Love at it's Peak by Kailey (jenna bush book club TXT) 📖

From the first time I saw Caleb I knew he would break my heart. With his deep blue eyes that more intense than any and his perfect dirty blond hair, Caleb was any girls dream. However, me being 15 and him 17, I always knew it was just a dream. But now it's more of déjà vu.
I never knew love. I came from a broken home, one I'm afraid to ever go back to. Luckily, I got out. My sister on the other hand was not as lucky. My dad has beaten us since my mother left him when I was 5. I took the worst of it. But my sister one day was feeling daring and stood up to my dad. She told him to stop, that he was going to hell. That by just calling a number she could change all of our lives. That pissed him off more than ever. Next thing I know there is blood on the floor and a new grave out in the field. He said if I ever said a word my other sister, Zoe, would be next. I just wanted to be able to save one. Just one.
One day while in a fight I was losing with my dad, I heard a door open. It was weird, but I figured it wasn't ours. I figured wrong. It was Caleb running into my house. He thought a murderer was trying to kill us. Little did he know it was just my father. I will never forget the look on his face when he saw my dad punch me. It was so protective, so strong. He told me to grab my sister and get in his car. If it wasn't for how scared I was I don't know if I would of, but I did. Not even 2 minutes later he comes out running, blood on his shirt. But the blood wasn't his. Could he actually beat my dad? Could someone actually save me?

* * *

We just drove. All night I counted the miles. Zoe asleep in the back, Caleb's eyes glued to the road. It wasn't til 4 hours later that either of us said a word. Actually two, "Tell Me". That's all. Two words from those lips with his perfect deep voice and I snap back to reality. I didn't know what to say. I mean didn't he just see. What does he want?
"That is my dad." That was all I was going to say but I could tell by his eyes he wanted more. "It's been like this for about ten years, normally its worst. But then again, normally I don't get in a car with some stranger."
We didn't talk again until we got to a house. It wasn't big, but not small. It wasn't new, but not old. It was on a lake with a big dock out back. Inside there was an air-hockey table, a big couch with a TV, and a kitchen. The walls were beige with white floorboards and the kind of carpet that feels great between your toes. It was a home, not a house. You could feel a sort of safety in it. It felt like you were too far away to get hurt.
He told me he was sleeping on the couch and not to argue. When he showed me his room he pulled out an extra pillow for my sister and some blankets for himself. I lay down in bed with my sister, envious with her abilities to fall asleep where ever. After an hour I decided to give up and go out on the dock.
On my way I just couldn't help but check on Caleb. After all, he did help a lot today. Walking by the couch, I didn't see him. He must of not of been able to sleep either. I go out the back door, smell the water. And I see Caleb at the end of the dock. He must of been lost in thought or not of heard me coming up behind him because when I came up behind him and hugged him, we both went splashing in the water. When I popped up he was waiting to see who the mysterious person was. When he saw me we both started laughing hysterically.
We forgot about what had to happen for us to meet and just enjoyed each other’s company. For once I didn't have to worry about getting hurt. I didn't have to check to see if there was someone behind me or if my sister was okay. All I had to do was laugh. And so I did. We spent the whole night just talking, about the good and the bad. Neither of us asked any questions, our eyes did that for us. No one had to feel bad, we just talked and shared.
We sat out on the dock talking til the sun came up, and then we watched. Last night was like a dream, and today we had things we had to do. First thing we needed to do was take a nap before my sister was up. He went to the couch and me to the bed. Within seconds I was asleep.

* * *

I woke up to my sister shaking me that she needed to pee. While frantically searching for the bathroom, I found a book. Not just a book but a scrapbook, Being the noisy person I am I looked through it. And every picture in it was a picture of Alex, My best friend until I was 14, but he died 9 months ago. How did Caleb know Alex?
I heard footsteps down the hall and quickly put up the book, I could ask him later about Alex. He called me into the kitchen and when I walked in I saw a huge breakfast. It had it all bacon, eggs, hash browns, fruit, and some food I don't even know. There was something with this guy, but I haven't decided if it was good or bad. For now, I'm leaving it alone and enjoying every bite of food on my plate.
The day went by fast. We just kind of went with the flow. By ten my sister was out cold on the couch. And Caleb and I were already out by the dock. It was insane. I’ve known this boy what a whole 2 days and I swear I would trust him with my life. There was something about his muscular arms that relaxed me when he held me. But there was still the Alex thing keeping me from trusting too much. How do I ask him about that? “Hey Caleb, I was creeping out your house and just happened to stumbled upon this open scrapbook.” Yeah because that is believable, but I needed to know and now would be as perfect of a time as any.
I was about to open my mouth when he started talking, “I knew Alex. You know you best friend before you know he, umm, died.”
He must have known I wanted more because he started again, “I’m his older brother. That’s how I could trust you. He told me great things about you. Before he died he gave me this note.” He reached into his packet and pulled out a piece of notebook paper folded twice, and it read:
Dear Caleb.
I know I may die soon. I have that feeling
mom used to talk about. Dad had it too before
he was killed. I hate to leave you alone so
this is what I’m going to do. I want you to
find Kailey Tompson, and you two can be each
other’s escape. When I die I’m not sure what
she will do so I’d like you to find her quick.
Stay safe. I love you. Good-bye.
Sincerely,
Alex Codwel

I would know that hand writing anywhere, I used to make fun of him because he wrote like a girl. I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t. I just read it again and again.

* * *

It has been a week since the night we came here. Every night still ends the same, sister falls asleep first, Caleb and I go to the dark and then we go to bed. But today was different, today we didn’t wake up until noon. Today there was no sun, only rain. Today I missed my house, not my dad, my house. Today, my sister was asleep early and Caleb and I didn’t go to the dock, instead we sat on the couch. He was lying down and I was on him. I listened to his heart beat, his lungs filling with air. It was simple. That is until I started to wonder. I starting thinking about the future, where do Zoe and I go? How will this all pan out? The future is hard, let’s not think about it. Take every day one step at a time.
Caleb turns on the TV and for the next half hour we watch How I Met Your Mother

. At the end of the show I realize that Caleb is asleep, Even asleep he looks like an angel. I carefully get up, but before I leave I gently kiss his lips. Next thing I know Caleb has his hand on the back of my neck, the other on my waist, and he brings me down on him again. I was paying too much attention to what was happing to my body I didn’t even notice I was kissing him. It was perfect.