We Thought We Were Invincible

by Michelle MacQueen

  “Ummm…” I pointed to my leg. “Injured. Almost died. Ring a bell?”

  “Slacker,” he breathed against my lips.

  “What are you even doing in here? Colby might find out.”

  “Relax.” He laughed. “He thinks I'm in the bathroom.”

  “Then you should go.” I shoved at him.

  “Nuh uh, one more kiss.”

  My lips parted, and he took that as an invitation to explore, his tongue rough and demanding against mine.

  I was breathless when he finally released me, winking as he left my room.

  Sinking back onto the bed, I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. That had been Jamie, right? Jamie Daniels? Since when did he make my heart race like this? The boy I'd spent so long not liking. The one who was arrogant and self-centered. The one with an ego the size of Florida.

  Well, I thought. That was one way to take my mind off everything else.

  Jamie and Colby left for school, but Kat allowed me to stay home. She also gave me the day off from the diner. My leg wasn't that bad and I probably could've gone, but who was I to complain?

  Still in my pajamas, I relaxed into the couch and flipped through channels. Boredom soon enveloped me and I decided to take a long bath, hanging my freshly stitched leg out of the tub.

  It soothed my aching muscles. I'd been thrashed pretty thoroughly the day before. Other events kept me from thinking about it too deeply. Jamie's lips on mine as he realized I was okay came to mind. The two were connected now. The sinking, drowning feeling and the relief of his warmth. The terror of losing control and the thrill of being under his control.

  When I closed my eyes, I pictured it. The wave tossed me about like a ball being passed as a part of some game. For a second I hadn't been able to see anything, then I was pulled up. The sea was so cruel, the land my savior. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to be out there and now I couldn't imagine it.

  My peace no longer existed, my safe place was gone.

  I climbed out of the tub and dried off as I walked into my room to throw on some clothes and crawl back into bed.

  I jolted awake when the front door slammed.

  “Cal,” Colby called.

  “In here.” I jumped up and grabbed my computer so I didn't look like I'd been in bed all day.

  He pushed through the door and took his glasses off.

  “You've been sleeping all day?”

  Damn.

  “What does it look like?” I asked. “I'm working on something.”

  He moved around the bed and I wasn't quick enough to shut the laptop before he caught a glimpse of the blank screen.

  “Huh.” He regarded me, worried. “I figured you'd be going stir crazy stuck in the house all day. Want me to drop you at the beach before going to the diner?”

  “Shouldn't you be at soccer?”

  “Off day.” He shrugged.

  I tried to hide my hesitation. No, I didn't want to go to the beach.

  “Jamie told me what happened yesterday.”

  “What?” I choked on the word.

  “Your spill.”

  “Oh.” Could he see the relief on my face? Or was that guilt? “I'm fine. I'll just come with you to the diner.”

  I scrambled off my bed, running my hands through my hair as I did. I'd fallen asleep with it wet and there was nothing I could do but tie it back.

  As soon as we walked inside, Colby ducked behind the counter and I slid onto a stool.

  “Coffee?” Colby asked with a smirk.

  “Heck, no. Just water. And can you slide a piece of Kat's key lime pie my way?”

  “You've got it.”

  The place was slow, so after Colby brought me my pie and checked on the one other table in the place, he leaned against the counter, looking around for Kat.

  “She must be in the kitchen,” I said.

  He just grunted, then his face turned serious. “Look, Cal, there's something I need to talk to you about.”

  I swallowed a bite of pie, nodding for him to continue.

  He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I don't know if I should talk about this with you. It's totally breaking bro-code.”

  “Bro-code?” I laughed, taking a sip of water.

  “I think Jamie has a thing for you.”

  I almost spit water at him, but ended up choking instead. “Hold on,” I wheezed, working to keep the truth from showing up on my face. Jamie did have a thing for me. That I was sure of.

  Colby looked like it was the most horrible thing he could think of. I couldn't tell him the truth.

  “That's ridiculous,” I said.

  “See.” He pounded his hand on the counter. “That's what I thought. You guys haven't been able to stand each other in years. But then, he's been mentioning you. A lot. At first, I thought it was because you were becoming friends, which is weird enough. Then it seemed like more. And yesterday he broke up with Amelia who was totally perfect for him.”

  Meaning I wasn't perfect for him. At that moment, I wanted to punch my brother.

  “Jamie doesn't exactly have the best record with girls.” He was oblivious to my obvious change in demeanor.

  “And you do?” I spat.

  “At least I'm nice to them,” he bit back. “I can't and won't have him liking my sister.” He pounded his fist again, causing me to jump this time. “Sorry,” he sighed. “Look, he hasn't exactly had things easy. There are things you don't know.”

  I neglected to tell him just how untrue that was, so he went on.

  “Just, be nice, okay? I know you can be a little harsh, but I'm asking you to let him down easy. He doesn't take rejection well.”

  My anger calmed. My brother was only looking after me. He was right about Jamie, I knew he was. I knew this probably wouldn't end well, but couldn't seem to care.

  Just like everything else we'd been doing, this was exciting. The rush would eventually wear off, but for now he was my high. I thought back to that end of summer beach party when we'd decided this year would be great. We'd be great. I doubt this was what either of us meant.

  A soft chuckle escaped my lips and Colby looked at me strangely. “I'll be easy on him,” I promised with a smile he couldn't possibly have known the meaning of.

  He didn't get a chance to ask, because an old, lumbering figure took the stool beside me.

  “You kids look chipper today,” Seth said. His voice was clear, but there was something sad about the way he hunched over the counter not meeting our eyes.

  “Afternoon, Seth.” Colby flipped over a mug and poured him some coffee.

  “We usually only see you in the morning,” I said.

  “I was out.” He shrugged. “My daughter had to work all day, so it was up to me to take my grandson in for treatment.”

  As he talked, it seemed like he'd forgotten we were there altogether.

  “He'll be in the hospital for a few days under watch. Another mental break.” He finally looked at us. “Do you know about any problems with bullying at your school? That's where he goes.”

  I looked away, afraid he'd see the look of shame. Meeting Colby's eyes, I saw the same emotion in him.

  “It's actually a pretty big issue.” I was glad Colby could speak because my tongue seemed glued to the roof of my mouth.

  “That's what I thought.” Seth shook his head. “We don't know what to do with that boy. How to help him.”

  Seth looked so lost that I put a hand on his shoulder. “I'm sure you're doing the best you can.”

  Colby left to go take the orders of a couple who'd just walked in and I sat with a despondent and silent Seth. Uncomfortable didn't begin to describe the situation, but I couldn't just leave him.

  Kat finally appeared, taking in the man sitting next to me. “Callie,” she said. “Why don't you go roll some silverware.”

  I didn't tell her I wasn't supposed to be working because she was throwing me a lifeline. I hopped up and limped behind the counter a
s she replaced me. She talked to Seth in a low voice as I turned away.

  Jamie stayed with us for a few weeks with no word from his dad. He'd sneak into my room and we'd kiss as long as we could without being caught. It never went further than that and we got pretty good at the whole stealth thing.

  I should have felt bad. I was lying to Colby, Kat, Morgan and everyone else. But instead, I felt exhilarated.

  I didn't go back to the beach, I couldn't stand it. The broken pieces of my mom's board now rested beneath my bed, out of sight. The dream returned, but then Jamie was able to push it out of my mind.

  Before we knew it, it was November. The weather grew cooler, and the rains lessened. I didn't skip any more school and even received an A for the story on our skydiving adventure. Mr. Chase told us that before the holidays we'd be reading some of them aloud.

  Mr. Chase, he hung around the diner and I even saw him at home. The way Aunt Kat looked at him started to remind me of the way Mom gazed at the faceless man in my dream. It made me smile to see her that way, but also sad because it obviously hadn't ended well for my mom. If it had, I'd know my dad.

  The school hall buzzed around me as I walked toward Creative Writing, which had become my favorite class.

  Before I made it there, a hand gripped my upper arm, pulling me into the women's bathroom.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded, whipping my head around to make sure we were alone. “You shouldn't be in here.”

  Jamie grinned. He was getting riskier. I couldn't say I hated it.

  Before I knew it, my back was pressed up against the door. I dropped my backpack to the ground and hooked my fingers into his belt loops, pulling him closer.

  When his lips brushed against mine, I didn't think about anything else. I couldn't say if my mind was clear or just too full of this boy who'd taken me by storm.

  “I missed my morning kiss,” he growled.

  “Because you went on an early run with Colby.” I shrugged. “Not my fault.”

  He pressed his mouth to the hollow of my throat and an embarrassing moan escaped me. His lips curved up against my skin, his words vibrating off it as he spoke.

  “What are you doing to me, Callie?”

  I pulled him in for another kiss.

  “Colby had a chat with me about you the other day.” He broke away.

  That cooled the fire in my veins in record time. I slipped out of his arms and walked toward the mirrors. Gripping the sides of the sink, I hung my head, refusing to look back at him.

  “He talked to me about it too,” I admitted.

  “What'd he say to you?”

  “No.” I turned around. “You first.”

  Jamie ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, shifting his feet. A look of anger crossed his face as he thought about it, but then it was gone.

  “He says you're off limits. That he could tell I was into you, but you aren't the type of girl I usually go after.”

  Now it was my time to be angry. “Well, excuse me if I'm not one of those pin-ups out there.” I gestured toward the hall. “So, my brother doesn't think I'm pretty enough or popular enough for the great Jamie Daniels?”

  Jamie moved forward, grabbing my hips to keep me from stepping away from him. “No, Callie. Just… no.” He rested his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling. “He says I'm just going to mess with your mind.”

  “Are you?” I whispered, closing my eyes as he pressed closer.

  For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me again, but he pushed himself away instead. “I don't know.”

  I gripped the sink again to keep him from seeing my shaking hands. “He told me to let you down easy.”

  “Is that what you're going to do?” he asked.

  “It'd be easier,” I admitted, pausing. “But when has my life ever been easy?”

  He stopped, shifting to look at me. “So, you want to keep doing this?”

  “No. I want to be with you, Jamie, but I want to tell my brother.”

  “Absolutely not.” His eyes hardened. “You don't get it. Colby is my best and oldest friend. He's my brother. And he's made it very clear that if I go there with you, that's over.”

  “Bit dramatic, isn't it?” I asked, surprised my brother would go to those lengths.

  “Have you told Jay about us?”

  “No way. He'd be worse than Colby about it.”

  “Exactly. You wouldn't risk your best friend.”

  “That's different.”

  “Why, because I haven't slept with Colby?”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and sucked in a breath to keep from saying something I'd regret. I didn't sleep with Jay, but didn't feel like sharing that bit of information with my anger simmering.

  “I'm late to class.” Before I got to the door, it swung open and Morgan walked in, stopping when she spotted the two of us.

  “Oh, uh…” She laughed. “Didn't realize this was occupied.” She gave me an inquisitive look. “Mr. Chase is wondering where you are, Cal.”

  I ducked out into the hall. Jamie didn't follow me, but Morgan did.

  “Didn't you need to pee or something?” I snapped.

  “Nah, just wanted to get out of class. This is better.” She leaned in to whisper even though there was no one around. “You and Jamie?”

  “No, we were just -”

  “I know what I saw. You guys were arguing and your lips are all swollen. Tell me something, as one of the few girls in this school who hasn't kissed him, is he good?”

  “I think that's an exaggeration.”

  “What? That he's good or that he's gotten around?”

  “Morgan,” I sighed.

  “Fine, fine.” She held her hands up in surrender. “I just thought you guys hated each other.”

  “You can't tell Colby.” I stopped outside our classroom and looked her in the eye. “Please.”

  “Why?” The understanding dawned on her face. “Ohhhh, he doesn't want his sister dating the school Lothario.”

  “Morgan.”

  “Alright, I'll let you guys have your dirty little secret.”

  I gave her a grateful smile and followed her into the room.

  “Callie,” Mr. Chase said. “You have a good excuse, I hope.”

  I shrugged, and he shook his head, disappointment shining in his eyes. Sometimes it was hard to separate Mr. Chase the teacher from Noah the guy who spent most of his free time hanging around the diner for the few spare minutes Aunt Kat had to give him.

  He continued talking as I took my seat. “Today we're going to begin reading the stories you all turned in. We'll also be reading the work of your partners in the other class in order to compare points of view. Morgan, we are beginning with you and your partner, Matthew.”

  She scrunched her face and the other girls around her laughed. I didn't join them this time because all I could picture was old Seth slumped over the counter at the diner.

  Morgan's story wasn't bad. It was about two people from different walks of life exploring the beach together. She wrote it as if they had a wonderful time and she came out looking good. It was a fluff story that didn't delve too much into their interactions with each other.

  When Mr. Chase finished, I leaned forward, anxious to hear the other side to the story.

  Morgan accepted congratulations from her friends who also told her that at least it was over.

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, my fight with Jamie giving me less tolerance for those girls. Morgan's words rang in my head and I couldn't help but wonder which of them he'd hooked up with.

  Those thoughts were pushed aside as Mr. Chase began Matthew’s story. His main character was named Andy.

  “Andy was never the most popular kid,” Mr. Chase read. “School was a nightmare for him and there were people there who only tried to make it worse. Sally was one of them.”

  Morgan shifted in her seat as Mr. Chase continued.

  “She didn't bully him like others did. No, she wasn't that type of person. W
hat she did was worse. She didn't know he existed. Every day in the halls at school, he'd hope she just looked at him. Hell, he hoped anyone would look at him. That was the only thing he was good at, going through life unseen.” Mr. Chase hesitated, not sure he should continue. We hadn't been told ahead of time that these would be read out loud.

  He made a decision and stuck with it.

  “Then Andy was thrust into Sally's view. She didn't want it and he didn't blame her. He wouldn't want to be seen with him either. Her disgust showed on her face even if she didn't voice it. But Andy had been through worse that very week so he did what he always did, he got through it.”

  By the end of the story, all energy was drained from the room. No one said a word. Morgan and Matthew had gone to the beach as she'd said, but her friends came along. They barely spoke to him. He'd watched them with longing, just wanting to be noticed. There was none of the anger I'd expect in his story, only desperation.

  No one was snickering now or talking about Matthew with disdain. What none of them knew was that at that very moment, Matthew was in the hospital. They'd put him there. We'd all put him there.

  Without a word, Morgan stood up and left, her classmate's eyes burning into her back. I should have gone after her, but couldn't. I was glued to my seat.

  Mr. Chase put the stack of stories in his desk drawer, deciding that was enough for today.

  “Let's start today's writing prompt.” He cleared his throat. “Poetry.”

  I pulled my brother's car into the parking lot in front of the apartments across from the University of South Florida's campus. He'd let me borrow it only after making me beg. Sadist.

  As soon as I woke up on Saturday, the urge to see my best friend was strong. I needed him to talk some sense into me, to tell me what I already knew. I was an idiot. Getting involved with Jamie. Being friends with Morgan's crowd. None of it was me.

  Did I want the old me back? Maybe that was why I was here.

  But I couldn't stop thinking of Jamie. His blond hair, clear eyes, and solid arms. I liked what he did to me. When it was just us, who we used to be didn't matter so much. Then the rest of the world would close in, suffocating us and cutting us off before we could even get started.