Beautifully Broken by C.C. Russell Page A

tell you how hot you look,”
He opened the car door for her.
“Well aren’t you a gentleman, thank you,” she said as she
lowered herself in to the seat.
     
“What a nice ride,” she said, running her hand over the
leather seat.
     
“Ya thanks, I think it’s pretty nice,” he replied starting the
engine.
     
They drove along in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable
silence; more of a peaceful understanding.
    Once they got into the carnival they walked around
looking for Grace and Chuck. There were games, rides and
people all over the place.
“So what do you want to do first?” Edwin asked.
    “Well we should find Grace & Chuck and then I would like
to go on some rides,” Cali responded as she was looking
around hopping she would see Grace. “Do you like
rides?”
“Yes but I am afraid of heights so I don’t do the Wheel of
Heights,” Edwin admitted.
    “Oh really that’s my favorite ride,” she smiled.
“You drive me crazy, do you know that?” he suddenly said
stopping to look directly in to her eyes. It was such a
perfect moment. He touched her face and she was giving
into him. They were both standing there lost in the moment
while people walked around them.
    “Cali!” Grace shouted as she sprinted over. “I am so glad
we found you, come on let’s go we are all going on the
Wheel of Heights”. Cali looked behind her to his face she
mouthed to him “Sorry”. A part of her was disappointed
that Grace interfered, she wanted to feel what a kiss from
him would have been like, but at the same time she was
relieved.
    “We can’t all go on the Wheel of Heights, Edwin doesn’t do
heights let’s find a different ride,” Cali said looking at
Grace with an expression on her face that said be nice.
“Let’s go on the Speedster,” Cali ran to the lineup.
    They all had so much fun going on rides, talking and
laughing with each other. Cali couldn’t remember the last
time she had fun like that. It was fun without the fear of
what waits for her a home. She knew she was going home
alone, nothing to fear. She was finally allowed to have fun
with her new friends.
    “Let’s go check out the games,” said Chuck. “I bet I could
kick your butt in darts,” he looked at Edwin with a cocky
smile on his face.
    “You’re on, let’s see what you got,” Edwin said laughing
as they walked over to the dart game.
“Sorry Chuck but I think Edwin is going to kick your butt,”
Grace said laughing.
“Oh piss off, you’re breaking my focus.” Chuck said
pushing her out of his way playfully.
     
“I have to use the ladies room, Cali come with me,” Grace
said pulling Cali by the arm.
    They walked to the big barn towards the bathrooms. As
Cali was waiting for Grace she saw a couple of people that
looked familiar to her. As they walked closer she knew
who they were; Jeffery Totem and Brittney Soap. She went
to high school with them and they were walking right over
to her. She was shaking, she could barely breath. She
didn’t know what to do.
“Hey, do I know you?” Brittney asked curiously.
     
“No I don’t think so.” Cali said trying not to make eye
contact.
     
“Ya, you look familiar.” Jeffery said.
     
“She looks like Veronica Burns from high school,”
Brittney said looking at Jeff.
     
“Well I guess I have a twin out there somewhere.” Cali said
laughing trying to change her voice.
     
“Ya maybe you do because your eyes are just like hers,”
    Brittney said staring at her.
“Cali, there you are I thought I lost you,” Grace said
walking up to her giving her a hug.
“Hello, are you friends of Cali’s?” Grace asked in a
friendly manner.
    “No, we just thought she was someone else.” Brittney said
looking at Grace judgmentally she put her arm around
Jeffery and they walked away.
Cali was stunned, frozen in place.
     
“Cali are you ok? You look like you just saw a ghost,”
Grace asked concerned.
    “Ya maybe I did see a ghost, or a skeleton,” Cali