A Circle Incomplete (Callie)

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh lay in her bed, still dressed in the sports bra and leggings she had worn to go on a jog earlier in the day. She could have changed... but that involved effort the blonde just didn't have at the moment. She could have also started homework, like the English assignment or math work. Carleigh had zero motivation for it right now. 

So, instead, she sat, thinking. About life and the people in it. Like River. Her face lit up at the thought of the cute asian. Or who weren't in it anymore. Sammy's face and named crossed her mind, and Carleigh sighed, saddened by the whole ordeal. Hammel just didn't feel right without one of her sunshines by her side. She felt empty. And instead of dealing with the loss productively, Carleigh was cooped up away from her other friends. 

Reaching across to the nightstand, Carleigh grabbed the remote and began flipping through channels, lazily. She might as well try and distract herself with some reality tv, hoping that would keep more serious matters off of her mind for now.

[Calliope Gallo]

When things became stressful, Callie felt uneasy. She was never sure what to do with herself; never sure where to turn. She'd all but ruined her relationship with Lucah given her undeniable encounters with Sammy. She was the very girl who ended up falling in love with the half-Greek dancer.

And now, she was gone.

She'd gone completely inward when she learned of her friend's departure. Callie wasn't even on campus for the last few days. And on the off chance she was, she was in her room. Her brothers were incredibly confused and curious as to what it was that forced the blonde to cry so much, but she didn't explain it. She didn't want to. She really couldn't either way.

But Niko was working, and Eric was at the university, and so Callie was in her room again. However, she just couldn't stay there. Too much of the little room reminded her of her former friend. And so she left, going to the only place she could think of.

It was clear just by looking at her that she'd been crying. It was unfortunate, but she never had decent control of her tears at the best of times, let alone now. But for now, they'd stopped. And so she was grateful. Raising a hand to the door, Callie knocked lightly. She had no intention of sticking around for long - if she didn't get an answer, she would have left the hallway, back to the strange comfort of her brightened dorm room.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh heard a light knock on the door, raising an eyebrow slightly. She turned off the TV, a bit confused by the knock. If it were her roommates, they would have just walked in. Even Carleigh's friends walked in half the time without knocking. 

The blonde pulled her fatigued body off of her bed, heading towards the door in her attire. She shrugged. Oh well. Carleigh opened the door, face beaming as she saw Callie. "Oh hey Callie! It's great..." She started, before almost immediately trailing off.

Her face fell as the girl noticed Callie's expression. Her face was pinkish and there were reddish rings around her eyes. "Oh sweetheart..." She opened her arms for a hug, if Callie wanted. It was evident that her fellow sunshine had been crying. At the same time, Carleigh stepped back to allow them to step into her dorm room. She knew why, of course. Even if they had yet to talk about what had happened, Carleigh had a gut feeling.

[Calliope Gallo]

When Callie was greeted by Carleigh's usual bright demeanour, her features faltered as she tried a smile. As if for a moment she could actually get away with the way her face looked. But her friend's voice dropped, and she knew almost instantly that no, there was no getting around this.

And that was probably a good thing. Callie was a terrible liar, and trying to keep a brave face would have been pointless.

The moment Carleigh opened her arms, Callie took the necessary steps between them and folded herself into the hug. She allowed herself to be led back into the room, arms wrapping around the familiar form of her friend. For the time she stood there, she didn't cry. Not yet. But she knew she likely would again. "Sorry, I-" Callie tried, making a move to draw away from her, "-Didn't know where else to go. Or who else to talk to."

[Carleigh Davidson]

If there was one thing Carleigh knew, it was when her friends were having a bad day. She wasn't the best at giving helpful advice but just tried her best to do whatever was necessary. Carleigh wrapped her arms around Callie, as they stood there in silence. Just hugging each other. "There, there." She said soothingly, rubbing Callie's shoulders.

Unfolding her arms from her friend, Carleigh allowed her to step back from the hug. "Don't apologize, it's okay, I.. I've been waiting for this. And it's probably good that we see each other.. and talk, if you're up to it. I've missed you. Like, a lot." She rambled. She missed Callie and she missed Sammy and missed them all hanging out. Carleigh imagined that, amplifying the pain with what Callie and Sammy might have been and figured that's how her blonde friend felt.

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie found such obvious comfort in the embrace her friend provided. Physical as she was, it was clear to anyone that sometimes, a hug was what that was needed above anything else. However, this was a situation the half-Greek dancer had never faced before.

Pressing her hand together, Callie intertwined her fingers and stared down at them. She let the words her friend offered wash over her; that she was waiting for this. That she'd practically been ready for it. Calliope did her best to fight back any form of impending tears. Really, she'd cried enough. It was stupid to cry any more.

"You know, don't you." She said, keeping her gaze steady on her own hands.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh simply nodded in response. It had seemed like a long time ago, that Sammy can confiding to her about her feelings towards Callie. Confessing everything, how she didn't regret it and how much she thought about the other blonde. It had been a lot to take in, but also made a lot of sense. "Sa... she came to me about it after." Only, Sammy hadn't been confused. She knew it felt right.

Carleigh gestured over to her bed, leading the way. She sat down near her pillow, crossing her legs as she assumed Callie would follow soon after. "I.. she cared about you a lot. I don't know if that makes it better or worse." She mumbled, staring down at her comforter.

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie nodded when her friend did. Somehow, she felt as if she knew that. But the naive blonde was exactly that; naive. About far too many things in life to have really picked up on her good friend's passing of knowledge. It was probably obvious. With Callie, it always was. She couldn't lie to save her life. "Right." Callie replied lightly, interlocking her hands together on instinct and glancing down.

Still, she followed along and sat on Carleigh's bed. She tried her best to offer a smile, but it was disjointed. Fake. Strained.

"I'm not sure, really." She replied. As much as she wanted to know what was said about her, she had no idea how it'd make her feel. "I mean, I know she cared. And I definitely know what happened was all kinds of messed up, but..." Callie paused, glancing up at her briefly. It wasn't right to justify it any further, she was sure.

"I would've told you." She tried anyway, "But I didn't know... It's awful of me." And the last thing she wanted was to lose her, too.

[Carleigh Davidson]

"I'm sorry." Carleigh apologized again. For knowing about her two friends. For what had happened such a short time later. For everything. "Even if Sammy didn't tell me... I kind of new there was something."

Callie's smile pained Carleigh. Her own beaming smile wavered in response. What had happened was... incredibly unfortunate, and the only thing Carleigh could do was offer her moral support and shoulder for Callie.

Considering that her blonde friend had a boyfriend, (still? maybe? Carleigh wasn't too sure.) Carleigh could only imagine how difficult dealing with everything was. "But....?" She pressed further.

Shaking her head, Carleigh reached over to lay a reassuring hand on Callie's lap. "It's okay, it must've been a lot to handle. You're not awful."

"If you want to talk about it, you're more than welcome to. I will listen." Carleigh nodded. "Or we can get ice cream and pig out. Either way."

[Calliope Gallo]

Carleigh's admission genuinely surprised Callie. Never did she honestly think things between her and Sammy seemed so clear. Then again, this was a girl unknowingly plagued by her own naively. Calliope might have known she couldn't handle a decent lie, and that her control over her expression was minimal,but she struggled with the idea that something she was so blind to was so obvious to others. But it was just that. She was oblivious. In so many aspects of her life.

"I didn't know." She replied lightly, wishing she'd had the skill to be more honest with her friend.

Callie placed her hand on Carleigh's, squeezing it for such imperative reassurance. It helped - every ounce of support she offered did - but the overarching ache was still evident in her face, and now she knew it.

When it came to talking about it, she felt the natural urge to do so. Pressing her lips into a light line, the blonde briefly considered her words before she opened her mouth. "I've never been good at... Relationships. It's... It's so confining." She admitted,and the words clearly pained her in her eyes, "I know I'm not good at being someone's. I never have been. But I wanted to try - at least for him. He deserved it." Glancing back at Carleigh, Callie had to wonder if any of that even made sense.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh felt sort of bad, knowing about what had happened between Sammy and Callie, and knowing at least Sammy's feelings for the other blonde. Then again, since it involved two of her best friends, it didn't take much for her to notice that something was going on between the two. It had to be hard. That was the only thing Carleigh could conclude.

"I'm sorry." She apologized again, running her thumb over Callie's as her hand found its way into her own. The blonde stayed this way for a moment; absorbing the silence and the heavy weight of the situation. The chances were high that this would take a long time to recover from; the thoughts, the lingering feelings... the overwhelming sensation that there was something, rather someone, missing. She stayed quiet, pursing her lips as the Californian took in Callie's face. "It's a lot to take in, I'm sure, but I'll be here every step." She promised. It was the only thing she felt like she could do at a time like this.

Carleigh listened patiently as Callie gathered the words to say. She nodded twice, still holding the blonde's hand as reassurance. "And.. and it's worth it, because you care for him. I... have you told him what happened?" She asked, out of curiosity. "Being honest is... important, when something like this has happened. I... I don't know exactly what to say but I think you're going a good job, Callie."

[Calliope Gallo]

It surprised Callie a little to know that this person in particular would be there for her. They were a trifecta - she, Carleigh and their disappearing friend - and she'd threatened that with a shot of adrenalin and the all important feelings. At least she hadn't lost her in the process.

"I believe you." She replied, lightly. And she genuinely did think this girl would stick around for her.

She shook her head. Telling Lucah hadn't been an option. Not yet. "He's away." She reasoned. "He has been for a while." But she hardly wanted that to be seen as an excuse for what happened. Still, she doubted the other blonde would see it as such either way. "You're right. I mean, it's going to be awful, but it's better than lying about it. It's not like I can pretend it didn't happen." After all, this was Calliope Gallo. Her heart had been on her sleeve since she existed.

And she'd never been able to lie.

"I'm sorry for throwing all this at you." She offered quickly. Suddenly it felt like all she'd done was load dramatics onto her friend's shoulders. "It's probably not how you figured you'd spend the rest of your day."

[Carleigh Davidson]

A subdued smile appeared on Carleigh's face. While for the moment it was a heartbreaking situation to be in, she knew that time healed most wounds. Supposedly. She too missed the third blonde but right now, Callie needed as much love and support as she could get.

"Oh." She said upon hearing that Lucah had been away for awhile. That explained why she hadn't seen him around lately. That was going to be hard to bring up whenever he came back. Not to mention, Carleigh figured that Callie wouldn't be able to keep something as significant as this a secret. She'd always been open with her emotions. "Exactly." She said, continuing to run her thumb over Callie's hand in what she hoped was a comforting manner.

"No need to apologize." The blonde assured her friend, letting out a small laugh. "Nah, but my plans for the day were just laying around." Even if she had homework and other productive things to do. Now, she could be here for her friend. "If you'd like, we could do something and maybe get your mind off of this for a bit?"