Callie POV
The night was going amazing. Isaac and his friends truly were a good company. They were all educated people, who you could have deep conversations about wide range of topics and not get bored. They knew how to engage with us and it was easy to talk to them. Can not speak for Beth, but they made me feel as if I were part of their group not just some stranger Issac invited over.
As the night went on, more drinks and food were ordered. With each passing minute, I got more and more relaxed around them. The conversation topics changed as well and we slowly drifted away from all the serious talks.
Issac and I had been flirting with each other all through the night. Some were subtle flirts. Other not so much. There was light touching. I even managed to run my hands through his hair one time. He had touched my back briefly on multiple occasions, running his palm in circular or up-down motion and wiped sauce from the corner of my mouth. There were glances as well. Felt him glancing at me one time, while I was speaking to one of his friends, but when I turned to look at him, he had quickly looked down to his beer, cleared his throat and tried to start a conversation about something with Beth, just to pretend, that he was not watching me.
I was emptying the last of my drink, when Issac leaned over to me and whispered in my ear "I think your friend is hitting on my friend."
About 3 hours in, Beth had started to really hit it off with one of Issac's friends. He was introduced to us as Kristopher, but everyone in the group always referred to him as Kris. From what I had learned, he was a childhood friend of Issac as they used to live next doors during their childhood and went to same schools. He had a lot of stories about Issac, lots of embarrassing stories Kris had no problem sharing. Beth flirted with him, he flirted back. I guess, now it started to become more apparent and it was no longer subtle. This was Beth's thing after all and all signs led me to believe she was ready to end the night, with Kris.
I lowered my drink, took one last glance over to Beth, who sat across the table next to Kris. Her hand was underneath the table. By the look of Kris face, it was very close to his most sensitive area, and he was not complaining at all. She was whispering something in his ear. From his smirk, Kris liked what he was hearing.
I set my glass down, turned to Issac.
My head spun a little from the head turn. I felt buzzed for the last hour at least. If not more. It was two drinks ago, when I thought to myself that I probably should stop drinking. Had to think harder to not slur my words and express myself. The high alcohol level in my system was a sign, that I should start about ending the night as well.
I gathered my thoughts and said with a smirk "It looks like your friend is not complaining."
We were very close to one another. Almost nose to nose. I felt his breath on me, as well as the nice scent of his his aftershave.
I looked down to his lips, he licked them before he replied "No, he certainly isn't." Had a feeling, he was not just talking about his friend.
A beat passed.
All I wanted to do in those few seconds, was to get a taste of his lips. Feel them on my lips. He licked his lips again. Had a feeling he was doing that on purpose. To tease me. It certainly worked, because it turned me on. It took me a few seconds, before I could finally pry my eyes away from them and up to his eyes. When I did finally look back to his eyes, I started to wonder, why I ever did look away. His blue eyes were mesmerizing. His gaze captured mine and didn't let go.
"So," I rested my palm on his knee. He hummed and scooted a bit closer to me on the bench, without breaking the eye contact
"So," Issac whispered back, tilting his head a little to one side as his eyes continued to look deep into mine
"I know you are the birthday boy, but how would you feel about leaving the party early?"
"It's my party, I can leave if I want to," He said it in a sing-song manner of the rhythm of the popular song
"Well, then..." I suggested, moving my palm up his leg "What are we waiting for?"
~0~0~0~
I woke up with a groan and rolled to my right side. My mouth was dry and head hurt, not enough to seek painkillers immediate though. The room I was in, was dim. The Sun still managed to shine through the light grey curtains. Rolling back on my back, I closed my eyes and rubbed the sleep out of them. My whole face felt puffy from all of the drinking.
As I opened my eyes, I stared up to the ceiling, to the big lamp that was hanging there. It looked dusty. Probably because no one can even get that high up to clean it. That made me wonder, how was it even hung there in the first place. It took me a couple of second to wrap my head around, what I was seeing, because this was definitely not my place.
I jolted up in the bed, the blanket falling down to my lap. The cool room air hit me once I was out of the cocoon of the blanket. Goosebumps covered my skin instantly.
Looking down, I realized, I wasn't wearing anything. Quickly I raised the blanket up to see what was happening downstairs. Thankfully, I found that I was still wearing my own underwear.
Liam appeared in my thoughts as I looked down at myself. Cold shiver run through my body, my feet got cold and my breath caught in my throat.
I did a quick scan of my whole body. No bruises, no funny or uncomfortable feelings, nothing hurt, well expect for my head, but for that I had the alcohol to blame. For now, I took those signs that nothing bad happened.
"No," I talked rationally to myself as I let out a relieved sigh "I'm fine. Nothing hurts. There would be bruises, I would have fought."
Still, this was bad. I didn't recall what happened last night.
Looking around the room, I tried to find my clothes. The first place I looked was on the floor, by the bed. Nothing. I got up to my knees and looked to the other side of the bed. It was empty. Didn't look like anyone had slept there. By the looks, I had had the blanket to myself all through the night. The second pillow looked fluffed up neat and tidy, compared to the one that I woke up from. Felt the bed sheet next to me, cold. I rolled over the bed, to look at the floor on the other side.
Finding nothing again, I jumped out of the bed. My head protested a little about the action, but it did not stop me, because I was on a mission to find my clothes. I hurried to the window and pulled the curtain open.
The light blinded me "Oh god!" I covered my eyes with my palms and turned my back to the window.
As I uncovered my eyes, I found what I was looking from across the room. My clothes and stuff were kind of folded and put neatly in a pile on the chair by a desk. I hurried towards them and put my clothes back on.
Grabbed my phone and checked for messages. There were multiple texts from Beth. The last one was around 2am "Text me when you wake up!"
I quickly typed up a message informing her that I was okay and that we can meet up later on in the day.
As I shoved my phone in my pocket, I heard footsteps in the other room. Whatever the other room was. I was assuming this was Issac's place. I remember flirting with him at the bar, remember us saying good-bye to his friends, having a quick chat with Beth, before Issac and I left the bar.
I remember us walking down the dark street. For what felt like miles and miles. We passed many other people, who were either going changing bar/club or going home. I did remember enjoying his company. The streets had all looked the same to me. No idea which way – north, south, east or west – we went. Have no idea, how far we actually walked.
The next thing I remember, was being in an elevator. I kissed him first, pulled back quickly, worried that I may have crossed a line and just wanting to check in with him, if it was okay. That he enjoyed it as well. What followed was just all out of pure passion as he had cupped my face us kissing me, while pushing me back, till my back hit the elevator wall. We had parted briefly to catch out breathes, before our lips clashed again. The elevator had stopped, interrupting our make out session.
Holding hands, I had followed him down a hallway. We had been laughing about something, but Issac had shushed me, saying that people are asleep and we shouldn't wake or disturb them.
It took way too long for him to unlock the apartment. For a moment I thought about us going back to the elevator, hitting the stop button and just jumping his bone then and there. That's how horny I had felt. Now, of course, that thought is just absurd.
Because it had taken him so long with the keys, we fell onto the couch, to make out first. To get the spark back. And that's actually the last thing that I remember. Us, making out on the couch. Feeling each others bodies. Me, throwing back my head, to open up my neck for his kisses. My nails, digging in his shoulder out of pleasure. His hands going under my shirt, exploring my body…
"Oh, god," I covered my face once again, this time out of what might have happened. I glanced back at the other half of the bed. The fact that it was empty, suggested, that Issac did not like what he saw. But it confused me, why I had waken up in his bed half-naked at all. If he hadn't liked what he saw, I would have walked out. Ashamed, but still. I wouldn't be here. Waking up in his bed.
There was only one way for me to get the answers that I seek. And he is behind the doors.
As much as I hated it, I needed to face him.
This probably counts as some sort of walk of shame. This was definitely one thing that I did not like about one-night stands. Getting out of someone's place. The awkward encounters in the moorings or whatever time.
Few deep breaths later, I decided I can't hide in this room forever. Either I come out or he comes in. I preferred the first one. Leaving with at least a little bit of dignity left. So I gathered myself up as best as I could, ran my fingers through my hair few more times to make sure it's not complete mess and walked out.
The other room was kitchen/living room. It was not big, but it was furnished nicely. Leaving enough space to move around it freely. I noticed that there was a make shift bed on the couch. A pile of blanket, pillow that was all mushed up. It was almost as if, Issac had slept on the couch, leaving me to spend the night on the bed all by myself. Which made no sense, because didn't I sleep with him? Why would a guy take a couch, after he had slept with someone?
Issac was in the kitchen area by the stove. He was standing there in sweatpants and some simple t-shirt. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at me "Good morning! I'm making eggs. Do you want coffee?" He turned a little showing me the pan
"Morning," I said tentative as I moved a bit closer to him, I skipped the good, because I wasn't sure if it was good
"You okay?"
"Uh," I took another step closer, fidgeting with my fingers
"Is it your head? I can probably get you something-" he pointed towards what I assume was the bathroom, where his first aid box stood
"No, no," I waved him off, stopping him in his tracks "No need for that," I said. It was for the best for me to avoid any kind of painkillers. Even the ones I can get without prescriptions. Better safe than sorry. Don't want to go down that hole ever again. A little headache won't kill me. If anything, these next few hours, will be a reminder to not go drinking again. Or at least, drink more responsible next time.
"Okay," Issac replied, walking back to the stove and checking on the eggs he was making "Please, sit. Make yourself at home. The eggs will be ready any second now."
I remained standing by the end of the couch. A safe distance between him and I, as I was still not sure, what the bloody hell happened last night.
"How did you sleep?" Issac asked, looking over his shoulder
"Last night," I spoke up, my heart started to beat fast inside my chest "What happened last night?" Issac watched me for a moment, without saying anything. His silence only made things worst. But that wasn't exactly his fault. He didn't know my messed up past and how much this morning was messing me up.
He turned off the stove, took a step sideways and pressed his hands to the counter behind him.
"How much do you remember of last night?"
"Not much," I admitted quietly and frankly a bit ashamed, Issac seemed like the hadn't been affected by the alcohol at all "Although, I do think we made out on that couch of yours," I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder "But I don't remember it having a pillow and blanket."
Issac chuckled quietly "We did make out on it," he said, and ran his thumb over his lower lip, as if remembering the kissing that happened on it
"Did we have sex?" I asked straight forward, needing to have the answers, staring right at him
While yes, I had wanted to have sex with him last night. This morning, the fact that I don't remember much of last night, I hope I hadn't. I would actually like to be 'present' when I have it. I don't want it to be a blur. I want to remember it, all of it.
"No," Issac said without breaking the eye-contact. His body language, his tone, the way he said it, how he held the gaze - I believed him.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. It was really hard to not show how relieved I was to hear it. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, making him think that the idea of sex with him repulsed me. It didn't. The state I had been - that had scared me.
Issac continued to explain "We wanted to. We were really close to having sex, but..."
This conversation was playing with my emotions. Going from one scare to next in matter of few shot second. I hadn't really had time to wrap my head around the last set of information, before I was hit with the next.
"But?" I asked scared of what will follow. My heart was beating fast against my chest. I swallowed a lump in my throat. Scared that he had lost his interest once he saw the scars underneath. If that indeed was the case, then I needed to prepare myself. I was channeling my inner 14 year old me, the one that was numb to world, who was too used to be rejected and looked down on, laughed about, called ugly and disgusting.
"But you were too drunk," Issac said simply "It didn't feel right. You said you were okay with it, but..." Issac shook his head as he briefly looked down
"Oh," I breathed out quietly to myself
"I didn't want to take advantage of you. And judging by how much you remember from last night and the reaction you had just now, when I said we didn't," he gestured towards me "I believe I made the right call."
"It wasn't because of my..." I chocked up on my words. Issac tilted his head a little to one side, waiting for me to finish my thoughts. I cleared my throat "You saw them, right? The scars..."
"Yes, I saw them. But they certainly weren't the reason we didn't have sex," he leaned off the counter "So, how about that breakfast?"
~0~0~0~
"Coffee?" It was the first thing Beth said to me, when I met her on the corner of the street we agreed to meet up at. She was holding a cup in each hand, offering me one of them.
"Already had one this morning, but okay," I said reaching for the cup
"Uuh, la la," Beth sang out "You stayed the night?"
"No, had one at home," I said before sipping the coffee. Before meeting up with her, I had had time to run back home, grab a quick shower, have a cup of coffee and change my clothes.
"So, how did it go? Give me the details?" Beth probed as we walked towards the park
"I don't actually remember much about it. Last thing I remember, before waking up this morning was making out with him on his living room couch. I woke up, half naked in his bed-"
Felt Beth's hand on my upper arm. She stopped me in my tracks. I turned to face her and saw worry in her eyes, her jaw clenched. Mix of concern, sadness and anger in her eyes.
"It's not what it sounded like," I assured her, but Beth seemed to have a hard time letting it go, so I elaborated a bit more "He didn't hurt me, in any kind of way. We kind of almost went there, but he thought it wasn't okay, because of how drunk I was, so he left me to sleep it off in his bed. Slept on the couch himself. Made me breakfast and coffee in the morning, which I refused, because it would have been too awkward. Instead, i run out and..." raised my free hand and let it fall down to my side a second later "Here I am!"
Beth's grip on my arm finally let loose, but instead she clenched her palm over her chest "Oh my god!" She tilted her head backwards, closed her eyes and let out a breath "That just took me one a roller coaster of emotions. I got so fucking scared he hurt you! If he had hurt you, I would have never forgiven myself for encouraging you to go for him."
"I'm okay," I assured her as we resumed walking and sipping coffee "Tell me about your night. How did it go with Kris?"
"Nothing much to tell. We went to the nearest hotel, rented a room for the night, had sex. Two rounds. He fell asleep, I left and went back to my place."
"That simple, huh?" I was a bit jealous of her how easy it seemed for her
"Yep, that simple," Beth said as we sat down on a bench in the park
"I thought you two actually hit of nicely," I said remembering how easy their conversations at the bar felt like. There had been no awkward silences or stupid jokes, no dumb pick up lines. Just smooth talking from both of them.
"It's called one-night stand for a reason," Beth replied "Fuck'em and forget'em!" She smirked at me, before taking a long sip of her coffee
I was about to answer her, but my phone rang.
"Ooh, is that Issac? Did you give him your number?" Beth leaned closer to see the screen
"No, I left before we could exchange them. Don't think I will be able to face him ever again," I quickly responded before looking down to the screen Lena's name on it.
"Hello?" I answered the phone, while Beth next to me, turned to take in the view of the park and sip her drink.
Lena POV
I needed someone to babysit Frankie, till my meetings were over. The meeting had not been in my plans, so right now, it was messing up the plans that I had already made.
Stef, Amy, Cooper were all at work and couldn't get the time off. Jesus was working on a construction project at the other side of the city, Mariana was still in lectures, but later on had to head back to work for a meeting with a client to talk about the new app she was working on. Jude had lectures all day, till 6pm. There was no one who could watch their youngest sister.
The only one free was Callie.
Callie was doing better. Back at work, cleared by all the specialists, as healthy as she could be. She was putting in a lot of work to it. Still going to group and seeing her therapist. She gave Stef her chips as a sign of proof. Stef even bought a little case, where she put those little coins and then hung the case up by the wall in the hallway by the staircase. As a reminder, as an achievements, something to be proud of. Most importantly, Stef forgave her.
I forgave her as well, a long time ago.
Callie had been sitting at the island table, nursing a hot cup of green tea in her hands, when Frankie and I had returned home. Stef and Callie had been talking about her time at the detox clinic. When Frankie had seen Callie, she had run up and threw herself at her. Almost knocking Callie of the stool. While I hadn't shown that much enthusiasm and energy of seeing her, I did hug her as well. After the hug, Callie had started to ramble apology to me. The look Stef had given me, had told me she had received a similar speech. Of course I forgave her, even thought technically she only had to apologize to Stef.
It had been obvious, thought, Callie needed to hear it from me as well.
There had been no question of whether or not she felt guilty or was remorseful for stealing. We all could see that she was. Callie even had said it herself, she had hated the person she had become. Hated what she did. She didn't like that person she had seen in the mirror. So, yes, I believed her, when she had said she was sorry. Callie was the sort of person who learned from her mistakes and made sure not to repeat them. Thrived be do better next time. Came out stronger and smarter.
Her partner and now friend Beth, had always seemed very professional. The few times I have seen Callie and Beth in their uniforms, never once had I had the thought – I would not trust them to save my life or save my family/friends life. Beth never once gave that impression of being lazy or inattentive or superficial or unreliable. She seemed meticulous to me.
Now Callie and Beth stood in in my office. With Frankie standing between them, looking way too excited to spend time with both of them, while I was at my meetings. All three of them had lollipops in their mouths. Beth had bought them on the way here. While it was a nice gesture, it added to the panic I felt right now.
Despite all of what I thought of Callie and Beth, of how amazing both of these women were, I could not get the thought out of my mind that I had just made a mistake. For some reason, looking at them now, all I could see was trouble. Alarm bells kept going off in my mind. I felt this dreadful feeling deep in my stomach, that this will not end well. They will somehow mess my kid up, get in some sort of trouble, chip of another one of her teeth or somehow will get arrested again.
"It was only going to be for few short hours," I told myself as I took in the appearance of three of them together "Frankie will be okay."
"You okay?" Callie asked, taking her lollipop out of her mouth, I had apparently gone silent for too long
"Y-yeah," I stuttered out as I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked down to my desk, which was filled with papers and folders containing information for the upcoming meeting
"Yeah, I'm good," I repeated as I moved some papers around on the desk, trying to stay calm, while I was having an internal struggle
"Lets go have some fun!" Callie said placing her palm on top of Frankie's head
Frankie looked up to Callie and beamed at her "Yeah!"
"YEAH!" Beth called out as well, before the three of them turned and walked out of my office
"Bring her home by 6!" I called out after them, reminding them of what we spoke about but I was not convinced they heard me.
Once they were gone, I fell back in my chair and covered my face with my palms "What did I just do..."