Chapter XXXI

Police Officer: Can you talk about the day Callie came back?

Me: She wasn't back for long.

***

Callie had not announced her arrival at Sunny's when she rang. On opening the door herself, for a moment, Sunny did not know of Callie. Then, she gave a cry that could have either been delighted surprise or terror, after which she drew her in.

"Wh-what are you doing here? But why didn't you let me know you were coming? How long have you been here? Where were you? How long are you going to stay?" Sunny bombarded Callie with questions. She sat her down in a chair, patting her as though she were a cushion, pressed drinks upon her, cakes, chips. Sunny was heartbroken because she had no lemonade left, wanted to make her tea, racked her brain for something she could possibly do for her, and in the exuberance of her delight sweated at every pore. Sunny was nervous.

Callie didn't have the same dramatic but cheap appearance Sunny remembered. Her eyebrows were so fair you could not see them. Her hair, brown and abundant, was plainly done. Her face was very pale, and her features were pleasant without being distinguished. She had quiet gray eyes, and I could tell Callie didn't miss being the beautiful stripper chic she was before.

Sunny could not exactly place her, and if she hadn't known her before, she would not have been able to pinpoint what rank in society she sprung. She was no longer the ravishing slutty creature that the rest of Fort McMurray was used to seeing, rather she had a grave comeliness. Her reserve might have concealed a very deep feeling. Or maybe some sort of awakening, a rebirthing.

"We thought you left for good."

"Well, I am leaving. Tomorrow. I've come to say goodbye."

Sunny didn't know what to say because she didn't know how to feel about the news. Should she have been honored that Callie came to her place before Selena's? Or should she still be mad that she left for months without contacting her?

"Calgary is our new home."

"But why? What about the Kitties. What about Selena?"

"I don't have time for silly questions, Sunny. You have to be careful," she said. "Selena's name is worth less than it seems."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Atlas is sick. He fired my dad… It's not like we wanted to move. They've forced us to leave."

"Fired for what?"

"For nothing."

"I thought you guys were family friends. You guys run this place"

"We once did. But her whole fucking family is sick. Demanda's always making uninteresting small talk, speaking rumors everywhere. That's probably why she had failed as a thinker; too much chitchat, too many conversations about the weather, the traffic, where were you born, what did your mother do. And Atlas. Used my dad like a dog and then just told him to find another line of work the next day. Fucking sick."

Callie had hate in her voice. Her eyes twinkled and her flushed face was shining with vexation."

"You know, we're more similar than you think. I used to be like you, Sunny."

"Yeah I mean we were both Kitties."

"That's not what I mean. I admit I had gross privilege and elitism. But I've changed."

"Okay."

Sunny's spectacles settled on the bride of her nose. The sweat made the constantly slip down.

"She played you hard. From the first day she came into your house, she knew you got it well. Big house, big house. She was envious and when Demanda chatted about the trampoline park your parents were opening, she became angry. They stole you away on your big day. It was her plan for Lyssa to fail. She always hated that bitch."

"Lyssa? What's this got to do with Lyssa," said Sunny, irritated. "Have you lost your mind? Selena's my best friend. She's our best friend. How could you say this about her… and her family."

"She's no friend," said Callie, flushing a little, electrified by the passion in her tone.

"You're out of your mind," said Sunny, lips trembling a little.

"She never hesitates to make free use of your purse. She's a pickpocket, getting you hooked and then stealing everything from you. And worst of all— she's proud of her light little fingers, she feels a sort of indignation when she sees a weakling, leaving herself unprotected in a new place."

"You're lying."

"I was once the new kid, too. She posted videos of me all over Instagram so she could get popular. She did the same to you. Fishy Friday. She eats off of you. This is all a game, Sunny. Her fucking game."

Callie cursed Selena freely. She gave me an extraordinary impression as she sat there, her attention riveted on her speech— an impression of great strength. I could not understand why, but her emaciation, her newfound freedom from this world, made it all the more striking.

"I get your desire to earn her praise. You like that Selena thinks you understand. But I know that oftentimes you feel entirely alone, even with the people you love most you feel encased as the Whites around talking about and doing seemingly respectable and important things that have no relevance in your life."

Callie, with a voluble tongue, explained her and Selena's history. I do not know if Sunny listened. She glanced at her once or twice reflectively, but for the most part, seemed occupied with her own thoughts. She was too far into the friendship to see clearly. Callie continued to speak.

"Selena comes to you with a problem only you can understand, by which she means only you can solve, and she says something that makes you throw yourself into the challenge. I don't know about you, but for me, that problem usually involved dressing up like a whore. She has a sick obsession with boys, and she used my body to fetch them for her. You don't see her all dressed up like that, but there I am."

I noticed that now and then Sunny's eyes rested on her with a faint smile of amusement. Sunny did not believe a single thing coming out of the girl's mouth. Or, perhaps she believed, but didn't care.

"Occasionally, it was something that I would have to solve through an emotional maneuver. Perhaps she needed me to agree that some rival Indian kid was being outrageous."

Sunny was silent, partly because she was stunned and partly because she hated Callie for talking about Selena like this.

"Now I'm leaving, finally."

"You're not going to see her?"

"I don't think that would end well. I think I may remind her of a time she prefers to forget."

"You mean Cole?"

"Awful name, isn't it."

"Where is he? Was he with you all this time?"

Callie looked at her thoughtfully for nearly a minute. She did not speak.

"He was in on it too," she said.

"In on what."

"The bet. Selena's idea. If he could get in your pants before the year ends, she buys him out. He touched you, you know what I'm talking about."

The words rung in Sunny's ear as she remembered the pain overtaking her as Cole's monstrous palm gripped her ass. She shook her head, no. The moment of hesitation was not strong enough to wake her.

"Okay. Callie. I don't know what happened to you, but this stuff you're saying is insane."

"She made me do horrible things. I turned into a monster."

"Stop it! Stop placing blame on her for your own mistakes. It's horrendous. Do you forget all the things she's done for you?"

"I didn't come here to argue."

"You shouldn't have come at all."

"I'm trying to help you."

"I could care less," said Sunny.

Callie said so much, yet nothing at all, and not long after the argument, she got up and rolled her suitcase out of the house. She made her way down the driveway when she trend around suddenly.

"Sunny?"

Sunny looked up.

"Protect yourself."

And with that, Callie vanished once again.

***

Later that evening, Sunny reflected on Callie's words, the poor indications of what Selena had done. There were moments that were blurry, so Sunny had to fill up the gaps with her own imagination. It was tantalizing to get no more hints into a character that interested her so much.

When Sunny ate dinner, she ate with an appetite but was indifferent to what she ate. She looked unusually sullen, but also equally enraged that Callie could be capable of such betrayal. She vowed to remain loyal to Selena for the rest of eternity, for Selena's godly image remained a dark obsession of her mind. An obsession that would soon lead her to do things the law deeply forbade. Perhaps, to kill.