7

First off I am sooo sorry that it has taken me so long to update! I got hit with a case of writers block and a ton of homework on top of that. I just have to say that you guys are the best! I LOVE getting reviews so keep those babies comin! Anyway this is another flashback; I'm hoping to have only this one and two others that are flashbacks. Anyway, I hope you guys like it and keep reading and reviewing! Oh yeah FYI this is like 3 pages front and back hand written so if this chapter turns into a novel I'm sorry!

Fallen #43

"Maybe you should think about this for a while; sleep on it." Jen said from the other side of her glass kitchen table. Slowly, I exhaled a thick cloud of therapeutic smoke. "I'm done thinking about it. I'm doing it… tonight." I finished taking another hit. "Don't you think this is a rash decision? I mean Cal, maybe you should think about this when you're not stoned!" Jen exclaimed to which I replied with a laugh. "I have thought about this, Jen. And now I've made my decision and I'm doing this tonight… You don't have to help me." I said to tired to fight with anyone anymore. I stood and sighed "I just wanted to let someone know what was going on so no one reported me as missing or thought I had died or something." I said as I put my paraphernalia back in my little bag. Jen looked at me questioningly for a moment, as if trying to determine if I was really going to do it. She sighed "Where are you going to put your stuff?" I fought to keep a smirk from appearing on my face, I could always count on Jen. "I don't really have much. My apartment was furnished when I got it so really all that's in it that belongs to me are my clothes and a few knick knacks. Obviously I'm taking the clothes, as for the knick knacks, I don't know. Maybe I'll just leave 'em, there nothing spectacular anyway." I replied slipping on my denim jacket. "I'll store your stuff here, Cal… I'll help you pack too." Jen said as she too stood and grabbed a jacket. I smiled and walked over to her and embraced her tightly. "Thank you".

Next Morning Michael's POV

Beeping… What the hell is that beeping! Slowly, I opened my eyes, immediately regretting doing so as the sun hit them. My head was reeling I really over did it last night. I pulled the covers up over my head as I tried to recall the events of the night before. The last thing I remember was telling Kevin to take me to Cali's. All I could do now was pray that he said "No" and took my drunken ass home. I desperately need aspirin, but the pain was paralyzing. "UGH!" I groaned as my phone began to ring. I stretched a newly tattooed arm out from under the covers, briefly searching for the receiver. "Hello?" I asked in a miserable tone through the sheet. "Michael, she's gone!" the frantic voice said. "Who's gone?" I asked confused and hung-over as I tried to focus on anything but the throbbing in my head. "Cali is gone!" Veronica cried. Suddenly, my pain disappeared. "What do you mean "gone"?" I asked fearing the worst. "Her apartment is empty!" She replied with a sniffle. "Are you still there?" I asked trying to hide my worry… For Veronica's sake. As I slipped on a pair of dirty jeans. "Yes" she replied. "I'll be right there." I nearly screamed into the phone, hanging it up immediately, grabbing the closest shirt, shoes and my keys and bolting for the door.

3rd person

A trip that normally lasted 15 minutes on a good traffic day, took Michael barely 6 minutes on a congested Chicago Saturday. He came to a screeching halt in front of Cali's apartment, slammed the car into park and headed for the door. Once he reached the door he buzzed Cali's apartment. "Who is it?" Veronica's voice crackled over the intercom. "It's me!" he replied hurriedly. There was a buzz and then a click, Michael grabbed the handle and threw the door open and ran inside. As usual he didn't use the elevator. However, this time he took the stairs not so he could hear Cali's voice a little while longer, this time it was because he couldn't risk waiting for the damn thing. He ran up the concrete stairs, leaping two and sometimes three at a time. Before he had even realized it he had made it to the third floor. He was bent double, hands on his knees, fighting desperately for air as he rapped his knuckles on the door to D17. "Are you okay?" Veronica asked as she stared at him still bent over. "Where is she?" He asked breathlessly as he finally stood and entered the apartment, heading for the bedroom. Veronica followed "I don't know. I called her landlord, he's coming over." She replied as she led Michael to the dining room and emptied her coffee cup and got him some water. He sat down, still out of breath drinking the water gratefully. "Why would she just up and leave? And leave all her furniture here?" Michael asked finally able to breath. Veronica sat down opposite him and replied "I don't know… I hadn't talked to her for a couple of weeks. I was just stopping by to tell her that Mom and Dad are moving to Florida. I buzzed her for ten minutes and got nothing so I came up with the spare." She explained. "You have a spare key?" Michael asked half in confusion half in envy. Veronica nodded slowly. "She gave it to me when we were… on better terms. Anyway, I came up, came in, and found it like this… empty." She finished. Michael was confused "Her landlord hasn't heard from her?" he inquired. "No" Veronica replied shaking her head "He said that the last time he saw her was when he came by to collect rent a couple of weeks ago… When did you see her last?" She asked with genuine interest. Michael sighed, his head was throbbing, he felt like he was going to throw up and the last thing he wanted to do was recall his last meeting with Cali… Or at least what he thought was their last meeting. "We had lunch yesterday. Which was a disaster by the way." He said glumly. "What happened?" Veronica ventured knowing that Michael was in no condition to recollect the events of five minutes ago let alone 24 hours. "I'd rather not." Michael began as he plopped his head onto his arms as they rested on the table.

The apartment fell silent. It was almost as if you could hear the silence echo through it. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, causing Veronica to jump and Michael to groan and grab his head. Veronica crossed the room in a second and slowly opened the door to reveal a man in his mid 50's with salt and pepper hair and the aged face of a man who in his prime was undoubtedly a lady killer. "Ms. Donovan." He said as he extended his hand. Veronica took his hand and shook it "Thank you for getting here so soon, Mr. Watson." She said grateful that the man cared enough about his tenants to make the trip across town. "No problem, it's part of my job… Mr. Scofield." He said to Michael with a nod. Michael returned the gesture and waited for Watsons idea about where Cali had gone. They had met once when Michael was visiting and Watson was collecting the rent.

"Well," Watson began "I know that when we talked earlier I told you that I hadn't heard from Cali and I hadn't… Until now." He said as he shuffled through some envelopes that he held pulling out a crisp white envelope with "Jerry Watson" written in the center in Cali's unmistakable cursive writing with her name in the left hand corner. The envelope was new it was clear that Watson hadn't had it for long. "This was in my mail this morning." He said as he handed the open envelope to Veronica.

She studied the envelope searching for any sign that it wasn't from her sister. After failing to find such evidence she snapped her eyes back to the land lord. "Go ahead" he replied giving her the okay to read his mail. Without hesitating Veronica reached into the envelope and pulled out a neatly folded piece of college lined paper dropping a check on the floor. Michael bent low to retrieve the fallen paper. You could always tell which checks belonged to Cali. For as long as Michael had known her he couldn't figure out why she had the checks that she did. They always seemed to be the exact opposite of what Cali stood for, always the mirror image of the things you would have thought that she hated. They were always My Little Pony or some smiley faces. Most people who "knew" her thought that it was just a quirk or that she had been in a weird mood when she ordered them. But those who knew her, really knew her had a different theory. They felt that the check designs were a reflection of the person she used to be. The happy little girl who had no worries. It was her way of reminding herself that she wasn't always angry and bitter, it was her way of keeping the old Cali alive.

If they thought this, they were right. That's exactly what Cali was hoping for, that they would remind her of the child who wanted to become what she wasn't and maybe that would push her to become what she should have been. Something to remind her that she was worthy of the life she had been given. Not that she had wanted to end her life. Quit the contrary. She knew that the pain she felt and the hardships she faced were because of the choices that she had made, and if dealing with the pain was her punishment well then that's what she would do. She would deal.

Finally taking his focus off of the rubber ducky that adorned the checks Michael finally saw the writing. It looked like a regular rent check would. It was from Cali Donovan to Jerry Watson for $600 for… and that's when he saw it. The memo: "Last Months Rent". He felt a nudge and snapped his head to his right. Veronica stood staring silently a worried expression on her face, her right hand held out, empty, with the unfolded letter held out in the other. They made the trade silently, Michael hesitating to look at the letters contents. This is what it read:

"Dear Jerry,

Here's my rent for this month, but take this and buy Nancy something nice.  Sorry it's such short notice. As you will remember the apartment was furnished when I moved in so the furniture stays. I put my key in the apartment's mail box, my sister has the spare. Her number is 435-321-8826; she won't have a problem coughing it up. Thanks for everything Jerry. Give Nancy my love! Take care okay?

Sincerely,

Cali"

"You just got this today?" Veronica asked as Michael stared at the letter. Watson nodded. "Everything is dated with today's date… I don't feel right taking her money for rent she didn't owe. I just figured that I could give it to you and you could give it to her… When you see her next." He immediately wondered if his comment would have been better left unsaid. He had known that Cali and Veronica didn't have the best relationship and the fact that Cali had left without saying a word to her told him that the chances were slim that they would be seeing each other anytime soon.

There was a moment of awkward silence as Michael folded the letter and returned it to it's envelope along with the check. Finally Veronica spoke "No, thank you though… Do as Cali suggested. You and your wife were really good to her… Thank you for that." She finished in a voice just above a whisper barely managing to keep her tears in. "It was our pleasure." Watson replied as he gave Veronica a quick hug and shook Michael hand before heading for the door.

Michael looked on, unsure of what to do or say. He watched the older gentleman walk away as he thought of how the Watsons has treated Cali like family. It started a couple years ago on Thanksgiving when Mrs. Watson stopped by the building when she heard music coming from Cali's apartment. Positive that Cali would be with her family for the holiday Mrs. Watson took it upon herself to find out who was in there. Worst case scenario, some burglar trying to cover up any noise he might be making. Best case was that Cali's family was at her place for a feast and Mrs. Watson could play if off like she just wanted to wish them a happy holiday. However, when she knocked on the door and a pajama clad Cali answered and Mrs. Watson realized that Cali and her family weren't on speaking terms she insisted that Cali come home with her for the holiday. She was persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer so every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter since then it had been Cali Watson to Jerry and Nancy, not Cali Donovan.

Mr.Watson reached the door and pulled. The sight on the opposite side of the door was a surprising one. The four of them stood for what seemed like ages just looking at each other. She stood fidgeting; she hadn't expected to face them so soon. She wasn't ready. She shuffled her feat and cleared her throat. "Hey" she managed to squeak out. "Hey, Jen." Veronica replied.