Chapter 4 of “Past Memories”
-CALLI-
I shut my locker with a slam. I didn’t intend for any of this to happen. Now things weren’t as smooth, or secure as I thought they would be. Ever since Maven showed up, I hadn’t been able to keep anything to myself. Sometimes I didn’t even have to say anything and he’d just know.
Now, he’d forced himself to walk me home, and take me back to his place. I tried to tell him no, but something inside me was screaming yes the whole time. I guess I really needed a break from my real-world problems. Even my every action had been thrown off balance.
Not to mention Brenda calling me a friend. I didn’t know how I felt about it. I never wanted people to be my friends. After all, look what Maven saw when he got me to open up a little. I rub my forehead as I walk down the hallway. Maybe I needed to start talking. But even then, it would be more lies. Lies to cover up my silence.
Everyone in the school knew I existed. So why not give them some gossip about me?
I picked up the pace towards the front doors. I wanted to get away before Maven could follow me. I knew he would. He would follow me no matter where I went. Something about him would suck any unsuspecting person in. He was just that way. From what I could tell, he loved to help people. At the same time, he loved answers. Maven was the type of guy who’d buy the newspaper and read it every morning, just so he could spout off facts about the world.
I bolted out of the doors, shoving past students so I could escape. However, I froze when he called my name. In fact, everyone froze when he did.
“Oh Calli!” he sang. I stiffened my spine. I Iooked at the person in front of me. Her dark eyes met the eyes of the boy behind me. I swear she was swooning. Swooning at the one guy I did not want to see. Or hear for that matter.
My fingers twitched. Though it was minute, Maven saw it. “I’d rather not be punched in the face right now,” he squeaked. Clenching my hands into fists, I start walking again. “What? No sorry? No, “Hello Maven”? No words of any kind?”
“Thought you didn’t want to get punched in the face, Boy,” I growled.
One of the guys near me shouted. The one word I most dreaded. The one word I despised. “Fight!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.
I whipped my head in the direction of the guy who called out. He had a smirk on his face. He was one of the athletes I saw in the morning. From what I knew, he was the team captain. The victor of the track. “What did you say?”
His smirk turned into a grin. Not a happy one either. It was the kind my father would use every night. The one that was to be considered psychotic and purely evil. I strode up to him, extending my neck so I was at maximum height. I still was short though. Kids parted so I could stand in front of him. His ginger locks had black roots. Unlike Maven’s floppy hair, his was gelled out of his face. He was all popular. Saying and doing things to gather fame into his clutches.
“What did you say Victor?” I seethed.
“I said, “Fight.”” Victor said, the grin still plastered to his face. Just like Daddy’s. I felt my insides churn at my Father’s title.
“If you want a fight, go find Nolan,” I retorted vehemently.
“You know,” he said, tapping his chin with a finger. “This is the first time you’ve ever said anything to a student besides the delinquents.”
I felt someone tug on my arm. Maven was by my side now. I would have thought he’d be smarter, but I guess I shouldn’t put it past him. After all, he followed me into the ladies restroom. “Leave her alone, dude.”
Victor snorted, scanning over Maven’s broad frame. “Who are you?”
Maven squinted at Victor. His muscles tensed as if he were ready to spring. “Why is that of any concern to you?”
“Because no one messes with us, Boy.”
“I’m that kid now, am I?” Maven grumbles under his breath. I don’t think it was meant for me, but I acknowledge the fact he said it.
“Let’s just say,” Maven starts. He then pauses, looking over at me. His silver eyes were teasing. Yet, I could only hold my head in my hands. He had an idea. It was not a good idea to let him share his idea. “That I’m her guy.”
I spluttered, “What!”
Victor nor Maven heard me. “She doesn’t have one last I heard.”
Maven smiled and hugged me to his chest. I grunted as he pressed on my back. I hurt a lot. My face was buried in his shirt. I couldn’t talk. He was a lot stronger than he looked. A gentle giant. “Well,” Maven growled. I’d think he was someone else if I couldn’t see him. “You heard wrong.”
I couldn’t see Victor, but I could imagine his grin turning into a frown. “I hear everything, Boy.”
“Stop calling me that!” Maven barks. His heart was pounding. The steady beat of it rang in my ear. It was soothing. I wanted to stay like that forever. I mentally slap myself. I did not want this. I did not need it. Slowly, Maven leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “C’mon Babe. Let’s go.”
I froze again. “What did you call me?”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “First time I’ve called her that…” Maven said, smiling nervously.
“You!” I yell at Maven. I could feel my cheeks inflame. Victor looked at me. Scrutinized me. I felt the urge to puke on him suddenly. Everything was off course from where I wanted to be. I wouldn’t hit the runway. I’d hit the water. “You just!”
Maven wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me away. Everyone had heard. Everyone was gossiping. Soon, the whole school would know. The infamous Calli Jaspers, the ugliest of the bunch, had a boyfriend. I groaned, walking ahead of him. He was becoming a bad habit.
“Why would you say such a thing?” I mutter as we start the ten minute walk to my place.
“Because I was trying to help you out.”
“Do you know how fast words travel around here? Huh. Maybe my name will be in the newspaper tomorrow morning for you to read. “Callina Jaspers. The girl who finally got a life out of the emo world.”
“Your name is Callina?”
“Calli to you and everyone else,” I snapped.
Maven raises his hands, chuckling. I bend down to pick up a rock and chuck it at him.
“Okay! Okay! It’s just a strange name is all I meant.”
“Why do you think I shortened it to Calli? It’s not my fault my parents are completely and utterly messed up.”
“Is that your house?” Maven asked, pointing at a nice sized brick home.
Shaking my head, I continue to pick up the pace to a jog. My bag bounced against my back. It hurt. I didn’t stop running. Maven sped up till he was next to me, his breaths coming out in short gasps. “Do you do this every day?”
“Shut your trap. You’re the one who forced yourself to come with me. Not the other way around.”
He followed my advice, thank goodness. We ran along the side of the road for a good five minutes. That was enough time for me to wrap my head around everything.
Brenda considered me a friend.
Nolan considered me a sister.
Maven called me his girl.
I listened to the steady pounding of my feet on dirt. By tomorrow morning, there would be new information about me going around school. Things that were not necessarily true. I look over at the serene boy next to me. His brown hair flopped over his eyes everytime he landed a foot on the ground. His eyes were troubled. I could tell he was deep in thought.
The wind rushed out of my lungs. What was I doing? Dragging him into this? I stopped. It took Maven a second to realize I was not with him. Halting, he looked at me over his shoulder. “You okay?”
“Don’t worry about me Maven. Worry about yourself.”
Maven frowned at me, deep lines forming around his mouth. “That’s cryptic.”
“Not really,” I tell him. He turned around to face me. His tall frame straightened to full height. Seemed like something I’d do. Except not in this situation. In this situation, I’d run for dear life. “I don’t need another person hurt because of me,” I whisper to him. I’m not sure why I do it. I guess I found comfort in pacific gestures.
The words did little to assuage me, but I still felt like I’d warned him. He stood in front of me, leaning down so he could look me in the eye. He was so close. I could feel his body heat. I’d barely have to lift a finger and I’d be touching him. Barely raise my head and I’d…
I shuddered. Don’t go there. I didn’t have the time to.
“What did you do?” he asked me softly. It was barely even a whisper. This close, and I was still unsure that I heard him correctly.
“I-” How does one respond to a question like this? With the truth? With another lie? Or do people leave that question unanswered?
“I have to go,” I finally tell him, pulling away from him. Immediately, my body wants to go back and curl up against him. Wanted to be in his arms like before. Maven stayed there for a second, before regaining his senses and following me.
“What do you mean you’re going?” he inquired spitefully. “I’m going with you!”
“No you’re not!” I reply. I wouldn’t drag him into my mess. The one mom was so eager to leave. Would not have another reason to hate myself.
“Why not?” Maven asked, grabbing onto my hand.
I whirled on him, smacking his face. “Because not everything in the world is going to be answered for you, Maven. No one else needs to get hurt. Just stay here. I’ll be back in a lifetime.”
Without waiting for an answer, I took off down the road, running over the crest of the hill we were climbing. You could see my house from here. You could see a lot of houses from here. My house was the only run-down place. I sprinted for home. The sooner I got there, and the sooner I left was for the better.
As I approached the oh-so-familiar building. I could feel my body stiffen on it’s own. It was not ready for another road of physical, and emotional torture. I pushed open the creaky door. As always, the house smelled rotten. Right in front of the door was a gaping hole. The floorboards had collapsed. Quietly, I walked into the kitchen. Bottles were strewn everywhere. I could hear the faint sound of snoring from the living room.
I released in a silent breath. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding it. He was asleep. Most likely drunk too. Padding into the living room, I leaned over the couch. Daddy was stretched out. His lips were tinged blue. I had no idea how he wasn’t dead yet. I was oddly thankful he wasn’t. Even in this dump for a house, I was glad he was still hanging around.
Pulling a blanket from under the couch, I draped it over his still body. Leaving him to snore himself sober, I climbed up the stairs. The odors were much worse up here. I had to plug my nose so I didn’t puke. My bedroom door was closed. I didn’t open it. I stared at the chipped off-white paint that coated the thick wood. Turning away from it, I wandered into Daddy’s bedroom. I don’t know why I did it exactly. Something about it was compelling I suppose.
There were multiple buckets strewn across the floor. It was confusing until I saw the trail of blood going into the bathroom. It was dried, crusty beneath my fingers. I knew it was my blood almost instantly. I followed the trail of it to the bathroom door, which was closed. I rested my fingers around the doorknob. I was honestly scared to go inside. The vibes on the other side of the door were odd and nerve-racking. Taking a deep breath, I shook myself mentally. Get yourself together. You wanted to know this. You wanted to know what your blood was used for. Here’s your chance. Use it, use it.
There was a crash downstairs. Glass against tile. I ran out of the room, forgetting entirely about the door. “Who are you!” I heard Daddy yell loud and clear. A steady stream of curses could be heard coming from the kitchen.
Another crash. “Sorry! Sorry! I didn’t-”
I bolted down the stairs, knowing instantly who the other person was. “Maven Verascue!”
The world went quiet as I finished running down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Daddy was standing in front of Maven, looking small in comparison. However, Maven was the one who cowered away from Daddy, his silver eyes looking between him and I.
“Maven Verascue!” I basically scream at him. I was done putting up with his nonsense. “What are you doing in my house?!”
Daddy was holding his belt in the same way he always did: wrapped around his hand. I sucked in a breath as his cold blue stare turned to me. “You know this boy?”
I ducked my head, feeling tears start to well up. He had been sleeping. Maven messed up my only way to leave. “Yes Daddy,” I say softly. He slapped me hard. My head turned with the force of the impact and my cheek stung where a red mark was left. Possibly another bruise too.
A ghost had even more color than Maven did at that moment. I looked back at him with weary eyes. “You should go,” I murmur.
“H-he just…”
“You do what my daughter tells you to, Boy!” Daddy yelled at Maven. However, Maven didn’t budge. His smooth grey eyes were lost in mine.
“H-he just hi-hit you.”