Bad Love Lingers (Book Three)

Chapter Six

                                                                                            Callen

            One more shot. One more shot to show that I wasn’t a complete failure, or else I would be shipped off. It didn’t matter to me. I could play the good guy if I need to. I may have just turned seventeen, but one more year of this consistent bullshit, then I was free, free to make my own choices. I guess my parents would haven’t any luck then proceeding with locking me away. Hell, half it was their fault why I was like this in the first place. One more year, I thought again. A year seemed like an eternity, but when you have spent your whole life in misery, one year didn’t seem that bad.

            Now that I had her to keep me busy, my year would fly by, no doubt. This girl was young, beautiful, sleek, and slim, but that all that was covered up by the fearsome way she carried herself. From that day in the mall, I haven’t been able to get her out of mind. Then, I went onto watching her being bullied right in front of my eyes. I know that I had no claim over her or any reason to feel protective of her, but I did. My lies would catch up to me, that I knew, but the words left my mouth anyway as it was a habit I needed to break. When you have spent your entire life lying to survive, it was hard to break away from that comfort. For some reason, I was drawn to her. Yes, I have been around girls that I had a similar connection to, but not as strong as it was with Isabel.

            I messed up so bad when I was so rude to her after she had been violently slammed into the locker. Honestly, I was a little proud of myself. I held restraint. Isabel couldn’t see that, but I knew. It took every ounce of willpower in me not to charge at the girl that hurt Isabel. Hurting a girl was something that I never thought I would do until I saw one attacking a defenseless young woman. That’s when inspiration struck me.

            Later that day, I went to the principal, claiming that I wanted to show that I was working toward something better. The truth was that I only wanted to be closer to Isabel, to get to know her. Mr. Dale, our principal, informed me of the defense class they had here, but no one had been interested in partaking in so far. He told me that he would agree to let me run it if I were to get someone involved. Of course, I had to report back daily to him. That wouldn’t be a problem, and I’m sure I could get my little bird here to report on positive things as well.

            When the day rushed by and the next day came, I got nervous. It was the day that she and I would officially come to know one another, and for the first time in my life, I was anxious to meet a girl. Maybe it was how we met that had me rattled. Perhaps it was those soft light blue eyes that did me in or the way the curves of her brunette hair brushed out of her ponytail.

            By the end of the day, I was a complete mess. Isabel shared my class with me, which I don’t think she noticed. I would always arrive before her, sitting at the back of the class, out of view, and always leave after her. Every day in class, I would watch her. I would watch the way she gripped her pencil right before writing, the way she twirled her hair when she was thinking deeply, and even the way she stared off into space. I wanted to know what she was thinking about every second of the day. Was she thinking about me like I was with her?

            At last, the end of the day had come, and I had her in the gymnasium all alone with me. We flirted a little, even if she was too shy to say she was. I liked her. She had spunk, but there was something different about her than every other girl at this school. Isabel didn’t seem to judge me like everyone else. I was still the new guy around this place, making it impossible to get ahead in anything. I’ve only had a handful of girls who approached me, but none of them interest me in the way this girl staring at me did.

            I worked hard, showing her all that I could do. I might look a little on the thinner side, but the gym had become my go-to spot for many years now. It was an escape from my life once I was home. Eventually, the place got too hot. I chuckled to myself. I wasn’t sure if it was the sweat rolling off the back of her neck, onto her large breasts, or if it was the fact that there seemed to be no air conditioning in here. So, I started pulling my shirt from over my head.

            “Um, what are you doing?” She was so sweet in the way she spoke. It reminded me of a soft bird chirping along to a beautiful song.

            “I’m hot, and there is no air flowing in here. I won’t have a heat stroke all because you are afraid to see a man without his shirt.”

            “I’m not scared,” she flustered with her cheeks turning the softest pink. When my shirt was fully off and lying on the floor, Isabel stopped what she was doing to observe me.

            Damn, she had me lost right now. Those innocent puppy dog eyes skimming over my body turned me on. I had to adjust myself as she turned away to keep this from getting more intense than it already was. “Have you never seen a man without his shirt off before?” I decided to ask, mostly because I was curious.

            She shook her head slightly. “As a matter of fact, I have not. Most people in this town know who my dad is. The boys here don’t speak to me, even if they were interested because they know that my dad would kill them if they tried.”

            Of course, she had an overprotective douche of a dad. I rolled my eyes, now frustrated. “I think we can call it a day. You did well. If you continue to listen and master that, then we can move onto the hands-on fun stuff.” I raised my eyebrows playfully, though I couldn’t wait to feel her skin against mine.

            Isabel nodded her head agreeably and reached into her bag for her phone. “I’m just going to call my friend to pick me up.”

            “You don’t drive?”

            “No, again, my dad. I will soon, though, hopefully.”

            I didn’t want the day to end with her. I knew eventually we would have to part at one point, but I found myself wanting to learn more about her. Why was her dad so protective of her? “I can take you home. I drive a crotch rocket, so that means you would have to hold tight.” A smile escaped my lips before I could stop it.

            Isabel smiled back at me, but her eyes held restraint. “No, thank you. My dad would kill me, and I don’t particularly feel like dying today.”

            “Do you always listen to what your dad says?”

            “Yes, because I would be an i***t not to. You are new, so you have no idea who my dad is. Give it time. I’m sure there are more than a few people around this school that would be more than happy to pass the information over.”

            She went to call someone, but I stopped her, holding the phone down toward her legs. “How about you tell me? Why would I wait to hear it from anyone other than the source?”

            “It’s complicated and would take more time than you have. Sorry,” she smiled, lifting the phone to her ear.

            I was sure the other person on the line was the only other person she ever hung out with around here. I believe her name was Olivia. She seemed to like Isabel genuinely enough, but one could never be too sure. When she was finished, Isabel picked up her bag and started off toward the door. “Would you like some company while you wait?”

            Isabel hesitantly turned around to face me. “You seem like a great guy, Callen, but whatever you are thinking, stop now. I am not and have never been interested in any kind of male interaction. Our relationship should not go past what is happening right here in this gymnasium.”

            Her words stung something deep inside me that I didn’t understand. It was then that I knew I wanted her. So, I did something even out of character for myself. Usually, I wouldn't force myself on anyone because I got what I wanted from who I wanted, but this girl would have to have some convincing. I grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her face close to mine. Before she could attest, I put my lips over hers and slipped my tongue through the small separation from her top lip to her bottom. Our bodies seemed to move around each other like they have done it a thousand times. Isabel let go of her bag and wrapped her arms around my neck as I pressed her body between mine and the wall near the entrance. My body came to life for the first time in years. At that moment, Isabel made me feel alive, made me feel important.

            “Stop,” she whispered as she pulled away from my lips. Her mouth was saying one thing, but I could tell she wanted me as much as I wanted her right now. One taste of her wasn’t enough to sedate me. I needed more to get my fill.

            “There are bathrooms on the other side of the gymnasium. Come with me.” I held her hand and pressed forward toward the bathrooms because I wanted her, right f*****g now.

            We were halfway there until something snapped inside of her. Isabel pushed me, making me almost fall headfirst onto the floor. “Stay away from me, Callen! How easy do you think that I am? I’m not a piece of ass for you to tap when you want to.” She clutched at her clothes and stormed out of the gymnasium before I could even catch my breath. What the hell was that all about?

            After a minute or two, I decided to run after her. I messed up once; I didn’t want to do it a second time. When I pushed the door open to the student parking lot, Isabel had disappeared, and I was left there running my hands through my hair, only angry at myself.