one

Callie didn't think about it before accepting. Of course he could stay. Of course.

"Fuck," he said, voice lowering. "Thanks. Really. Thank you, Cal."

He hadn't called her that since high school. Well, he hadn't called her, period. She pretended not to care.

When he showed up to her door, bags hanging off his shoulders, mumbling about his mum kicking him out, Callie pulled him in for a hug. She tried not to think too hard about the silence he'd fallen to.

"Really," he said again. "Thanks."

Callie smiled. "Of course."

two

Long day, he'd said when he slid into the car. Don't ask, he'd said before she could.

Glancing backward, she watched the others leave, wondering where they all went to. Punching the radio to fill the air, Callie drummed her fingers on the wheel.

"Some storm," she said softly, thinking about getting knocked off her feet.

He stirred. "You didn't get hit by lightning."

"Actually, yeah. Still alive, though." Callie couldn't believe it.

"Fancy that." Sounded like he could.

three

When she left her room one night, she found him camped in front of the television, fast asleep.

She stared at him longer than she meant to then went back to bed.

four

Callie tried not to wait up but couldn't help it. He came back the next afternoon, all smiles, and the day after, he didn't come out of the bathroom for hours. She didn't ask what was wrong, but she wanted to.

five

"How come we've never dated?" he asked once, watching her laugh at a joke.

She shrugged, ignoring her skin flushing. "You couldn't handle me. Monogamy is a requirement."

He grinned. "I like a challenge."

Callie smiled and looked away, trying not to focus on the butterflies in her stomach and the spiders in her finger tips.

six

He didn't come home for several days.

Callie tried not to worry.

Then she got word of his death.

seven

Days and days after the funeral, he showed up at her door, and Callie couldn't help the scream that came out of her mouth.

But then his hands reached for her and she felt his warm skin and wondered what kind of cruelty this was.

"I'm sorry," he said, and squeezed her tighter. She wasn't sure she could let go.

eight

"I love you," she said, without meaning to, her mouth faster than her brain.

He stared at her with an open mouth and then opened his arms and she didn't even mind that he didn't say anything back.

nine

His eyes never left her and that's how she knew. Even if his mouth couldn't say the words yet, she knew it was what he was thinking.