Hey again! Thanks to iamkagomeiloveinuyasha for correcting my spelling; I owe you one!
Chapter 5: A Liar's Contempation
Caleb stared at the movie screen, but his mind was a million miles away. 'Great. Now I know Will likes me, she knows I broke into her house, and Cornelia is mad at me.' He thought. 'And I'm still not sure if I like Will or not!' Caleb swallowed another mouthful of popcorn and glanced down at Cornelia beside him. Ever since he had repeatedly attempted to change the subject during their talk, she had been moody and easily annoyed. Now she sat stiffly beside him, eyes narrowed and back rigid.
Caleb put his arm around her. "Enjoying the movie?" He asked.
Cornelia jerked away coldly. "The movie, not the company." She said bluntly and curtly.
Caleb winced to himself as he dropped his hand back into his lap. 'Ouch! That was cold of her. Caleb thought. 'Maybe she wants out of this relationship? I'll have to ask her later if she does. If she's not still mad at me.' He had barely thought that when Cornelia tapped Caleb's shoulder.
"Hey, the movie's over." She said emotionlessly. "Come on." The couple walked out of the theater wordlessly; Caleb bought Cornelia a soda and some cotton candy from a vender in the park.
"Cornelia, I know you're mad at me." He began.
Cornelia rolled her eyes. "That's the understatement of the century." She snapped.
Caleb held up hand. "Let me finish." He ordered. "I know you're mad at me. And I know you don't understand why I won't tell you what Will and I talked about. But Cornelia--it was private! I don't talk about what we discuss alone." He tried.
Cornelia gave a dry laugh. "Caleb, I don't care if Will and Irma and Taranee know what we talk about! But Caleb, I tell you what my friends and I discuss! You should return the favor!" Her voice ended in a loud cry.
"I never ask you to tell me, Cornelia! I never have and I never will!" Caleb shouted.
Cornelia blinked rapidly, her hand over her mouth. "Oh, my gosh." She breathed. "Caleb, don't you see what this has done to us? This relationship is driving us crazy! We never shouted at each other before."
Caleb sighed and flopped onto a bench beside the sidewalk. "So what do you want, Cornelia?" He asked softly, almost weakly. "What do you suggest we do?"
Cornelia sank down beside him. "I...I only know of one thing to do." She whispered. "Caleb, have you ever heard too much of a good thing is a bad thing?"
'Here it comes.' Caleb thought grimly. 'The It's-not-you-its-me line.' "Yeah, that is true." He heard his mouth say.
Cornelia wasn't looking at him anymore. "Caleb...we've been through bad things and good things, scary times and peaceful times. But maybe during those times, we grew apart and it took this to make us realize it." She said faintly. "Caleb...I think it's over."
Caleb arched an eyebrow. "You think it's over?" He asked.
Cornelia looked up at the sky. "You know what I mean! It is over. But, you know, maybe we just needed some space! We could still come back and date each other after a while." She offered.
Caleb shook his head slowly. "No. No, I don't think we can. I'm sorry Cornelia, but maybe..." Caleb smiled as he realized he was quoting Will when she broke up with Matt. "Some relationships aren't meant to be."
Cornelia hugged Caleb. "But we can still be friends?" She asked.
Caleb nodded. "Always." He agreed. Caleb found himself walking back to Hay Lin's house, walked into his basement room. He laid full length across his bed and shut his eyes until he heard Hay Lin enter.
"You looked like you could use some cocoa." She explained as she placed a hot cup beside him.
Caleb sipped it. "Yeah, I really could. Cornelia and I broke up tonight." He added.
Hay Lin got a sympathetic look on her face, but her eyes clearly read, I've got to call Will! "I'm sorry." Hay Lin murmured. "Well, I would talk to you about it, but why pour salt in an already painful cut? Bye!" She said, edging towards the door and then dashing up the stairs.
Caleb laughed to himself and rolled over to go to sleep.