F-ing Perfect - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Cal blinked, suddenly noticing the darkening sky outside of the library windows as the sun began to disappear over the horizon. She'd been sitting there in the study room since Grace ran off, her lips tingling from the kiss the entire time.
It was sort of embarrassing to Cal that she'd managed to space out for over an hour. But could you blame her? Her mind was a flurry of thoughts and emotions that failed to form anything coherent.
Her heart was constantly pounding, as if she'd just experienced her very first kiss. The excitement and childish giddiness overshadowed most of her other feelings. Normally she thought too much after something like this happened, but right then, she could only feel.
Her body took over while her brain became useless, automatically prompting her to pack up her things and stand up from the table so she could finally make her way home.
The brightness of the setting sun illuminated the hallways as Cal walked through them, her hands gripping the straps of her backpack. The most mundane objects, from drinking fountains to classroom doors, looked breath-takingly beautiful to Cal under the glow of the orange sunlight. For her, at that moment, life itself just seemed to resonate with beauty.
"You're still here?" a voice called out, forcing Cal back into reality.
Having been staring out the window, she turned her gaze forward to hallway. A familiar blonde was leaning against the window, donning a cheerleading uniform.
"Dana," Cal said, still in a bit of a daze.
"Did something good happen?" Dana asked, amused. "You're smiling a whole lot."
"I am?" Cal was legitimately taken off guard. She hadn't even noticed that she'd been grinning the entire time. Now that she thought about it, the corners of her mouth were awfully sore.
"Did something happen with Grace?" Dana prodded.
Now Cal's mouth inverted into a frown as her cheeks warmed a little. "W-why would you assume it has anything to do with her?"
Much to Cal's surprise, Dana's smile eased and her eyes became more focused and serious. "You know, you guys don't have to keep denying it. I pretty much know what's going on between you two."
Cal's eyebrows furrowed – she was caught off guard by this change in Dana's disposition and her sudden directness. But she was also a bit annoyed by it. "Oh yeah? And what do you think is going on exactly?"
Dana let out a rather deep sigh. "Cal, a blind and deaf person could figure out that you two were dating and had a massive breakup."
Cal's fists balled at her sides, suddenly feeling defensive. She'd pretty much known that Dana had seen through their "enemies" façade, but it was getting irritating how much she inserted herself into the situation. Although much of what the blonde did had helped her relationship with Grace improve, there was a line that was definitely being crossed.
"Why do you think any of that involves you, Dana?" Cal asked. "You're the one who's been playing dumb this whole time, acting like you don't know what's going on and forcing us to be around each other. The real question is, why do you care so much?"
Dana was silent for quite a while, her smile having completely vanished from her face. Cal was getting worried that she'd legitimately angered the girl for the first time ever. Was she about to witness the cheerleader's hidden rage?
But as Cal braced herself for an explosion, Dana released another sigh, more frustrated this time, and she pressed her palms to her eyes, clenching some of her hair.
"Ugh, I don't know!" she cried out, her voice anguished. "I just can't help myself. I see you guys being so stupid about the whole thing and I can't help but just do something about it. You're both just so stubborn and ridiculous!"
Once again, Cal became defensive, shedding her previous fear. "Fine, but that still doesn't explain why you give a shit."
Dana let her hands drop from her face and she stared at the floor, leaning against the window. "Well...I knew Grace pretty well before I transferred away, as I'm sure you know."
Cal raised an eyebrow. "Knew her pretty well? I thought you guys just fought all the time?"
"Well, most of the whole 'rivalry' thing was one-sided from Grace," Dana explained. "Our relationship actually wasn't much different to how it is now."
Cal didn't know what to say because she wasn't sure what this information had to do with her original question. Dana seemed to sense her confusion and continued.
"When I met Grace freshman year, I was going through...some things," she explained, averting her eyes and folding her arms. "So having that stupid rivalry took my mind off of it. But then I had to move again and when I came back, it seemed like you took my place."
"So...you're jealous?" Cal asked, even more confused. Dana had never shown an inkling of ill will towards her – in fact, she seemed bent on getting her and Grace together.
Dana blushed, something Cal had never seen the cheery blonde do. There were many sides that the cheerleader was revealing, and Cal wondered if she only did so since Grace wasn't around. It made Cal feel sort of conflicted.
"No, of course not!" Dana denied. But then she relented, sighing. "Well...in a way, yes. But our relationship wasn't the same as yours. She's...changed since she's been around you. I'd never seen her act this way before, and that's how I figured out you two were more than just friends or rivals or whatever. It wasn't hard to see."
"But why did you do so much to get us together?" Cal pressed.
"Because...I don't know. It kept me around? I guess?" Dana struggled to explain. "Plus, I just don't want to see Grace so upset and lonely any more."
"I don't think you needed to do all this just to keep in contact with Grace..."
"I'm not so sure..."
She trailed off, and silence hung in the air for a few seconds. Cal figured that perhaps Grace wasn't the only one who seemed lonely as Dana said.
"Look, regardless, I know something happened with you guys," Dana stated suddenly. "You need to just talk things through. Avoiding each other and fighting and having secret makeout sessions in my house won't get anything resolved, and it's honestly started to get on my nerves too."
Cal blushed furiously. "How did you-"
Dana smirked. "Well, what else could've been going on when you two disappeared after telling my boyfriend you were helping Grace to the bathroom."
Cal had forgotten their encounter with Dana's boyfriend prior to their little escapade. Embarrassment swept through the tall blonde.
"See, you won't have to get caught sneaking around like that if you just talk it out and get together already."
Cal blushed deeper, but she considered Dana's advice. "I get that...but the last time I tried to talk to her it ended in a huge fight."
"That's because you two get caught up in your emotions instead of what you have to say to each other," Dana explained. "I can tell based on how you two sulk around each other like children."
"You don't have to be so harsh..." Cal muttered.
Dana stepped forward and grabbed the sides of Cal's arms. "Look, it'll be okay. Just stay calm and be completely honest about how you feel."
Cal felt oddly comforted by the gesture, especially since Dana was being particularly genuine at this time. It was like seeing a different person in the usually bubbly, nosy cheerleader. Her eyes bore into Cal's with a sense of confidence and determination.
"Alright, I'll talk to her," Cal conceded.
"Good." Dana sighed and stepped away, releasing her. "God, you guys are so difficult."
Cal watched her for a second before closing the distance between them again, wrapping Dana in a hug. Dana stiffened as if she was completely off guard by the action. Which would make sense – even Cal was surprised by her automatic response.
"Thank you for everything you've done, Dana," Cal told her. "Even though sometimes you're annoying and nosy, Grace and I wouldn't have come this far without you."
Dana hesitantly returned the hug as if she, of all people, was uncomfortable with the physical contact.
"Yeah, yeah," she mumbled.
"And you don't need to do this stuff to be friends with me and Grace," Cal said. "You were Grace's original rival, after all. Give yourself some more credit."
Dana shoved Cal away playfully. "Alright, alright, don't make me sound like some lost puppy."
But she seemed comforted by Cal's words, bringing a smile to Cal's face.
"We better get home, it's basically dark out," Dana said.
"Yeah, I was actually on the way out before I ran into you."
"Don't you park in the back lot?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Because that's in the other direction."
"Oh...you're right."
--
Cal's plan to talk to Grace to settle their relationship once and for all was to commence the following day – the Friday before Spring Break. It was now or never, so Cal sent her invitation to meet via text early that morning.
However, there was no immediate response. Or a response during first period...or second, or third. Cal started to figure she may not get a response at all.
That's fine, she's probably scared too, Cal thought, keeping a level head. I'll just catch her during sociology class.
Except when sixth period rolled around, Cal was stopped at the door of Mr. Morrison's classroom to see a piece of paper taped to it.
It read: In case you didn't read the email, I had to leave town early for Spring Break, so class is canceled.
Sure enough, when Cal opened her school email on her phone, there was an unread message from Mr. Morrison about the cancellation.
Why was she so stupid? What was she going to do now that Grace was ignoring her and she wouldn't be able to confront her after class?
The thought of enduring an entire week at home, worrying about whether Grace wanted to be with her or not, made Cal's stomach turn.
What if this launched another indefinite session of them avoiding each other? Would they ever be able to settle their relationship and stop fighting? Was Grace even interested in doing so?
Frustration nearly brought tears to Cal's eyes, but there wasn't much she could do at that point. She hung around the school for the entirety of her free period in case she caught sight of Grace, but when she didn't, she had no choice but to just go home.
--
"Well you don't sound like you're doing any better."
Cal held the phone to her ear as she lay on her back on her bed. She cuddled a pillow to her chest as if it was protecting her heart from all the pain she was feeling.
In other words, she was being a giant baby.
"I'm fine, Sam," she told her sister over the phone.
Samantha had been calling periodically to check on Cal since the party. She said she was too busy with midterms to actually stop by, but Cal didn't take any offense. After their heartfelt encounter the previous weekend, Cal felt awkward about seeing her sibling in person. It would take time for them to ease into a closer, healthier relationship after years of animosity.
Still, Samantha's sporadic phone check-ins were more than Cal could've ever imagined, and she was happy.
"If you need to come over and talk, you can," Samantha offered, her voice quiet as if she was a little shy.
"Nah, you're busy with school," Cal replied. "I promise I'm doing okay."
"...alright."
Sensing the awkward silence that was about to ensue, Cal quickly changed the subject. "A-anyway, how are you doing? Did you find yourself a straight-A law student boyfriend like Mom wanted?"
Fuck. So much for making things less awkward. That was about the worst subject she could've brought up.
"W-what? No, no, of course not. I don't have time for anything like that."
The anxiety in Samantha's voice was surprising to Cal – it was almost to the point of being defensive. Cal figured she needed to abort this whole interaction before it got even worse.
"Right, no, you're a super busy woman," she replied quickly. "Anyway, I'm going out with some friends tonight, so I got to get ready. I'll talk to you later?"
"Yes," Samantha coughed awkwardly. "Just stay out of trouble, Cal."
"Will do," Cal said before saying her goodbyes and hanging up the call.
She let out a sigh, plopping her phone down on the bed beside her. She stared at the ceiling, something she'd been doing since she got home from school. Cal had been spending a lot of time in her thoughts for the past week...
Trying to fight off tears upon remembering her situation with Grace, Cal felt her eyelids grow heavy. Even though it was still early, the tall blonde couldn't help but start to doze off, tired from a previously sleepless night.
Ring!
Cal nearly leaped off the bed, her head snapping to her phone. She usually put it on silent, but she must've accidentally taken it off. Figuring it was Samantha calling to fill her in on something she forgot to mention, she answered and press the phone to her ear.
"Hello?"
But the voice that responded did not belong to her sister at all. It was a voice she hadn't heard a peep from since yesterday.
It was Grace.
"I'm in the park by your house. Come meet me."