Callie Flower, page 4
“What's wrong?” I put my laptop on the coffee table in front of me.
“I just wish this was more fun.” JJ pointed to the book as he rubbed his necklace.
Suddenly, the words jumped off the page. They swirled around the room. The letters faded away, and we were standing in World War II apparel. I looked at JJ. He was in a daze.
“I can't believe it.” A uniformed man shook his head.
“What is it General George Patton?” Another soldier asked.
“Can you keep a secret, John?” The General asked the younger officer.
“Yes, sir.” John agreed.
“27 years ago, when I was a young officer, the mayor showed up. He thought that was a dead US soldier.” The General pointed to a gravesite with flowers on it.
“If it's not a soldier, then what is it?” John asked.
“Abandoned Rear.” The General whispered.
“It's an outhouse pit?” John's mouth fell open.
“Shh.” The General put a finger to his lips.
The scene vanished.
“Whoa! What was that?” JJ flew back against the couch.
I swallowed.
“Did you see that?” JJ's eyes were wide.
I nodded.
JJ looked around the room frantically. Then he looked at me. I swallowed again and prayed he wouldn't ask the inevitable question.
“Callie, I need you to explain to me what happened.” JJ's tone was even.
“Like now?” I winced.
JJ nodded.
I scratched my head behind my ear. I was struggling to find adequate words. He barely knew me. How was he going to trust anything that came out of my mouth? Especially, something this important.
“Hey, Callie, can I borrow your hair straightener?” Alison came down the stairs.
“Yeah, you know where it is.” I glanced over my shoulder.
“Oh, sorry didn't mean to interrupt.” Alison tiptoed to the bathroom and ran back upstairs.
“Callie?” JJ inched closer to me. His eyes narrowed. He was not letting this go without an answer. I couldn't blame him one bit.
“That was you.” I finally answered him.
“Me?” JJ shook his head.
“Can you trust me for one moment?” I took his hand.
JJ was surprised, but didn't pull away. It was now or never. And it looked like it was going to be now.
I exhaled. “We come from an ancient family of Storytellers. Your coin helps you tell stories. When you rubbed it and wanted this to be more fun...it kind of sort of...well, it happened, because you told a story.”
JJ glanced at our hands again and then at my eyes. He looked down at his necklace and then at the wall and stared blankly.
“Dad was wearing this in the crash...we didn't see the car coming until it was too late. If he had seen the car and reacted, could he have...lived? Mom, too?” JJ swallowed.
“I don't know.” I scooted closer to him.
My heart ached for his pain. The next thing I knew, I was hugging him. When he pulled away, the tears were still in his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve. I pretended they weren't there in the first place.
“Why are you not freaking out?” JJ looked at me. Before I could think of a good way to phrase it, JJ's eyes widened. “Kasen had a coin just like this.” JJ touched his necklace.
I nodded and said nothing.
He looked at me. “You're wearing a necklace.”
I gave him a weak smile. Apparently, he had brains in there. Thank God I didn't have to explain it all to him.
JJ reached over and touched the silver locket around my neck. He looked up as if he realized how close he was to me and sat up straight, letting the locket fall back to my neck.
JJ sat there quietly. A full minute passed. The tension was growing. I think I could have handled it better if he yelled or threw something. Instead, he just shut down.
JJ rubbed his lips together and looked at me. “How long have you known that you were...I am...a...what did you call it?”
“Storyteller...since my birthday on Monday.” I answered.
“And that's why you found me at the gas station?” JJ's eyes were soaking in the information. He wasn't mad, just gathering all the pieces. “And what exactly am I to you?” He asked carefully.
“Do I have to answer that?” I cringed.
“Please.” JJ's liquid brown eyes were filled with emotion.
I closed my eyes. When I opened them, he was waiting for an answer.
“Let's just say...hypothetically...” I tapped my leg to try to slow down my rapidly beating heart. With JJ's eyes on me and with what I was about to say, it wasn't going well. “...that everyone has a soulmate...and...and...” I couldn't finish the sentence. It felt like I had lost all the spit in my mouth.
The way JJ looked at me changed. He pointed to me and himself with a flick of a finger.
I managed a nod. This was the most difficult conversation I had ever had in my life. Maybe if I knew him better, it would be different, but I didn't and it wasn't.
JJ nodded twice and looked back at the wall. He ran his hand through his hair. “And your parents...” He looked at me. “They know about this?”
I nodded again. “But not my siblings...not yet. You have to be 17...well for your Storyteller Abilities to manifest properly.”
JJ closed his eyes and nodded. “I turned 17 a few weeks after the crash.”
“I'm sorry.” I didn't have any other words.
JJ nodded. His jaw flinched. He bit his top lip, almost as if he was trying not to say something.
“And how many times have you used your abilities on me?” JJ's eyes met mine, full of curiosity. “I'm guessing we're not History partners by accident?”
“Guilty.” I nodded.
“Okay...and Foster Mom should have said public place only...but she said yes when I asked to come here with Ash...so that too?” JJ kept his gaze on mine.
I nodded.
“And the random gas station mess?” JJ added.
I nodded.
“That it?” JJ didn't look convinced.
I nodded.
JJ nodded and exhaled. “Okay.” After about thirty seconds, he laughed.
“What?” My insecurities were on high alert.
JJ looked back at me. “I do need an illustrator.” JJ smirked. “And I did think you were kind of cute that first day.”
I blushed.
JJ's lips curled up in a half smile in amusement. His phone buzzed. JJ frowned. He tapped on his phone and pushed send. His eyes met mine. He took his necklace in his hand and rubbed it. His phone buzzed again. He tapped on it again and smiled.
“Apparently, it works. Foster Mom is cool if we stay for dinner. Are we still invited?” He asked.
I nodded.
JJ laughed. “I think I heard you talk more in school than you have tonight.”
I nodded again and smiled.
JJ laughed and shook his head. “You know I'm a train wreck, right?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “But you have a good reason.”
JJ nodded and looked at the wall. “So this report...” He turned back to me. “Probably not going to finish it tonight. You want to try for tomorrow?”
I nodded.
“Callie, pizza's here.” Rainy yelled at the top of the stairs.
“JJ, are you coming?” Ash added.
“Be right up.” JJ called to her and stood up. His warm gaze met mine. “After you.” His eyes were intense and full of unspoken words.
I was full of emotions and I wasn't certain what would come out if he started addressing them.
18
We shared a lot of looks over the picnic table outside. Alison, Rainy, and Emeric were their normal talkative selves. Ash looked like she was at home sitting beside Rainy. Emeric, Rainy, and Ash were the first ones to disappear upstairs after dinner.
“Walk with me.” Dad put a hand on JJ's shoulder.
JJ wiped his mouth. His eyes met mine, and he stood up quickly. They disappeared down the beach.
Mom filled one of the pizza boxes up with paper plates and trash before taking it inside.
“How do you think that's going?” Alison whispered.
“What do you mean?” I played dumb.
My sister gave me an 'oh no, you aren't really going there' look. “We both know the rules of this house. You turn 17 one day and you have a study date by the end of the week. He's cute.”
She wasn't wrong. I shrugged.
“You're talking to me.” Alison hissed.
“Fine, yes...I like him.” It was the first time I admitted it out loud.
“I knew it.” Alison sat back in her seat like she'd won a game.
“Alison, go check on your brother and sister.” Mom sat back down.
“That's code for leave. I want to talk to Callie. Isn't it?” Alison stood up.
Mom smiled as my sister went back inside of the house. Her expression sobered when she looked at me. I don't know how Mom did it, but words started tumbling out of my mouth before I knew what I was saying.
“He rubbed his necklace and made a comment about wanting History to be more fun. Somehow the story came to life and he...had questions.” I stopped for breath.
“Were you able to answer the questions?” Mom was curious.
I nodded. “At least the ones he asked.”
“Okay.” Mom got up to leave.
“Why are you so calm?” I demanded.
Mom turned back around. “Divide and conquer. I got the easy half...you. Kase is handling the rest. Love you Callie Flower.”
I sat where I was for what seemed like an eternity. I got up and sat on the steps looking at the ocean, waiting for them both to come back.
19
“Goodnight.” Dad smiled. He put a hand on my shoulder and disappeared inside.
JJ sat down beside of me. “Your Dad is really cool.”
“What exactly did he say?” I looked at him nervously.
“For one... that you're going to ask what he said.” JJ laughed.
I laughed nervously.
“And, that he would help me get custody of Ash when I turned 18.” JJ leaned back, looking more laid back than I had seen him. “That's a big one for me.”
“I like Ashlyn.” I smiled.
JJ glanced at me. He took my hand in his cautiously to see what I would do. I bit my lower lip as he played with my hand.
“He also said something about some Quest we're supposed to go on, but we should wait until after graduation. Something about awkward graduation pictures.” JJ shrugged.
I liked this side of JJ. He was... centered.
“So tell me, Callie, what should I know about you?” JJ's brown eyes met mine.
“Me?” I was having a lot of trouble talking around him, but I can't exactly say that.
JJ looked amused and nodded. “Yeah, you.”
I looked around me to see if an answer came. I wasn't really used to talking about myself. The obvious hit me. “I love to swim.”
He laughed. “It would kind of suck if you hate the water living here.”
The wind whipped around the beach and my hair went in ten different directions.
“I was never a sophomore. I got enough credits freshman year to go straight to Junior year.” I added.
“So beauty and brains.” JJ flashed a smile at me.
Suddenly, I was self-conscious. I moved my hair out of my face and ducked down slightly.
“And on top of that, you're an artist.” JJ pushed another stray hair out of my face.
“I want to get into graphic design work.” I confessed.
“That's cool.” He grinned.
“Eventually.” I rolled my eyes.
JJ looked at the sky. “We probably should get home.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
He stood up and pulled me up with both hands. “I'll go break the news to Ash.”
I watched him try to stomp the sand off his feet. I smiled and rubbed my necklace. The sand disappeared from his shoes. JJ smiled at me and held the door open, so I could go through first.
JJ ran up the stairs and came down a few minutes later with a giggling girl.
“Bye!” Rainy and Ash told each other at least 5 times before JJ made it out the front door.
Ashlyn babbled the entire way home. I kept laughing at her. She was adorable and hilarious.
“Thank you for coming to get us.” Ashlyn hopped out and ran towards the front door.
JJ sat in the car for a second. He didn't say anything at first. He opened the car door and looked at me with his deep brown eyes. I could see the wheels moving in his head. I just didn't know what would come out of his mouth.
“Thanks for inviting us over.” He paused. “I'm really glad you did.” His words were sincere. “Bye Callie.” JJ closed the door behind him before I could answer. He looked at me one more time before going inside.
20
“Callie, can you come here?” My Dad asked me as soon as I closed the front door.
I was ready to sink into the carpet. That had been my normal setting since I brought JJ home to work on the project. I closed the door behind me and headed to the Living Room. Dad was sitting on his normal couch with his arm around Mom. They were tag teaming.
I really didn't want to have this conversation. I trudged over and sat down beside of them. Better just bite the bullet now and let the pieces land where they land.
“Why don't you start?” Mom put her hand out to me diplomatically.
I hated going first. I was raised to tell the truth, but JJ and I didn't have time to get our stories straight. I would feel better if I knew more about the conversation that he had with Dad earlier. I decided to go with the truth I told Mom after dinner.
“We got about a page into our paper when JJ rubbed his coin and... well brought one of the stories to life...he wanted an explanation, so I gave him one.” I crossed my legs, then my arms. I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin.
“That makes our conversation outside make a lot more sense.” Dad commented. “Well, I like him.”
I smiled. I felt relieved.
“Although, I don't know how you are going to have a conversation.” Dad laughed. “He talks more than you do, Miss Callie.”
My jaw fell open. I hadn't gotten to know him that well yet. I closed my mouth.
“I think he handled it really well.” Dad commented.
Mom gave Dad a pointed look. Dad smiled lightly and tilted his head toward her and tried not to laugh. Mom exhaled and nodded. I wasn't sure what that unspoken conversation meant.
“We have more to tell you.” Mom chose her words carefully.
“Okay.” Was this gonna hurt? I mentally waited for an impact.
Mom looked at Dad. She rolled her eyes and nodded to an unasked question.
Dad grinned and leaned forward. “So when you become a Storyteller, you are supposed to go on a Quest. Now, your mother and I both strongly recommend you wait until after graduation to go on the Quest.” Dad looked at Mom. She put a hand on his back and rubbed it. His eyes shifted back to me. “It changes... you.”
I shrugged. “Okay... after graduation, I got it.”
Dad sat back and looked slightly relieved. “Callie Flower, we're not supposed to give any hints, but I can say that you are supposed to go on the Quest with JJ...when you're ready...and that in order to keep your Storyteller Abilities you need to finish the first part of your Quest by the time you're 25.”
“What is the Quest?” I watched their expressions carefully.
“We can't say.” Dad rushed out the words.
“You have unlimited tries until you're 25.” Mom added.
“You come back the same day and time you left for the Quest. That part is very important.” Dad commented.
“How long did it take you to finish the Quest?” I asked.
Mom and Dad shared another look.
“We finished it in one attempt.” Dad answered.
“Is that normal?” It usually took me a few times to get the hang of a new concept.
Mom laughed. “It took your Uncle Damion and Aunt Ariel...what was it?” Mom looked at Dad. “24 tries to finish the first part of the Quest.”
“I think so.” Dad shrugged.
“You can't die in the Quest.” Mom told me.
I really didn't like the fact that she saw the need to mention that. I knew my overthinking brain would be up half the night thinking about this conversation and JJ.
“Enough of that.” Dad sat back. “Don't forget to pick JJ and Ashlyn up for church in the morning.” Dad stood up.
“I didn't ask him to go to church with us.” I shuffled my feet.
“I did.” Dad smirked.
“I don't know if he has ever been.” I should have asked that. Why hadn't I?
“Oh, he's been.” Dad laughed. “I think he said he was baptized when he was 15.” Dad shrugged. “Your Mom's better with numbers. He said he hasn't been able to go since his parents died. His Foster Mom works most Sundays and won't let them go.”
How did Dad get so much out of JJ in like thirty minutes? I met him months ago, and I didn't know much more than what I knew then...nothing.
“And Miss Callie, try not to be late.” Dad's eyes were firm. “No one likes to be late somewhere on their first day.”
“Okay Dad.” I nodded my head as my Dad left the room.
“Goodnight, Callie Flower.” Mom kissed my temple and followed him up the stairs.
I sat quietly on the couch for several minutes. What just happened? It had taken this long for the shock to sit in. A few minutes later, I got up and turned off the lights, and headed downstairs.
21
Ihad just finished walking into my bedroom when my phone buzzed. I looked down. It was JJ. I jumped on my bed and crossed my legs.
Thanks for today -JJ
I exhaled, trying to control my emotions, but I became an anxious ball of energy.
Anytime (: -Me
Glad to hear it. Your Dad offered your chauffeur service for church tomorrow. When should we be ready? -JJ
9:15 -Me
Cool- JJ
