Twilight Java

Chapter 12

Relaxing in my bed while doing some light studying, my phone vibrated. Being a Thursday night, I was expecting it to be a text about notes or anything class related. Instead, it was an email telling me that I'll be a part of the university newspaper. Or the Vilora Herald to be proper. My eyes widened and I smiled at myself, not wanting to bother Veronica with my happy shrieks.

We were set to meet on Wednesday at 4, where roles and jobs would be assigned. But my email had more written than just that. Since I submitted both photos and columns, they'd use me as a sort of wild card. If they were found empty handed with either columnists or photographers, they'd just throw me in wherever I was needed. It felt so good to be appreciated.

I ditched the books that night from my excitement and instead spent the rest of my evening daydreaming. I rolled in my bed and aimlessly stared at the corner of my room where my recycling pile sat. The empty blue boxes sat all scrunched up, and in that moment I remembered I never texted Ellis. Sure, it wasn't all that important of a topic, but I hated not doing something I said I would do. No matter how small the task. Grabbing my phone, I flipped through my contacts to try to find him. My face scrunched up as I became confused with why he wasn't in the E section. Did he end up not putting his number in?

After being stumped for a few seconds, I realized that this was Ellis I was dealing with. Instead, he was found under the B section with the name 'Best Singer Ever'. Of course that's what he would put himself as. With a smile, I changed his name and typed out a text.

Hey it's Callisto

I felt it'd be best to not randomly tell him what it was. That would be weird since a few days had passed since that Saturday, but I didn't want to just leave him hanging.

Why did I care so much? I had only known Ellis for a little bit yet I didn't want to come off weird or anything. I knew deep down that it really didn't matter, but it was just the people pleaser in me.

After staring at the ceiling for a couple minutes, my phone that rested on my chest vibrated.

Hey it's the best singer ever

I stifled a laugh.

C: Cocky much?

E: Just stating facts.

C: suuuuuuure

E: so did the amazing pastries put you into a coma?

C: very funny. I had things to do and forgot.

E: Aha. So unprofessional and forgetful?

C: we're back to this again...

E: it was never over to begin with

C: you sound like you're in a bad teen romance. But if you desperately want to know, I forgot the name but it was that chocolatey snow man thing

E: the religieuse?

C: sure

E: thats funny. That's my favorite too.

C: Guess we both have good taste then.

E: you're right about that.

I didn't know how to respond, so I simply ignored the text. A couple seconds later, he texted me saying he had to go. To what, I didn't know, but I continued my dull state of laying in bed.

My eyes started to droop before Veronica's voice shook me awake.

"Callie, can I talk to you about something?"

I gasped slightly and rolled over to face her. She look serious and a bit frightened. For the couple weeks I have known Veronica, I have noticed she wasn't the timid kind. Like Madeline, she didn't seem to like showing fear but rather boldness and confidence. I guessed all of us cracked sometimes.

I adjusted myself so that I gave her my attention, "Yeah sure. What is it?"

She fidgeted on her bed. "It's about the guy," She said, and I nodded for her to go on. "He tried talking to me today."

My mouth felt dry. "What did he want?"

"He said that if anyone found out about what happened between us, he would fuck me up. He said, and I'm not making this up, that he'd destroy everything I love and ruin my reputation," Veronica said, her voice slightly quivering as she finished her sentence.

Anxiety tingled within me for Veronica's safety, but I was also confused about the situation. "How would he ruin your reputation?" I asked. "I don't think any of us have a reputation since no one really knows each other."

At this, Veronica's face reddened and she avoided my eyes. "He has pictures of me," she said and immediately I understood. What would a person do in such a situation? Veronica probably wouldn't be able to do anything since its technically legal. That is, if those were after 18.

"Does he have any from before you turned 18?"

Veronica probably had already thought of this before, judging from her solemn expression and shaking head. "It wouldn't matter. He had either deleted them, or the police wouldn't believe me. I'm stuck."

"It seems so," I sighed. Veronica looked on the verge of tears, and I wanted her to not feel afraid. "People like him will never succeed. One way or another, he'll get caught and exposed. Either by me, either by you, or sometime in the future. I don't want to think of him getting away with this for so long, but he will be found out one day." I almost told her by me, but I didn't want to make false promises or worry her of her and my own danger.

She smiled at me weakly, and with that we didn't speak for the rest of the night.

My mind wandered as I lay in the stillness of the night, accompanied by the sounds of distant talking and Veronica's soft breathing.

I thought about Veronica, and how trapped she was. How even though I have no direct relationship to the situation, I've unintentionally become a part of this just because of what I know. I could go to police, I could tell social workers, I could tell everyone I know, but if for whatever reason they think we're lying, everything is over. Veronica would be put in more danger than she's already in now, and that's a terrifying thought.

I also thought about Ellis and his strange ways. Who even was he to me? A friend? An acquaintance? After the "tour" of his hometown, he led me to some other parts of the city along the way back to campus. We got to learn more about each other, the basic stuff. We both love the color blue, we both love Daughter, and we both hate fish. Which is ironic given were both from coastal cities with thriving fishing businesses. Oh, we were also both liberal. Which I guess isn't so basic, but it was something that sort of slipped from a conversation on feminism. His presence was intriguing, almost indescribable. He was so open and fun, yet so seemingly distant in ways.

I thought that maybe that would change someday.

• • •

Hello everyone! Sorry for the very late update. I have everything planned out with this story, it's just I have recently gone back to school and given that it's senior year, it's going to be heeeeeeeectic. I'm taking 4 ap classes and I have a job. rip. Anyway, it would help me a lot if you voted or commented and I hope you have a great day!

Xoxo, Mari.

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