AU fic: Without you... (5/?)
TITLE: Without you…
AUTHOR: sapphicwarrior
PAIRING: Callie/Erica
RATING: NC-17
WARNING: There is domestic abuse in this story. If this upsets you, don't read it.
DISCLAIMER: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libellous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
SUMMARY: This is AU, it’s been in my head for a while. A famous singer falls in love with a woman. It’s a love that is looked upon and has to happen secretly until something happens…
AUTHORS NOTE 1: Thanks a lot to my wonderful beta
mar_chel . You're the best!!
Links to previous parts:
part 1: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/35601.htm
part 2: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/36180.html
part 3: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/36754.html
part 4: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/37565.html
new part:
“Carlos, do you have a minute?” Callie asked her manager two days before Erica would be introduced as her bodyguard.
“Sure Calliope, what do you have on your mind?” he said sitting down. He hoped she would share what had been troubling her.
“I believe I have a stalker”, Callie simply said. She didn’t want to give too much information because she didn’t want to lie too much to Carlos. He was not only her manager, she considered him also a friend. She had known him since she was a little girl.
“A stalker?” Carlos questioned. Now this was something he hadn’t been suspecting.
Callie nodded. “Yes, I didn’t want to tell you before until I was sure but I am sure now. Someone’s been following me.”
“So what will you do now? Call the cops?”
“No, I’ve asked Erica to be my bodyguard till this passes.”
“Erica? The friend from yoga?”
“Yes, she used to work in security. She knows self-defence and karate and I completely trust her”, Callie said with confidence.
“Does Jason know about the stalker and about Erica?” Carlos carefully asked.
“No”, Callie quickly said, “and I want to keep it that way until Erica comes. “
“Sure. Is everything okay between you and Jason?” Carlos tentatively asked.
“YES”, Callie quickly shouted, “why wouldn’t things be okay between us?”
Did Carlos know? How could he know? She wished she could tell him the truth, that things between her and Jason weren’t okay at all, that she wanted to break things up with him but that she is afraid of what he might do. When she started dating Jason, she had never thought to find herself in such a mess with him. He seemed nice, but the better she got to know him, the less she wanted to be with him. He was possessive and jealous and he wasn’t even attractive, she thought.
And now she had found out he was doing drugs. Drugs, for Christ’s sake. She, who was 100% against drug use, has a junkie as a boyfriend. The press would love this if they’d find out. She had to find some plan to leave him without causing anyone harm. She didn’t love him; she wasn’t even in love with him, now that she thought about it.
“Callie, are you okay?” she heard a voice say.
She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. “I’m fine, just thinking about something. So what did you wanna do today? Rehearse new songs?” Callie changed the subject.
She got home late again that evening. Only one more day until she would see Erica again. She could hardly wait. She missed her. They could talk about everything and she felt like she could be herself. No masks, no secrets, just her: Calliope Iphigenia Torres.
She noticed Jason’s car in the driveway. She had forgotten he would be here.
“Why did I ever give him a key?” she muttered to herself.
She opened the door.
“Jason, honey, I’m home”, she tried to say with excitement in her voice.
She saw him asleep on the couch. She gently went to sit beside him and shook him lightly.
“Jason, I’m home”, she gently said.
He slowly opened his eyes. “Hey”, he greeted his girlfriend, “what time is it?”
“A little after ten”, Callie replied.
“You’re home late again”, he commented.
“Sorry about that. Carlos had a new song he wanted me to know before I went home.”
“I don’t like it when you get home this late.”
Callie got up. She felt anger rising within her.
“Then you shouldn’t come by in the evening anymore if it bothers you so much. I’m recording a new CD, so I’ll be late a lot in the next weeks. And when I get home late, I don’t want you here to bitch to me about me working late. I just want to get home and relax.”
She was so fed up with him. If he couldn’t take it that she was late, then he shouldn’t come to her house in the evening.
She heard him getting up from the couch.
“I shouldn’t have spoken to him like that”, Callie thought, “he’ll get angry again. Damn it.”
“I’m your boyfriend, Callie and I don’t want you working late anymore. I’ll talk to Carlos and tell him he has to stop the recording at 8pm”, Jason arrogantly said.
“You what?” Callie yelled.
She turned around. “You’ll do no such thing Jason”, she said with venom in her voice, “this is my house and I choose when I get home. If you can’t take that, then you shouldn’t be here anymore.”
Suddenly, he roughly pushed her against the front door. She felt a stab of pain between her shoulders.
“You bitch! I say when you get home and not you. I own you.”
Callie could feel his breath on her face.
“Jason, you are scaring me. Why are you so angry? I’m only doing my job”, she tried to calm him.
Her heart was hammering in her chest. She feared he might see it.
“I’m sorry, honey”, Jason suddenly said, seeming to have regained his mind, “it’s just that I miss you when you aren’t here.”
He let go of his girlfriend. Callie sighed a breath of relief.
“I can’t be around you all the time, Jason. You knew that when we started dating.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you forgive me?” he said in a sweet voice.
Callie didn’t answer him. “I’m going to bed. You can come or you can go home, but I’m exhausted and I need to sleep.”
Jason seemed to understand that Callie was mad at him and quietly left the house. She was laying in bed when she heard the front door close. She couldn’t be happier that he had left. She wanted her key back, but she didn’t dare to ask him. If only she could change her locks so he couldn’t get in anymore. But she needed a reason for that. What if security was a reason?
She looked at the time. It wasn’t too late yet, so she decided to call Erica. She didn’t know why, but she needed to hear her voice.
“Hey”, she heard the voice she had longed to hear say.
“Hey, I didn’t wake you, did I?” Callie worriedly asked.
“No you didn’t. I was just watching some television.”
Callie imagined Erica sitting on her couch, alone and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to sit beside Erica and…
“Callie, are you okay?” Erica worriedly asked when she didn’t hear the other woman respond to her question.
“I had a fight with Jason again…”
“Did he hit you again?” Erica interrupted her, “I’ll come over and…”
“No no, he didn’t hit me; I stopped him tonight. But it was nasty again. He was mad that I got home late but I was at the studio until 10. I’m recording a new CD, I can’t just leave the studio at 6 because he wants me home”, Callie told Erica.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“He pushed me against the door. My back and shoulders are sore, but I’ve had worse.”
“Callie, you shouldn’t talk like this. He has no right to hurt you, no man has that right. You want me to come over? I can have a look at your back and we can talk some more. He’s gone, right?”
“Yes he’s gone, Erica. You don’t have to come over, like I said, it’s not that bad. I’m fine, really”, Callie said.
“You don’t sound fine to me, Cal. I’m coming over. You shouldn’t be alone right now”, Erica said while putting on some clothes.
“Thank you, Erica”, Callie shyly said.
“I’ll be there in 15 minutes. If I get lost finding your place, I’ll give you a call. If he comes back, call me immediately and I’ll kick his ass off your property.”
Callie put down the phone and started crying. It was all getting too much. She couldn’t understand Jason’s behaviour lately. She was scared of him. He was so different from the man she had gotten to know 3 months ago. Maybe it was the drugs causing him to change his behaviour. Her life was such a mess right now…
***************************************************************************
Erica was fuming after Callie’s call.
“The fucking bastard”, she said to herself.
She hoped not to run into him this evening because she wasn’t sure she’d remain professional in dealing with him. She decided to ask Callie to start her “job” as a bodyguard immediately, so therefore from tomorrow evening on, she’d be safe in her own house. That bastard wouldn’t put a hand on Callie again if she could help it.
She threw some clothes in her bag, took her gun out of the hiding place and left her apartment. She already knew the route to Callie’s place by heart. The past few days, she had driven the route several times. She wanted to be prepared in case something happened to Callie and she had to get there quickly.
Exactly 15 minutes later she was standing at the gate of Callie’s house. She rang the bell.
“Hello?” she heard Callie say.
“It’s Erica, Cal.”
The gate opened and Erica drove to the house. Out of nowhere the most beautiful hacienda appeared. The house was surrounded by palm trees. There was a fountain at the end of the driveway. The house was lit by the moonlight and it made it even more beautiful.
“Erica”, Callie called out to her friend.
“Callie”, Erica smiled.
Callie came running towards her and engulfed her in a hug.
“I missed you so much, Erica, thank you so much for coming”, she cried.
“Shhh, don’t cry, Cal, everything will be alright”, Erica soothed her.
It felt way too good to be holding her. She felt guilty for enjoying the hug.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay in case Jason decides to come back. Does he have a key?” Erica asked.
“Yes he does unfortunately”, Callie answered.
“Then we’ll solve that by changing the locks. If he asks, security reasons”, Erica said, taking her bag out of the car.
“You really have a beautiful house here, Callie, I like it. Do you live here alone?”
Callie nodded. “I do, I just have staff for the cleaning and the garden, but other than that, it’s just me”, Callie sadly said.
Erica’s heart reached out for Callie when she heard the loneliness in her voice. Without thinking Callie linked her arm through Erica’s and together they walked to the house. Both enjoyed the contact a lot and didn’t question it.
Callie showed Erica around in the house and Erica found it even more impressive than the outside. As Callie showed her around, Erica had the impression that Callie didn’t really like the house, or at least that she didn’t like living alone in it.
Callie stopped in front of a bedroom and opened the door.
“I prepared this room for you. It’s next to mine, in case something should happen”, Callie shyly said.
The truth was, she wanted Erica close by and the closest she could be was in the room next door.
“That’s fine, Callie, thanks.” She put her bag in her room. It was spacious, almost as big as her entire apartment. The room looked like a small apartment. There was a huge bed that looked so inviting to jump in it, an area with a comfortable couch, a walk-in closet and a spacious bathroom.
“Is the room okay?” Callie nervously asked.
“Okay? This is great, Cal. It’s almost as big as my apartment.”
“My room is next door, if you want…”, Callie shyly said.
She felt herself blushing beet red. “That came out totally wrong”, she stuttered.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s important I know where your room is, in case you need help”, Erica tried to ease the situation.
But that got Callie blushing even more, and Erica felt her cheeks flush too. There was an awkward silence between them.
“I’ll… I’ll show you”, Callie simply said after a bit.
Callie’s room was almost identical to Erica’s; it only contained more personal stuff and a lot of golden records on the wall.
Callie went to sit on her bed and sighed.
“What happened tonight, Cal?” Erica softly asked, sitting beside Callie.
Callie told her what had happened. When she finished telling the story, she was crying again.
“Why is he doing this to me, Erica?”
“I don’t know, Cal, but he won’t be doing it again anytime soon, not if I can prevent it. And preventing it, I will!”
“Thank you.”
Together they lay on the bed, holding each other, taking comfort from each other. Neither questioned the position in which they were laying: spooned up, and closely pressed to each other. It felt right and that was all that mattered to them.
***************************************************************************
The next morning Erica awoke with Callie still pressed against her. Neither had moved during the night. Erica looked at the raven haired woman laying next to her. She was even more beautiful asleep. She couldn’t understand Jason. If Callie was her girlfriend, she’d never harm her on purpose. She’d cherish her and love her and make her feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. She’d love Callie just like she is. She felt the urge to stroke Callie’s hair and kiss her forehead. She decided to get out of bed before she did something she would regret.
She slowly entangled herself from Callie and ignored the feeling of loss when being away from Callie. She slowly left the room and went back to her room.
After a quick shower, she decided to call someone to change the locks. She didn’t want that creep Jason anywhere near Callie without her knowing about it.
Callie woke up some time later and found Erica in the kitchen, drinking some coffee.
“Hey”, she shyly greeted her friend.
“Hey, Cal. How are you feeling?”, Erica asked, getting up to pour some coffee for Callie.
“My back is a bit sore, but other then that, I’m fine.”
“I still have to take a look at your back”, Erica mentioned.
“Really, it’s fine, I don’t think you’ll see anything”, Callie argued.
She was sure something would show and was so ashamed of it. She should have kept her big mouth shut and then Jason wouldn’t have argued with her. But then again, she wouldn’t have slept with Erica pressed up against her and that had felt so good.
“Callie”, Erica softly said, “I won’t think anything less of you, you know. I understand how you are feeling right now. You feel guilty and ashamed. I understand. Please let me help you.”
Callie heard the softness in Erica’s voice and slowly took her shirt off. Under other circumstances Erica would have admired the beauty of Callie’s body, but right now, she could only see the red and blue marks on her back. She could see where her back had hit the door. She slowly touched the bruises.
“It’s bruised pretty badly, Cal. Tell me where it hurts. I need to check if you need a doctor.”
Callie simply nodded. Erica gently moved her hand over the bruises. Callie’s skin was so soft and she smelled so good. She heard Callie’s breath hitch in her throat.
“Does it hurt?”
Callie shook her head. “Just a bit sensitive.”
The feeling of Erica’s hand tracing the bruises on her back was making her heart beat rapidly. She felt a weird sensation in her stomach.
Erica was feeling the same. She was enjoying this too much. Before she knew it, she was gently tracing Callie’s back and the bruises were forgotten. She was getting lost in the moment until she hit a very sore spot on Callie back.
“Aah, that hurts”, Callie yelled.
The moment was gone and the reality came crashing back.
“Sorry”, Erica mumbled.
Callie put her T-shirt back on.
“You don’t need a doctor right now, nothing’s broken. But just to be safe, if the pain continues longer than a few days, you’d better go anyway.”
“Thanks, Erica.”
***************************************************************************
Carlos was waiting in the studio for Callie. He had been worried about her. He had known Callie since she was little and he had seen her grow into a beautiful confident woman. But these last weeks he had noticed a change in her. She seemed withdrawn and worried about something. He tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t tell him.
He had also noticed that when she sang love songs, she seemed almost sad, like she was missing something. He had never liked her new boyfriend, Jason. He had only come to the studio once and made it clear how little he thought of Callie. He had bossed her around and Callie silently obeyed.
So whatever was the problem with Callie, he was sure that Jason had something to do with it.
Since Callie had met a new friend at yoga though, she seemed a bit more cheerful, but still nothing like her old self. He was curious to meet this new friend. Callie had told him a lot about her. Apparently they spend a lot of time together. Which was good because all the time she spent with Erica meant she didn’t spend it with Jason.
The door to the recording studio opened and Callie and Erica came in. They were talking animatedly and laughing.
It felt good to hear Callie’s laugh again, it had been too long since he had last heard it.
“Calliope”, Carlos called out, “how are you?”
“Hey Carlos, I’m great. And you?” Callie greeted her friend.
“I’m fine.”
He looked at Erica. She seemed nice and didn’t look like a bodyguard at all.
“Carlos, I’d like you to meet Erica”, Callie said to Carlos.
“Erica, this is Carlos, my producer, manager and friend.”
“Nice to meet you, Carlos”, Erica shook his hand.
“Likewise. Have you ever been in a recording studio?”
“No, can’t say that I have.”
“Come on, I’ll show you how it all works while Callie rehearses the song we’re about to record.”
“Great.”
A little while later Callie joined them in the studio and began singing the new song. Erica was mesmerized by her voice. She had heard Callie’s songs on the radio, but hearing her sing live was a pleasure to her ears. Callie was singing passionately about some lost love and poured everything into the song.
“Wow”, Erica whispered.
“She’s good, isn’t she?” Carlos commented when he heard Erica’s reaction.
“She’s awesome. I mean, I had heard some of her songs on the radio, but this is heaven for your ears; it’s beautiful.”
Callie had to re-sing the song a few times until she got it all right.
“That was beautiful, Calliope, this really is one of the best songs of your new album”, Carlos commented when Callie got out of the studio.
“I know, I love that song. What do you think of it, Erica?”
She had seen the look on Erica’s face during the song and it had given her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
“It’s beautiful, you have an amazing voice.”
“Thank you.” Callie felt her cheeks getting red. Why did a compliment from Erica make her blush? And feel warm and fuzzy?
.
AUTHOR: sapphicwarrior
PAIRING: Callie/Erica
RATING: NC-17
WARNING: There is domestic abuse in this story. If this upsets you, don't read it.
DISCLAIMER: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libellous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
SUMMARY: This is AU, it’s been in my head for a while. A famous singer falls in love with a woman. It’s a love that is looked upon and has to happen secretly until something happens…
AUTHORS NOTE 1: Thanks a lot to my wonderful beta
mar_chel . You're the best!!
Links to previous parts:
part 1: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/35601.htm
part 2: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/36180.html
part 3: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/36754.html
part 4: sapphicwarrior.livejournal.com/37565.html
new part:
“Carlos, do you have a minute?” Callie asked her manager two days before Erica would be introduced as her bodyguard.
“Sure Calliope, what do you have on your mind?” he said sitting down. He hoped she would share what had been troubling her.
“I believe I have a stalker”, Callie simply said. She didn’t want to give too much information because she didn’t want to lie too much to Carlos. He was not only her manager, she considered him also a friend. She had known him since she was a little girl.
“A stalker?” Carlos questioned. Now this was something he hadn’t been suspecting.
Callie nodded. “Yes, I didn’t want to tell you before until I was sure but I am sure now. Someone’s been following me.”
“So what will you do now? Call the cops?”
“No, I’ve asked Erica to be my bodyguard till this passes.”
“Erica? The friend from yoga?”
“Yes, she used to work in security. She knows self-defence and karate and I completely trust her”, Callie said with confidence.
“Does Jason know about the stalker and about Erica?” Carlos carefully asked.
“No”, Callie quickly said, “and I want to keep it that way until Erica comes. “
“Sure. Is everything okay between you and Jason?” Carlos tentatively asked.
“YES”, Callie quickly shouted, “why wouldn’t things be okay between us?”
Did Carlos know? How could he know? She wished she could tell him the truth, that things between her and Jason weren’t okay at all, that she wanted to break things up with him but that she is afraid of what he might do. When she started dating Jason, she had never thought to find herself in such a mess with him. He seemed nice, but the better she got to know him, the less she wanted to be with him. He was possessive and jealous and he wasn’t even attractive, she thought.
And now she had found out he was doing drugs. Drugs, for Christ’s sake. She, who was 100% against drug use, has a junkie as a boyfriend. The press would love this if they’d find out. She had to find some plan to leave him without causing anyone harm. She didn’t love him; she wasn’t even in love with him, now that she thought about it.
“Callie, are you okay?” she heard a voice say.
She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. “I’m fine, just thinking about something. So what did you wanna do today? Rehearse new songs?” Callie changed the subject.
She got home late again that evening. Only one more day until she would see Erica again. She could hardly wait. She missed her. They could talk about everything and she felt like she could be herself. No masks, no secrets, just her: Calliope Iphigenia Torres.
She noticed Jason’s car in the driveway. She had forgotten he would be here.
“Why did I ever give him a key?” she muttered to herself.
She opened the door.
“Jason, honey, I’m home”, she tried to say with excitement in her voice.
She saw him asleep on the couch. She gently went to sit beside him and shook him lightly.
“Jason, I’m home”, she gently said.
He slowly opened his eyes. “Hey”, he greeted his girlfriend, “what time is it?”
“A little after ten”, Callie replied.
“You’re home late again”, he commented.
“Sorry about that. Carlos had a new song he wanted me to know before I went home.”
“I don’t like it when you get home this late.”
Callie got up. She felt anger rising within her.
“Then you shouldn’t come by in the evening anymore if it bothers you so much. I’m recording a new CD, so I’ll be late a lot in the next weeks. And when I get home late, I don’t want you here to bitch to me about me working late. I just want to get home and relax.”
She was so fed up with him. If he couldn’t take it that she was late, then he shouldn’t come to her house in the evening.
She heard him getting up from the couch.
“I shouldn’t have spoken to him like that”, Callie thought, “he’ll get angry again. Damn it.”
“I’m your boyfriend, Callie and I don’t want you working late anymore. I’ll talk to Carlos and tell him he has to stop the recording at 8pm”, Jason arrogantly said.
“You what?” Callie yelled.
She turned around. “You’ll do no such thing Jason”, she said with venom in her voice, “this is my house and I choose when I get home. If you can’t take that, then you shouldn’t be here anymore.”
Suddenly, he roughly pushed her against the front door. She felt a stab of pain between her shoulders.
“You bitch! I say when you get home and not you. I own you.”
Callie could feel his breath on her face.
“Jason, you are scaring me. Why are you so angry? I’m only doing my job”, she tried to calm him.
Her heart was hammering in her chest. She feared he might see it.
“I’m sorry, honey”, Jason suddenly said, seeming to have regained his mind, “it’s just that I miss you when you aren’t here.”
He let go of his girlfriend. Callie sighed a breath of relief.
“I can’t be around you all the time, Jason. You knew that when we started dating.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you forgive me?” he said in a sweet voice.
Callie didn’t answer him. “I’m going to bed. You can come or you can go home, but I’m exhausted and I need to sleep.”
Jason seemed to understand that Callie was mad at him and quietly left the house. She was laying in bed when she heard the front door close. She couldn’t be happier that he had left. She wanted her key back, but she didn’t dare to ask him. If only she could change her locks so he couldn’t get in anymore. But she needed a reason for that. What if security was a reason?
She looked at the time. It wasn’t too late yet, so she decided to call Erica. She didn’t know why, but she needed to hear her voice.
“Hey”, she heard the voice she had longed to hear say.
“Hey, I didn’t wake you, did I?” Callie worriedly asked.
“No you didn’t. I was just watching some television.”
Callie imagined Erica sitting on her couch, alone and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to sit beside Erica and…
“Callie, are you okay?” Erica worriedly asked when she didn’t hear the other woman respond to her question.
“I had a fight with Jason again…”
“Did he hit you again?” Erica interrupted her, “I’ll come over and…”
“No no, he didn’t hit me; I stopped him tonight. But it was nasty again. He was mad that I got home late but I was at the studio until 10. I’m recording a new CD, I can’t just leave the studio at 6 because he wants me home”, Callie told Erica.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“He pushed me against the door. My back and shoulders are sore, but I’ve had worse.”
“Callie, you shouldn’t talk like this. He has no right to hurt you, no man has that right. You want me to come over? I can have a look at your back and we can talk some more. He’s gone, right?”
“Yes he’s gone, Erica. You don’t have to come over, like I said, it’s not that bad. I’m fine, really”, Callie said.
“You don’t sound fine to me, Cal. I’m coming over. You shouldn’t be alone right now”, Erica said while putting on some clothes.
“Thank you, Erica”, Callie shyly said.
“I’ll be there in 15 minutes. If I get lost finding your place, I’ll give you a call. If he comes back, call me immediately and I’ll kick his ass off your property.”
Callie put down the phone and started crying. It was all getting too much. She couldn’t understand Jason’s behaviour lately. She was scared of him. He was so different from the man she had gotten to know 3 months ago. Maybe it was the drugs causing him to change his behaviour. Her life was such a mess right now…
***************************************************************************
Erica was fuming after Callie’s call.
“The fucking bastard”, she said to herself.
She hoped not to run into him this evening because she wasn’t sure she’d remain professional in dealing with him. She decided to ask Callie to start her “job” as a bodyguard immediately, so therefore from tomorrow evening on, she’d be safe in her own house. That bastard wouldn’t put a hand on Callie again if she could help it.
She threw some clothes in her bag, took her gun out of the hiding place and left her apartment. She already knew the route to Callie’s place by heart. The past few days, she had driven the route several times. She wanted to be prepared in case something happened to Callie and she had to get there quickly.
Exactly 15 minutes later she was standing at the gate of Callie’s house. She rang the bell.
“Hello?” she heard Callie say.
“It’s Erica, Cal.”
The gate opened and Erica drove to the house. Out of nowhere the most beautiful hacienda appeared. The house was surrounded by palm trees. There was a fountain at the end of the driveway. The house was lit by the moonlight and it made it even more beautiful.
“Erica”, Callie called out to her friend.
“Callie”, Erica smiled.
Callie came running towards her and engulfed her in a hug.
“I missed you so much, Erica, thank you so much for coming”, she cried.
“Shhh, don’t cry, Cal, everything will be alright”, Erica soothed her.
It felt way too good to be holding her. She felt guilty for enjoying the hug.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay in case Jason decides to come back. Does he have a key?” Erica asked.
“Yes he does unfortunately”, Callie answered.
“Then we’ll solve that by changing the locks. If he asks, security reasons”, Erica said, taking her bag out of the car.
“You really have a beautiful house here, Callie, I like it. Do you live here alone?”
Callie nodded. “I do, I just have staff for the cleaning and the garden, but other than that, it’s just me”, Callie sadly said.
Erica’s heart reached out for Callie when she heard the loneliness in her voice. Without thinking Callie linked her arm through Erica’s and together they walked to the house. Both enjoyed the contact a lot and didn’t question it.
Callie showed Erica around in the house and Erica found it even more impressive than the outside. As Callie showed her around, Erica had the impression that Callie didn’t really like the house, or at least that she didn’t like living alone in it.
Callie stopped in front of a bedroom and opened the door.
“I prepared this room for you. It’s next to mine, in case something should happen”, Callie shyly said.
The truth was, she wanted Erica close by and the closest she could be was in the room next door.
“That’s fine, Callie, thanks.” She put her bag in her room. It was spacious, almost as big as her entire apartment. The room looked like a small apartment. There was a huge bed that looked so inviting to jump in it, an area with a comfortable couch, a walk-in closet and a spacious bathroom.
“Is the room okay?” Callie nervously asked.
“Okay? This is great, Cal. It’s almost as big as my apartment.”
“My room is next door, if you want…”, Callie shyly said.
She felt herself blushing beet red. “That came out totally wrong”, she stuttered.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s important I know where your room is, in case you need help”, Erica tried to ease the situation.
But that got Callie blushing even more, and Erica felt her cheeks flush too. There was an awkward silence between them.
“I’ll… I’ll show you”, Callie simply said after a bit.
Callie’s room was almost identical to Erica’s; it only contained more personal stuff and a lot of golden records on the wall.
Callie went to sit on her bed and sighed.
“What happened tonight, Cal?” Erica softly asked, sitting beside Callie.
Callie told her what had happened. When she finished telling the story, she was crying again.
“Why is he doing this to me, Erica?”
“I don’t know, Cal, but he won’t be doing it again anytime soon, not if I can prevent it. And preventing it, I will!”
“Thank you.”
Together they lay on the bed, holding each other, taking comfort from each other. Neither questioned the position in which they were laying: spooned up, and closely pressed to each other. It felt right and that was all that mattered to them.
***************************************************************************
The next morning Erica awoke with Callie still pressed against her. Neither had moved during the night. Erica looked at the raven haired woman laying next to her. She was even more beautiful asleep. She couldn’t understand Jason. If Callie was her girlfriend, she’d never harm her on purpose. She’d cherish her and love her and make her feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. She’d love Callie just like she is. She felt the urge to stroke Callie’s hair and kiss her forehead. She decided to get out of bed before she did something she would regret.
She slowly entangled herself from Callie and ignored the feeling of loss when being away from Callie. She slowly left the room and went back to her room.
After a quick shower, she decided to call someone to change the locks. She didn’t want that creep Jason anywhere near Callie without her knowing about it.
Callie woke up some time later and found Erica in the kitchen, drinking some coffee.
“Hey”, she shyly greeted her friend.
“Hey, Cal. How are you feeling?”, Erica asked, getting up to pour some coffee for Callie.
“My back is a bit sore, but other then that, I’m fine.”
“I still have to take a look at your back”, Erica mentioned.
“Really, it’s fine, I don’t think you’ll see anything”, Callie argued.
She was sure something would show and was so ashamed of it. She should have kept her big mouth shut and then Jason wouldn’t have argued with her. But then again, she wouldn’t have slept with Erica pressed up against her and that had felt so good.
“Callie”, Erica softly said, “I won’t think anything less of you, you know. I understand how you are feeling right now. You feel guilty and ashamed. I understand. Please let me help you.”
Callie heard the softness in Erica’s voice and slowly took her shirt off. Under other circumstances Erica would have admired the beauty of Callie’s body, but right now, she could only see the red and blue marks on her back. She could see where her back had hit the door. She slowly touched the bruises.
“It’s bruised pretty badly, Cal. Tell me where it hurts. I need to check if you need a doctor.”
Callie simply nodded. Erica gently moved her hand over the bruises. Callie’s skin was so soft and she smelled so good. She heard Callie’s breath hitch in her throat.
“Does it hurt?”
Callie shook her head. “Just a bit sensitive.”
The feeling of Erica’s hand tracing the bruises on her back was making her heart beat rapidly. She felt a weird sensation in her stomach.
Erica was feeling the same. She was enjoying this too much. Before she knew it, she was gently tracing Callie’s back and the bruises were forgotten. She was getting lost in the moment until she hit a very sore spot on Callie back.
“Aah, that hurts”, Callie yelled.
The moment was gone and the reality came crashing back.
“Sorry”, Erica mumbled.
Callie put her T-shirt back on.
“You don’t need a doctor right now, nothing’s broken. But just to be safe, if the pain continues longer than a few days, you’d better go anyway.”
“Thanks, Erica.”
***************************************************************************
Carlos was waiting in the studio for Callie. He had been worried about her. He had known Callie since she was little and he had seen her grow into a beautiful confident woman. But these last weeks he had noticed a change in her. She seemed withdrawn and worried about something. He tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t tell him.
He had also noticed that when she sang love songs, she seemed almost sad, like she was missing something. He had never liked her new boyfriend, Jason. He had only come to the studio once and made it clear how little he thought of Callie. He had bossed her around and Callie silently obeyed.
So whatever was the problem with Callie, he was sure that Jason had something to do with it.
Since Callie had met a new friend at yoga though, she seemed a bit more cheerful, but still nothing like her old self. He was curious to meet this new friend. Callie had told him a lot about her. Apparently they spend a lot of time together. Which was good because all the time she spent with Erica meant she didn’t spend it with Jason.
The door to the recording studio opened and Callie and Erica came in. They were talking animatedly and laughing.
It felt good to hear Callie’s laugh again, it had been too long since he had last heard it.
“Calliope”, Carlos called out, “how are you?”
“Hey Carlos, I’m great. And you?” Callie greeted her friend.
“I’m fine.”
He looked at Erica. She seemed nice and didn’t look like a bodyguard at all.
“Carlos, I’d like you to meet Erica”, Callie said to Carlos.
“Erica, this is Carlos, my producer, manager and friend.”
“Nice to meet you, Carlos”, Erica shook his hand.
“Likewise. Have you ever been in a recording studio?”
“No, can’t say that I have.”
“Come on, I’ll show you how it all works while Callie rehearses the song we’re about to record.”
“Great.”
A little while later Callie joined them in the studio and began singing the new song. Erica was mesmerized by her voice. She had heard Callie’s songs on the radio, but hearing her sing live was a pleasure to her ears. Callie was singing passionately about some lost love and poured everything into the song.
“Wow”, Erica whispered.
“She’s good, isn’t she?” Carlos commented when he heard Erica’s reaction.
“She’s awesome. I mean, I had heard some of her songs on the radio, but this is heaven for your ears; it’s beautiful.”
Callie had to re-sing the song a few times until she got it all right.
“That was beautiful, Calliope, this really is one of the best songs of your new album”, Carlos commented when Callie got out of the studio.
“I know, I love that song. What do you think of it, Erica?”
She had seen the look on Erica’s face during the song and it had given her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
“It’s beautiful, you have an amazing voice.”
“Thank you.” Callie felt her cheeks getting red. Why did a compliment from Erica make her blush? And feel warm and fuzzy?
.