Perfectly Imperfect 1

11- Chocolates and Flowers

CAL:

Kayla pulls the front door open and beckons for me to follow her. But I hesitate at the doorframe. What the hell am I doing?!

“Are you okay Cal?” Kayla asks, watching me from across the threshold.

“No,” I answer truthfully. “I...donno what I was thinking. I’m really sorry to inconvenience you...I’ll...I’ll just be heading off,” I mumble, heading back down the driveway.

“Wait! Cal! Wait!” Kayla shouts. 

I throw her a quick smile over my shoulder before jogging down the block. What the hell Cafferty?! You can’t just go and inconvenience someone else’s family.

Out of nowhere, I fall to the ground with a loud groan as a weight falls onto me.

“I’m so sorry!” Kayla squeaks, getting off me.

I roll over on the gravel so I’m lying on my back. She stands over me, beetroot red. Did she seriously chase after me? With her skates? And end up falling on me?

“You know, girls have fallen for me before...but none of them have actually fallen on me before. Except once...” I trail off, grinning at her.

I take her outstretched hand and pull myself to my feet. I dust off my jeans and turn around to face her.

“Come on, just have a shower? You don’t have to stay. You’re my friend too, you know? I always help my friends,” she murmurs earnestly.

“You’re really pushy, you know?” I tease. 

She laughs appreciatively and grabs my hand, dragging me back to her house. This time she makes sure I enter first and then locks the door after her.

She pulls off her skates, places them neatly on the rack and gestures for me to follow her up the stairs.

She leads me down the hallway and nods towards the second door on the left. “That’s the bathroom. I’ll just go rifle through my brothers’ closets and find you something to wear. Go bathe!” she orders bossily, a smirk on her face.

I grin at her and step into the bathroom. The bathroom, like the rest of her house is slightly messy, but not in a bad way. It makes the house, home, look lived in. Nothing in my house was ever out of place, not unless I went out of my way to mess it up anyway.

I start the shower and step in to the hot water, letting it relax my aching muscles. Who knew motels don’t actually have hot water? Or clean water, or proper beds or even proper food! I swear, I’m never doing that again. Tonight, I’m checking into a swanky hotel. I’ve got dad’s credit card and I’m definitely willing to use it.

The turning of the door handle has my heart rate pick up a little. Kayla did mention brothers didn’t she? Last thing I need is to be caught in here by one of them!

I grab the white towel on the rail and wrap it securely around myself just as the door flies open.

A tiny little kid with a high, blonde ponytail stares at me, confused. Suddenly understanding dawns on her face and she lets out a blood curdling scream. Her voice reverberates off the tiles walls and has me closing my ears for fear of going deaf.

Half a second later, Kayla pushes through into the bathroom looking worried. Her eyes dart from me, dripping and cherry red to the little girl who suddenly smiles a huge, beautiful smile. Kayla blushes furiously, immediately dropping her gaze from me as I take a step further back.

“Emma!” Kayla reprimands, her voice shaking.

“What? I didn’t know that it was ommupied!” the little girl defends.

“It’s occupied, Emma,” Kayla corrects, a ghost of a smile forming on her lips.

“Umm, ladies? Could we perhaps continue the English lesson outside? I'm kinda of naked here,” I murmur, smirking as Kayla turns even redder!

“Oh! Yeah,” Kayla quickly agrees, dragging the little girl out with her. Just as I’m about to close the door, she pokes her head back in. “The clothes,” she whispers awkwardly holding up a pile of fabric for me.

“Thanks,” I murmur taking the clothes from her. Somehow I think she’s more embarrassed than I am!

I shut the door and quickly change into the clothes. Her brother is my height, so the jeans fit just fine, but he’s obviously skinnier than me. The white t-shirt sticks to my body just a little too much for comfort. I guess this is what she meant by her brother being metro.

I walk out the bathroom, my hair still dripping a little. I head down to the living room to find Kayla and Emma sitting on the couch. Kayla blushes again when she sees me and drops her gaze, but Emma smiles at me confidently.

“Hey,” I mumble awkwardly. “I’m Cal,” I introduce.

“Emma,” she replies, smiling bright. “Kay, why’s a big boy in our house?”

Big boy? She’s adorable!

“Shh! Go and practice your piano Emma!” Kayla snaps.

Emma flinches back but nods at her and hurries off to the grand piano in the corner of the room. Her little fingers dance across the keys bathing the entire house with an enchanting melody.

“She’s freaking fantastic!” I murmur, awed.

Kayla narrows her eyes at me before sighing. “Yeah, so everyone tells me.”

I raise my eyebrow but she shakes her head. Okay, I won’t pry.

“Hey, umm, do you mind if I head out to the shops for a bit? I want to buy some chocolates and flowers for your family,” I admit.

“Why?!” she asks, clearly shocked.

“Umm...because it’s the polite thing to do?” I try, scratching my head in confusion.

“I didn’t know people did that out of the television movies,” she teases.

“Hey, my family should be on the telly. We’ve perfected the fine art of kiss ass,” I mutter glumly. “Or...if you want, I could leave.”

“No! Stay for dinner. I insist!” 

“Thanks,” I whisper genuinely giving her a smile.

“But I warn you, my parents are really good at making people feel like incompetent idiots,” she huffs.

“I can handle myself. I’m pretty well accomplished, you know? Even if I don’t look it. I play the guitar, violin and piano, I play football, basketball and lacrosse, I swim, I’m in AP classes,” I brag, grinning at her.

Her smile falters. “They’ll love you more than they love me,” she mumbles.

“I could play it down? I’m also a smoker and an occasional alky, used to be a stoner. If you want me to make you look good, I’d be more than happy,” I offer.

She smiles, pushing me lightly. “You know what? I want you to be honest. My parents are so proud of all their other kids, think they’re the best at everything. Maybe mum and dad would come a little more down to earth when they hear everything that you can do!” she murmurs mischievously.

“At your service, milady!” I grin, bowing down. “Now I’ll go get the flowers and chocolates, it’ll make your parents think I’m charming too!” I wink.

“I’m coming with you!” she volunteers, grabbing her coat.