Tale of Life (Essence Series #2) Read Free Page B

just stay out of it.”
    Beatrice smiled. She stood from her chair and Calloway followed her to the exit. There was an awkward silence before she spoke. “Are you and that girl an item?”
    Calloway raised an eyebrow. “Who are you referring to?” He was never with a girl on campus except Easton, and it was evident that they were just friends.
    “The one you took to winter formal.”
    “Oh,” he said. “No. She and I are just friends.” The classroom building was getting closer as they walked to their next class. For some reason, he didn’t like discussing Weston with Beatrice, or anyone for that matter. The thought always made him sad. When he thought about New Year’s Eve, he felt the bile rise in his throat and the anger spread through his body—it wasn’t a good color on him. “We went to the dance as friends.”
    “Hawk thought she was your girlfriend.”
    Calloway wasn’t sure if that was a question. It seemed like it was by the way Beatrice was staring at him. He already made it clear they were just friends and he wasn’t sure why he needed to repeat it. “Weston just said that so Hawk would stop teasing me. We were just pretending.”
    Beatrice nodded. “Well, it worked. I know Hawk believed it as well as everyone else in school. She’s very pretty.”
    Calloway didn’t know what to say. He thought that was obvious. She stole the hearts of every man, bird, and creature that she passed, enticing them with her physical appearance as well as her witty charm and beautiful smile. Calloway wished he would stop thinking about her in this way. He was just letting himself get hurt—over and over. “What’s your next class?”
    “Economics,” she said.
    “That’s not my favorite course,” Calloway said. “I prefer English and photography.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Photography?”
    “I actually really enjoy the art. If Hawk wasn’t in that class, it would probably be my favorite period.”
    Beatrice looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry, Calloway. If it weren’t for me, this wouldn’t be happening to you. Hawk is a complete jerk and I never should have dated him. I apologize for letting you endure this.”
    Calloway nodded. “ It’s okay, Beatrice. Let’s just forget about it.” Her verbal regret of dating Hawk implied they were no longer together. He felt his heart race when he thought of the possibility. “Are you still together?”
    “No,” she said. “I broke up with him.”
    Calloway tried to hide the smile on his face but he was failing miserably. The lines around his mouth formed a half grimace as both emotions tried to take dominance. A passing student stared at him for a moment with a confused expression then dodged out of the way, frightened of Calloway’s odd features. Calloway wasn’t sure what this meant. Now that she wasn’t with Hawk anymore, she was talking to him. Did that mean something? “I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “You deserve someone better, Beatrice. I have no doubt you’ll find him.”
    “I hope so.” She smiled. She stopped when she reached her classroom. The other students were lined up outside the room waiting for the teacher to unlock the door. “Thanks for letting me spend lunch with you.”
    Calloway smiled at her—a normal smile. “You’re always welcome,” he said. “I apologize on behalf of my friends. They’ll come around.”
    She nodded. “ It’s okay, Calloway. I don’t blame them for acting this way. I wish I had friends that would do that for me.” Beatrice waved goodbye and walked into her classroom. Calloway watched her go and stared at the blonde hair that trailed behind her back. After a moment of staring, he walked away and headed to his next class.
    Calloway couldn’t remember what was said in any of his classes. All he thought about was his lunch date with Beatrice. He’d never had a conversation with her and now they spent an entire period together. The ease of their conversation really surprised him. She