Larkin was having a pretty long day. With the doctor's words still ringing in his head, he still didn't think he was ready for anything daunting today.

But then Maxime came towards him, with a demanding expression on his face when Larkin was trying to study for his classes. "I need to ask you a question and I need you to answer it honestly."

Larkin cursed. Few weeks ago, no one dared to talk to him and now, everybody had a piece of their mind to haul at him. He really wasn't in the mood for any of this. He had bigger problems to worry about. He just couldn't imagine not living in this house. All his memories of his parents were in here.

"Sure, as long as it's not about the raise you asked for last week."

"It's not." He gave a brief pause. "Are you interested in Leona? Is she the girl you were asking about? I'm sorry if I'm intruding—"

Larkin's eyes gleamed. "Leona? No. What gave you that idea?"

His annoyed look made Maxime let out a sigh of relief. "Whew, that's good to know. Leona told Mrs. Esther she was uncomfortable with you flirting with her. I only got to hear about it when Mrs. Esther told Reneé."

Larkin sputtered. "Flirting with her?" Fuck, he should have tried to clear the air with her when he had the chance. Now, she was going around saying bullshit about him. Larkin needed to have a talk with her. The last thing he needed was a possible lawsuit over something he didn't do.

Maxime narrowed his eyes. "If you like her, then it's okay, man. It's no big deal. I'm just curious about it. Not that I'd stop you. She and I are over, and she wants nothing to do with me. I should just......" His words trailed off, when Larkin's emerald eyes remained impassive. "Oh shit, I'm babbling so much. I should shut up now."

Larkin answered firmly. "I don't like Leona. Not in that way. I don't know why she'll go around saying stuff like that, without saying it to my face. And I'd like you to stop asking if I do."

Maxime pressed his lips together. "Sorry I jumped into conclusion. I'm just a little shaken up by the thought of her dating someone."

Larkin was getting tired of hearing all these and his impatience was getting the best out of him. His mind was on HIS house. If he lived somewhere else, then all of them would lose their jobs too. Callista would lose her job. Damn it. "If you care about her so much. Tell her."

Maxime untangled his dark hair with his fingers, while he spoke. "There are some things you can't undo. I learnt that with Leona."

"Do you know why I don't like you?" Larkin gave a disgruntled sigh.

He wore a fragment of a grin. It wasn't a full one that Larkin was used to, but it still held enough amusement in his eyes. "Cause you think of me as a nuisance?"

"True." Larkin said. Maxime tilted his lips up and Larkin continued. "But that's not the whole truth. When I see you, I see my old self. I used to be a funny guy. I know it's hard to believe but I also used to be popular with girls." Maxime's snort let Larkin chuckle a little bit. "I'm serious. I was just like you and it stings seeing you, cause it feels like I'm seeing my self and I wish I could revert a little bit back to that person. But I can't, even if I wanted to because my old self made a stupid mistake that I can't take back."

Maxime commented softly. "Wow, man. That's deep."

His eyes had a wistful emotion. "It's not fair I've made you feel inadequate and neither is it fair to know Leona thinks I was hitting on her."

Maxime chuckled. "She's a little stuck up but I'll talk to her."

Larkin scanned through his sullen face. "And you also like her. You know it's not too late to try the quick tips you taught me."

"Trust me, I've tried." Maxime flowered at him. He looked nothing like his usual happy go-lucky self. "I don't want to seem like a stalker ex boyfriend, so I'll respect her decision."

Larkin admitted to him. "Well, I'm sorry you went through that. My persona also made a girl I loved to hate me." His lips morphed into a frown, when he realized what he said out loud. He hated sharing something like this. This had to be one of the few things from his past that he kept from Callista.

Maxime cocked his head. "You were once in love?"

Larkin let out a sigh. He hadn't let himself think of Becca in a very long time and talking about his past once again brought memories of her along with it. "I pushed her away. Don't make that mistake too. It sucks."

"Well. Ain't that a surprise." Keen eyes watched Larkin in total awe. "You know you never talk to me about anything personal about you. It's nice for a change."

Larkin nodded. He wouldn't dare admit it was because of Callista Blanco, even if it itched him to say it out aloud. "I guess I gave myself another chance with someone else."

Maxime returned his nod. "Then I guess I should too." And then curiosity glimmered in his brown eyes. "You know you haven't told me anything about the girl you needed my advice for."

His answer caused them both to smile. "Nice try, but I ain't telling you."

"It was worth the try." Maxime snickered into a laugh. "I've gotta go. I'll leave you to whatever you're doing."

Larkin called out. "Wait." Maxime whirled around. He added quietly. "If you're interested in watching a game anytime, we could catch up on it together."

Maxime stuck out his forefinger and pulled on a wide grin. His long hair dangled in the breezy air, drawing the corners of his eyes together. "You got it, man. I'll come with my six pack beer and we'll invite some friends over."

Larkin almost wished he didn't offer. "Friends?"

"Yeah, just people you're comfortable with. Leona's definitely coming." He listed out the names and his eyes flashed excitedly. "And Callie too. She's cool. You two are friends, right?"

"Yes." He said dryly.

Maxime was oblivious to Larkin's sudden mood change and seemed too excited at the thought of hanging out in Larkin's house. "Great. I'll plan the whole thing. You're going to love it."

★★★

Callie eased her way out of the kitchen, heading through the back door on her way home.

Mrs. Esther's melodic drawl rang to her. "Callie, dearie. Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Callie glanced at her watch for a brief second, and gave a hesitant smile. "Yeah, sure. I'm all ears."

Her warm smile tipped up. This time, she wasn't dressed in her regular full length dresses. Her floral A-line skirt reached her ankle and a pin tucked shirt snuggled her upper body. "I know it's a little late to ask, but I need to know something. I noticed how close you've gotten with the young Master and I want to know if your friendship with him is genuine."

Callie blinked at her. "Genuine?" Was she being serious right now? This was the same woman who wanted her to work for him, so that they'd be friends. She didn't understand what she meant.

Mrs. Esther's rosy cheeks flamed and she quickly retorted. "I really should explain what I mean. I'm only telling you this because I know how you're close with him. His doctor came few days ago and since then, he just seemed sadder than usual. I don't know if he told you anything and I'm too worried about his reaction to ask."

She shook her head. She hadn't seen Larkin all week because of her other job at Alpha's and even today, he had holed himself up in his room. "No, I haven't seen him. I really didn't notice. I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. I just thought—" Her words trailed off and Mrs. Esther pressed the bridge of her nose. "Sorry, I'm just a little tired. I need to sit down."

Callie caught the drawn expression in the elderly woman's eyes and worry creased her words. "Are you okay, ma'am?"

With a dismissive wave of her frail hands, Mrs. Esther crouched herself on a wooden seat. "It's nothing. I'm just feeling a little dizzy, Reneé. You worry too much."

Callie turned around, checking to see if Reneé was hovering around the corner. It confused Callie a lot because they both knew Reneé had rushed out to pick her son from a friend's place. So right now, it was just both of them in the kitchen. "I'm not Reneé."

A sharp glint sparked in Mrs. Esther's blue eyes as she snarled. "So who the hell are you?"

"I said, who the hell are you?" Mrs. Esther repeated, when she got no response from a startled Callie. There was no hint of recognition in her pale blue eyes. Only anger and paranoia blazed through her manic words. "If you don't talk, then I'll call the cops."

Callie stiffened. What the hell was going on? She managed to speak in an even tone and reached out to one of her arms. "Mrs. Esther, maybe you need to lie down for a bit."

"Get your hands off me, little girl. I don't know you." She hissed, standing up abruptly. "You need to—" A strangled sound fell out of Mrs. Esther's mouth. Callie struggled to keep up with what was happening. Almost like a thunder bolt had struck the old woman, she fell to the floor gasping for air for a fraction of a second and then her body went completely still.

Memories of her mother's lifeless body buried deep within her mind, played through Callie's head and tormented every bit of her when she stared at Mrs. Esther's fallen form.

A shiver of fear coarsed through Callie and clutched her thoughts into a frantic state, rooting her to the ground. Callie ran to Mrs. Esther's collapsed body, shaking it roughly. "Wake up, please. Oh God."

Tears streaked down her cheeks and Callie's mind went into a frenzy. She screamed at the top of her voice. "Somebody, help. Someone help me. Larkin. Anyone." She scurried her hands to her back pocket and fished out her phone. In a haste, she dialed the emergency number. "Hello, 911. There's an emergency."

★★★

This is officially one of the most emotionally jarring moments in my book and It broke my heart writing it.

Xoxo
Jasmine