I have so much more free time now that it is summer, so I will be publishing and updating like a maniac…hopefully. This is going to be a multichap that will last three or four chapters (not including this brief intro). I have not abandoned "Holding On" or the "Slowly Realizing" epilogue, I just can't think of how to word them right now. I'll update when I can. Until then, I give you this.

The house and yard that belonged to Pavel and Carmen Delko was abounding with people, many neighbors from the Cuban community in which they lived and friends from where Pavel worked. As Eric walked through the house, he made small talk with the numerous guests, exchanging stories and words in Spanish with them. But when not conversing with the individuals he hadn't seen in a long time, Eric found himself distracted and not in the moment of celebration. His mind was constantly going back to Calleigh and how much he had missed her, how he longed for her to be by his side and the two comfortable within the other's company once again.

When his parents had made these plans months ago, back when Eric and Calleigh's relationship was still unbroken, he had imagined the night very differently, more joyful at least. But now, however, the only reason a smile was on his face was for the sake of his mother and father, plus because a special visitor had arrived from out of town. Had he been at home and alone like any normal night, he would definitely not be smiling and would be reliving every memory he had that starred Calleigh, torturing himself.

This was the opportunity he had to rid himself of that pain for the night, to distract himself by talking and attempting to have fun. Alas, it was a battle fought in vain, for Calleigh still plagued him and the voices eventually blended in together, making any attempt of releasing Calleigh from his mind impossible.

He resorted to sitting in a chair in the foyer, the only empty room in the entire house, the perfect place to try and clear his mind one more time. He rested his head against the wall, studying the patterns on the ceiling and thinking about how he had been so close to getting over Calleigh, but that had changed yesterday and, suddenly, the pain of losing her was fresh as a newly opened wound.

"Eric," a female's voice sighed in frustration. His sister, Katrina, walked in from the front door, two bags of ice in each hand. "This is a party, you are supposed to be having fun."

"What are you talking about? I'm having a blast," he smirked; she rolled her eyes and shook her head, her curls of dark hair brushing over the tops of her shoulders. "Need a hand with those?" Eric asked, gesturing to the ice as he got to his feet.

"Please," she nodded gratefully, giving him two of the bags. "Whose brilliant idea was it to buy this much ice?"

"Blame that husband of yours," Eric said as they headed towards the kitchen just as someone knocked on the door.

"Can you take these?" Katrina asked as she gave the two remaining bags to her brother. "I'll get the door."

Eric began to head toward the kitchen as he heard the door be pulled open. Then he heard Katrina exclaim "Calleigh!" in a pleased, albeit surprised, tone. Eric prayed that there was another Calleigh that had relations to the Delko family as he ducked behind the wall separating the foyer from the kitchen, out of sight but still in hearing distance.

"Hey, Katrina," he heard the woman reply. There was no mistaking the lighthearted Southern voice; it was his Calleigh. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic."

"That's okay," Katrina said, Eric could hear the smile in her voice. There was the sound of heels hitting the wooden floorboards and the door clicking shut, Calleigh was inside the house. "Wow, I haven't seen you in ages. I actually had no idea you were coming, did Eric invite you?"

"Um, no, Gabriella did," Calleigh explained. Eric gritted his teeth in annoyance. He should he known Gabriella was behind this, he should have expected she would invite Calleigh behind his back.

He couldn't handle hearing the voice of the woman he loved but couldn't have and walked into the kitchen, pushing objects around in the freezer to make room for the ice.

I'm sorry this was short. I promise all questions will be answered and the next few chapters will be longer.