Flight of Life (Essence Series #1) (29 page)

“
At least tonight didn’t
turn out that bad,” Easton said. “It could have been
worse.”

“
Did you two have a good
time fighting?” Weston asked. “It looked like fun.”

“
We weren’t fighting,”
Breccan said. “She was just yelling at me.”

Easton glared at him. “Do you want me
to yell at you again?”

Breccan grabbed one of his fries and
handed it to her. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

Calloway laughed. The last time he
offered her his food Easton was nice to him, touched by the tender
gesture. Calloway had a feeling that moment wouldn’t be
repeated.

Easton grabbed the fry and through it
in his face. It fell to the floorboard of the car.

“
Don’t waste it!” Breccan
yelled.

“
All you care about is
food,” Easton snapped.

“
And all you care about is
being annoying,” he snapped.

“
Look what you did,”
Calloway whispered to Weston. “It doesn’t take much.”

“
Knock it off,” Weston
said. “Turn on the radio or something. Your voices make my eardrums
shatter.”

Easton turned on the stereo and looked
at the time. “We should go.” She sighed. “The dance was over an
hour ago. Steve is probably wondering where I am.”

“
Who’s Steve?” Breccan
asked.

“
My stepdad.” She
sighed.

“
I didn’t know that your
mom was remarried,” Breccan said.

“
She isn’t. It’s her
boyfriend but I just call him that—it’s quicker.” Easton put the
car in drive and drove down the street to Breccan’s. They said
nothing on the way back and Calloway felt the tension in the air.
He was more aware of himself than usual because he was sitting so
close to Weston. Her arm brushed his thigh when she moved and it
made his skin tingle. Calloway tried to focus his attention on the
scenery outside the window.

Easton parked the car in the driveway
when they reached the house.

“
Good night,” Breccan said
as he got out. He closed the door behind him and walked to the
front door. Easton watched him from the front seat.

“
I’m sorry I couldn’t walk
you to your door,” Calloway said to Weston.

Weston smiled at him. “That’s okay,”
she said. “I can manage.”

“
Thank you for coming with
me,” he said. “I really appreciate it. And thanks for standing up
for me. That was an epic moment.”

“
We aim to
please.”

Calloway smiled at her. “Good
night.”

“
Good night.” Weston
leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Her lips lingered on his
skin for a moment, and Calloway could feel the softness of her
mouth. Her arms brushed against his and he could feel the heat of
her body through his jacket. When she pulled away she was smiling
at him. “That one was just for you.”

The Heist

Calloway was relieved the last day of
winter term had finally arrived. He had an exam in every class but
that didn’t dampen his spirit or ruin his day—he was almost done.
He took his morning finals without any complications and sat in the
library with his friends at lunch. None of them were studying for
their afternoon exams because they didn’t care anymore—they just
wanted it to end.

Calloway received his SAT scores by
mail and he hadn’t opened the letter yet. He’d been staring at the
envelope all day but he didn’t have the courage to look at the
scores. He was going to wait until after class and ask Mr. Avey to
do the honor. The SAT score was his wager into college. His grades
weren’t high enough to make him a competitive candidate but if his
score was outstanding, he might have a real chance. Fresno
University was his desired institution, and he was determined to be
accepted.

Breccan was eating his chips at the
table in the library. “Have you talked to Weston?” he
asked.

“
No,” Calloway said. He
hadn’t stopped thinking about their last kiss and how it made him
feel. He knew he was immensely attracted to her—her outside beauty
as well as her inner—and he had great respect for her, but he also
knew she wasn’t interested in him.

“
She was totally flirting
with you,” Breccan said.

“
I know she was,” he said.
Calloway never told his cousin about the kiss and he decided to
keep it to himself.

Breccan stared at him. “And you aren’t
going to pursue her?”

Calloway sighed. “No,” he said. “She
was only flirting with me to make me look good. That was the only
reason why she came with me.”

“
I don’t know,” Breccan
said. “She must be a very good actress.”

“
And if even she was
flirting with me that doesn’t mean anything.” Calloway looked at
Easton. “Doesn’t she flirt with everyone but never commits to a
guy?”

Easton nodded. “That’s how she is.
Calloway is right—she doesn’t see him like that.”

“
Thank you,” Calloway
said.

“
And if she did have
feelings for Calloway she would tell me,” Easton said. “We argue a
lot but we tell each other everything. And she would never date
someone younger than her—even if it is only by a year.”

Calloway looked at his cousin. “Drop
it,” he said. “She doesn’t like me and I don’t like
her.”

“
Now you’re just lying.”
Breccan laughed.

Calloway sighed. “Yes, I think she’s
great. She’s beautiful, amazing, and funny, but I just see her as a
friend—nothing more.”

“
So, you would turn her
down if she wanted you?” Breccan asked.

“
That would never
happen.”

“
So you
would
go out with
her?”

“
Obviously.” Calloway
laughed. “I would be stupid not to. But that’s never going to
happen and I’m fine with that.”

“
A guy can always hope,”
Breccan said.

“
And it would be a wasted
hope,” Calloway said.

The lunch bell rang and they finished
their afternoon finals. Since they were taking an exam in
photography the classroom had to remain silent, to Calloway’s
advantage, and Hawk didn’t say a word to him. He wasn’t sure if
Weston’s attack had quieted Hawk’s resolve to torment Calloway, but
he was relieved that he wouldn’t have to deal with it until the
spring term.

After the school bell rang, Calloway
walked to Mr. Avey’s classroom and sat in his usual
seat.

Mr. Avey looked at him. “Your detention
sessions are over,” he said. “I have nothing left to teach you—for
now.”

Calloway smiled. “Well, that’s
disappointing.”

“
What can I do for you,
Mr. Martins? I’m certain there’s a reason for your
visit.”

“
Actually, there is,”
Calloway said as he took out the letter and placed it on his desk.
“I got my scores.”

Mr. Avey stared at him. “And how’d you
do?”

Calloway shrugged. “I haven’t opened
it,” he said. “I was hoping you would do it. You paid for
it.”

Mr. Avey rose from his desk and grabbed
the letter. He opened the seal and started to read the scores.
Calloway felt his heart accelerate as Mr. Avey looked at the
details. He wasn’t sure what was taking so long. Calloway feared he
didn’t do well. When he looked up, Mr. Avey was staring at
him.

“
I spoke the truth,” he
said. “I really do have nothing to teach you.” He tossed the letter
on the desk. “Congratulations.”

Calloway grabbed the letter and looked
at his score—it was almost perfect. The news washed over him like a
new tide and he felt his body relax. It was exactly the score he
was hoping for. “That’s a relief.”

“
I’m not surprised,” Mr.
Avey said as he leaned against the desk. “Now you can attend
whatever college you wish.”

“
Really?” he
asked.

He nodded. “And you won’t have to worry
about the funds. I’m sure you’ll receive a full
scholarship.”

“
This is too good to be
true,” Calloway whispered.

“
You aunt and uncle will
be very proud.”

“
And shocked.” Calloway
laughed.

“
I’m sure your family
knows you are gifted.”

“
No,” Calloway said as he
shook head. “They have no idea. My grades don’t reflect my
abilities at all. They’ll assume I cheated.”

Mr. Avey laughed. “Well, if their
nephew is smart enough to cheat on the SAT and not get caught, he
is a genius.”

Calloway rose from his desk and placed
the letter in his pocket. He stared at Mr. Avey for a moment and
the room became quiet. The same thought was passing between them
but Calloway couldn’t find the right words to say. Mr. Avey had
been the father away from home and been the safe haven that he
needed. He couldn’t put into words how much that meant to him.
After a moment, he finally spoke. “Have a good holiday, Mr.
Avey.”

He nodded. “Merry Christmas,
Calloway.”

Calloway left the classroom and walked
toward the parking lot. The students were exchanging Christmas
gifts on the sidewalk and laughing together as they said their
farewells. Breccan was standing on the curb waiting for
him.

“
Finally,” Breccan said.
“Mom is going to be here any minute.”

“
Why did she want to pick
us up today?”

“
She wants to take us out
for a treat since it’s the last day of school,” Breccan
answered.

“
That’s nice of
her.”

“
It’ll be something
small—like a milkshake or something.”

“
That’s still really
thoughtful,” Calloway said. “I don’t want her to spend any money on
me though.”

“
She started working a few
days ago,” Breccan said.

Calloway stared at his cousin. “She
did?”

“
Yeah, she works at a
department store ringing up customers. She doesn’t walk around a
lot so that’s good news.”

Calloway sighed. “I was hoping to avoid
this,” he said. “I’ve saved some money but it’s not enough to
replace the camera.”

“
It’s okay,” he said. “You
tried. And my mom isn’t going to work permanently. Maybe you could
combine your money so she can quit.”

“
I have a feeling your
parents wouldn’t take the money,” Calloway said. “I was going to
slip it into her wallet.”

“
And you think they won’t
notice a few extra hundred bucks?” Breccan asked incredulously. “My
mom can be forgetful but she isn’t stupid.”

“
Well, that’s my only
plan,” Calloway said. “I can’t think of a better
option.”

“
Good luck,” he
said.

Aunt Grace pulled up in the beat up car
and they piled into the seats. Breccan sunk low in the passenger
chair so he wouldn’t be recognized by the students standing on the
sidewalk. When Aunt Grace drove away everyone stared at the loud
car as it moved down the street. The car was old and in poor
condition but Calloway didn’t mind in the least—it still worked. He
never understood his cousin’s embarrassment of their income status.
Calloway preferred to have people like him for being him—not
because he had money and possessions. He sincerely hoped Breccan
would learn that someday.

Aunt Grace took them to an ice cream
shop on the way home and they ordered sundaes. Calloway tried to
pay for it but his aunt refused to let him touch his wallet. They
sat at a table near the window and ate their ice cream despite the
cold weather.

“
So how was the last day
of school?” she asked.

“
I’m glad it’s over.”
Breccan sighed.

“
Me, too,” Calloway added.
He ate half his ice cream in one minute because it tasted so good.
He saved the cherry for last—it was his favorite part.

“
How’d you do on your
exams?” she asked.

Breccan shoveled the food into his
mouth. “I think I passed.”

Calloway shrugged. “I did okay.” The
SAT scores were sitting in his pocket and he wanted to tell her
about his success but he changed his mind. He didn’t want to make
his cousin look bad by bragging about his scores.

When they were finished, they drove
home and came into the warm house. The house was decorated for the
Christmas season and Calloway stared at the ornamentation in awe.
The tree sat in the living room by the fireplace and it was covered
in ribbon and thistle. Holiday ornaments that Breccan and Calloway
made when they were young were pinned to the tree, and there were a
few gifts under the branches. The smell of gingerbread cookies was
heavy in the air, and Calloway felt his mouth water even though he
just ate. Christmas was his aunt’s favorite holiday and she
celebrated it joyously. Calloway loved the way the house was
decorated every year and enjoyed the food Aunt Grace would serve.
It would be his favorite time of the year if it didn’t make him so
depressed—he always thought of his parents.

The thought of his father made him lose
his appetite. Breccan and Easton hadn’t addressed the topic since
they discovered his father owned the Grandiose Historian Library,
and he tried not to think about it. The idea that his father didn’t
want him was too much to bear, especially during the Christmas
season. His aunt and uncle always gave him all the love he ever
needed but it wasn’t the same—he wanted his parents. He had vague
memories of Christmas morning with his mother and father but he
couldn’t recall most of it. Now all he had left were old pictures
that Aunt Grace still had. Calloway used to stare at an old photo
of his mother for hours, wondering what her voice sounded like, but
the sight of her beautiful face became too painful as he aged and
he stopped looking at the picture. It was placed in his night stand
where it remained untouched for years.