Chapter Two
I more felt than heard Caleb approach me from behind. When I turned around I heard him gasp as his eyes widened.
"Why do I keep getting that response?" I gave a confused face and couldn't help but smile as he pulled me into his arms and held me close.
"Oh my God, Karli, I can't believe it's you. I never thought I'd get to see you again." I started to cry into his shoulder and he just held me closer, comforting but not quieting. "Oh, Karli." When I finally composed myself, he did as Pogue had and held me at arm's length to look at me. He took a few seconds to re-memorize my face before he hugged me again. "I still can't believe it's you."
"Well, you'd have thought I missed you guys or something," I said, wiping the tears from my face and combing my fingers through my hair. The boys just smiled at each other and shook their heads.
"Hey, Caleb, where's Sarah?" Ashley asked him, her chin in her palm.
"She was arguing on the phone with her parents when I went by. She said she'd just drive herself." Ashley nodded and looked around the room.
"Who's Sarah?" I asked him.
"Girlfriend."
"Ah. Is it Sarah Crowder?"
"No, she's new this year, actually. Sarah Wenham." He continued staring at me. Ashley and Pogue got into some intense conversation and weren't paying any attention to Caleb and I.
"Do I have something on my face or something?" I asked. Caleb shook his head.
"No, I just can't get over how different you look, but still so much the same."
"Caleb, it's just been two years."
"Two very long years."
"Yeah, you're 18 now." I let my eyes flash to make sure he knew what I was talking about.
"Your birthday is like, next week, right? Three months and one week after mine?"
"You got it."
"Is that why you came back?"
"No. Um, I moved back here with Celeste and her husband. She's pregnant and wants to raise the baby here." He raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Congrats to her. Where's your mom?"
"Virginia."
"Why?" I heard Reid's yelling at the pool tables over the music coming from the jukebox.
"Later?" I asked, knowing that there were other things I wanted to talk to him about. He was the first of our group to ascend and I wanted to know all about it. I was nervous about my own ascension and wanted the 411 on it.
"Definitely."
"What's up, ladies?" Reid asked, coming up behind me. I turned around and saw the smile drop from his face.
"Karli, hey," Tyler pulled me out of my chair to hug him. "What are you doing back?"
"I moved back with Celeste," I said, looking at Reid. I wanted to hug him, but I wasn't sure if he'd let me. I did it anyways, and was surprised when his arms wrapped around me. We pulled back, but he didn't let go; instead, he let his eyes give me the up-down.
"You look good."
"Thanks." He nodded a little before pulling up a chair beside the table and turning it around to straddle it. The conversation started up again, but I could feel his eyes burning into my profile. Out of all of the boys, Caleb was the only one I had dated, if that's what you wanted to call it, but Reid was the only one I had slept with. It was never anything more between us, only sex, but it still made me him in a different light than the other boys. Not that I didn't see Caleb differently, too, but Reid had been places that none of the others had been. I was pulled out of my thoughts when Caleb stood up from the table and opened his arm to someone. I turned to see a pretty blonde with a huge smile on her face. Caleb grabbed her a chair and moved Reid's closer to mine with his foot. Squeezing the chair between his own and Reid's, Caleb sat down and kissed the blonde. Jealousy flared, but I pushed it down and looked at Reid who was still staring at me.
"What?"
"Nothing." He didn't look away but tapped his chin with his fingers, a habit that he'd had since birth.
"Karli?" I looked at Caleb as he motioned to Blondie. "This is Sarah Wenham. Sarah, this is Karli Osment." I stuck out my hand and she shook it, sending me a real smile. I sent one back and leaned forward on the table. My phone started ringing, so I dug it out of my purse and answered it with a polite hello.
"Karli, this is Celeste."
"I know."
"Where are you?"
"Nicky's."
"I figured. Um, Travis and I are going to Wal-Mart to buy groceries and some other things for the house. What time does Nicky's close?"
"Two."
"Are you going back to the colony house before you come home?"
"I don't know. Maybe," I rubbed my nose and stared at my drink.
"Okay, just be home before three, please?"
"Why so late?"
"It's your first night back and I know you need to catch up with the Sons."
"Yeah, you're certainly right about that."
"So, three it is?"
"You got it."
"Bye, sweetie."
"Bye, Celeste."