Chapter 30-
"You sure you'll be okay?" I asked for the fifth time in a row over the phone as I took a small break from work to talk to Calvin.
Although Calvin has been going back to live with his mom for almost a good week now, I still couldn't help but worry every time he called me.
It was 8:45pm and the store was pretty quiet and dead for the most part. Because of the lack of customer, we were all doing our own things. Abby, our team manager, was in the background doing whatever the manager has to do before closing. Anna was on her phone texting away, Simon was counting the money we earned today from the tip and here I was trying not to freak out as Calvin was on the other line as I stared at the time.
But on the bright side, I only had only half an hour left until I am free and I can go home.
I thank God that Anna offered me to drive me home since I usually start to freak out when I walk home by myself.
"I'm going to be fine Reina. I'm already in front of my house," I heard him from the other line and I couldn't help make feel even more worried and stressed when he said that.
Correction, his house was more like a mansion than an actual house to be honest. But I didn't try to say anything about that even though I knew it was true. But it didn't mean anything if the people in the house are broken anyways. Maybe it would have been better if I didn't let Calvin to go there in the first place but I didn't want to seem overbearingly protective.
He can take care of himself but I couldn't help but worry still.
"You sure you don't want to turn back around?" I said nervously, my thoughts betraying me.
I heard him chuckle on the other line, "Yes Reina I've been going home for a week now and Erik isn't here."
"Okay. Bye," I trail offed, trying to calm myself.
"I'm going to be fine. Tell me when you're home though or else I'm calling the cops," he threatened on the other side of the phone before I hung up, feeling lost.
"You guys are literally adorable," Anna said with a grin on her face as soon as I hung up. I couldn't help but feel shy about the whole situation of others saying anything about our relationship. Although we have been dating for about a week now, it still felt very weird to say out loud.
I'm still not use to the whole me and Calvin thing going on even though we have been dating for a good week or so now.
The thing being that this whole thing started when he blackmailed me into doing whatever he wanted and then I found out he had an abusive stepdad and now I'm trying my best to think of a way to get him to jail without him actually murdering me.
Yep that thing.
And overall, I didn't like the spotlight on me to begin with.
"That's pretty cute but what about Paul? Weren't you guys, like, a thing at one point? I didn't even realize you guys broke up actually," she pondered out loud.
I mentally groaned in my head.
What's with people bringing him up recently now that I started dating Calvin? Anna had been working her for as long as I did so she know who Paul was at this point.
But I got to give Anna credit for having such a good memory skill though. I remembered I told her one time when we were talking about past relationships but that was it after that. I never brought him up ever again but she still managed to remember.
And yet she managed to remember his name and everything even after almost two years.
"We kind of went our separate ways," I mumbled, not really wanting to touch on that topic.
"Why?"
"No reason..."
She seemed to notice the change in atmosphere and goes right back to talking about Calvin.
I'm not sure if I was happy or not about that.
"Alright so tell me all about Calvin then. I need to know everything about him. Did you guys kiss? Oh my bananas. Tell me I need to know all the details. I know I didn't ask you any question about Paul last year when you first worked here because at that time I kind of had a hatred boys because I was going through a bad break up and I didn't know you that well but now I want to know everything about you two. He's kind of cute actually so you are so lucky! Should I make a name for you guys? How do you feel about the name Calna or better yet Reinvin? I mashed both of your name together and there it is! Do you think he has a brot-"
"Anna, get back to work and quit bugging Reina. You're not going to get the position as manager at this rate," Abby snapped, cutting her off with a glare as she exited her office with many files in her hands.
She pouted in response but doesn't fight back.
"Always have to count on Abby to save the day," Simon chuckled when he saw me breath out in relief.
"Why does she always seem to be running on 24 hours worth of coffee?" I wondered out loud making Simon and Abby laugh.
"I do not run on coffee 24/7, in fact I don't even like coffee that much," Anna retorted back to Simon, sticking out her tongue at him.
"My ass you don't. I notice that you make yourself a Starbucks double shot expresso every morning before I come in," Simon called her out on her dirty little secret making her gasp.
"You're stalking me aren't you?!" she accused making both of us roll our eyes.
"No I get here every morning of everyday at the same time and if you would get off your phone once in awhile, you'll see me as we always take the same train here," he explained making Anna's cheeks turn red in embarrassment.
"If not my fault you don't say hi in the morning," she mumbled, trying to defend herself.
"Actually, I do, but you always have your music on max so you don't usually hear me," he countered making me laugh.
"Wait hold up, I didn't give you permission to use company's beans to make yourself free drinks," Abby said.
"You gave Simon permission so I thought I could as well!"
"That's because I like Simon," Abby said as Anna pouted.
"Why's that?"
"Because he does a lot unlike someone here who is like a chatterbox," Abby mumbled as she took a seat before opening the files and filling out the papers one by one. Although Abby was usually happy in the morning, she gets grumpy and tired by the nighttime and would usually give us attitude when we got on her nerves. I didn't blame her though as I looked at her. She had bags under her eyes, her curly hair pulled up easily as she sat in her uniform.
"Oh Simon you're locking up the store tonight right?" Abby asked as she glanced at him.
Simon nodded and Abby sighed in relief. She dug up her keys and threw it at him.
"Good. Can you do the cleaning up then? I need to finish this and then I'll be going. And since it's not that busy tonight I'm thinking that Reina and Anna can head home first and call it a day. You guys probably have a lot of homework tonight and I'm sure you're going to steal some coffee beans before you go aren't you?" Abby said as she pointed her pen at Anna.
"You want the truth or not? Yes I'm probably going to steal some coffee beans before I leave work. And also I truthfully have no homework or anything for college tonight. I was actually going to go home and read E.L James' new book," Anna said with a wink.
"She has a new book now?" I questioned.
I recently started to read the first book of the trilogy for Fifty Shades of Grey but I didn't know she had another new book out already.
"Yup it's called "Grey" and it's basically the first book retold...through Christian Grey's point of view!" she squealed happily.
"First people were obsessed with Twilight, then The Hunger Games...now this?" Simon groaned out loud.
"You never even gave the book a try!" Anna defended.
"My wife made me see the movie adaption with her so I think I know what it is about. By the way, the ending of the movie sucked ass," he said.
"Did you try to read the trilogy though?" I asked curiously.
"Nope."
"Now I know what to get you for Christmas next year," I said happily, recalling that Christmas was only a few weeks away.
"Please go home before I change my mind about letting you guys go early. I need to finish this," Abby said with a groan.
"Okay Captain Bossy! Let's go Reina I have to get you home so I can go home and read with my two cats who are probably miserable without me," Anna gestured me to go to the back with her to get our belongings and go.
"I'm surprise they're still alive," Simon said making Anna flipped him off.
"See you tomorrow," we said in unison to Simon and Abby before we make our way to Anna's car finally.
I felt like Abby bickered way too much with Simon and Anna the most but it's good to see how laid back and friendly they were in general with one another. I knew that some managers were really mean to their employees but not Abby, she was the exact opposite of that which I was thankful for.
Not to mention she hired me again even I quit and then asked to be rehired three weeks later during the summer.
The drive to my house was pretty quick as I didn't live that far to begin with. It only took about five to seven minutes since I applied for a job that was specifically near me but I was distracted by my phone half the time anyways.
Why hasn't he texted me yet?
That means he's okay right?
He usually would have texted me by now to check if I was off work but he hasn't done so yet.
I mean Erik isn't there so there shouldn't be a problem right?
Think positive Reina...
I tried not to overthink things as I thanked Anna for the ride when she stopped in front of my house. It was already 9:30pm so London should be in the living room watching television while doing homework or something along those lines.
I unlocked the door and threw my school bag onto the floor.
I sometimes love being a senior because there was barely any homework nowadays.
All I really worried about nowadays was surviving senior year and also applications for college.
I looked around, trying to find London but to no avail.
"London?" I called out loudly.
The television was on and her homework was spread out on the table.
I waited a few moment before I heard a groan from the bathroom on the second floor followed by a, "I'm in here."
I went upstairs to see London kneeling in front of the bathroom, puking.
"Is this what they call morning sickness?" I asked as I helped her hold her hair back.
"Technically it's not morning anymore," London mumbled before she was at it again.
"Anything I can get you to make you feel better?" I offered awkwardly, not sure what else to do to comfort her.
"Can you get me a glass of water and call Chris for me? Tell him I'm going to the doctors after school tomorrow so I can't go with him to see Grace and the kids. I still didn't ask for Grace's number yet so I usually call Christian to tell her," She said, looking up.
I saw how tired she was already and it wasn't even the third month yet.
Another six month of that left.
Not to mention when mom returns from her business trip in a few week...let's just say that satan would be jealous of how much shit will go down.
I tried not to think of that.
"Alright but don't move I'll be back quick and I'll give you some Advil," I said.
"No just water is fine, the doctors told me not to take it," she moaned as she rubbed her temples.
"Alright," I noted as I went out downstairs to get a glass of water for her and then her phone.
I unlocked it and I looked for Chris's number before hitting the button for call.
A few rings later, I heard Christian's voice.
"London?" he asked on the other line.
"Nope," I chuckled.
"Well well well if it isn't Reina Calverly," he said, his voice sounded amused, "Can you tell me why you're using London's phone instead of yours to call me?"
"Um...well the thing is that London is currently puking her guts," I explained.
"Morning sickness? Or is that called night sickness? Does that exist?"
"Something along those lines," I said before getting to the main point behind my phone call to him in the first place, "She said she won't be able to come with you to see Grace because she's not feeling well. I guess she never asked for her number but managed to ask for yours when you met her."
"Then you'll just go in her place then," he said jumping to conclusion.
"But it's Wednesday tomorrow," I said.
"Yes I know."
"I have school tomorrow..."
"So come after school!"
I debated if I should lie or not by saying I have work tomorrow even though I didn't.
"I'm...going to hang out with Calvin and the others tomorrow," I lied instead.
"Bring them along too! I mean I would tell my mom but she'll be heartbroken! And I would go but you know I can't come until my Christmas break starts," he said and I can swear I heard him pouting from the other line of the phone.
Something Joshua would do as well.
"You sure don't know how to give up huh?" I question in amusement.
"Nope so therefore you are going to meet Grace there at five," he chirped happily.
"Alright alright fine," I made a mental note to remember to drag everyone after school with me.
"Okay cool tell London I hope she gets better than!" He said and I can almost see him with the goofy smile on his mouth.
In my opinion.
I said goodbye to Christian and went back to where London was. She was slumped down with her eyes closed breathing slowly.
"Feeling any better?"
"A little bit. What did Chris say?"
"Thanks to you, I'm going to Grace tomorrow in your place," I mumbled.
"It's not that bad," she defended.
"I know I know it's just that...well I don't think Chris knows me and Calvin are dating yet. I'm scared if Grace sees me to close to him, she'll tell Chris and he's going to tease Calvin to death and Calvin's going to beat him to dea-"
"Wait I didn't know you guys were dating!"
Oh, crap.
"Uh, yeah. It's kind of complicated right now, I think," I said nervously as I bit my lips, it was true, I mean what was I suppose to say though? It was kind of awkward to tell your younger sister who you are dating if you ask me.
"Damn now I owe ten dollars to Christian," she tsked.
"What?"
"Oh we were betting how long I'll take before you guys will start dating and he won. He said you guys will start dating before you graduate and I thought it was after," she explained with a guilty smile on her face.
"I hate you guys."
"Aw we love you too!"
I gave her the middle finger as she countinued to laugh while I made my way into my room.
When I got inside, I looked at my phone again.
10:05pm.
Nothing from Calvin yet.
I texted him that I got home safety and put my phone down.
I groaned and made my way to the bed, so much for sleeping tonight.
Was it humanly possible to care and worry about someone this much?
I don't know, but it scared me.
I decided that I should at least start my application and essays for college application since they were slowly approaching soon.
Colleges...what colleges do I even want to go too?
I never really gave it much thought after the incident. I was so set on leaving this world that I didn't know what to do if I continued living.
But after I met Calvin, things turned around.
Not sure still if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Before I met Calvin, I was set on the thought of suicide.
I became in love with the idea of death and leaving this place. No more suffering and no more nightmare. But now that I am alive and the fact that I promised to put Erik to jail before I even think about suicide, what was I supposed to do with it?
Was I supposed to go find my dad?
Was I supposed to find the two guys and send them to jail?
Was I supposed to go to Calvin and tell him everything and expect it to be better?
What was I supposed to do?
I didn't have the answer to any of that but I know one thing for sure which is the fact that I will get Calvin out of this state so he could finally live life the way he wanted.
Even if it killed me.
I may not know what I want to do with my life anymore but I do know I want to make a difference in someone else's so they do not need to suffer the way I did.
I was so lost in my own thought that I didn't even hear my phone vibrating until I flipped my phone over. I stared at the phone for a very long time, trying to comprehend what I was seeing.
One text message:
Paul James: "Hey Reina. This is Paul. Please call me. Urgent."
I stared at the phone again a bit confused.
I stared for a very long time at that text, why was he looking for me now?
The last time I talked to him was when I told him I wanted to break up after the incident. He wasn't really happy about us breaking up, apparently he was still in love with me.
But I don't think that was true.
I thank the Lord above that he was a year older and went to a college that wasn't near here at all. In fact, it was all the way across the country in New York City.
So why was he contacting me now?
I debated for a solid ten minutes.
I never really called him after we broke up even though we promised that we will keep in touch but should I call him back?
Was there a reason for it?
Curiosity was killing me.
Clicking dial before I can change my mind, I held my breath as he picked up.
"Reina? This is Paul...I bumped into your dad the other day. I think we need to talk."
And just like that, I regretted ever calling him back.
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Reasons to Live: 30. We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. -Jawaharlal Nehru