Aftermath

15

"Callie," she heard faintly as she slept. She felt a tickle on her face but still wasn't quite awake. "Come on, Cal" Matthew kissed her temple again and moved her so he could slip his arm underneath her torso and pull her into his chest. She didn't even open her eyes before snuggling into his neck and getting comfortable. He chuckled and rubbed her back gently.

"Wake up" He whispered again and with a soft groan Cal stretched out.

"I'm awake" came out in a groggy whisper, she rolled onto her other side pressing facing away from Matthew. She pressed her eyes closed tighter, and the tell-tale ache in her head raged.

"You should eat something, and take some medicine," Mattie said. She grunted in refusal. The thought of eating anything at the moment was repulsive.

"I can't move," Cal whispered. He chuckled. "I just want to stay right here." Matthew brought one arm up and tucked it behind his head.

"Okay. Stay here." He said with a sigh.

She spent the whole morning and most of the afternoon in bed. Matthew made some tea and brought it to her, a bagel with cream cheese had snuck its way onto the tray unsurprisingly. They watched a few movies, Cal dozed through them mostly. But finally, around 4 Matthew finally convinced Cal to get up and get out of the house. 

"We have options," he said sitting down next to her. "We could go eat, we could go get some food to bring back here and eat, or we could go to the get-together Oliver was telling us about the other night, for Thanksgiving." She hesitated at the last option, the night prior had been embarrassing, and she wasn't sure if she could face them again. He grabbed her hand in his and she met his eyes.

"We don't have to see them today. But, no one thinks any of what happened was your fault, do you understand that?" Calpurnia looked back down at her lap. She did understand that everything wasn't her fault, but it didn't change the embarrassment she felt. She also didn't want to avoid them forever. Calpurnia nodded and gave his hand a quick squeeze.

"I just feel embarrassed about the entirety of the night. Not one specific event. But we should go." She looked up and offered him a soft smile. "I don't want to have it hanging over my head."

"If you're sure" Matthew pressed and she nodded gently.

"I need to shower too if we are leaving." She was sitting on the edge of the bed. Matthew was getting clothes out of the dresser.

"Do you want to go first?" Cal shook her head no, and he nodded in agreement and headed to the bathroom. She sat for a minute thinking about what she should wear but didn't know what they were doing.

"Come in" she heard Mattie call when she knocked on the bathroom door. She stepped through the door into the sticky bathroom air.

"Where are we going?" She asked from the opposite side of the curtain. Calpurnia heard Mattie curse under his breath and pop his head out from inside the shower.

"Can you hand me my toothbrush?" He gestured to the sink countertop where it rested. She walked over and grabbed it. When he reached his arm out to grab it from her hand he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. Successfully soaking her sleeve and the front of her shirt.

"Mattie!" She yelped but he was laughing so hard she couldn't help but chuckle too. He yanked her again so they were chest to chest, and kissed her forehead, then grabbed his toothbrush from her and shut the curtain again as if nothing happened.

When he came into the bedroom again, he was dressed in the clothes he'd grabbed before. Cal was in only a towel, perched still on the edge of the bed.

"I still don't know where we are going," she explained when Matthew gave her a questioning look. She stood and went over to her dresser to pull out jeans and a sweater. "Will this be okay to wear?"

"It will be perfect." She smiled gently before taking her turn in the shower. Cal showered quickly and found herself avoiding her reflection as she washed her face and brushed her teeth.

When she was all dressed she walked out to Matthew. His back was turned and he was focusing on something, probably work-related, on his laptop. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her nose into his spine.

"We need to leave soon," he mumbled, grabbing onto her hands and pulling her arms tight. Cal nodded against his back but didn't release her hold right away and neither did he.

A few minutes later they separated, grabbed jackets, and slipped on some shoes to head out. Calpurnia felt whole. Her fingers locked with his, and they walked in step, every once in a while glancing the other's way momentarily.

She wondered briefly if she should evaluate the situation before things got out of hand. She should consider the consequences of her actions and how they would affect her and Matthew. But she dismissed the thoughts quickly before they could take root. Calpurnia was going to let herself be content, however briefly, without looking for things to ruin it.

They arrived at a house Calpurnia had never been to, and Matthew opened the door without even knocking. She slid her shoes off by the door and hung her coat on the coat rack, then grabbed right back onto his hand. Before they walked into the den with the rest of the people, Matthew tugged her back into him by her hand.

"Are you okay with this?" he asked, gesturing to her hand placed in his. She nodded, squeezing tighter silently asking him not to let go as he had. He squeezed back and rubbed her knuckle with his thumb. Mattie led them into the group of people and when they turned the corner they found everyone lounging around the living room and dining room.

For the first time since Cal had come with Matthew to hang out with everyone, Cal recognized a lot of the people from school. Sara and Quinn were in her graduating class, they had some classes together, and got along but were never close. She also saw Paul and Lucas who had played sports together with Oliver and Matthew.

She found out it was Quinn's house they were at when she excused herself to get some wine and Quinn insisted she stay put, as a guest. Mattie and Calpurnia were sitting together on an oversized armchair. Cal perched on the arm of the chair, feet tucked under Matthew's legs. They all had full bellies and warmth in their cheeks from wine as they sat around chatting with everyone.

They talked about college and what had happened since they all graduated high school. Sara and Quinn ended up at the same college and now they lived together. Lucas dropped out and opened his own mechanic shop. Paul was working on his doctorate and just home to visit for the Holidays. Oliver told everyone how he and Holden had met while Holden blushed furiously. When the laughter died down a bit everyone's eyes made their way to Matthew and Calpurnia.

"So," Quinn began, "tell us how you guys ended up together." Cal's throat went dry. Before she could speak Sara did.

"Yeah, we never thought you would end up together because of Rowan." Calpurnia felt Matthew's hand descend on her thigh and grip it firmly. "Spill!" Sara's words were like a punch to the gut. Her whole body felt hot and tight. With a swift jerk of her leg, she disconnected Matthew's hand from holding her there and stood.

"Uh, excuse me" she stammered on her way out of the room. Her hands shook as she reached for her coat and she struggled to pull the zipper up.