Beautifully Broken (6 page)

Chapter 5

“Wow, good line, but you can’t look at someone and know
they are special. Sorry but I am not the kind of girl that
falls for that.” Cali snapped. He looked shocked like he
had never been turned down before. She found herself
feeling proud that she didn’t fall for him and the line even
though it was a good one.

“Well what kind of girl are you then?” he asked curiously
looking at her with his deep, mysterious eyes.

 

“Not a very interesting one,” she said walking away
towards the counter to retrieve his food.

“Here is you cheeseburger and fries, is there anything
else I can get for you?” she asked as she placed the food
in front of him.

“Yes I am done my coffee but can I have a cola with my
dinner?” he asked. Looking in his eyes she got lost for a
moment, she felt her knees get weak but she broke free
from is mesmerizing spell.
“Yes I’ll be right back with your cola.” Cali smiled and
walked away. As she glanced back she noticed that he was
looking at her.

She walked back over to his table and gave him his cola;
he smiled at her and took a drink.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome,” she said as she was walking away.

 

“Miss… I am sorry I didn’t catch you name.” She turned
back around to his table.

 

“I am Cali, and you are?”

“Edwin.” He held out his hand. Cali hesitantly reached for
it. He held her hand firm but his shake was gentle like he
didn’t want to hurt her. “Nice to meet you Cali.”

“Is there anything else I can get for you,” She smiled and
giggled at the same time.
Why IamIactinglikethis why
doeshehave this effecton me?

“Yes actually, I would like your company. It’s not busy in
here, and your friend is leaving.” he said pointing to the
door, Cali turned and looked over at the door and Grace
waved as she walked out of the diner with a smile on her
face. “So you have the time to sit with me, then I don’t have
to eat alone.” She looked around the restaurant trying to
find something she had to do so she could say no but
nothing came to mind. “You know, you want to sit and talk
to me so just give in.”
“Ok fine you win I have nothing to do so I’ll sit with you, so
you don’t have to eat alone,” Cali went to the bar and got
herself a drink of cola.

“So Edwin, where are you headed?” she asked curiously
as she watched him eat. He ate with grace and
sophistication.

“I am headed south to Summerville, it’s a small town and
it’s really beautiful there. The ocean is breath taking and
the beaches are so lovely but the best part of the town is
that the people there are so used to tourists that they
aren’t nosey and they just let you be.”

“That’s sound like a nice place. I have never seen the
ocean before. For that matter I have never even been to a
beach.” Cali spoke out loud she didn’t realise until the
words came out of her mouth. He looked at her surprised
and intrigued.

“So you have never traveled anywhere?”

“No I have never been anywhere I have lived a very
sheltered life,” she admitted looking away from his eyes.
She didn’t want to get lost in them again.

“You’re far too pretty to be stuck in a small town like this.
Maybe I am your Prince Charming, here to rescue you
from your sad little life.”

“Ha, are you serious? Do those lines actually work for
you?” she asked while laughing. He looked shocked that
she didn’t fall for him but at the same time he was even
more interested, and he started laughing with her.

“Yes they really do work most of the time.” Edwin said
laughing.

“Well sorry to burst your bubble but I am not the girl that
believes in prince charming or fairy tales. I don’t believe in
happy endings. I could live without love.” Her words
almost broke her own heart.

“Well what do you believe in then?” Edwin asked
curiously “I have never met someone as intriguing as you
are,” he smiled, gazing at her. “And that’s not a line, that
one’s true.”

“I don’t really know what I believe in but I don’t believe in
romance.” Cali said looking out the window.

“Well it sounds like you have been let down way too many
times in the past and you’re a little broken,” he touched
her hand to comfort her, again with a shock of energy that
made them both smile.

“Yah, something like that.” She always felt broken, but how
did he know that about her?

“Well maybe I am not the only broken person in this
place?” Cali looked deep into his eyes and she knew he
was broken too.

“We all have a past we would like to forget, I won’t ask you
about yours if you don’t ask me about mine,” Edwin said
looking at her. He smiled but it was different this time. It
was a serious smile.

“That sounds fair.”

Edwin came in to the diner for the next few days.
Sometimes he was in twice a day; breakfast and dinner. He
always came in later to pass the dinner rush so he could
see her. Cali would sit with him while he would eat so he
wasn’t alone and they would talk. That Friday while he was
eating dinner and she was sitting with him, Grace came
over to the table.

“Hello we haven’t met yet. I am Grace, Cali’s friend,” she
said smiling.

 

“Nice to meet you Grace. I’m Edwin, also Cali’s friend,” he
smiled back at her.

“I came over to ask you two if you wanted to come to the
carnival with us tonight? It’s not far, just the next town
over.” Grace asked, pointing to Chuck who was standing
behind her. Edwin looked at Cali to see her reaction. She
put her head down and bit her lip.

“Yes I think that would be fun! What do you say Cali? Will
you come with us to the carnival?”

“Ok, but this is not a date. We are just friends,” Cali said
pointing at him trying to keep a serious look on her face.
“Of course I would never think of hitting on you, even
though I know you find me irresistible and I think you
might be the most beautifully interesting girl I have ever
met, I will not hit on you,” Edwin said smiling with a
sarcastic tone in his voice as he got up and walked to the
washroom.

Cali was shocked and overwhelmed. She did find him
irresistible; it made her feel so happy to know that he
found her to be attractive. She never thought about herself
as beautiful before. Her sisters were beautiful. She always
thought of herself as kind of plain.

“That just might have been the best thing I have ever
heard,” Grace said smiling. “That man is captivated by
your beauty and you should give into him. He is gorgeous
and he wants you, who care about anything else. You only
live once and life isn’t always good so take those
satisfying moments and make them last,” Grace smiled
putting her finger over Cali’s lips looking into her big blue
eyes; Cali pushed Grace off of her and laughed.

“The only thing he is captivated by is the fact that I haven’t
fallen for his amazing eyes that carry you away or his
confident charming pickup lines. I don’t think he has ever
met a girl that hasn’t fallen into bed with him after a few
hours. That’s what is appealing, the chase, not me, just the
chase and as soon as I give in to him, which I won’t, he’ll
be gone.” Cali said crossing her arms pretending he
wasn’t getting to her.
“He is amazing and charming and you’re totally hooked,”
Grace laughed.

Cali went back to her room to change out of her uniform.
She straightened her hair and put on makeup. She wanted
to look nice, she really liked the attention. She put on a
pair of dark jeans and black boots and she wore a white Vneck t-shirt and a khaki colored jacket. She was totally
falling for Edwin but she knew that he wasn’t going to be
around for very long and she didn’t want to be just
another girl. She had more important things to worry
about, like not going to jail and making sure her sisters
were all right.

Cali walked out of her room and Edwin was standing next
to his car waiting for her. He looked so sexy he was
wearing light blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a khaki
jacket and khaki boots. Cali took a deep breath. He was so
good looking every time she looked at him she felt like she
was going to faint. She walked over to his car. Chuck’s
truck was gone and she knew they left her alone with him.
He was leaning up against the passenger side of the car
looking at her with his dark green eyes and a mysterious
look on his face. His car was a stunning baby blue
convertible 1972 ford GT Mustang with a V-8 and 4-speed
manual transmission. It had white leather seats and a nice
stereo system. It was amazing. If he wasn’t good looking
enough, he had a super sexy car to add to his charm.
“Your friends said they would meet us at the carnival,”
Edwin said smiling as he checked her out. “I know this is
not a date so I am not going to tell you how hot you look,”
He opened the car door for her.

“Well aren’t you a gentleman, thank you,” she said as she
lowered herself in to the seat.

 

“What a nice ride,” she said, running her hand over the
leather seat.

 

“Ya thanks, I think it’s pretty nice,” he replied starting the
engine.

 

They drove along in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable
silence; more of a peaceful understanding.

Once they got into the carnival they walked around
looking for Grace and Chuck. There were games, rides and
people all over the place.

“So what do you want to do first?” Edwin asked.

“Well we should find Grace & Chuck and then I would like
to go on some rides,” Cali responded as she was looking
around hopping she would see Grace. “Do you like
rides?”

“Yes but I am afraid of heights so I don’t do the Wheel of
Heights,” Edwin admitted.

“Oh really that’s my favorite ride,” she smiled.
“You drive me crazy, do you know that?” he suddenly said
stopping to look directly in to her eyes. It was such a
perfect moment. He touched her face and she was giving
into him. They were both standing there lost in the moment
while people walked around them.

“Cali!” Grace shouted as she sprinted over. “I am so glad
we found you, come on let’s go we are all going on the
Wheel of Heights”. Cali looked behind her to his face she
mouthed to him “Sorry”. A part of her was disappointed
that Grace interfered, she wanted to feel what a kiss from
him would have been like, but at the same time she was
relieved.

“We can’t all go on the Wheel of Heights, Edwin doesn’t do
heights let’s find a different ride,” Cali said looking at
Grace with an expression on her face that said be nice.
“Let’s go on the Speedster,” Cali ran to the lineup.

They all had so much fun going on rides, talking and
laughing with each other. Cali couldn’t remember the last
time she had fun like that. It was fun without the fear of
what waits for her a home. She knew she was going home
alone, nothing to fear. She was finally allowed to have fun
with her new friends.

“Let’s go check out the games,” said Chuck. “I bet I could
kick your butt in darts,” he looked at Edwin with a cocky
smile on his face.

“You’re on, let’s see what you got,” Edwin said laughing
as they walked over to the dart game.
“Sorry Chuck but I think Edwin is going to kick your butt,”
Grace said laughing.

“Oh piss off, you’re breaking my focus.” Chuck said
pushing her out of his way playfully.

 

“I have to use the ladies room, Cali come with me,” Grace
said pulling Cali by the arm.

They walked to the big barn towards the bathrooms. As
Cali was waiting for Grace she saw a couple of people that
looked familiar to her. As they walked closer she knew
who they were; Jeffery Totem and Brittney Soap. She went
to high school with them and they were walking right over
to her. She was shaking, she could barely breath. She
didn’t know what to do.

“Hey, do I know you?” Brittney asked curiously.

 

“No I don’t think so.” Cali said trying not to make eye
contact.

 

“Ya, you look familiar.” Jeffery said.

 

“She looks like Veronica Burns from high school,”
Brittney said looking at Jeff.

 

“Well I guess I have a twin out there somewhere.” Cali said
laughing trying to change her voice.

 

“Ya maybe you do because your eyes are just like hers,”

Brittney said staring at her.
“Cali, there you are I thought I lost you,” Grace said
walking up to her giving her a hug.

“Hello, are you friends of Cali’s?” Grace asked in a
friendly manner.

“No, we just thought she was someone else.” Brittney said
looking at Grace judgmentally she put her arm around
Jeffery and they walked away.

Cali was stunned, frozen in place.

 

“Cali are you ok? You look like you just saw a ghost,”
Grace asked concerned.

“Ya maybe I did see a ghost, or a skeleton,” Cali whispered
as they started walking back to the games area to find the
guys.

Chapter 6

They found the guys by a baseball game. Edwin was
standing beside Chuck with two large, stuffed bears in his
arms.

“See I told you Edwin would kick your butt,” Grace said
laughing at chuck.

 

“Shut up Grace, it’s fixed, the games are all fixed” Chuck
snapped, putting his arm out to hug her.

 

Cali just stood there looking at all of them she was over
whelmed by her fear of being caught.

“I won this for you Mrs. Grace,” Edwin said holding out
one of the teddy bears. “It’s red, like your hair so I feel
you should have this one. Cali I won this one for you
because it bright blue like your eyes.” He handed her the
big blue teddy bear but he could tell something was wrong
she looked so sad and scared her face was as white as a
ghost. “I know this is not a date so I gave one to both of
you.”
“Thank you I love him,” Cali said as she embraced the
bear.

“Are you feeling sick or did something happen to upset
you?” Grace asked.

 

“No I am fine, maybe just a little tired,” Cali replied, forcing
a yawn.

 

“I know what will make you happy,” Edwin said with a
smile on his face. “Let’s go on the wheel of heights!”