Misfits - Chapter 9 (Patreon)

The car is silent. Cal hadn't spoken since my breakdown. And I didn't want to say anything to him. I felt embarrassed because of how filthy and hungry and mangy I probably looked. I hadn't had a shower all week, but Cal didn't seem worried in the least about any of that. His main concern seemed to be why I was about to walk into traffic without so much as a second thought.

The fact that he was there and saved me at all was pure coincidence.

"Rue." I jump slightly as Cal's voice slices through the silence. I keep my eyes trained on my twiddling fingers.

"Rue. What's going on. You need to talk to me." I try and Ignore him. I knew I needed to talk to someone, I just didn't want to. The situation I was in was embarrassing that in itself enough. After I don't respond he takes the hint and lets out a deep breath dropping the conversation all together.

We reach his house in record time and as we sit in the car he finally turns to me. He reaches over the car pulling my hand in his, and tracing a light pattern with his thumb.

"Princess. I want to help you, but you gotta let me in." My eyes are trained on the movement of his thumb, and the comfort the contact is bringing me. I slowly bring my eyes up to meet his. He's watching me with furrowed brows. I can see the genuine worry he has.. over me.

I open my mouth to tell him everything, but immediately close it. No. This was my problem. My issues to deal with. I just shake my head no and don't dare to look up at Cal's face.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Hey.. you have nothing to be sorry about, princess. You can tell me when you're ready. Ok?" I shake my head slowly, my vision beginning to blur from the tears starting to form.

"Just.. Tell me one thing... Why were you about to walk into traffic?"

"I wanted to die.." My answer is immediate. I feel Cals fingers under my chin bringing my face up to meet his.

"Well, I don't want you to die. Did you stop to think about how I would have felt coming back to find you were gone? I told you before, I really like you, princess." His face is so serious while he speaks to me. After a moment of silence, he pulls away from me.

"Let's get you cleaned up, princess." He steps out of the car walking around to my side helping me out of the car. I have to put all of my weight on Cal because I was so weak. I find myself going in and out of consciousness. We reach the dining room and Cal pulls out a chair for me.

He walks towards the kitchen calling to me over his shoulder.

"When's the last time you ate."

"This morning." The lie rolls off my tongue immediately. I know I "should stop lying to him about everything that goes on with me, he seemed like he really just wanted to help me. But I can't help but feel as though I'd be nothing but a burden to him. I jump when out of nowhere Cal sits in front of me, jerking his chair out roughly. I can tell by his demeanor he's mad.

"You remember what I said I do for a living princess?" I keep my eyes trained on the table, afraid to look him in the eyes. I nod my head slowly.

"Don't you think I would know when you're lying to me?" he asks. Genuine curiosity lacing his voice.

"You know what I can see right now just by looking at you?" This time I raise my head and look at him as he's studying me in detail.

"Five days. I say you haven't eaten in about 5 days. I can tell by the tremors of your fingers, and the light fainting spells you keep having. I can see it in the way the veins are poking out of your skin, and the way your eyes are beginning to sink into your face." He tilts his head and continues to speak to me.

"You've been outdoors. There's too much dirt in your hair and grime on your face. You fingernails are dirty, and so is your clothing. My jacket. One side of it is more worn than the other. I can see the faint tatters in the arms as if you've been laying on gravel o concrete. Not only that, but your body temperature is below normal."

"I can see the bruises and cuts and scars that mar your body, and don't think I don't notice how you are always watching my hands when I move. You're scared. I see the way you react if I grab you, if I move to suddenly. You're jumpy. Princess, I know you. I know exactly whats going on. You can try and lie to me all you want but it would be easier on both of us if you would just tell me the truth. I'll always know when you're lying." I can only stare at him in shock. He was spot on about everything. And he knew all of that just by looking at me. He shuffles in his seat and reaches across the table, grabbing my hand in his.

"Now, I'm going to ask you again. When's the last time you ate?" He keeps his gaze trained on me, daring me to lie to him. I open my mouth and a sob escapes my lips.

"F-f-f-..." A loud gasp echoes throughout the room as I try and speak, and breathe. But my body is hyperventilating and I can't get a clear sentence out as my emotions overwhelm me.

"Shhh.." Cals soothing voice washes over me. He slowly stands from the table watching me with concern as he disappears into the kitchen. Moments later he comes back with a steaming bowl of soup, setting it down on the table in front of me. My stomach cramps in pain when the smell hits my nose, tightening from the raging hunger it was feeling.

"Eat, and we'll talk later."

* * * * *

Once again, I'm fed, washed, and sitting on Cals comfortable couch. The sun is still high in the sky, but Cal has some kind of tint drawn on his windows causing the house to keep its warm glow. He walks from around the corner with a blanket and my clothes I had on earlier in his hands.

He hands me the blanket and drops the clothes on the floor.

"Rue. when's the last time you got clothes?" He's still looking at my clothes in disbelief. I could feel myself getting embarrassed. I mean, not everyone had money to spend like Cal. I only shrug my shoulders not wanting to get into this conversation with him. He shakes his head disapprovingly at me, walking to the other couch.

"Are you ready to talk to me, Rue?"

"Cal, Please.. just leave it alone," I mumble. He seems to sense my distress and thankfully lets the conversation drop. The room is filled with silence.

"Why are you back so early?" I ask. He wasn't supposed to be here for another 2 days. If he hadn't come back early, I wouldn't be here now.

"I got done early, so I decided to head back."

"Done with what?" I ask. He only shrugs.

"Work." I don't even bother asking more than that. He never wanted to talk about work.

"How did you know where I was?" I mumble. He was at that intersection the moment I was, if he hadn't been I would be dead now.

"Honestly, I was just passing through, when I saw my jacket standing near the edge of the road. Then I realized it wasn't stopping." Cal moves from his seat and walks towards me.

"Would you believe me if I said I wanted to protect you. I want to protect you, Rue. From everything. Any pain you've felt, I want to shield you from it. I can do that princess, if you'd just let me." He reaches out, gently cupping my face.

"Let me in. Let me do that for you," he whispers.

"Why, Cal?" Everything in me wants to trust him, to let him ease my heartache, but a small part of me is screaming no. To just stay focused on what I need to do and leave him out of it.

"Does everything need a reason for you?" he says warily. I'm about to answer when a knock sounds on his door. He lingers in front of me, for a moment before standing and disappearing around the corner.

Cal's words resonate within me. Why did I need a reason? Everything with me, everything that I had done needed a reason. But with things that went wrong for me, I could never find a reason, I would always just ask myself, why me? With Cal it was different though. He watched me as if I was a beautiful flower in a field of dead roses. He made me feel, special. Like there was no one like me in this world. And for some reason I needed a reason for that kind of behavior from him.

I was scared. Scared to let my heart go. To let my feelings rule me instead of reason.

"Where the hell did you go, man we were supposed to meet up an hour ago-" Cal and the man from the first night I ever met him in that clearing round the corner. His eyes immediately darken as they fall on me.

"What's she doing here?" he grounds out. I pull the blanket up further, wanting to just hide from the scrutiny of his gaze.

"She's my guest," Cals voice comes out nonchalant.

"What did you want James," he says, I can sense the irritation in his voice. James shrugs but his gaze never leaves me.

"I was just trying to figure out why you never showed up. But I can see you got better things to do." He motions to me.

Cal only rolls his eyes and makes his way towards me on the couch, plopping down next to me and putting an arm possessively around me. I can smell the familiar scent of some kind of spice coming off of him.

"You would've called if it were that simple man. What's the issue?" For once, James looks uncomfortable.

"It's about the shadow." Cal's demeanor changes next to me. He slowly stands to his full intimidating height and pulls me gently with him.

"Give me a minute," he says to James. He takes my hand and pulls me down the corridor to his bedroom. Once we reach the room he leads me to the bed setting me gently on the edge.

"I have something I need to tale to him about. I want you to stay in here until I come back for you ok." I nod my head in understanding and Cal's face shifts into a playful grin. It looked dazzling on him.

"That's my girl." He then turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

* * * * *

This is impossible. It has to be. I went to bed last night, and when I awoke this morning there were clothes all around me. I squeeze my eyes tightly and open them again to see if they would disappear. But they didn't. What was going on?

As if on cue the door to the bedroom opens and in strolls Cal with another shopping bag in his hands. He sets it down on the ground and looks towards the bed, freezing once he sees that I'm awake.

"Cal, what's all this?" I ask in disbelief. He pulls the sucker out of his mouth and looks around as if thinking of a way to respond to me.

"Clothes," he says. That's it. Nothing else. So I make a face at him hoping he'll elaborate on his own.

"Rue. From the day I met you you've been wearing virtually the same thing. You're shoes are falling apart, all your shirts have holes in them, and your jeans are tearing at the seams. Not to mention your shoes. So I went out and got you some clothes," he says as if he were revealing a prize.

I stare at him in disbelief. All these clothes looked expensive.

"I didn't know what you wanted, so I just got each style. We'll see which one you like and go from there." He seems to be getting more and more excited as he tells me about the clothing he's gotten for me.

"No," I whisper. He stops midsentence and quirks a brow at me.

"No?" He repeats.

"Cal, I can't take any of this.. It's too much." I say in disbelief. I look up when I hear his laughter. His laugh echoes off the walls of the room.

"Princess. You need clothes, and I have the means to get them for you. How is that too much?" he says in confusion. I just shake my head, not knowing what to say to him to make him understand.

"We're not dating, or married, or anything along those lines.. Why would you go and do this..?" I ask. Callum doesn't miss a beat.

"Because I wanted to." He pops his sucker back in his mouth, walking toward me. He sits on the edge of the bed causing a dip. His eyes turn a deep amber shade as he speaks to me, the tension in the air thickening.

"I told you. I want you. Everything you have to offer, I want it. I want to protect you. I want to be there for you. And all I want in return is you unconditionally. One day soon, you'll be mine princess." His voice takes on a possessive tone and I can feel chills breaking out across my skin as he speaks his next sentence.

"I protect what's mine. And you? Well, you deserve the world princess."