And she did decline, stating that she was still too uncomfortable with the idea of venturing off campus. Ever since the incident, Calliope had made it known that she feared the Japanese public would shun her for what she'd done. Though the victims had been restored, she feared that her quirk would be forever considered like that of a villains. Strangers would forever be on edge around her, in case they suddenly turned to stone.
He took the rejection with a brave face- it actually made her heart sink a little. Ever since their moment after their sparring session, Sam had adjusted his entire demeanour around her. It seemed her outburst had acted like a storm that cleared the air. He no longer spoke to her in strained politeness or forced enthusiasm. His posture and tone became more relaxed and she finally felt she could be around him without any discomfort. But that didn't mean she was ready to start going to romantic dinners with him...
"But you always said he never takes you anywhere romantic!" Hagakure and Mina pointed out one day after Calliope had confided in them about the strange situation. She and the girls were gathered in the common area around one of Sato's cakes, each holding a cup of Yaoyorozu's lavender tea.
"Yeah, you never really dated in the first place. At least that's what you kept telling us."
Mina half smiled, half pouted at Calliope's puzzled expression.
"Oh Calli..." she cooed, taking her by the hand.
"I know it must be so strange for you."
Calliope sighed as she tossed her hair behind her. The only people she felt comfortable talking about her memory loss to was the girls. Their energy was so much more different than anyone else's.
"You have no idea..." she mumbled, returning the squeeze Mina's hand gave her.
"But..." Hagakure's voice floated from across the room, "it must be horrible for Sans too."
Jirou flashed a stern look over her slice of cake towards the floating pair of pyjamas.
"I think Calli's needs and feelings should be priority," the dark haired girl commented.
"Yeah, but he lov-"
And Jirou shushed her in irritation.
Calliope remained silent, as did everyone else in the moments that followed.
It was Yaoyorozu who eventually spoke up first. And her question caught Calliope off guard.
"What do you want, Calli?"
Her fingers flinched in Mina'a hand. It was such a simple question, one that had kept her awake most nights since her incident.
"What do I want?" Calliope repeated, and considered the question quietly whilst trying to subdue the rising anxiety it caused.
"I'm not sure anymore."
She then turned to the group of frowning girls before her.
"What did I want before?"
The girls exchanged perplexed glances. No one spoke for a while.
"You never really told us," Tsu informed, sitting cross legged on the couch opposite her.
"But you seemed happy with what you had. So, I suppose you have to decide if you want to try and achieve it all again or see where this new path will take you."
The frog-girl's answer wasn't exactly enlightening, for Calliope had already figured this out weeks ago.
"Whatever you choose, you mustn't force it. What will be, will be right?" Mina chirped, injecting a sing-song tone to the latter part of her statement.
Calliope sighed. She had forgotten about her tea. It felt cold against her lips when she tipped her cup towards them.
"Honestly, I think you're overthinking this whole situation with Sam." Ochako piped up as they all finished their cake.
"I mean, you and the Skelebros were like a family. Regardless of what you and Sam were, the three of you were a team and still are despite what happened!"
Mina nodded.
"Yeah. Stop worrying about recreating every moment from before, and focus on sharing new moments together. And don't let yourself get too hung up on whether or not they'll lead to something."
Calliope swallowed her cold tea as she listened to their pep talk. Her heart was still heavy and her head was still groggy with confusion. But, as she bid the girls goodnight, her spirits had lifted regardless.
It had been Calliope who suggested dinner next.
She had stopped Sam in the hallway one evening after training. He had finally trimmed his hair and was now keeping on top of his stubble. When he smiled at her greeting, she noticed for the first time that his cheeks dimpled. With his fresh haircut, clean shaven face and dimples, Sam looked like the young, handsome man she remembered from Juggernaut's hall of fame.
"Sup, Calli?" He asked, hands in his jacket pockets and shoulders slouched. He regarded her with his cool eyes, so different from his younger brother's.
"Hey," she managed, embarrassed by her sudden lack of composure.
"I was wondering if..." and she was thankful for her visor as she felt heat flood her cheeks beneath it.
"About your offer to go to dinner..."
Sam's smile faltered slightly, his hand automatically went to his newly cut hair. It retained its messy nature which was only amplified by his nervous hand as it raked through it.
"Oh, Yeah. About that. I'm sorry if I made you feel-"
"Are you free tonight?"
Her interjection had stunned him. He blinked away his surprise as his hand slowly dropped to his side and retreated back into his jacket pocket.
"Oh," he grunted awkwardly. A nervous laugh. A shuffle of feet.
"Yeah, you-erm, you wanna grab something to eat later?" He asked, his voice casual and his eyes hopeful.
Calliope nodded and found herself smiling. There was something about his bashfulness she found amusing. Had he always been like this? For some reason, Calliope doubted it.
When 7pm rolled by, Calliope wasn't surprised to see Sam already waiting for her down by the gates of UA. When he turned to greet her, her heart began to hammer in her chest. Why was she so nervous?
It was a strange thing to be told that you were once in love with someone, then to face that person and not even remember what it was about them that made you feel that way. But when cast his light eyes towards her and grinned his boyish grin, she was almost glad to relive it all over again.
He was undoubtedly good-looking. Not in the classic sense like Russ was. Russ was tall, well groomed and noticeably muscular. But Sam...Sam was unconventionally attractive. Or at least she thought so as she snuck glances at him while they walked into the city. But that surely hadn't been enough for her to have fallen for him as completely as people had so often suggested.
Perhaps it was his voice. Now that he had relaxed around her, he spoke easily in a mellifluous tone. Something about the way he pronounced certain words made her smile. She liked the way he said her name. He always made sure to look at her when he did. It was a little thing, a small detail, but subtly intimate. Still, she wouldn't fall in love so easily.
Perhaps, it was his sense of humour; his jokes came as easily as his conversation. As they sat at dinner, he had her laughing over her wine and seafood. So much so, that she hadn't even noticed he had taken her hand in his from across the table. When her eyes finally rested on their intertwined fingers, her laughter had faltered. She withdrew her hand slowly and drank deeply from her glass. He had looked sheepish, but only for a moment before continuing the conversation with a swift change of subject.
As the evening progressed, she realised just how odd it was to sit in front of someone who knew so much about you while you knew little to nothing about them. Which is why she had been the one to start asking all the questions.
Her wine-driven curiosity steered one question into the next. Sam willingly indulged her. The eldest Gaster brother was born in the autumn, he enjoyed baking, his favourite food was hotdogs and his taste in music was eclectic. He loved science-fiction and used to study quantum-physics with his father, the great W.D Gaster. Caliope had heard of him before. He was a renowned scientist that had contributed majorly to the ebb and flow of quirk evolution. It was amusing to picture the stern-faced man of science next his two sons; Sam and Russ seemed nothing like their dad. Neither of them knew their mother but the brothers suspected they had inherited their good-looks and humour from her. At least that's what Sam jokingly told Calliope over dessert.
"You remembered I like chocolate cake?"
"Calli, when we were living together, you never stopped reminding me."
Apparently, she would request he bake one every other weekend.
If anyone in the restaurant had been weary of both Calliope and Sam after the incident months back, no one showed any explicit discomfort. Or perhaps Calliope simply hadn't noticed due to the fact she was having one of the best nights she'd had in a long time.
They split the bill after another round of drinks and ventured into the cool night air. Her cheeks rosy from the wine and her face hot beneath the visor, she pulled it off and tucked it into her handbag. The breeze felt delightful against her skin, as did the kiss Sam planted there once they reached the corridor to their rooms.
"Thank you, for tonight," she smiled, her eyes watching as their fingers tentatively intertwined between them.
Sam laughed quietly as he lifted a shoulder.
"Heh, no need to thank me, Calli. It was my pleasure."
Their touch grew bolder. Their hands no longer gracing, but grasping.
"I can see why I used to like you," Calliope cooed, her uncovered eyes only able to meet his smiling lips. She watched them move gracefully as he replied.
"Used to?"
Soft laughter escaped her. It was her fingers that continued to caress his as he watched her for an answer beneath a hooded gaze.
"Sam..." she breathed, shaking her head. He sighed at the sound of his name on her lips. She felt the heat radiate from him. Usually, it was the younger brother Russ who radiated such warmth while Sam, a cool and soothing aura. Yet, as she stood so shamelessly close to him under the emboldening influence of white wine, she felt far from soothed. Quite the opposite in fact. Though the alcohol in her veins slowed her outer movements, beneath her chest her heart hammered quickly.
"Sam..." she tried again, this time more sternly.
"We're not who we used to be."
The lids of her eyes felt heavy. They closed as the image of Sam's face grew closer. She felt his forehead placed against her and his dessert-sweetened breath wash over her face as he said; "I know."
His voice was low and quiet. His fingers no longer held hers but gently glided up and down her arms.
"But I'm still who I was..."
His fingers had reached her chin.
"I still love you."
Though her eyes were closed, she could hear his smile, feel his fingers at her face. His movements were slow and respectful, as though he were handling a delicate object or an untamed beast. But of course, she meant more to him that any object or beast. And his next words confirmed that.
"So, I'll wait. I'll wait for you to decide what you want. And if one day, that's to be with me then..."
He withdrew from her completely, taking the warmth with him. The air about them was immediately replaced by his naturally cool presence.
He never did finish his sentence. It hung in the air and was lost to the silence.
"Goodnight, Sam."
She called, opening her eyes to watch their hands part ways.
"Night, Calli."
And her night was good and her dreams were sweet.