This Love

9

The following morning when I get to the kitchen after a horrible night of sleep Lexi and Jill are already there. "Morning, or should we say afternoon" I slump into a chair at the counter, "I think I only slept about three hours" I mumble while letting my arm rest in the counter, moving my hand to support my head. "Want to talk about it?" I sigh not looking at them, "no, but I probably should" a hand comes to shoulder but I keep my gaze on the granite countertop. "Is it Daniel?" Lexi asks, I lower my head to the counter, "yes and no" the hand that was on my shoulder moves to rub my back. "You can vent to us Cal" Jill adds, "we had such a great night, but I was scared that if I danced with him I wouldn't be able to stop myself from wanting him in my life for longer that just the night" their silence makes me look up, they've moved to either side of me, "oh Callie" I feel my bottom lip trembling, as they bring me into a group hug, my arms tighten around them as I try to keep my emotions in check.

Once I've calmed down I let go of Lexi and Jill, "enough of this let's eat" they laugh at my change of attitude. "You're right lets focus on better things" I smile and hop off my chair to help make some lunch. Jill brings her computer to the dining room and puts on some music as we move around the kitchen, I dance to the music a smile on my face. What I don't realize is that Lexi is taking a video of the whole thing, my gaze focused on what i'm doing in front of me. In the excitement of making food and the music playing loudly I don't hear my phone vibrating with notifications. Jill suddenly takes my hand twirling me around, I'm laughing as we connect hands to skip around the kitchen, "you guys are such dorks" Lexi says, "you love these dorks though" I yell over the music with a grin on my face. After a few more minutes of dancing we finish making food, finally sitting down to eat at our little dining table.

----

Later when we finish eating I take my phone from where it was charging and flop onto the couch. My lock screen shows me that Daniel has sent me several Instagram messages. I bite my lip unlocking my phone, my thumb hovers over the Instagram app not really sure if I want to read what he sent. "Cal it's painful to watch you like this, just read what he has to say" I look up at my friends who are smiling at me reassuringly, I nod and tap the app opening it. I take a deep breath and go to my messages, pressing our conversation,

danielricciardo
Did I do something wrong?
I'm sorry if I did
I hope we can see each other again sometime

My lip trembles, my vision blurring, "guys I'm a horrible person" Lexi and Jill sit on either side of me. They each take a turn to read what he wrote, "Cal, you were just thinking practically, that doesn't make you horrible" I take my glasses off so that I can wipe the tears from my eyes nodding at her statement. "What do I write back? I can't just leave him on read" I mumble, "we'll help" Jill says handing me my phone.

callieandrews96
You didn't do anything wrong

My friends nod so I send the first message, "now say something about how you hope to see him again too" Lexi says.

callieandrews96
I would really like that 🙂

"Good, that's perfect" I nod and keep my eyes locked on the screen seeing if he'll reply. "Give him some time babe, let's leave this place, we need some fresh air" I look up knowing that she's right so I stand up and put my phone into my pocket before sliding on my shoes and jacket.

The three of us hop into the car and drive away from the apartment building. "Where to?" Lexi asks from the drivers seat, "can we just drive? No destination" Jill smiles at me in the rear view mirror, "I like the way you think Cal" I shrug and rest my arm on the backseat windowsill. "Just driving it is" Lexi mumbles, Jill turns on the radio letting some music stream through the silence in the car. I rest my head against my arm watching the scenery outside my window. I'm pulled out of my trance minutes later when my pocket vibrates, I move away from the window digging my phone out. When I see Daniel's name on my lock screen I unlock the phone and go to Instagram messaging seeing that he has replied.

danielricciardo
You scared me there Callie😅 but I forgive you 😉

I giggle at his message making my friends' heads turn to me. "Was that a giggle?" Jill asks, I blush not saying a word looking back down at my phone.

callieandrews96
Stop doing that

danielricciardo
Doing what?

callieandrews96
Making me laugh

danielricciardo
I'm afraid I can't do that, it would go against my nature
On a serious note, are you sure that you're okay? You left in a hurry there

I smile at his concern,

callieandrews96
I'm fine Daniel, don't worry about me

danielricciardo
Now that I've met you I can't help it, so you're outta luck there

"Are you messaging him?" I look up at Lexi's question, "yeah, how did you know?" I reply squinting at her, "when you talk to him you have the biggest smile on your face Cal" Jill tells me. I blush looking away from them, "he's really funny how could I not smile" the two of them side eye each other, "stop that, I'm right here" I mumble while crossing my arms across my chest like a child. "Fine we'll stop, but let's go get some coffee I'm parched" Jill says making me realize that we're parked in a lot across from a Main Street near the apartment building.