Faltered light

Part 6: Paradise is doomed to end

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Calla

The next morning comes with a chill in the air and a soundly sleeping James alongside me — Last night— did that really happen. The bathroom is the same yet the woman staring back at me in the large mirror is not. That can't be me. I start the shower, hot water washes over me and it feels heavenly. A bottle of Susan's lovely lavender shampoo laters my hair creating a wonderful smell. I close my eyes and let the water run over my body. I feel hands against my back, "good morning". It has only been one night and now we're showering together? To be fair I am not complaining. "Hi" I smile. I turn around and James' hair is soaked and he looks perfect. "I know last night wasn't perfect, so I thought we could...", but before finishes I interrupt him. "It was perfect". My heart starts racing because I am still basking in the events of last night. After the shower James assures me that everything is going to be okay. We manage to get lost again...

James

"Do you want to go down to the river today?" I ask Calla. "Uh, okay." She sounds unsure. I think she's still embarrassed about what happened after the shower. I have been with plenty of woman but non like her. I had to stop myself from acting like a teenager who had sex for the first-time last night.
We head down to the river and its the perfect day to swim. Calla is unsure at first but we end up in the water half an hour later. I have had the best time with her here and I cannot say why I had not thought to invite her up here when shit was normal. We spend all afternoon in the water laughing and playing. I have not played since... god knows when. Before I can stop it... "I love you Calla". She looks at me wide eyed — what the fuck Venton! Don't what the fuck me. I do love her. I can't believe I'm having a fight with myself. "I love you too James", and I swear to every god there is, ever was and ever will be — to take care of her, to love her. When Calla and I get out of the water we sit along the grassy bank. "Ta-da!", she beams at a basket that I instantly recognize — it's Susan's lame picnic basket. "I packed all kinds of goods", Calla says. She pulls out two foil wrapped sandwich's, a few granadillas and bottle of water. I unwrap my sandwich and it is delicious.

Calla

When we sit down to the picnic I try to be as nonchalant as I possibly can. 'I love you Calla' the words ring over and over in my head. Is he saying that because of the sex or does he really mean it? The last few days, dynamics of my relationship with James has completely shifted. I decide to think about it at a later time. James bites into the boiled egg, mayo and chili sandwich I made for lunch today with the fresh bread from this morning. His face lights up. I too am starving so we eat up. Time seems to just drift along the bank. James tells me more about his childhood and he asks me so many questions about my interests and hobbies. We fall asleep in the warm breeze of beautiful summer. I lazily open my eyes to the most horrific sight — a woman standing over me covered in blood.  The wail that escapes my lips is foreign to me — Ringing danger and panic — the warm beautiful summer turns dark and cold.
James

I hear Calla scream and my eyes jolt open — it sounded like nothing I have ever heard before. It was a grievous sound that sent chills up my spine right into my soul. I get up as quickly as I can and see this woman — Violet, standing over Calla just starring at her, she's covered in fucking blood, I do not know how but my knife is in my hand in a matter of seconds. Violet steps back and raises her hands in retreat. I relax because she's 'normal'. When we get back Calla shows Violet to the shower. I get one of Susan's T-shirt's, an old jogger, a clean pair of knickers and leave it on Calla's bed. I head back downstairs so they can have their space. I need a fucking beer. I rampage through the kitchen. I find a bottle of whiskey— jackpot. I pour a shot and sit at the kitchen island. My nerves are still frantic. What if that woman was like Joe and I was fucking napping? What if she hurt Calla? I can't let my guard down, not ever again. "Can I have one too?", I hear Calla behind me. "I thought you didn't like alcohol", I chuckle as she takes a seat next to me. "Well I do after that", she laughs. I don't think she's messing around because she pours some in a glass. She goes a little over the shot limit and I can instantly tell she really doesn't drink. "What's the smirk about Venton?", she tries to sound smug but I can see the horror in her eyes. She's really freaked out about what happened. "Oh, just revealing in the fact that you have no idea what a shot is", I laugh. She sighs. "Is uh Violet settled?" I ask Calla. She nods and gulps down the rest of the drink. Damn. "So, uh you know that woman?", Calla asks in a curious tone. "Uh yeah we were friends when I used to come up here, she lives a town away", I answer trying to sound as causal as possible. I don't exactly know how to tell Calla I used to fuck Violet. I didn't love her and I was just a young teenage boy. I decide against telling Calla because the past doesn't matter.

                                   Calla

I am completely frozen and she the woman starts backing away. "What the fuck do you want!", I hear James. James. His alive. It is not his blood. 
"Please", the woman's voice says. James comes closer to me and cups his hand around my cheek. "Calla. Are you okay?", "I'm fine", I sit up. I'm fine. That's all I can manage at this point. Seeing that woman. Thinking the blood, she was covered in was James'. The woman looks just as scared as I am. James holds his hand out and helps me up. "Calla this is Violet", he says in an annoyed voice. "Hi", she says in a timid voice. She looks awful. Black bags burden her beautiful face. She looks at James with the wildest eyes of bewilderment and. Hurt? "Why are you here?", James asks this strange woman. "I, I thought this is where you would be during this chaos", she says back to him. I am completely confused because I have no idea who this woman is and why she was standing over me whilst I slept. 
"Can I stay? Please James", the strange woman asks him. He looks over at me. What am I supposed to say, I have no idea who this woman is and where she came from? "Sure", he mutters. He takes my hand and we head back. I show Violet to the shower while James goes and get her something to wear. "Wow this bathroom looks way different to when I used to visit", she says in amazement. "You used to come here a lot?", curiosity has gotten the best of me and I am not sure if I should be prying. She laughs and nods. I wonder what's so funny. "Okay well I'll leave you to it", I tell her as I begin to exit. "Thank you for allowing me to stay here Calla", I hear her say and I nod. It's not my home. She should be thanking James. When I exit the bathroom. Downstairs James is drinking; his frown disappears when he empties his glass. "Can I have one too?", I say as I make my way to the seat next to James. "I thought you didn't like alcohol", he lightly chuckles. I ignore him while I take my seat. "Well I do after that", I laugh instead considering how ridiculous that sounds right now. I pour the golden-brown liquid into a glass. "What's the smirk about Venton?", I say with my most serious voice. "Oh, just revealing in the fact that you have no idea what a shot is". He is right. What am I doing? I feel so afraid for the future. "Is uh Violet settled?" he interrupts my thoughts. I give him a light nod. I cannot stand the taste the golden liquid leaves on my tongue so I decide to pour the entire drink down my throat. "So, uh you know that woman?", I try to sound as calm as I can, the fact that he knows her sends a jealous pang straight to my stomach. "Uh yeah we were friends when I used to come up here, she lives a town away", friends such an underrated word... what kind of friends?  When Violet is all done with her shower, we eat dinner and watch tv. Tonight I am practically forced to sleep next to James. He said he loved me but I am not sure about the possibility of him. I mean that woman that just showed up today and I still have no idea who she is.