Cape May, NJ
After returning to the island with Bobo, and helping the others to cure Sand, Caleb slipped away from the group, and returned to Cape May. Sure, Sand was still powerless, but there were plenty of other mystics who could help to undo that spell. Besides, what can he offer that Dr. Fate can’t
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Not that she thought the two were related. Nope, she made the drive down through people acting like nutters on the road for her health. She didn't have a key to his Cape May house, but like the crazy stalker girl she probably looks like right now, she's bunked out with Caleb's neighbor to wait for him. And then chew him out. In that order.
Instead of the quiet fuming she had been doing, she's now standing behind Rob, who's swinging the bat in his hand like a pendulum in the doorway. "Whoever's in there," he starts, "You got five seconds to go!"
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He wants it blunt and honest? Mara can do that. "You save scared college girl from horrifying doom, and faithful to sorrorislut tradition, there's all this. Which is great, to be honest. I'm not sorry about 'us' for a second, whatever the hell we are. There's the fact you run off to get yourself smashed up on other people's behalf, and while totally hot, gives you the complex of making you the creepy kid in class, and Doc, sometimes I know you've got to be the most oblivious guy walking. My dad loves you and my mom thinks you're a cradle robber. And you've done everything to keep me out of this 'hero' thing, so as far as I know, no one knows about me except your neighbor who sees me pulling into or out of the driveway ( ... )
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Then, after a moment’s consideration. Sod every part of that. I lost Kenna, I lost Corrine - I’m not losing this as well. This doesn’t get to be collateral damage! And with that, he pulls her in by the belt loops on her hips, and draws her into gentle, meaningful kiss.
“Special people in my life have a way of being … of being ruined by what I do, and who I am. So I just tell myself that this is casual. But I’ve come to realize that this is much like telling myself that the sunset is ugly, and then expecting it to be so.”
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She wraps her arms around his neck and shrugs. "We've come to an understanding, no matter how vague you want to be. I am awesome, and you are more awesome by knowing me."
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“Something to that effect, yes.”
He doesn’t want to be vague, he just won’t use the words “relationship” or “girlfriend” to describe them until he is certain that he can commit himself completely to her. (In other words, until he is certain that his love for Corrine won't be an issue.) To do otherwise would be unfair to Mara.
"So ... will dinner be for two, then?"
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Caleb needn't worry too much about being dodgey of committing. She knows it's something like a case of the ex-- which one is the question? He'll get plenty of time to explain himself in just a minute. "You're still groddy. So here's my idea: You shower, and I yammer just outside the door about all flavors of things that will make you uncomfortable and feel cornered."
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"It's not a frickin' pack of batteries to put on the shelf until next convenient. I'll stay, there is mutually agreed awesome, and I'll even do everything I can to not be pissy, but it's not quite as simple as letting it go. The hesitant signals are there, and I'm not going to be a bitch and hound you about it. We can do this another day, but so we're all clear, that doesn't mean the conversation is over."
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“I don’t plan to keeping you waiting long, laskat. Tomorrow will do just fine, in fact. I just …” He gestures to the spot on the floor where Mara was cleaning glass. “… I’m somewhat preocupied just now, and I owe it to both of us to not rush into so important a conversation without first ensuring that I can concentrate on it completely, to the detriment of all else."
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When she turns back, she's worked the grin down from both edges of her face. "And for those of us not on the whacky world of Planet Zukov-- I don't have clue one why you do anything you do. It's not like you say it. Ever. Maybe if you'd explain once in a while, neither of us would feel like I'm constantly throwing rocks at the back of your head."
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“Very good, then. I, uh … I feel we have a lot of potential, and I hope your as interested as I am in exploring that potential. I’m sorry if I haven’t been as … communicative as I thought I had been.” He shrugs. “But I promise you that …” Light bulb. “… that starting tomorrow, I’ll make a concerted effort to be more expressive. All I ask for in exchange is the rest of the day to collect my thoughts, and, uh… and speak with an ex.”
For a time it seems that he is going to stop there, before thinking better of it. “Yes, right, expressive, uh …. Well …. It’s a long story, and I ask that you accept both my apologies for not elaborating now, and a promise to elaborate to your heart’s content tomorrow.”
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That ending really sucks, in Mara's opinion. "I already know. I saw her. On TV." And what Mara won't say is how immature and tiny and absolutely boring she feels in comparison to the spectacle that is Caleb's ex. Mara will be contented, for now, with the fact that it seems she's winning.
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