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                               The Haunting
                              By Addie Butaud
                                  © 2000

CAUTION!  This story contains foul language and mature subject matters.

	Callie hated not knowing who her professor was going to be.  All 
her schedule said was TBA.  The only reason she was taking this class was 
because it was required for her major.  Even though it was a freshman 
course, she had put it off because it was so boring.  She looked around 
the auditorium.  She didn't recognize a single face.  Then rather 
attractive younger guy plopped into the seat next to hers.  His 
expression told her he was on the make.

ALEX:  Hi.  I'm Alex Jacobson, freshman.  You are?

	Callie looked at him and tried not to laugh.

CALLIE:  Callie Clayton, senior, mother of a very active, almost two year 
old, son.

	Alex looked stunned.

ALEX:  You have a kid?

CALLIE:  And a husband.

	At that very moment, Jimmy walked through the door of the 
auditorium and searched for his wife.  He spotted her towards the front 
talking to some guy.  Jealousy never entered his mind.  He knew Callie 
was his.  He walked closer to her before he called her name.

JIMMY:  Callie.

	She turned to find her husband coming towards her.

CALLIE:  Speaking of my husband.  Jimmy this is Alex.

JIMMY:  Hey man. … Babe, I need to talk to you.

CALLIE:  Okay. … Alex, could you save my seat?

	Alex looked white as a ghost.  He thought for sure that this guy 
had to know that he had been hitting on his wife.

ALEX:  Sure.  N…No problem.

	Callie stood up and followed Jimmy to the back of the auditorium.

JIMMY:  New fan?

CALLIE:  What can I say?  Your wife is adored and wanted by all.

	He laughed.

JIMMY:  Cute.

CALLIE:  So what do you need to talk to me about?

JIMMY:  I was just down in Admin getting my schedule straightened out 
and I found out who's teaching this class.

CALLIE:  Who?

	Just then, the side door opened and in walked Barek.  He walked 
to the podium and turned on the microphone.

BAREK:  This is History of Criminal Justice.  Now, if you could all take 
your seats, we can get started.

	Callie's heart started to pound through her chest and she broke 
out into a cold sweat.

CALLIE:  Holy fuck!

	The entire class turned to see the visibly shaken woman in the 
arms of her husband.  Barek smiled.

BAREK:  Miss Walker, would you like to join us?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Sydney had decided to spend her senior year attending classes on 
campus.  Emily was almost three and Garret had suggested that Sydney 
spend more time with adults.  They had a more than capable nanny and 
Emily needed the independence from her as well.  So here she was sitting 
in her first classroom in two years and she was nervous.  That's when 
Mila entered the room.  She took the seat next to Sydney.

SYDNEY:  What are you doing taking a business course?

MILA:  Grant suggested it.

SYDNEY:  Why?

MILA:  So I won't feel so stupid when we go out to dinner with some of 
his father's clients.  I might still be bored, but at least I'll know 
what they're talking about.

	A girl walked up to Mila and just stood there.

SYDNEY:  May we help you?

ALYSSA:  Aren't you Mila Rosnovsky?

	Mila gave her a modest smile.

MILA:  I am, or at least I was until I got married

ALYSSA:  You're an actress.

MILA:  Not anymore.  I'm just a normal person, with a normal life and a 
normal husband.

ALYSSA:  Wow!

	The professor walked into to the class and asked for everyone to 
take a seat.  Alyssa went to sit down across the room.  Sydney was 
silently laughing.

MILA:  What's so funny?

SYDNEY:  I know that you're new to being a Booth, but let me give you 
some advice.

	Mila looked at her quite perplexed.

MILA:  Okay.

SYDNEY:  Never, ever refer to your husband as normal.  Booth men are well 
above average.  At least that's what they believe.

	Mila muffled her laughed as the lecture began.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	After her class, Callie sat glued to her seat.

ALEX:  Are you okay?

CALLIE:  What?

ALEX:  You've been shooting daggers at that Barek guy for the last hour.

CALLIE:  It's a really long story and I don't feel like getting into it.

	Barek interrupted them.

BAREK:  Miss Walker, can I speak to you for a few minutes?

	Alex took that as his clue to leave.

ALEX:  See you Wednesday Callie.

CALLIE:  Bye Alex.

	Callie turned toward Barek.

CALLIE:  My last name is Clayton.  You know that.

BAREK:  My apologies.

CALLIE:  What do you want Barek?

BAREK:  Look I realize this is awkward for you.

CALLIE:  Only until I can transfer into another history class.

BAREK:  Well, you see, that's the thing.  I'm teaching all of the CJ 
History classes this year.

CALLIE:  Both semesters?

BAREK:  'fraid so.

CALLIE:  Oh this keeps getting better and better.

	Callie had been doing her damndest to not run into this man who 
had mad her early teenage years pure hell, and now she was going to be 
forced to spend an entire semester with him.

BAREK:  You do what's expected of you in this class, which is to 
participate in discussions and pass your tests and it will fly by.

CALLIE:  Fine.  Can I go now?

BAREK:  I'm not the enemy Callie.

	Callie glared.  Her voice was louder than she expected.

CALLIE:  Because of you, Jimmy was almost killed!

	A few of the stragglers looked over at Barek and Callie.

BAREK:  Would you please keep your voice down?

CALLIE:  Why?  Afraid of your new adoring fans finding out what kind of 
person you really are?

	Callie turned and left the auditorium.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Jimmy was sitting in his office at the Tool-n-Die.  Juggling 
school and work was getting more difficult.  He needed someone to work 
afternoons so he could go to class.  He had a couple of interviews set 
up and his first was arriving within the hour.  That's when Callie walked 
in.

JIMMY:  What happened?

CALLIE:  I'm stuck with him for the entire semester.

	Jimmy got up, walked around his desk and embraced her.

CALLIE:  Why is it that the one class I put off was the one he's 
teaching?

JIMMY:  Maybe there's a reason.  Maybe this is what you need to put the 
past behind you.

CALLIE:  I'll never forget what happened.

JIMMY:  This isn't about forgetting.  It's about forgiving.

	There was a knock on the door.

JIMMY:  Come in.

	The door opened and in walked Alex.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	For the three years that Mila had been on campus no one had 
recognized her as an actress.  Here she was beginning her last year and 
hundreds of people had stopped her and asked her for her autograph.  
After signing one in the parking lot, Mila got in her car and left.

MILA:  What is going on?

	She started driving towards her apartment when she saw it.  There 
it was, a huge billboard with her picture on it.  She immediately picked 
up her phone and dialed her husband.

GRANT III:  Talk to me.

	Mila's voice was meek.

MILA:  Grant.  I need to see you.  Where are you?

GRANT III:  I'm at the house.  Are you okay?

	Mila started to cry.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Callie pulled away from Jimmy's embrace.

CALLIE:  Alex.  What are you doing here?

ALEX:  I have an interview.  What are you doing here?

CALLIE:  Jimmy owns the place.

ALEX:  Oh.

	Jimmy shook Alex's hand.

JIMMY:  Have we met?

CALLIE:  He's in Barek's class with me.

JIMMY:  That's right.  Sorry, I usually don't forget people.

ALEX:  That's okay.

	Garrett entered the office.

GARRETT:  Hey man, something's wrong with my Durango.

	Callie gave Jimmy a kiss.

CALLIE:  I'll get it.  You play boss man.

JIMMY:  Thanks Walker Woman.  There're some overalls in the locker.

	Callie looked at Alex.

CALLIE:  Good luck.

	Callie and Garrett left the office.

ALEX:  Callie's a mechanic?

	Jimmy smiled.

JIMMY:  Best gear head in Swans Crossing. … So tell me about your self.

	Jimmy motioned for Alex to sit down and then took his seat 
behind the desk.

ALEX:  Well, I've worked in a garage all my life.  My father, grandfather 
and uncles own one.

JIMMY:  Where are you from?

ALEX:  Arlington.

JIMMY:  Virginia?

ALEX:  No, Texas.

JIMMY:  You're a freshman at the university right?

ALEX:  That's correct.

JIMMY:  Then you're what, eighteen?

ALEX:  Sixteen.  I'm kind of smart.

JIMMY:  Cool.  So, why don't I take you into the shop and you can show 
me what to do.

ALEX:  Okay.

	When Jimmy and Alex went into the garage Callie rolled out from 
under Garrett's SUV.  Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and her face 
was smudged with grease.

CALLIE:  Garrett, when was the last time you had the oil changed?

GARRETT:  I don't know.

	She wiped off her hands and went into the office and grabbed her 
keys out of her purse.  She went back out to the garage and tossed 
Garrett the keys.

CALLIE:  Take my car.  I'll bring yours by when I get all the crud out 
of it.

	Garrett kissed her on the cheek.

GARRETT:  You're a babe.

CALLIE:  Oh, while you've got my car, could you go pick AJ up from 
Jimmy's parent's house and take him to your house?  He and Emily have a 
play date.

	She smiled at him and batted her eyes.

GARRETT:  Fine, fine.  Besides, it's been awhile since I've spent quality 
time alone with my godson.  See ya later.  Bye Jimmy.

JIMMY:  Later man.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Mila got to the site where her new house was being built.  It 
was a mile from the Walker Estate.  Grant saw her drive up and met her 
in the dirt driveway.  She got out of her car and ran into his arms.

GRANT III:  Baby, what's wrong?

MILA:  All of these people at school kept asking me for my autograph.  I 
didn't understand why.  And then when I was driving home I saw it.

GRANT III:  Saw what?

MILA:  A huge billboard with my face on it.

GRANT III:  What did it say?

MILA:  Just my name.  I don't understand it.

GRANT III:  Have you called your mother?

MILA:  She says she's clueless.

GRANT III:  What about Goldbrick?

	Mila looked up at her husband.

MILA:  I didn't even think about him.  You know, for the last three 
years at school, every things been great.  Nobody recognized me.  I 
thought I was finally gonna have the normal life I always prayed for.  
Then today, it was like, it was ripped away from me.

	Grant held her tighter and kissed her forehead.

GRANT III:  Hey, I'm still here.  We'll find out what's going on.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Callie was cleaning up while Alex was finishing up with the task 
that Jimmy had put before him.  Callie walked behind Jimmy and put her 
arms around him.  She whispered in his ear.

CALLIE:  He's good.

JIMMY:  That he is.

	Alex wiped his hands on a rag and went over to Jimmy and Callie.

ALEX:  The timing was just off.  I re-calibrated it.

CALLIE:  Well I'm impressed.

JIMMY:  Me too.  The job's yours if you want it.

	Alex shook his hand.

ALEX:  I do, thank you.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Mila sat quietly in her apartment staring at the phone.  She 
knew she had to confront her former agent, but she hated confrontations.  
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

MILA:  Here goes nothing.

	She picked up the phone, turned on her answering machine on to 
record and dialed Jack Goldbrick's private line.

JACK:  Jack Goldbrick.

MILA:  Why is there a twenty-five foot billboard with my face on it?

JACK:  Mila, babe, it's great to hear form you.

MILA:  Answer me Jack.  Why is my picture on a billboard?

JACK:  You need publicity so you won't fade out.

MILA:  I want to fade out!  God Jack, what's it going to take, a 
restraining order?

JACK:  You could be back on top in no time.

MILA:  Jack, I want you to listen to me and listen good because I'm only 
going to say this once.  I am no longer an actress.  I'm a senior in 
college, I'm married and someday I want a family.

JACK:  I can work that angle.

MILA:  Shut up and listen to me damn it!  I no longer need an agent.  Do 
you understand what I'm saying?  You're fired.

JACK:  But…

	Mila hung up the phone and turned off the machine.  She felt a 
tremendous amount of tension leave her body.  Grant walked in the door.

GRANT III:  So, are we ready to call this joker?

	Mila got up and put her arms around her husband.

MILA:  Taken care of.

	She kissed him.

GRANT III:  I'm proud of you.  I know how you hate to deal with him.

MILA:  Well, I'm a grown woman.  And it's high time I started acting 
like it and not let every one else handle my problems.  I refuse to let 
my past life haunt me.

GRANT III:  It wasn't that bad of a life, was it?

MILA:  No, but that not the life I want.  The life we have is.

	Grant brushed his hand through her long blond hair.

GRANT III:  I think I like this new you.

MILA:  Really?  Well what would you think about the new me with short 
hair?

GRANT III:  How short?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Sydney and Callie were watching their children splash around in 
the kiddie pool as their husbands were drinking beer and grilling 
burgers.  Callie was telling Sydney about the Barek situation.

CALLIE:  I honestly don't know how I'm going to get through this 
semester.  I worked so hard to avoid him ever since I've known he was 
back in Swans Crossing, and now he stands in between me and graduation.

SYDNEY:  Callie, do you think he would intentionally fail you?

CALLIE:  That's not his style.  He'll just try and get me to second-
guess myself.  Okay, just forget this whole conversation.

SYDNEY:  Why?

CALLIE:  Because I just listened to what I was saying and I sound like a 
paranoid teenager.  It's just … it's like the past is haunting me.  All 
of those awful, awful memories are coming back.

	AJ started crying and quickly got out of the pool, rubbing his 
eyes and grabbed Callie's leg.

AJ:  Maaamaaa!

	Callie grabbed the towel and gently wiped her son's face.

CALLIE:  Is that better little man?

	AJ was still pouting, but nodded his head.  Callie picked his 
little, wet body up and set him in her lap.  She ran her hand over is 
hair.  He looked up at her with his big brown eyes and touched her face.

AJ:  I wub Mama.

CALLIE:  I love you too sweetie.

	Callie dropped the subject of Barek for the rest of the evening, 
but she couldn't get rid of the feeling that all wasn't what it appeared 
to be.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Like it? Hate it?  Talk to me.  addiegirl@hotmail.com