart. The intimate touch made Calloway lose his control and he touched her waist under the fabric of her shirt. He kept his hand near her waist even though he wanted to move it higher into unexplored territory. But pragmatism settled on him and he realized that this relationship was moving too quickly. They were engaging in a physical relationship even though they hardly knew each other. Calloway broke their kiss and moved away.

  “This is too soon,” he said between breaths. “We need to take it slow.”

  Her face looked crestfallen. “Do you not want me?” she asked sadly.

  Calloway kissed her lightly on the lips. “Believe me—that isn’t why. I—I just want to take this slow. This is happening too fast for me.”

  “Hawk and I kissed on the first date—among other things.”

  The mention of Hawk angered Calloway. The last thing he wanted was to be compared to that jerk—he wasn’t him. “Well, I actually respect you, Beatrice,” he snapped. His voice was harsher than he meant but he couldn’t bottle his anger—not this time. “I guess you just aren’t used to it.”

  Beatrice stared straight ahead and didn’t respond to his words. Calloway wasn’t sure if he had offended her but he was so angry he didn’t care.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.

  She didn’t respond and crossed his arms over her chest, shutting him out completely.

  He hated to see her upset, knowing he was the cause of it—it made him feel worse. He grabbed her face and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered. She kissed him and the touch made Calloway’s heart accelerate. He turned away before he kissed her again.

  He left the car and walked toward the library. When he reached the entrance he turned around to wave goodbye but she was already gone. Calloway sighed then walked inside of the library.

  “Look who decided to show up,” Breccan shouted.

&n
bsp; Calloway sat down and ignored his comment. “Did I miss anything?”

  “A lot, actually,” Breccan said.

  Calloway turned to Easton. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m trying to decipher the next chapter but it’s taking a while.” She sighed.

  “If only I were here,” Calloway said sarcastically. “That would have been so helpful.”

  “How was your date with your girlfriend?” Breccan asked.

  “It was fine,” he said.

  “What happened to that smile I’ve seen you wear all week?” Breccan asked.

  Calloway shrugged. “I didn’t realize how much work girls are.”

  “I could have told you that,” Breccan said.

  “I’m a girl and I don’t cause any problems,” Easton said.

  Breccan stared at her. “When we went to formal you were mad at me all night because I didn’t comment on your appearance. You were being pretty girly then.”

  Easton sighed. “Well, that was one time.”

  “And then I ate Beatrice’s cookies and you acted like I ran over your mom,” Breccan snapped. “You get mad at me when I eat your cookies, but then when I eat someone else’s you act like I betrayed your last dying wish. Yes, you are just as annoying as Beatrice. Don’t try to act like you aren’t.”

  Easton focused her gaze on her book. “Just forget it.”

  “No,” Breccan said. “Tell me.”

  “Shut up, Breccan,” she said.

  Breccan leaned back in his chair and sighed. “You and Beatrice would get along great.”

  Easton ignored his comment. “I think we should decipher the entire book before we travel through the portal.”

  “I thought we already established this?” Calloway said.

  “We did,” she said. “But it’s going to take a while. I need you to be patient.”

  “We don’t have a lot of time,” Calloway said. “We don’t know what they are plotting on the other side. They may have all the essence they need—our world could end at any moment.”

  Easton sighed. “I don’t know what to say,” she said. “I’m going as fast as I can. If Weston were here this would be a lot quicker.”

  “Well, she isn’t,” Calloway said quietly. “So we are going to have to continue on without her.”

  “I’ll go as fast as I can,” she said. “But I can’t rush it. If I translate something incorrectly it could have dire repercussions.”

  Calloway nodded. “Just do the best you can.”

  Judgment Day

  The spring months passed by in a flash, so quickly that Calloway couldn’t comprehend the change in time. Yesterday felt like Christmas but they just celebrated their Easter holidays and returned to school a week ago, making Calloway realize that the end of the school year was fast approaching. Now that he and Beatrice were together he wanted time to slow down. School wasn’t unbearable because Hawk’s insults and harassments were over, halted by Beatrice’s departure. Calloway excelled in his courses, thanks to his new computer, and for the first time he enjoyed being at school. Calloway and Beatrice argued from time to time, but for the most part their time together was blissful.

  They hadn’t experienced a mishap in their physical relationship since the day they were parked outside the Grandiose Historian Library, where Beatrice placed her hand up his shirt and felt the skin of his chest. Calloway didn’t want to repeat that situation and avoided it at all costs. A simple kiss on the cheek was all he ever gave her, fearing anything else would accelerate into something more. Even though they had ample time to become acquainted, Calloway was still apprehensive about making their relationship serious because he was unprepared for the commitment. It was obvious that Beatrice was getting frustrated with Calloway’s restraint. She tried to kiss him whenever the opportunity presented itself, and when Calloway pulled his lips away from her, she would kiss his neck instead, which Calloway enjoyed immensely. But it made him feel just as uncomfortable, so he walked away from her, leaving her standing alone with a frown on her face. After the incident, Calloway avoided her for an entire week because he knew his resolve was waning. He couldn’t keep this up much longer. He still didn’t consider them to be an item even though he knew Beatrice wanted to be. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be committed to her. He was just unsure where their relationship would go—they were graduating soon—plus, he still had conflicted emotions about Weston. He tried to forget about her but she entered his mind at random times. Even when he wouldn’t let himself think about her, she came into his train of thought, clouding his mind and emotions.

  Aunt Grace had been asking about Calloway’s new girlfriend, much to his annoyance, and demanded that he bring her over for dinner. When Aunt Grace asked about Beatrice, Calloway immediately confronted Breccan, asking why he would reveal Beatrice’s existence to his mother. When Aunt Grace dropped them off at school, Calloway started his attack.

  “Why did you tell her?” he snapped.

  Breccan smiled. “Well, she’s your girlfriend. Did you really expect to keep it a secret forever?”

  “But you didn’t have to tell them,” Calloway said. “You could have at least allowed me to explain Beatrice.”

  “What is there to explain?” He smiled. “She’s your girlfriend, Calloway. Get over it. You have been together for months—just admit it already.”

  Calloway sighed. His cousin was right. They had been together for several months now but he continued to stall. He realized he couldn’t do it anymore. If he didn’t commit to Beatrice, he should end the relationship. “I suppose you are right.”

  “Obviously.” Breccan smiled. “I’m always right.”

  Calloway laughed, unable to hide his smile. “Let’s not get carried away.”

  “So, are you bringing her to dinner?” Breccan asked. “My mom won’t stop asking until she’s had her way,” said Breccan, who opened a granola bar and shoved it into his mouth. “She’s been waiting for one of us to bring a girl over—forever.”

  “But we already have,” Calloway said, thinking of the wonderful Christmas day they had before they were ambushed by the Hara-Kir. “Easton and Weston came over.”

  Breccan rolled his eyes. “They don’t count.”

  “Why not?” he asked. Weston was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. He couldn’t think of a better person to bring over. “We went to formal with them. They are girls.”

  “But we don’t kiss them,” Breccan said. “Mom wants to meet the girls that we kiss—which includes Beatrice.”

  “We don’t kiss,” Calloway argued. He avoided that possibility at every moment, holding back the emotions he felt toward her, wanting to feel her lips on his again.

  Breccan gave him an incredulous look. “Isn’t it a little early for the fire to die out?”

  Calloway, who was growing irritated by his cousin’s constant comments, sighed. “I—I just don’t want to—be serious.”

  “And what does that mean?” Breccan asked. He waved his hands in the air, indicating his obvious frustration. “Why are you stalling?”

  “I’m not.”

  “Then what’s the problem?” Breccan asked. “You guys are together, have been together for a while now, and you really like her, so what’s the issue? Are you afraid she’s going to go back to Hawk or something?”

  “Of course not,” Calloway snapped.

  “Then I don’t understand,” said Breccan, who shook his head in dismay.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Obviously,” Breccan said.

  Calloway kept his eyes straight ahead as they walked to campus, bottling the frustration he felt toward himself and his cousin. His cousin was right even though he didn’t want to admit it. “Let’s just drop it.”

  “Great,” Breccan said as he tossed his wrapper into the nearby garbage can. “We’ll keep pretending that everything is okay even though it clearly isn’t.”

  When Calloway entered the building, he immediately darted away fro
m his cousin, wanting to avoid him, and entered Mr. Avey’s classroom down the hall. He was there early—thirty minutes before school started—and he sat in his seat in the front row.

  “Isn’t it a little early for a serious conversation?” Mr. Avey asked, sitting at his desk while he typed on the keyboard. He saved his document then turned to Calloway, drinking from the same coffee cup that he brought to school every morning, which depicted a college basketball team, The Coyotes, from Fresno University in 1972. He set the glass on the table and leaned back in his chair.

  Calloway shrugged, leaning further back into his chair. “Not when you haven’t slept.”

  Mr. Avey smiled. “What can I do for you, Mr. Martins?”

  “I don’t know.” He sighed. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”

  “Well, you must be insane,” Mr. Avey said humorously. “I’m only here because I’m getting paid—you don’t have an excuse.”

  “You have a point.” He laughed. “I have no argument against that.”

  Mr. Avey stared at him for a moment, giving him his full attention with a serious expression. “What is it, Calloway?” he asked gently.

  Calloway crossed his arms over his chest. It was difficult to express something that he didn’t fully understand. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I’m dating Beatrice, who I really like, and have been for a while, but I just can’t—commit to her. I’m not sure what the issue is.”

  “Girls problems—great,” he said sarcastically. “Those are the worse—there’s no right answer. The creatures are impossible to decipher.”

  Calloway smiled, feeling better already. “Is that why you are a bachelor?”

  Mr. Avey laughed. “And among other reasons,” he said. “Why do you shy away from commitment? You are established as partners, right? Is there foul play?”

  “No, of course not,” Calloway said.

  “Then I don’t understand your meaning.”

  “I—I just can’t completely accept her into my heart,” he said. “I can’t explain it. I’ve refrained from kissing her and being alone with her because I’m not ready to be emotionally intimate with her. I just keep pushing it back.”