Chapter 6 - Michael
Everyone knows that news travels quickly in a small town. Its only competition might possibly be the rate at which news travels within a group of friends, or those who used to be friends. My phone began ringing that day, and while I sent the calls to voicemail since I was in class, I knew something drastic was up. When I finally learned what it was, it knocked the wind from me.
Callie, my little lassie, had married my best friend.
There was no kind way to put such a thing, although I heard a dozen different versions from the so-called friends who called to let me know in case I hadn't heard. Of course they knew I'd heard. Clayton had made sure of it. I knew when I left him behind in the parking lot that evening that there would be hell to pay. Clayton was a particularly vindictive person who was capable of almost anything if he was drunk enough. Apparently, he had gotten drunk enough.
Callie was the one I couldn't figure out. It was so totally out of character for her, and at first I couldn't believe the repeated stories. None of them varied in detail, however, so after a certain point I was forced to believe it was true.
I called one of the other guys in our group, Buddy Lee Thompson. "Buddy, is it really true?" If anyone would know, it was Buddy. We'd been really tight throughout high school, and if anyone besides Clayton could be considered my best friend, it was Buddy.
"I'm afraid so, Michael," came his words, and I felt punched in the gut.
"I don't understand it, though. Clayton was pissed at me the last time I saw him."
"Yeah, I heard."
"I can sort of understand Clayton getting drunk and doing something stupid like this, but Callie? No way."
"From what I hear, it wasn't really her fault. They were both invited to that wedding, and Clayton took advantage of the fact that it was super hot and Callie wasn't feeling well. He told me she was thirsty and thinking she was drinking ice water with lime and lemon, but he was lacing it. She agreed to have dinner with him and he put something in her drinks there too. They went for a ride after dinner and she fell asleep. He drove south until they got to Tennessee. I guess you know that you can get married the same day there, and Clayton had enough money to buy off a justice of the peace and get it done. Callie didn't realize what had happened until the next morning."
"Were they in a motel?" I had to ask that question. Consummation was the only thing that made it legal.
"Afraid so, Michael. Clayton must've been awfully pissed at you to do something this big. Not that Callie isn't worth it. Shit, if I'd known the two of you had broken up, I would've asked her out myself, with your permission."
"I've really fucked up this time, Buddy Lee. She was mine all along, and I know she loves me. I took advantage of that and then, like a super asshole, I left. My dad filled my head with dreams of bigger and better things - they were all mine if I just followed his lead. Well, I did, and look where it got me. I'm crazy about her, Buddy. What the hell am I going to do?"
"I hate to say this, Michael, but I think you already had your chance. She belongs to Clayton now, whether you like it or not. Hell, she belongs to him whether she likes it or not. I don't know, man, to tell you the truth. I'll see if I can get any more about her from some of her girlfriends, but I'm guessing she's dealing with enough right now that she's not going to be talking. For sure, she won't talk to you. I know that Clayton told her that you were partying hardy there at school, including seeing all kinds of other women. That's what got her. You know Callie has a temper if you push her too far."
"Oh, don't I know that."
"Well, obviously Clayton knew that, too. He played her like a fiddle. Hell, I don't even know if he likes her. This was all about getting back at you, you know."
"I'm so pissed right now I feel like shoving school in their faces and coming home to get her."
"And what about, Clayton?"
"To hell with him. I'll kill him, and then she'll be a widow."
"Michael, get ahold of yourself. You're not going to throw all that away. That would only give Clayton the grand prize. He'd have your girl and he would have destroyed your life. Do me a favor and don't reward him like that."
"So what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and not say a word?" I wanted to put my fist through a wall, and Buddy was not helping me settle down.
"Not much you can do. It's up to Callie now. Look, like I said, I'll see what I can find out."
"If you see her, Buddy, tell her I'm still here if she needs me. Make sure she knows that, Buddy."
"Sure, I promise. Do what you're doing and all this mess will sort itself out. You know as well as I do that Callie deserves better than Clayton, and eventually she'll figure that out. Just give her some space and a chance to get her pride back. If there's anything you could do, it's buckle down and stay away from other women, at least if you want Callie, that is."
"Let me know." I tapped the disconnect and threw myself on the bed. I wanted to scream, I wanted to hit someone, but most of all I wanted to hold Callie and pretend it all never happened. I'd defy my dad, give back the scholarship and hand the football to the next guy. All that was worth nothing without her.
I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of Clayton putting hands on her and barely made it to the bathroom. I even missed practice that night, texting the coach that I was down with a bug. I couldn't think straight, I couldn't get my homework done, I couldn't do anything but lie on that bed and picture Clayton's arms wrapped around her while the look on her face was one of sheer terror.
Clayton could be rough. I'd seen him do it. His father had been a wife beater, and Clayton was an excellent student. I swore to myself right then that if he laid a hand on Callie, I'd do exactly what I said. I would kill him.