Rayla stood in the front of the DMV, considering going inside. Finally coming to a decision, she walked inside and to the front desk. "Excuse me, my friend works here, I just wanted to know if he was still in the clock at the moment. His name is Callum Ayers. He started here recently." She requested. You never knew when someone's schedule would change last minute.
The woman at the desk nodded and typed something into the computer sitting in front of her then answered reading off the screen. "Yes, he started last week. He's currently giving a driving lesson. Sorry, he may be a little late for your date. He started the lesson not too long ago." The woman informed seeming slightly disappointed with the assumption.
"Oh, no! He's not- we're not goin' out on a date." Rayla looked down at her dress and figured that indicated it. "This isn't... for... that. No. I just... nevermind. Thanks." She sat on the bench near the entrance. Maybe Callum would be willing to drive her home. She felt stupid sitting at a DMV in a dress, but she didn't have much of a choice. She really didn't want to walk for three hours just to get home, and she, sure as heck, didn't have the money to spend on a snack or meal to tie her over til' she got home. At least she could make something for herself at home if it only took an hour and not three to get there.
She waited til she heard his voice coming from the behind the desk thanking whoever must be his boss for the quick hire. Yep! That was Callum. He walked from the back with his bag in hand and immediately saw her sitting and looking around. Her shoulders were tense and her back was stiff. She was also still in her dress. So what happened? He had a bad feeling about this.
"Rayla? What're you doing here? I- I thought you had a date." He walked up to her checking her out.
Rayla scoffed at the thought. "I had it. And he had work straight afterwards. So I'm here, likely about three hours away if I'm to walk." She stood and quietly explained. They didn't need the whole DMV knowing about it. When they got outside she stopped and turned to face him. "The fancy place was just a couple blocks away from here. I was kinda hopin' you wouldn't mind drivin' me home. I really don't want to wait three hours to eat somethin'. I can work with one hour." She wondered shyly.
Callum swallowed hard, "You mean, he left you on the sidewalk?" He repeated.
"Yeah, that's right. I found your job and here I am."
He thought back to what she'd said Did they not eat anything? "Eat something? Did you not eat? Did he not...!!!" He riled himself up thinking about how the world Dante would make her go hungry. He'd have to be a moron to not make sure she ate.
"No- yeah, I mean. I ate... a bite of food, but I ate. A bite that probably cost a good $100.00 or so." Rayla said blankly and frustratedly.
Callum grinded his teeth. How could he do something like that? The knucklehead didn't even pick a sensible restaurant? She was starving. "Why didn't you buy yourself a snack? There's a small gas station near here."
"I would've, but no dice. If I buy somethin' now, I'm one step further to bein' broke, until the end of the week. He accidentally left his wallet home, and the $234.65 was a payment needed to be made." Rayla answered in the same dull tone.
Callum's eye twitched, "He made you pay for dinner?!!"
"Correction. For a bite of dinner." Rayla joked to lighten the mood.
Callum didn't feel much better, but as he looked at her his expression began to soften. She was starving, tired, and she'd had a lousy date. She deserved to have a better day, not this crap of a day. He smiled at her. "You know what? Let's get you some actual dinner. Whatever restaurant you feel like going to, we'll go there. And you are not paying again."
He did exactly as he'd said he would. She chose a Mexican restaurant and he drove there. They ordered a large dinner, sodas, and desserts. He was gonna do anything he could to make her day better. They talked about multiple subjects, after Rayla explained what happened in more detail. She told him her belief that Dante had dated others before her, even though he denied it. He emphasized "alone" a lot. If someone repeated something unnecessarily, they were trying to convince more than just you.
Throughout the whole time Callum had noticed Rayla's shoulders were tensed. On the drive to Rayla's house, He looked at her and saw that she still seemed tensed and stiff. He brought his hand to her shoulder and began rubbing it bringing ease to her nerves. "Last night you saidIwas tense. You're tense." He playfully joked, but he wasn't wrong.
Finally starting to feel more at ease, Rayla's shoulders eventually relaxed as well as her back. When they arrived, they went inside and Rayla had Callum explain to Ethari what had happened. Then she took a shower.
Once she got out, she got a call from Dante, with profuse apologies. He came clean about having past relationships. He informed her that the reason he lied to her was because he worried that it might cause problems between them.
Rayla sighed and told him she didn't caretoomuch about past relationships as long as they remained in the past. It was slightly good to know that, because it meant he had more experience. Dante insisted pleadingly on making it up to her. He would take her on a second first date if she agreed. He admitted he shouldn't have made her walk home or pay for dinner. He promised he wouldn't do it again that he would pay her back for having to pay such a heavy bill. He really didn't want this to drop so quickly. He wanted her to see the real him, and not the busy, absent side of him.
At hearing that, Rayla considered agreeing. Yeah, this date sucked, but if he really wanted to try again and he promised to do better, she should give him another chance. Maybe comfort with him could build up eventually. Not everyone was as comfortable as Callum was or at least as easy tobecomfortable with. Further getting to know him could help build comfort and trust... hopefully. She agreed and they set up a date for the next week.
After hanging up with Dante, Rayla joined Callum and Ethari in the living room. She informed them about the call as she sat beside Callum on the couch. Ethari left to the kitchen to make himself dinner. Callum had Rayla pick out a movie for them to watch. And after the long day she'd had, a fun movie was her choice."The Princess Bride" was exactly what they watched. They commented and quoted and laughed as the movie played on the television screen.
Ethari saw something peculiar outside and left to check it out. He came outside and found a sky blue sunbird with a scroll-like letter held in its beak. He held his arm out and the sunbird landed carefully on it releasing the letter from it's grasp.
In small writing, the outside of the letter read, "To Our Moonberry, Rayla."
He hung his head, hopefully this would go well, even though he worried it wouldn't. He let the sunbird fly away after feeding it. He came inside and approached the couch tapping the letter on his hand. "Rayla, Callum," He called to them.
They both replied their eyes not leaving the screen. "Mmhmm?"
He hated to disrupt their movie watching. It was cute to see them watch the movie then giggle, comment, and quote almost entirely completing each other's sentences. Unfortunately he had to present this to her. "Can you pause the movie, please?" He asked kindly.
Rayla snapped out of it and sat up right and paused the movie with the remote control. "Sure, sorry. What is it?" She wondered as her and Callum's undivided attention was laid on Ethari.
He silently walked up to her and handed her the letter. "This was just delivered by a sunbird."
Without reading it quite yet, Rayla raised an eyebrow. "A sunbird? Only Xadians deliver letters with..." She happened to look down at the letter turning it slightly and read, "Moonberry". She knew exactly who this was from. The letter was slightly heavy indicating that there was something else rolled in there. "No. They didn't. I'm not goin' to. Whatever they want to give, they can keep." She placed it on the coffee table refusing to even think about opening it.
She sat for a moment staring at it as if it haunted her.
Callum didn't blame her, but he had a feeling she should read it. She would never know what they wanted if she didn't read it. "May...I read it?"
Without hesitation, Rayla handed it to him and he opened and read it. After finishing, He handed it back to her, "Rayla, I know you don't want to read it, but I think you should. You don't have to trust them, just trust me."
Rayla reluctantly nodded and took the letter. Ethari sat on the coffee table as she read it. Both he and Callum knew how hard this was.
~*~
"'Dear, Rayla, our little Moonberry,
There is no equivalent word to express the guilt burdening us. We've made many mistakes in our lives, but our worst mistake was leaving you. There is no excuse for our careless, senseless decisions. Everyday we've spent in our cabin as every year passes since 12 years ago, we are overcome with regret for ever leaving you. We hid from society because of our pride. ButYouare our pride and joy. We hope to see you again. We are so so sorry for being foolish enough to leave you. We attempted to reach out to you, but by then you were no longer at Silvergrove. We hoped and prayed that you would return to us. Our prayers were answered. Take this pendant. We are family and as such are bound by a sacred bond we nearly shattered. Please, with your permission, we wish to piece together what we've broken.
We love you so so much,
Love your parents,
Tiadrin and Lain'"
Rayla read it aloud to Lissa and Claudia at their house. If anyone could understand what to do, it would be Lissa. Hopefully, she could give her the advice she needed. Callum had given her advice, and Rayla trusted him more than anyone. But she needed a personal view on it to steady the decision.
Lissa nodded in understanding, "And your question is what to do?"
Rayla agreed, "I know it's late, but I just... I need to know what I should do. Maybe I should throw it out and forget it. 'Cause... How am I to trust them? What if I'm settin' myself up for more hurt by trustin' them? I just don't want to always wonder what could've happened. Why couldn't they just stay away?" She murmured the final question.
Lissa put her hand over Rayla's shoulder. "Late or not, you came to right place. You need to listen to me. I cannot tell you what choice to make, but I can give you some advice. The rest will be be for you choose. I know Tiadrin and Lain are not very forgiving people. If they make a harsh mistake, they will carry the guilt longer than they need to. Their guilt burdens them, until they feel like they've made up for it. Until, they can make it right." She told her.
Rayla just sighed. Lissa might've been right. Rayla had only known her parents for 4 years before they left. Lissa had known them much longer. It shouldn't have been that way, but it was.
Lissa would know their tendencies,... of course, her parents should've known Runaan's and yet they left her with him. She could say no, a part of her really wanted to, but the other part of her tugged at her mind and emotions. She would always wonder what could've happened if she didn't agree. Maybe there was possibility they really did want to reconcile with her.
Callum gently placed his hand over Rayla's knee, his thumb lightly caressing it. "It's your choice. Whatever you choose. I will right beside you through it." He whispered in her ear.
Rayla put her hand over his and interlaced their fingers, lightly squeezing it. "Thanks." She whispered back, then spoke aloud. "Thanks, Miss Lissa, for your advice. I'll figure it out." She stood and as did Callum to keep their hands joined.
When they left, Callum assured her, "I meant what I said earlier tonight. Just promise me, you'll keep it in mind. If you don't take a step you'll never know what you could miss out on." He let her know gently as he parked in her driveway, "But no matter what choice you make, I'll be beside you supporting you."
Rayla smiled, "Thank you."
Callum got out and opened the door for her to get out. "I wish you luck. I know you'll make the right decision. Sleep well, Rayla, Goodnight." Callum grinned wider as he watched her smile.
"Goodnight." Rayla mumbled. She walked to the doorstep, open the door and went inside when he was out of sight.
That night she sat on her bed contemplating what to do.She wouldn't sleep, until she made a decision. Coming to a conclusion, she laid the letter on her nighttable, and drifted to sleep. She wasn't entirely sure if it was the right thing to do. When she could she would ask Callum about it. Yeah, he would support whatever decision she made, but she wanted his honest opinion on it.