Minutes and Seconds

Charice sat beneath the cherry tree with Caleb again a few weeks later. It was surprisingly cool for spring, cool enough that she leaned against him for warmth as they talked. "I have something for you," he said in his husky voice, the words lilting. He opened his palm and revealed a shiny silver necklace. The pendant was not a diamond heart or anything romantic like that. It was a tiny silver wolf. "Since you're allergic to dogs, I figured this way you could a least get close." Charice laughed lightly. "That's so sweet! Help me?" she turned and lifted her brown waves from her neck. Her skin was cold enough that his fingers felt feverish against it as he clasped the thin chain.

When he was done she leaned against him again. "We should get to know each other better. I mean, I know your favorite color and everything, but I don't know how you think. I don't know your pet peeves or enemies." She smiled stepping closer and narrowing her eyes. "Tell me all your secrets Caleb Rhys." She laughed. "Just kidding. But you can ask me anything; I'm an open book. I've never done anything bad, and what's bad to me is probably nothing to you anyway." She wasn't trying to be blunt, but it was true. She seen him use a gun- she had never even played paintball. The worst thing she created was in her closet, and painting was not a crime. But it's a sin to think the things you've been thinking. To be so lustful and angry and vengeful as you've been lately. You shouldn't be so emotional, and Caleb makes you this way. What would father say if he knew? Charice blinked hard, trying to clear her mind. Caleb also seemed to be thinking hard.

"Charice I can't do this." he said suddenly, leaning back and away from her. "I... I never have been in a relationship like this. You're so serious, we both are. I didn't even think you would like me so I worked so hard to get your attention and now I don't know what to do with it. If you really like me, because I really like you..." he paused looking at his hands again and not into her eyes, as if afraid to see disappointment, disgust, or terror shining back at him. "Even though we have known each other for a month, 16 days, 1 hour, 3 minuets, and 24, 25, 26 seconds, if you see me as someone you really like then... I can't keep my secrets from you. I want to tell you before I fall in love with you... any more. " Caleb took a shuddering breath and looked out at the lake. Instantly guilt filled Cherry's mind. She had only been joking, but Caleb was obviously very worried that she would not accept him. That fear was understandable- normally she wouldn't have. If it were anyone else, she would have run away a long time ago.

Sighing, she started to reach for his hand but stopped. How quickly the feelings had escalated. "Caleb, you don't have to move fast if you don't want to. I've never been in love, either you know." She smiled softly. "All my life was just the same routine every day. I never got angry or sad, never really felt any passion at all. I was an empty vase. And then came you. So I promise that I do like you, and your feelings are not unrequited. But you do not have to tell me anything unless you're comfortable. Because whatever it is that you're hiding, it doesn't matter to me. I know every girl says that to the guy she loves, but it's true. No matter what you've done, it doesn't matter. It's too late anyway." She didn't say out loud exactly what she meant, but "too late" was really "too late because I'm already completely obsessed with you." Cherry knew what it was like to have a crush. She'd had plenty. This was not a crush. When you have dreams- and nightmares- about someone the night you meet them, when you have two sketchbooks full of drawings of his face that is not a crush. She had drawn him over four hundred times. So she knew that no matter how many people he had killed, how many things he had done, she would follow him. Just thinking of the intensity made her hands shake.

"I was born in the west, Nevada," he began carefully. "My parents were middle class workers and always talked about working hard or 'you won't do well in life.' I had an older brother named Ethan. I was 9 then he was 12 and my sister, Lily, would have been 4. I was the middle child. Ethan was perfect. His hair was the best color, he was average height, and muscular. I was tall and scrawny. Even the bump on my nose meant I wasn't good enough for them." his voice quivered, not from nervousness but controlling anger. The thought of his parents seemed to make him go ballistic. "I was abused by my father. If I missed five points on a test I got five beatings to make up for it…anyways, my sister was abused, too. Mostly it was me, I never let them hurt her. By the time I was twelve my sister got sick. She didn't make it long after that, thanks to no treatment. She just laid in bed the rest of her life while I watched. Thing is, she was not treated well because they liked buying beer more than medicine for her. When they did get meds they just got high off of them. I ran away, I couldn't take it anymore. " He sighed. "Long story short my first Purge was to get rid of my parents, and my brother after that. Now any jerk I see wrecking someone else's life? I take care of them, too. Ever since my last purge, when we met, I've had no interest in purging. I have better things to think of- you. If you want to leave because of the blood on my hands you can, I won't mind. If I went into detail you would hate me. I just can't tell you, I don't even remember half the things I've done."

Charice was quiet for a while. She could picture everything that he said, including the angelic sister he described. What kind of people would do that to their children? How could anyone hurt a little boy and girl that way? It made her fingers tighten into fists, but after a moment she spoke softly again. "Caleb, I'm sorry. I can't even think how it must have felt. Anyone who does that to children deserves what they get." It was quiet again, but Caleb eventually whispered, "Tell me about your past. Distract me."

Charice knew her chatter would pull him out of his memories; he had admitted it before. "My story isn't special. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, I started taking dance, singing, and art lessons when I was about two or three years old. I went to church two or three times a week, I was very sheltered. My parents love each other but they never kissed in front of me. I hardly knew what kissing was until I was thirteen or so. Out in the country, the Purge never really existed for me. In our town, everybody loved God and loved each other. I feel badly, knowing that I was living such a carefree life when others suffered. Even though I worked constantly, improving my talents and helping people, it wasn't the same. I never had and trouble, I never got into a fight. What sort of life is monotony? When we met, when I finally felt fear, it was addicting. I think that's where the story really begins."

Caleb took her hand, leaning forward again so his forehead touched hers. "And begin it has. I like our story." The tip of his nose was red from the breeze that chilled them both. His hair was slightly disheveled from leaning against the tree. "Charice, my darling Charice, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend? I want to be with you for as long as you'll have me." Cherry grinned, her eyelashes brushing his cheeks in their proximity. "I thought you'd never ask." She turned her head and pressed her lips to his cheek, unable to contain a short laugh when he was startled by the kiss. It was late at night by then, but Cherry decided that for once it was acceptable to stay out until midnight.