Callie POV
"Wake up honey." My mom says gently, shaking me awake.
"What time is it?"
"It's 6:30. I ordered Chinese, it should be hear soon."
As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. My mom chuckled and squeezed my hand before leaving my room. I look at my phone and see 15 missed calls from Chris, 3 from Fiona, 10 voicemails, and a bunch of text messages from Chris. I ignore his texts and check Fiona's.
"Are you okay?"
"Chris called me freaking out? Are you still with your mom?"
"Call me Plz."
I want to believe that Fiona doesn't know what Chris did. There is no way she does not know. And she kept this from me. I have a hard time seeing Fiona as fake, but I can be gullible. Then again, Chris sometimes treats Fiona like she is still too young. Maybe he kept this from her? My head is spinning with thoughts. I head to the bathroom and splash some water on my face. My chest feels like it has a gaping hole in it. I lean against the counter, trying to get a grip on the surge of emotions flooding me.
I loved Chris. Who am I kidding? I still love him. Even when he kept something this huge from me. Is that why our relationship moved so fast? He thinks that if I am in love with him, I'd be okay with his involvement in killing my father? Does he even love me? I hear the doorbell ring, and soon after my mom calls out to me, telling me dinner is here. I wipe my face and head downstairs.
We sit on the couch, eating our food, trying to find something to watch on the television. My mom tries to make conversation but I'm not feeling very talkative. My mom lets it go, or so I thought. After we finish, she looks at me with a frown.
"Callie," she says, making sure that I am looking at her before continuing, "what happened at the police station?"
I look down, trying to fight the tears that are trying to spill over my eyelashes. My mom touches my shoulder and it's like a dam broke. Tears are pouring down my face. She scoots closer to me and wraps me in her arms. I start sobbing. We sit like that until my sobs slow, then mom lets me go so she can hand me the tissues. I decide to tell her everything. I start with the first night I met Chris (leaving out the intimate details) and finish with the picture of Chris with the men who killed my father.
"He was their getaway driver mom. He said he loved me. Was he just using me to keep his cover? I feel so lost." I cry.
"That is a lot of things to deal with. I don't want you to hurt over things that may or may not be true. Have you talked to him?"
"No. I don't want to."
"I don't know him, but from what you told me, he sounds genuinely interested in you. There are two sides to every story. I think you should at least hear his."
"Mom, how can you be so calm about this? He was involved in your husband's murder!" I basically shout, regretting it when my mom flinches slightly.
"He didn't pull the trigger Callie. And I am angry that your father, my husband, died for no reason. I want justice, just like you. But I had to learn not to let the anger, the grief, consume me. And there are plenty of good people that get involved in bad things. I don't know Chris, Callie. But from what you told me, he has shown you he cares. You should at least discuss it with him before making any decisions. Either way, it will hurt baby."
"I don't know mom. I feel so betrayed. And Fiona, she was my best friend. I...I..."
"Callie." My mom says firmly, "It is not helping you being hurt by the what-if's. I think you owe it to yourself to find out what happened. You could start with Fiona? Maybe talk to her first?"
I'm not 100% sure that I am ready to talk to either of them now, but I agree to think about it. I decide to take a long, hot shower. As I shampoo my hair, I think over my interactions with Fiona. She seems sincere. I've always felt I could trust her. I'd hate to think she was using our friendship just to help her brother.
Chris.
My heart jumps at the thought of him and I push him out of my mind. I am not ready to talk to him. I finish my shower and get changed into pajamas.
I decide to talk to Fiona. I stare at my phone for a couple of minutes before dialing my best friend.
A/N: So I finally updated. I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP. I will do at least the first part in Chris's POV. Thanks for reading!
Photo Credit: https://ideas.ted.com/tag/heartbreak/
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Real Connections
Romance*Story on pause while undergoing editing* After watching her father die a year and a half ago, Callie starts her first year at college. She quickly becomes friends with her roommate, Fiona. Once Callie meets Fiona's protective big brother, Chris...
