return. Angling my head to the sky, I let the emerging morning sun warm my face and hoped the coming day would be better than yesterday.
***
Wandering into the kitchen, I immediately spotted Lexi sprawled out on our sofa with one arm thrown over her eyes to block out the sun. I deposited my empty coffee mug in the dishwasher and made my way over to her, pulling her feet onto my lap as I sat at the end of the couch.
“How was the walk-of-shame?” I asked, indicating the red dress she still wore from last night. Lexi pulled her hand from her face and propped herself up on her elbows to look at me.
“Actually, he drove me home, if you must know,” she said, smiling, “And he said he’d come over tonight.”
“So you had a good night, I take it?”
“Good doesn’t begin to cover it,” she squealed, before launching into an in-depth play-by-play of her entire evening. I sat patiently, listening to her analysis of the things Tyler had said and done for a solid hour before getting up to pour myself another cup of coffee. It looked like I was going to need it with the way this day was headed already.
“I’m sorry I left you,” Lexi admitted, “I know shouldn't have but I just really like him, Brooklyn. And I knew Finn would get you home safe.”
“You don’t even know Finn, Lex,” I said, still slightly irritated by her selfishness. “He could’ve taken complete advantage of the situation.”
“He’s not a creep! You just haven't gi ven him a chance,” she insisted. “You’re so hard on people, Brookie. You never let anyone in.”
“That’s not true!” Okay, maybe it was kind of true.
“Brooklyn, I’m your best friend and I still know virtually nothing about your home life or your childhood. And that’s okay, because I love you. But you have to let somebody in eventually, or you’ll end up alone.”
I didn’t respond. How had this conversation suddenly turned around on me?
“Thanks, Dr. Phil. I r eally appreciate it,” I snapped. “I’m going to take a shower.” I pushed her legs off my lap and stormed out of the room, knowing I needed space to cool down and time to remind myself that she was only trying to look out for me.
Back in my bedroom, I hopped in the shower and stood under the near-scalding water, hoping somehow it could wash away the emo tions swirling inside my head.
A few moments later, my phone buzzed on my nightstand as I was pulling on a pair of jeans. I nearly tripped over my own feet in my hurry to answer the incoming call. The screen read Blocked Number – I wondered vaguely who it was as I lifted the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I asked, slightly out of breath. When no one responded I repeated myself, less patiently this time. “ Hello ? Is someone there?”
I could hear someone breathing on the other end of the line, but they still didn’t respond.
“Who is this?” I demanded, growing angry as a chill raced up my spine. I could feel the fine hair coating my forearms beginning to prickle in alarm.
The slow breathing continued.
“I know you’re there. I can hear you breathing,” I pointed out.
Still no response.
“Don’t call here again, creep,” I hissed into the phone, jabbing at the screen to end the call.
First the nightmare, then a fight with Lexi, and now a disturbing prank caller? If this morning was any indication, it was going to be a long ass day.
***
That evening, I trudged home from campus in a relentless downpour. What had begun as a beautiful sunny day had quickly turned overcast as ominous storm clouds overtook the blue sky. I stepped out of my last class and, as if it had been waiting for me, the sky opened up and sent down buckets of rain that soaked through my jeans and thin t-shirt within minutes. Unequipped to handle the fast-forming puddles, my flimsy sandals continually skidded across the wet sidewalks as I sloshed through the streets. Of all days to forget my umbrella at home, of course it had to be today.
As I
***
Wandering into the kitchen, I immediately spotted Lexi sprawled out on our sofa with one arm thrown over her eyes to block out the sun. I deposited my empty coffee mug in the dishwasher and made my way over to her, pulling her feet onto my lap as I sat at the end of the couch.
“How was the walk-of-shame?” I asked, indicating the red dress she still wore from last night. Lexi pulled her hand from her face and propped herself up on her elbows to look at me.
“Actually, he drove me home, if you must know,” she said, smiling, “And he said he’d come over tonight.”
“So you had a good night, I take it?”
“Good doesn’t begin to cover it,” she squealed, before launching into an in-depth play-by-play of her entire evening. I sat patiently, listening to her analysis of the things Tyler had said and done for a solid hour before getting up to pour myself another cup of coffee. It looked like I was going to need it with the way this day was headed already.
“I’m sorry I left you,” Lexi admitted, “I know shouldn't have but I just really like him, Brooklyn. And I knew Finn would get you home safe.”
“You don’t even know Finn, Lex,” I said, still slightly irritated by her selfishness. “He could’ve taken complete advantage of the situation.”
“He’s not a creep! You just haven't gi ven him a chance,” she insisted. “You’re so hard on people, Brookie. You never let anyone in.”
“That’s not true!” Okay, maybe it was kind of true.
“Brooklyn, I’m your best friend and I still know virtually nothing about your home life or your childhood. And that’s okay, because I love you. But you have to let somebody in eventually, or you’ll end up alone.”
I didn’t respond. How had this conversation suddenly turned around on me?
“Thanks, Dr. Phil. I r eally appreciate it,” I snapped. “I’m going to take a shower.” I pushed her legs off my lap and stormed out of the room, knowing I needed space to cool down and time to remind myself that she was only trying to look out for me.
Back in my bedroom, I hopped in the shower and stood under the near-scalding water, hoping somehow it could wash away the emo tions swirling inside my head.
A few moments later, my phone buzzed on my nightstand as I was pulling on a pair of jeans. I nearly tripped over my own feet in my hurry to answer the incoming call. The screen read Blocked Number – I wondered vaguely who it was as I lifted the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I asked, slightly out of breath. When no one responded I repeated myself, less patiently this time. “ Hello ? Is someone there?”
I could hear someone breathing on the other end of the line, but they still didn’t respond.
“Who is this?” I demanded, growing angry as a chill raced up my spine. I could feel the fine hair coating my forearms beginning to prickle in alarm.
The slow breathing continued.
“I know you’re there. I can hear you breathing,” I pointed out.
Still no response.
“Don’t call here again, creep,” I hissed into the phone, jabbing at the screen to end the call.
First the nightmare, then a fight with Lexi, and now a disturbing prank caller? If this morning was any indication, it was going to be a long ass day.
***
That evening, I trudged home from campus in a relentless downpour. What had begun as a beautiful sunny day had quickly turned overcast as ominous storm clouds overtook the blue sky. I stepped out of my last class and, as if it had been waiting for me, the sky opened up and sent down buckets of rain that soaked through my jeans and thin t-shirt within minutes. Unequipped to handle the fast-forming puddles, my flimsy sandals continually skidded across the wet sidewalks as I sloshed through the streets. Of all days to forget my umbrella at home, of course it had to be today.
As I
Similar Books
