A New Journey (Second Chance #3)

by Christina Escue

  Mae’s answering coo brought a genuine smile to Karla’s face. “Now we better get back out there before they think we’re taking a nap.” Karla left the diaper bag where it was and made sure she had a firm grip on Mae before she stood and walked out of the room.

  “You were in there forever.” Harvey said when Karla walked back into the kitchen.

  “Sorry, little man, but your sister and I had something to discuss. Now, what do you want to do?”

  “She’s a baby, she can’t talk yet.” Harvey said with a confused look.

  “She may not be able to talk, but she can listen and that was just what I needed.” Karla told him as she grabbed a board game off the bookshelf. “Now, do you want to play?”

  “I want to beat you.” He answered and grinned. “And Elliot.” He added and grabbed Elliot’s hand.

  Later that night Karla sent Conner a text.

  Karla; Can we meet tomorrow? I think we need to talk.

  Conner; I agree. When and where do you want to meet?

  Karla; The mall. I can have Leslie drop me off.

  Conner; What time?

  Karla; Noon?

  Conner; That works for me. I’ll see you tomorrow, Karla.

  Karla; See you tomorrow. Goodnight.

  Conner; Night.

  Karla lay awake most of the night thinking about the distance between her and Conner. She had thought the distance was what she wanted, but now she wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  The following day Karla had Leslie drop her off at the mall. As she waited for Conner to show up she thought about what she was going to say. Nothing sounded right in her head and nothing felt right in her heart.

  “Karla.” Conner said softly from behind her and she turned to face him.

  “Hi, Conner.” She responded just as softly.

  “Before you say anything can I say something?” Conner asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry. I acted like a jealous jerk. I know an apology isn’t going to fix this, but I had to say it anyway.”

  “Can we sit please?” Karla asked and when Conner nodded she walked to a table in the corner, away from everyone else, and sat down. Once Conner sat across from her she started talking. “You did act like a jealous jerk, but that’s only part of the reason I said we needed a break from each other.”

  Conner looked at her for a second before he sighed. “What’s the other part of the reason?”

  “Since I had my accident you have been treating me like I’m going to fall apart at any second. Yes, I know I was in an accident that could have killed me and yes, I know everything you did was done out of love and concern. Believe me, I understand that, but on Saturday, when you told me to suck it up and deal with it, you went too far. I know I was irritated, but when I saw the look on your face my irritation disappeared and I tried to reassure you that I was fine and that was your response. It hurt, bad, and when you didn’t say anything, even after you knew it hurt, that hurt even more. Then add in your reaction to me talking to Daniel and it was all over the top.”

  When Conner just looked at the table Karla took a deep breath and continued. “Over the past six days I have thought about a lot of things. I love you, Conner, I have since we met, but I stand by what I said Saturday. I think we need a break from each other. I think we need some time to be Conner, the sixteen year old guy, and Karla, the sixteen year old girl, instead of Karla and Conner, couple.”

  “So you’re saying you didn’t want to talk so we could fix this?” Conner asked and Karla could tell his temper was starting to rise.

  “Conner, calm down please.” Karla said calmly. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but she still didn’t like it when he lost his temper.

  “Calm down? Are you kidding me? I thought you wanted to talk so we could work this out and be together again, but instead you just wanted to rip my heart the rest of the way out and stomp on it.”

  “Is that really what you think I want to do?” She asked calmly as her eyes filled with tears.

  “You text me last night and ask to meet today after five days of silence. Then when I get here you look at me the way you always have and my heart starts truly beating again for the first time since you walked away from me on Saturday. Now you’re telling me that nothing has changed since Saturday and you expect me to stay calm? Whatever, Karla. If this is how you want it then so be it.” Conner pushed away from the table and started to walk off.

  “Conner, wait. I don’t want you to leave like this.”

  “Suck it up, Karla. You wanted a break and that’s what I’m giving you. See you around, Karla.” Conner said and walked off.

  Karla sank back into her chair and watched him go. Once he was gone she sent Leslie a text letting her know she was going to hang out at the mall for a little while and for the next two hours she sat there, thinking about the past two years with Conner and thinking about how things would never be the same again.

  ****

  After he left the mall, Conner decided to just drive for a while. When he found himself at the lake he parked the car and walked to his and Karla’s favorite spot to talk. The last time they were here was the day after the fire. That was the day he had promised himself and Andrew that he would never give up on Karla. He broke that promise today when he walked away from her.

  “I am such an idiot.” He admitted out loud to himself and the trees surrounding him. As he sat there and looked out over the water he thought over what Karla had said to him today and his reaction to her words. What she said had hurt, but he couldn’t deny that it was true. He had slapped at her with the suck it up comment and he had chosen not to apologize for it even when he’d known it had hurt her.

  “I pushed her away Saturday.” He said to himself. “After what I said today she’ll probably stay away and I can’t blame anyone but myself for all of it.”

  He sat there thinking about the past two years with Karla until the sun started setting over the lake. As he walked back to the car he sent Callie a text letting her know he was on his way home. When he got in the car he looked back at the place him and Karla had spent so much time at and knew what he had to do.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Over the next two weeks Karla avoided Conner. She didn’t sit with them at lunch, she wouldn’t make eye contact with him during class and she barely spoke to him during practice. The community rallied together and during the rummage sale and pot luck dinner they raised enough money for the Emmerson family to pay all of their past due medical expenses and Candice was finally moved out of intensive care and into a rehab facility. Her back was broken during the wreck, but her spine remained intact so she would walk again.

  On the morning of the final competition before Christmas, Daniel picked Karla up at the apartment and she was all smiles. “We get to move back into the house next week. Just in time for Christmas.” She said as soon as she slid into the car. “I also go back to the doctor Monday and get this stupid brace off.”

  “Congratulations.” Daniel said with a smile. After he pulled out of the parking lot he took a deep breath. He had something he needed to tell her and she wasn’t going to like it. “Karla, I need to tell you something, but I don’t want to cause you any more pain than you’ve already been through.”

  “If it’s about Conner going on a date with Alissa, I already know.” She said before he could say anything. “Callie came by last night and told me.”

  “Are you alright?”

  “Not really, but it was to be expected and he’s free to go out with whomever he wants.”

  “Maybe you should go out with someone else too. Maybe that’s what you need in order to move on.”

  “I’m not interested in going out with anyone.” Karla said and looked out the window.

  “I know, but there is someone interested in going out with you.”

  “Really? Who?” Karla asked in shock. She had been pretty much keeping to herself over the past three weeks so this came as a sur
prise.

  “Cameron Reese. He’s a senior and I have a few classes with him. He asked about you the other day because he noticed we’d been sitting together at lunch. He wanted to know if you were seeing anyone and I told him you and your boyfriend had just split up. He wanted your number, but I wouldn’t give it to him.”

  “I’m really not ready to date anyone.”

  “What could one date hurt? It may break you out of this funk you’ve been walking around in.”

  Karla thought about what Daniel said for a few minutes and when they pulled up to the school where the competition was being held today she had come to a decision. “Give him my number Monday. If Conner is going to go out with someone else then so am I. Like you said, what could one date hurt?”

  “That’s the spirit. Now, are you ready to go inside and kick some butt?”

  “I’m always ready to kick butt.” Karla said with a grin.

  When they walked into the cafeteria the competition was being held in Karla’s eyes immediately sought out Conner. When she saw him sitting with Alissa she turned away and went to sit with Rylee and Callie, who were sitting alone at the back of the room.

  “Hey.” Karla said as she stopped in front of them. “I need to talk to you two.”

  “We need to talk to you too.” Callie said as she slid over so Karla could sit between them.

  “I’m sorry for all the tension mine and Conner’s break-up is causing between us.” Karla said as she sat down.

  “We’re sorry we haven’t been there for you. Even when you tried to tell us what was going on we defended Conner. Daniel told us what happened the day you broke up with Conner. He also told us what happened the day after Thanksgiving. We should have come to you, but we didn’t, and for that we are truly sorry.” Rylee said as tears formed in her eyes.

  “Callie, you and Conner are twins and the bond between the two of you is unbreakable. Rylee, you have known Conner most of your life and he is like a brother to you. I totally understand that you would both be there for him. I am the one who broke up with him after all.”

  “You are our sister in every way but blood and we turned our backs on you.” Callie said as she wrapped her arms around Karla. “Never again. We will do everything we can to be there for you both.”

  “Please don’t choose me over Conner.” Karla said as she pulled out of Callie’s arms. “I love you two like sisters, and I love Conner more than words can say, but if you feel you have to choose then choose him.”

  “We aren’t going to have to choose because you two will get back together. You’re meant to be together.” Rylee said with confidence.

  “I don’t know. After the way he walked out on me I seriously doubt it plus he’s dating someone else now.” Karla said with sadness in her voice.

  “He only agreed to go on a date with her because she wouldn’t leave him alone. I talked to him last night and he told me that he wouldn’t be going out with her again.”

  “They look pretty cozy to me.” Karla said and nodded her head in Conner’s direction. He was sitting with his arm around Alissa and their heads were almost touching as they talked quietly.

  “I don’t know what that’s about, but last night he told me he didn’t like her as anything other than a friend.”

  “We’ll finish this later.” Rylee said as the commentator stepped up to the podium. “We’re up first today, Karla.”

  “Let’s do this. I’m already ready to get out of here.” Karla said and walked to her team’s table.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  “Karla, hi, I’m Cameron.” Karla looked over at the guy who sat beside her at the table. He had rich, dark chocolate colored skin, deep brown eyes and black hair that was so short he was almost bald.

  “Hello, Cameron.” She responded with a small smile.

  “Wow, you’re more beautiful up close.” Cameron said then shook his head. “Sorry, sometimes what I’m thinking comes out of my mouth before my brain can stop it.”

  Karla chuckled at his comment and he flashed a blinding smile at her. “So, Cameron, Daniel tells me you have been asking him about me.”

  “I have. At first I thought you and he were together, but when he told me y’all were just friends I knew I had to meet you.”

  “Cameron, I have to be honest with you. My boyfriend of almost two years and I just broke up three weeks ago and I’m not looking for a relationship, but I’m always open to having more friends.”

  “Daniel told me about that. I’m really sorry you’re going through that, but sometimes something has to end for something else to begin. Would you want to go on a date with me and see if we have something worth trying?”

  “I think I can do that.” Karla said with a small smile. He was so shy that it was cute. He was also the total opposite of Conner. “When would you like to go?”

  “Friday night?” He asked and when Karla nodded he smiled. “I’ll text you later and we can work out a time and place. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Karla said. When Cameron got up and walked away she sighed deeply. She wasn’t ready for this, but life goes on.

  ****

  “Who is that talking to Karla?” Conner asked Callie when he looked up and saw Karla talking to another guy.

  “If I’m right, that’s Cameron Reese. He’s a senior in the advanced program and he plays soccer.” Callie answered her brother’s question without looking at him. She could feel the jealously rolling off of him in waves.

  “You mean the star of the soccer team?” Rylee asked.

  “Yep, that’s him.” Travis answered.

  “Why is he talking to Karla?” Conner all but growled out.

  “If I had to guess he’s asking her on a date.” Callie said and looked at her brother. “You know the effect she has on the male population so it shouldn’t surprise you that she has guys going after her now that you two aren’t together any longer.”

  “Well isn’t that just great.” Conner mumbled under his breath.

  “Con, what did you expect?” Callie asked him.

  “I expected her to come back to me.” He said with a slight hitch in his voice. “That’s all I want.”

  “Conner Fredrick Newberry, open your big blue eyes and really look at the situation. You’re the one who went on a date with Alissa, you’re the one who was all chummy with her at the competition, you’re the one who told her to suck it up and you’re the one who walked away.”

  “You don’t think I know that? You don’t think I realize this whole thing is my fault? Well I do. It was my own stupidity that pushed her away. It was my own stupid jealously and temper that caused her to build a wall between us. A wall that I have no idea how to tear down.”

  “Con, calm down. You’re starting to draw attention to yourself.” Callie said and Conner took a deep breath and sat back down. “You aren’t going to accomplish anything if you keep letting your temper get in the way.”

  “My temper is why I’m here in the first place.” Conner mumbled and Callie had to agree with him.

  “Then control it and go talk to her.” Rylee said.

  “I can’t.” Conner said and Callie looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

  “Why is that?” Travis asked.

  “Because it’s going to take more than words to get us past this.”

  “I can’t argue with that.” Callie said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to talk to Karla.”

  Callie walked off with Rylee right on her heels and Conner watched them sit on either side of Karla.

  “I miss her so bad.” Conner said to Travis as he watched Karla talk to his sister.

  “I know you do. I can see it every time you look at her, but Callie has a valid point. Your temper isn’t going to help you get her back.”

  “Yeah, I know. I lost my temper with her and walked away when I should have stayed and talked to her. I should have told her how I felt instead of blowing up and throwing her words back at her.”

 
“To borrow Callie’s words ‘I can’t argue with that.’” Travis said just as the lunch bell rang.

  “This is the hardest class to get through.” Conner said as he dumped his uneaten food in the trash and walked out of the cafeteria with Travis. “Karla, Callie, Rylee and I are a group for this class and we all have to work on our final project together. With Karla not talking to me it makes life difficult.”

  “Maybe you should use the project as an ice breaker. As a way to get her to talk to you. Who knows, maybe it’ll work.” Travis offered.

  “I may try that. Thanks, man.” Conner said as he followed Callie into the classroom and took his usual seat beside Karla.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  “Elliot, can you help me?” Karla asked her brother.

  “Sure, sis. What do you need?”

  “I need help with this box. This stupid brace is driving me nuts, but Dr. Carpenter said I had to wear it for another two weeks.”

  “We’ll manage to get moved back into the house without you lifting a lot, sis.” Elliot said as he carried the box of Karla’s things down the stairs and to the moving truck.

  “I hate this stupid thing.” Karla said to Leslie when she walked in the room.

  “Callie and Rylee are on their way to help and I think Travis is coming with Rylee and Callie is bringing Kevin since he’s home from school.” Leslie told her. “We should be able to get everything loaded up today.”

  “That’s great. I’m just glad school is out now and we can work on it during the daylight.”

  “Don’t you have a date tonight?” Leslie asked with a curious expression.

  “Cameron will be here at six. We are going to dinner and then a movie. I have the outfit I’m wearing hung up in the bathroom and it won’t take me long to get ready.”