I am so sorry for the delay in updating! I have had some mad writers block with this story so if you have any ideas or suggestions I'm all ears! I want to thank you all for reading and fore reviewing. It really means a lot to know that my writing isn't all for nothing. Also, this chapter as well as possible two after will be a flash back. So enjoy and keep reading and messaging me!
P.S. I'm sorry if this chapter seems a bit spastic! Also forgive any spelling/grammar errors!
Fallen #40
Flashback 4 yrs Michael's POV
"Hello?" she answered tiredly. "Hey, did I wake you?" I asked "Why, Mr. Scofield shouldn't you be in a meeting right about now?... And no you didn't wake me." She answered with a laugh. "Good. Luckily for you, the meeting was canceled." I replied smoothly. "Oh, yeah? Why's that?" she inquired "Why is it lucky for you, or why was it cancelled?" I replied. "Both." She said. "It was cancelled because Dave's wife went into labor and it is lucky for you because you get to go to lunch with me." I answered with a smirk. "Full of ourselves aren't we?" She asked her words drenched in sarcasm. I chuckled, "You know you love me! Plus, you won't turn down a free meal." "Are you calling me fat?" She asked angrily. "What? No! I just meant…" I blubber trying to dig my way out of yet another hole. "I know what you meant, Mike. After all these years you're still too easy to rile up!" She teased. "Yeah, yeah… So, are you gonna buzz me up or what?" I asked leaning against the building, waiting to hear that all familiar buzz.
"You're here already?" She asked in surprise. "Would I ask you to buzz me up of I wasn't?" I replied. "Smartass" She grumbled as she buzzed me up. I grabbed the knob of the oak door and pulled. I entered the lobby, forgoing the elevator and heading straight for the stairs. I only took the stairs when I was talking to Cali on the phone as I was heading to her apartment. I used to not know why. Now I do. I only did it so I could talk to her for even a moment more. "So where do you want to go for lunch?" I asked as I slowly made my way up the stairs. "You pick, you're paying!" She said with one of the laughs I seldom heard come from her these days. "I always pick" I whined as I reached the second floor. "You always pay." She retorted matter of factly. "Yeah, well it makes me feel manly." I replied. "If you say so… So, you just show up at my place, how do you know that I want to go to lunch with you?" She asked, she was smiling, I could hear it. "I just know" I replied as I knocked on her door. I listened as she slowly turned the door knob, slowly opening the door. "I mean look at me! Who wouldn't want to spend time with this?" I joked as she stood in front of my shaking her head, cell phone still at her ear. "Can't argue with that!" she laughed "I'm hanging up now." She finished as she slowly shut her phone. I soon followed suit. "Hey" I said pocketing my cell. "Hey" she said with a smirk as she leaned against the door frame.
"So, when are you going to let me buy lunch?" she asked from across the table. "When Hell freezes over." I replied taking a drink of my ice tea. "Oh, come one, Michael! We have known each other for what? Oh yeah like our whole lives, and you never let me pay!" She argued. "Cal, we've been through this" I began calmly "Yesterday in fact! I don't mind paying, I like to." I said honestly, finishing my tea. She just leaned back, crossed her arms over her chest and look at me. "What?" I laughed. "I don't get it!" She exclaimed shaking her head. "Get what?" I asked confused. "You." She said almost in a timid manner. "What?" I asked, more confused now than ever. "I mean look at you! You're successful, smart, good looking. You're a structural engineer for Gods sake!" She said tossing her hands slightly. "So?" I asked having no idea where this was coming from. "So, why are you spending damn near all of your free time with me?" She asked in a genuinely curious tone. "I mean, it's not that I don't like spending time with you. It's just… you're better than me Michael… You deserve better! You should be out there looking for some woman lawyer or something! Not waiting around for some waitress." She finished sadly, looking at her hands as they rested on the table. I sighed, Veronica had an idea that this might happen. She said Cali felt this way. I just never believed her. "I'm not better than you, Cal. I'm not out there looking for some "woman lawyer" because that's not what I want… I don't have to be waiting for you, you know? I mean we could…" I started gently. Thus far pursuing a relationship with Cali had been a losing battle. "I know, Michael… I know. It's just… I don't want to risk losing what we have. I already lost Lincoln, Veronica and I hardly speak… I don't want to loose you too." She said solemnly. I reached across the table and gently took her hand. "Look at me, Cali." I said gently but with force. Slowly, she raised her head and our blue eyes locked. "I know that you're scared about us. I understand that! I will never hurt you and I most certainly will never leave you! You're always selling yourself short and I hate that! Everyone sees how great you are except for you. You're way too hard on yourself… You work to hard." I said. "I'm not working to hard. If anything I could be working harder." She replied "Cali, you work all day at Bronsons, and then you come and fight a losing battle!" I exclaimed. "Losing battle?" She asked in a confused tone. "Trying to convince anyone who will listen that Lincoln is innocent! The only time you're not working or defending him is when you're with me. Even then I know that it's on your mind!" I said having no idea how that comment would change my life.
She leaned back and scoffed "That's what this is about isn't it? This isn't about us, it's not about me and Lincoln, this is about you being right! All this time you have been talking about how we should be, not how we are. Why can't you accept that we will never be how you think we should be? You want to know why we will never be that way? Because I will not compromise what I believe in for anyone. That includes you. And if you wanted us to be together you would respect that! So tell me Michael, the guys are work givin you shit about me supporting a "murderer"? Is that why every conversation that we have had since his conviction ends up with you asking me to turn my back on him?" She asked in anger, I had never seen her this mad. "I'm not asking you to turn your back on him, Cali." I said trying to calm her down. "Good… Because I'm the only one who hasn't!" She spat in a dangerous tone, slapping a twenty dollar bill on the table, grabbing her jacket and storming out into the rain.
It took a moment for what just happened to sink in. The second it did I darted outside to bring her back. "Cali! Come on, Cali! I'm sorry alright." I begged as I walked behind her, grabbing the attention of everyone within ear shot. However, my pleading had no effect. She just kept on walking, like I wasn't even there. I stood deflated and soaking wet on the cold sidewalk, wishing that either she wouldn't be so damn stubborn, or that I wouldn't care!