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I put the phone on loud speaker and patiently waited for whoever it was to speak. They took their sweet time. I kept myself busy picking my nails. Then after what seemed like forever a voice came through. It shook my whole body. I didn't want anything to do with him. I reminded myself I had promised myself not to break down for someone else.
"Hey, bird?" The voice was low and delicate, like it was being cautious. I took in a deep breath, my eyes closed. I summoned all the strength I had left.
"What?" I said, mastering my voice to sound as normal as I could.
"I'm sorry for calling this late," he said, his voice apologetic. I kept my mouth shut, waiting to hear what he had to say. "I know you don't want to hear from me. You have every right after everything I put you through."
"Just cut to the chase," I said. "I'm busy, you're wasting my time!" I couldn't believe he even had the courage to call me after everything.
"I was wondering if we could meet." I let out a small chuckle. He must be kidding me. "I want to explain everything," he continued, and I laughed this time louder.
"What is there to explain?" I said, shaking my head. "You decided it was best for you to leave, and you did so." My eyes were burning now. I'm not going to have another breakdown. I tapped my leg on the floor to distract myself. "There is nothing to explain there."
"Please, bird," he paused, "just one chance." I took in a deep breath to steady my uneven breathing.
"That's never gonna happen. You should have explained yourself before leaving," I said as I caught a tear on my cheek and wiped it. "Bye, Ethan."
"Wait!" he screamed before I hung up. "I'm not gonna give up," he said, his voice firm. "I sent you some money, it'll help you settle down at school."
So I wasn't wrong. It was him.
"I don't need your fucking money," I said right before I hung up. I kept tapping my leg on the floor as I navigated to my bank app. I would never use that man's money. I copied and pasted his bank account number and transferred the money he had sent back to him.
I dropped the phone on the couch and concentrated on the show. I had to be strong. I can't let people pull me down. Make me vulnerable. No!
After a few hours of watching I was getting sleepy now. I straightened myself on the couch, covering myself with a fleece as I forced my eyes open. I was afraid of drifting off. I knew nightmares were waiting for me on the other side. I had to stay up.
A bang at the door startled me up. "Oww," I winced as I fell on the floor, butt first. The sunlight filled the room. It was already daytime. I fell asleep on the couch last night.
"What now?" I growled as I rubbed my eyes. I supported myself up, but I landed back down, my right hand held by the left tightly on my chest. I had forgotten my hand was injured.
"What a nice way to start a day," I said, my face furrowed. I supported myself with the left hand and got up, heading to the door. Meanwhile, whoever was there was knocking on the door like their life depended on it.
"We're—" Brandon stopped as soon as his eyes landed on me. "I can't believe you're not ready yet. We're getting late."
"What?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"School."
Oh, right. Classes start today, I had forgotten.
"I'm not going today," I said in between a yawn.
"But it's the first class, and I kinda need my wing woman after yesterday's **incident**." He said, making a puppy face.
"Sorry, but you'll have to deal with them alone, Barbie girl," I said.
"Shhhh," he said, placing a finger on his mouth while looking around. "You promised never to bring it up."
"I didn't, you did," I said, stating the obvious. "Does Chase know about it?" I asked, curious.
"No, I have been keeping his phone from him," he whispered, looking at his door.
"You know he'll still know, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, but until then let me have this moment to myself."
"Sure," I said, getting back to my house. "Wait, how did you know I had a class at this time?" I wondered.
"Samantha called."
Sam. The name brought yesterday's memories back. Her lips, her strawberry taste. I caught myself touching my lips.
"Good luck, Brandon," I said right before closing the door. I would do anything to kiss those lips again. "Stop it!" I scolded myself. We said no more attachments, and after all, she said it was not right.
What am I going to spend the day doing since I just skipped school? As much as I wanted to spend it indoors, I didn't think it was a good idea. Then an idea struck me. I need a car. Today's going to be car shopping day. It was 9:30 already.
I went to the kitchen, took a bowl, and poured cereal and milk in. I sat on the dining table eating while scrolling on the phone. Barbie girl was trending on the school platform. His videos were also on social media. He looked so funny.
After taking a shower and putting on black sweatpants and a black T-shirt, I decided to check if Chase was up for car shopping. I didn't know much about cars; I needed someone who did.
Lucky for me, Chase was happy to drop everything planned for the day — that's sleeping — and take me shopping. He also knew a lot about cars, which made it all better.
"Aren't you going to change?" he asked after getting changed.
"Nope, I'm all good," I said.
"You need a stylist," he said, getting his keys.
"I had one, but she decided I didn't deserve her," I mumbled, recalling my fight with Sandy, and I felt a pit in my stomach. I pushed the thought away, getting out.
"What?" Chase wondered.
"Nothing. Let's go," I said, getting out.
Minutes later we were at a car dealer's shop. We made our way in after paying the **cab** driver. We tested all kinds of cars, even the ones we knew we wouldn't buy.
"How much is your budget?" Chase asked as we took a car for a drive.
"I don't have one. I just want a decent car, don't worry about the price," I said, looking out of the window.
"It's like that, huh?" Chase teased, a smile on his face.
"Yeah, it's like that," I said, forcing a smile. I was feeling low after all the events that took place yesterday. But life had to go on.
"Your family must be loaded then?" he asked, his eyes on the road.
Family. I didn't have a family, or at least I didn't consider myself having one.
"Something like that," I said.
In the end we decided to take a convertible BMW instead of the Porsche the dealer was convincing us to take.
Chase drove it home while I was stuck on the passenger seat, viewing out.
"I hope you don't mind," Chase said as he turned the radio to full volume, opening the top of the car.
"Sure," I didn't really mind the volume at all. I loved loud music.
"This car is sick!" Chase screamed as he drove. I had never seen this side of him. He was so hyped.
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