“Believe me when I say that I am truly sorry. I hope to prove to you that I’m not that person, but until them know that I respect you and your decision. I will stay far away from Karla if that’s what it takes to prove to you that I mean what I’m saying.”
“I will leave that decision up to her, but I will be watching you at all times and if I notice you doing anything that could possibly harm her I will personally make you regret it. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.” Trevor answered just as Conner’s phone signaled an incoming text.
“I have to go.” Conner said after he checked the message. “I’ll see you around.”
“I really am sorry for everything.” Trevor said before he turned and walked away.
Once Trevor was gone Callie walked over to Conner. “I’m very proud of you, Con. I really thought you were going to punch him.”
“I really wanted to.” Conner admitted. “But Karla wouldn’t have liked that and she’s the most important person in this entire situation.”
“I’m proud of you.” Rylee said. “Now, I saw Andrew carrying Karla out the back doors. He wasn’t rushing or anything so I’m assuming she was just really tired, but I think we should stop by there before going home just to be sure.”
“Let’s go.” Conner said and they all left the school together.
Chapter Forty
“I’m fine.” Karla reassured Conner for the fifth time. “Now can we please go to this competition? As a captain I can’t be late.”
“Okay, okay, we’re going.” Conner said as he backed out of the apartment complex parking lot.
“Thank you.” She said in an irritated tone. When she saw the concern on his face she took a deep breath and in a much calmer tone said, “I really am fine, Conner.”
“Less than a week ago you were in a car wreck that could have killed you. Sorry if I’m annoying you with my concern, but I can’t turn it off and I wouldn’t even if I could so you’re just going to have suck it up and deal with it. ”
Karla stared at him in shock for a minute before she turned her head and looked out the window. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears forming in them from falling, but it didn’t stop them. When Conner stopped the car in front of the school a few minutes later she jumped out without waiting for him and dashed straight into the bathroom.
“Karla? Are you okay?” Callie asked from outside the stall she had locked herself in.
“Yeah.” Karla answered, trying to hide the tears in her voice. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
When she heard Callie sigh and leave the bathroom she opened the door and walked to the sink. She washed her hands and face before quickly reapplying her mascara and lip gloss. When she looked at herself in the mirror she was pleased to see that all signs of tears was gone. She pasted on a fake smile and walked into the hall to join her team.
“You okay?” Rylee asked as she searched Karla’s face. “You were crying when you went in there.”
“I’m fine.” Karla answered as they walked into the gym together. “I do think it would be best if I rode home with you though.”
“What happened?” Rylee asked and Karla just shook her head.
“I’ll tell you during the break.” Karla mouthed silently and Rylee nodded her head.
When the first round was over Karla’s team was leading by five points. When they walked into the classroom where lunch was being served Karla sat at a table with Daniel, Alissa and Lane, another sophomore on the team.
“What’s going on, Karla?” Rylee asked as she and Callie walked up to the table.
Karla sighed and stood up from the table. “Let’s go out into hall and we’ll talk.”
“Alright, now spill.” Callie said as soon as the door closed behind them.
Karla took a deep breath and told them what Conner had said this morning. “I understand he’s worried, but I really am fine.”
“Karla, you could have died.” Callie said in a calm voice.
“You don’t think I know that? Every time I close my eyes I relive that day. I hear the crunch of the metal and see that truck and car hit my car. Every day I think about how lucky I am to be here. I don’t need the constant reminders of that. What I need is for everyone to just back off a little and trust me to know what I can and cannot handle. I am not a helpless child and this is not my first broken bone.”
“We know you aren’t a helpless child, but we all felt like helpless children when we found out about the wreck. None of us could do anything to help you. I’m not saying what he said was right, but it wasn’t meant to hurt you.” Callie told her and Karla’s eyes filled with tears again.
“Well it did nonetheless.” Karla said. Before either one of her friends could respond she turned and walked away. She needed some air so she walked out the front doors of the school and sat on the steps.
Less than five minutes later she heard the door open and knew without looking up who walked out and sat beside her. “Hey, Daniel.”
“How on earth did you know it was me?” He asked as he handed her a plate with a sandwich and an apple on it.
“The way you walk and your cologne.” Karla answered as she took a bite of the sandwich. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Daniel answered and handed her a bottle of water. “I knew you were upset, but I also knew you needed to eat. I’m sure the pain pills you’re on make you sick if you don’t eat.”
“I’m just taking ibuprofen at the moment.” Karla answered and fished the bottle out of her purse. “Speaking of which, can you open these for me please?”
Karla handed him the bottle of ibuprofen. “How many?”
“One.” She answered. “They’re prescription strength so one is all it takes.”
“Are you in a lot of pain?” He asked as he handed her the pill and closed the bottle back.
“Not really. I’m a little uncomfortable, but that’s to be expected. My biggest problem is that everyone keeps treating me like I’m going to break.”
“So is that what’s going on with you and Conner?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Karla, it’s so obvious that kids from other teams are commenting on it.”
“Great.” Karla said and pulled her knees to her chest.
“I wouldn’t sit like that if I were you.” Daniel said and Karla looked at him in confusion before she remembered the skirt she was wearing.
“I always have on shorts under this thing.” She said with a small smile. “You never know when a big gust of wind is going to blow.”
“That’s a good thing.” Daniel said and grinned.
“Well don’t you two look cozy.” Conner said from behind them and they both turned to look at him.
“Hey, Conner.” Daniel said as he stood up and checked his watch. “We have another hour before we’re up again. I think you two should talk.”
Chapter Forty-One
After Daniel went inside Conner sat beside Karla on the steps. “What’s going on with you and Daniel?” He asked harshly.
“Are you kidding me?” Karla asked in disbelief. “Daniel is my friend, he’s your friend too. Do you honestly believe there is more than just that friendship between me and him?”
“I walk out here and you two are sitting pretty close and you have your knees pulled up in that skirt. What am I supposed to think?” He said with a pointed look at her skirt.
“For your information, Conner, I have on shorts under this skirt, like I always do. You can believe whatever you want, but if that’s what you think about me then you don’t really know me at all. I think maybe we should take a break from each other and see where it goes.” Karla said as she stood and ran back inside before Conner could say anything else.
Once she was gone Conner sat there for a few minutes thinking back over the way he’d handled that. He’d been worried about Karla when she didn’t come back in with Callie and Rylee, but he figured she needed some time alone. When he noticed Daniel was miss
ing he asked around and was told that he’d taken a plate of food outside so he’d went looking for him. He’d let his jealously get the better of him when he’d seen Karla and Daniel sitting together.
“What did you say to her?” Callie asked from behind him.
“Now isn’t the time, Cal.”
“Then when is, Con? Huh? Can you tell me when it’s going to be the time? My best friend just ran past me with tears streaming down her face and my brother is sitting out here looking like he was just punched in the stomach. So please tell me when the right time is.”
“Karla just broke up with me.” Conner whispered.
“Oh, Con.” Callie said and sank down beside him. “Did she give you a reason?”
“It was my own stupid fault.” Conner said.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Callie asked as she laid her hand on Conner’s arm.
“When Karla didn’t come back in with you and Ry I was a little worried, but I figured she needed some time to think so I didn’t go looking for her. A little while later I noticed Daniel was gone and I asked if anyone had seen him. Alissa told me she’d seen him walk out with a plate of food and a bottle of water so I went looking for him. When I walked out here I saw him and Karla sitting on the steps together talking and I was slapped in the face with jealousy. She hadn’t talked to me since before we got here, but she was sitting here talking to Daniel.”
“Were they doing anything other than talking?” Callie asked. She was trying to understand Conner’s reaction, but she just wasn’t getting it.
“No. They were just talking. Daniel left right after I got here and I basically accused her of having something going on with him. She told me that if I really believed she would do something like that then I didn’t know her at all. Then she said we should take a break from each other and see where it goes.” When Conner stopped talking he had tears streaming down his face. “I am so stupid, Cal.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Callie said. “Conner, you know Karla. You know she would never do that.”
“I know. Like I said, this is all my own stupid fault.” Conner said and dropped his head into his hands. “I may have really lost her this time, Cal.”
Callie sighed and laid her hand on Conner’s shoulder. “Maybe you can get her to talk to you after the competition.”
“Maybe.” Conner said and rose to his feet. “We have about fifteen minutes before we have to be back. I’m going to try to talk to her now. I don’t know what I’ll say, but I have to try.”
“I’ll walk in with you.” Callie said and rose to her feet. “I love Karla like a sister, but you’re my brother, Con, and I will always support you.”
“I’m at fault here, Cal, so please don’t turn your back on Karla. She didn’t do anything except talk to a friend.” Conner said and walked through the doors of the school. When he walked into the room they were using as a cafeteria and looked around, but Karla was nowhere in sight.
“She’s back in the gym.” Daniel said as he walked past Conner.
“Can I talk to you a minute?” Conner asked as he fell in step beside Daniel.
“Only if I can say something first.” Daniel responded. When Conner nodded Daniel stopped walking. “You’re an idiot, Conner. You know that Karla loves you yet you still said that to her.”
“I know I’m an idiot. I said something to Karla this morning that upset her and she hasn’t talked to me since. When I saw her talking to you it was like a punch in the gut and I just reacted. I owe you an apology.”
“Man, you don’t owe me anything. Karla is the one you hurt and I’m not sure an apology is going to fix this.”
“Yeah.” Conner said and looked at his feet. “I am so stupid.”
“I can’t argue with that. Look, Con, Karla asked me to take her home after the competition and I told her I would, but I want you to know that I have never looked at her as anything other than a friend. She’s like a little sister to me and I will always be there for her.”
“I know. Thank you for looking after her.”
“Always, bro. I want to see you two back together.”
“Thanks, man.” Conner said and walked toward the gym.
Chapter Forty-Two
“Karla still won’t talk to me.” Conner said as he walked into the kitchen at home.
“Can you blame her?” Kevin said from where he was sitting at the table.
“Elliot said they aren’t coming today.” Conner told his mom as he sat at the table beside his brother.
“Again, can you blame her?” Kevin asked again.
“Shut-up, Kev.” Callie said as she walked in the room. “I talked to Karla.” She said to Conner.
“How is she?” He asked. She had avoided him at school and wouldn’t answer his calls or texts.
“She’s miserable.” Callie answered honestly. “She’s barely talking to me because she doesn’t want to cause any problems between you and me.”
Conner sighed deeply and looked at the floor. “I’m sorry, Cal.”
“It’s alright.” Callie told him, but he could tell from the look in her eyes that it wasn’t.
“Conner, can I offer some advice?” Mark asked as he walked into the room.
“Dad, I’ll take any advice you have to offer.” Conner said.
“Give her time to think.” Mark said and sat beside Conner. “You have called her and sent her text messages several times over the past few days so she hasn’t had time to really wrap her head around everything that happened. She needs time, son.”
“So you’re saying I should back off?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“I agree with Dad.” Callie said when Conner looked like he was going to disagree. “Karla needs some space to figure out what’s going on. I have faith that she will come around, but it’ll take time.”
“I hope you’re right.” Conner said sadly. When he looked up and saw that everyone was looking at him he sighed. “I’m ruining everyone’s Thanksgiving by being a downer. I’m sorry everyone. Mom, is there something I can do to help? Maybe that’ll distract me.”
****
“Karla?” Elliot said from outside of her door. “Wanna come help with dinner?”
“Be out in a minute.” Karla answered somberly. She really didn’t feel like helping, but she needed to move past this for her family.
“Okay.” Elliot answered and she could hear the worry in his voice.
“Pull yourself together. You have a family that loves you. What more do you need?” Karla asked herself as she stared at herself in the mirror. “Conner isn’t the only boy in the world.” She put on a touch of make-up to hide some of the puffiness and then walked out of her bedroom.
“What needs doing?” Karla asked as she entered the kitchen. “I’m here to help.”
Leslie looked up from what she was doing and smiled. “The potatoes need mashing.”
“On it.” Karla said and started the task of mashing potatoes for dinner. It was just going to be the four of them, Bob, Meghan, Harvey and Mae, who was only five months old. “When are uncle Bob and Aunt Meghan getting here?”
“They should be here any time now.” Andrew said as he walked into the kitchen. “It smells amazing in here.”
“I’m glad it’s just going to be the eight of us this year.” Karla said and gave a small, fake smile. “It’ll give me more time with my little man.”
When someone knocked on the door Karla immediately went to answer it.
“I’m worried about her.” Leslie told Andrew once she was in the other room.
“I am too.” He agreed. “We’ll have to keep an eye on her.”
“She’s going to be alright.” Elliot told them. “They will get back together and she will be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.” Leslie said softly as Karla walked back into the kitchen carrying Mae.
“Somebody needs a diaper.” Karla announced when Meghan walked into the kitchen carrying the diaper
bag.
“I just changed that child before we left the house.” Bob said as he followed Meghan into the room.
“I’ll change her.” Karla offered and Meghan handed her the diaper bag.
“You are more than welcome to change her, if you can manage with that brace. She’s like a little poop monster.” Meghan said and everyone started laughing.
“I can manage. I’ll be right back, little man.” Karla said to Harvey and he grinned.
“I’ll be right here.” He promised as he sat in one of the chairs at the table.
Karla laughed at him as she carried Mae into her bedroom and gently laid her on the bed.
“Now, Mae, I’ve changed diapers before, but not since I broke my wrist a couple weeks ago so we’re going to have to work together on this, okay?” When Mae cooed at her she smiled and continued talking. “It sounds like we have an agreement.”
Karla continued to talk to Mae as she changed her diaper and snapped her clothes back in place. “We did it, Mae.” Karla said with a smile. “You know something, sweet girl? Having you here has already taken my mind off my problems.”
Karla sat on the bed and scooped Mae into her arms before she continued talking. “Conner, you remember Conner right? Anyway, Conner and I broke up a few days ago. Actually I told him we needed to take a break from each other because he was acting like a jealous jerk. Do you want to hear the whole story?” When Mae cooed again Karla snuggled her close and continued talking. “I knew you would. Well, here’s what happened.” Karla talked to Mae until she had said everything that had happened since the accident and when she was finished she felt a lot better.
“You know something, Mae? I don’t think this break from Conner is an all bad thing. We are both young and I’ve never had a boyfriend other than him. Yes, I love him, but I don’t know if I can deal with his jealously issues, or the condescending way he talks to me sometimes. Maybe we just both need to step back and grow-up a little. What do you think?”
When Mae laughed and swung her arms around Karla chuckled a little. “You’re absolutely right, Mae. I know that Conner is the one who I’m meant to be with, but maybe, just maybe, we will have a stronger relationship if we take a step back. Thank you for listening so well, sweet girl. You are my new go-to-girl when I need relationship advice. I can always count on you, right?”
A New Journey (Second Chance #3) Page 14