Catch Me, I'm Falling in Love

Chapter 6

Cornelia heard a voice talking, and she slowly opened her eyes. The sun was shining sharply through her window.

"Uhm no mom I'm fine"... "Yeah it's kinda cool here, I've already made a bunch of friends"... "They're nice too, I get treated like family here" Caleb looked over at Cornelia who he thought still was sleeping. "Yeah she's cool too, kinda like me..."... "Okay love you too, bye." Caleb hung up on the phone and put it on the floor. He was sitting in his sweatpants with tea and pancakes beside him.

Cornelia turned with a little smile. He thought she was cool and that it was great to live here, somehow that made her happy. She looked at Caleb, "Good morning." They'd never said that to each other before.

Caleb looked at Cornelia surprised, "good morning." He answered, and got up with the tray of breakfast and sat down beside her on her bed.

She sat up and looked down. She noticed she had a, too big to be hers, t-shirt on and that she was still wearing her bra. She inhaled the scent from the shirt. It was so sweet that she wouldn't ever take it off.

Caleb noticed her noticing his shirt. He saw how she inhaled his scent from it. "Uhm, before you go nuts on me, I just wanted to say that you were cold and you looked uncomfortable." He defended himself

Cornelia laughed, "No don't worry... I'm glad you did and uhm... Can I keep the shirt?"

Caleb smirked, "Sure... Does it smell like me?"

Cornelia smirked back, "Kinda." She looked at her leg. "Can you help me to the bathroom?"

Caleb looked at her skeptically, "Seriously?"

"Duh!"

"Alright," Caleb took her up in his arms and went to the bathroom, just as Lillian walked in. He stopped up.

"Go back to breakfast Lil." Cornelia said

"Are you making babies?" She asked stupidly as a 9 year old girl

"No I'm carrying your sister to the bathroom because she can't walk; when I've set her down I'm gonna go eat my breakfast." Caleb said looking at Lillian

"Oh, okay." Lillian said uninterested

"How did you do that?" Cornelia asked, amazed, "just made her go her way?"

"I told her the truth." He put her down and closed the door.

***

Later around 3 pm, Elizabeth popped her head in. "Do you want us to stay? Or are you sure we can go to Aunt Lea's birthday party?"

"Mom, the doc said it's not really broken, just sprained... And as long as I stay still nothing will happen. I shouldn't ruin your day." Cornelia said.

"Besides I'll be here if she needs anything." Caleb said coming into the bedroom.

"Alright then, we'll see you tonight." Liz Hale left the apartment with her husband and youngest daughter.

Cornelia was sitting with her phone.

"What are you doing?" Caleb asked curiously.

"Inviting the girls over... I'm having a sleepover... Hope you don't mind..."

"Whatever... It's your house..." Caleb said in front of the TV. Disappointed that he wasn't enough for her.

Cornelia sighed as she felt the cold tone from Caleb. Had it all just been fake? But then what about the nice things he had said to his mother? He hadn't seen she was awake, had he?

She looked at him; he was sitting somewhat comfortable with a cup of hot chocolate. She was kind of thirsty herself, but she didn't want to ruin what had almost been great. But then on the other hand, he'd said he was going to help her with the things she needed.

Caleb felt her eyes upon him, but didn't really want to talk to her.

"Uhm... Caleb?" She couldn't believe what she was about to do.

"What?" He snapped and looked at her.

"Could you do me a favor?" She really did it.

"Depends..." What a jerk she thought.

"Would you get me something to drink... please?" God how pathetic, she thought.

"Couldn't you've asked me like ten minutes ago, when I was in the kitchen?" It was completely irrational the way he was speaking to her. What was wrong with him?

"Well back then I wasn't thirsty!" She snapped back. She sighed and shook her head. "Never mind I'll go do it myself." She sat up and got a grip on the side of the couch. She balanced and tried to take a step. "Or not..." she said as she fell on the ground.

Caleb looked over at her and sighed. "Fine, what can I get you?"

Cornelia looked at him, "nothing, I'm getting it myself. As I can see you can't keep your promises." She tried to get up again. She fell again though, this time she hit her leg against the ground. "Ouch!" Don't cry Cornelia... Don't embarrass yourself in front of that jerk.

A tear fell down her pale cheek, but no sound was heard.

Caleb saw the pain across her face and felt the hurt inside him. Automatically he ran over and took her arm to help her up.

Anger flashed in Cornelia's eyes. She took her arm to herself and pushed him away.

"Stop it!" She yelled.

Caleb sighed and went back to help her again, "Don't play prima donna now Cornelia. You're just gonna hurt yourself." He held her arm as she balanced back to the couch where she then withdrew her arm angrily.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, "That won't be necessary! You already did!" She took her iPod and a blanket, put her earplugs in and pulled the cover over herself. She hit play and a feel-better-girl song filled her ears.

Caleb sighed frustrated and went up to the bedroom. The door closed with a loud bang. He kicked a bag aside and fell down on his bed. His hands reached his face and hid the few tears on his cheek.

What had gone wrong? This morning it was almost like paradise, but now they were back in hell.

He hadn't even meant to snap at her. He would do anything for her. He'd promised her that. He just wanted her all to himself.

***

He liked her a lot. He'd probably liked her from the first moment they'd met, but with this game they were playing he'd forgotten his feelings.

Did she feel that way too?

Probably not, Caleb thought. She probably just used me in the end, and she invited her friends over to gossip all about how she got away with it.

The door opened and closed. Here's probably the first one.

Caleb went over to the door; he opened it and went out to the stairs where he looked down into the living room. Irma was entering the door. Well this should be fun.

Cornelia had managed to get up on her own, and when Irma reached her, she fell into Irma's arms and cried.

The feeling of a knife stabbing you over and over and over again right in your heart was increasing inside Caleb.

He took a step back, and then stopped. They were talking. And if it weren't for his paranoia, he definitely meant he could hear her say...

Cornelia looked up on Irma's caring face, "Irma... I think I love him..."