Always

Chapter 6

I sat straight up in my bed and rubbed my eyes. I was terrified to open it. What did he want? I didn't know what to do. I could go to Cece, but I was worried. When James and I had broken up, she listened to me complain and cry for 2 weeks straight and I didn't want to bother her again. I needed to talk to someone who I knew would listen but who also wasn't emotionally involved, and I knew exactly who that person was. But I decided to put it off until tomorrow. I didn't have any classes tomorrow so I could deal with everything then.

I put my phone down and drifted off to sleep.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, Cece was already gone when I woke up. That was a good thing, so I didn't have to lie about where I was going. She could always see straight through my lies. I got ready for the day and decided that first I had to get a new number. I went straight to AT&T and set it all up. Then, I took a cab to Timmy's apartment. I got in the elevator and clicked the penthouse button. I took a shaky breath. "You can do this," I told myself. The elevator dinged and I stepped out into the hallway. I reached his door and knocked 3 times. At first, I was worried because he might not have been home and I came for nothing, but about 10 seconds later the door swung open. 

He was wearing grey sweatpants and nothing else. I blinked a few times, trying to get ahold of myself but it was hard to focus. 

"Hey!" he said. "Long time no see. What's up?"

"I have a problem and you're the only person that can help me with it."

"Okay, no pressure," he said and laughed, although I could tell he was nervous. "Come inside."

I walked in and sat down on the couch. He sat next to me and looked me directly in the eyes.

"So, what did you want to tell me?"

"I got a new phone," I said, pulling it out of my pocket. "And I set up my new number and everything and I logged into all my accounts, and I got a DM. From James."

"Uh oh. Is that bad or good?"

"I honestly don't know how I feel about it. I mean, he was my first love, but he was also my first heartbreak."

"Yeah, that's tough. What did he say?"

"I haven't opened it yet. I came here after because I didn't want to force Cece to deal with all my drama again. If you don't want to listen, it's totally okay, I can go home."

"No, no," he said, touching my arm and sending shivers up my spine. "I want to be here for you."

"Okay. Here goes nothing." I opened it. All it said was "hey."

"What should I say?" I asked, panicking.

Timmy laughed. "How about 'hi?'"

"Oh yeah, that's good."

I typed it and hit send. 

It only took a few seconds before I heard another ding and saw a new message from him. It said, "how's ny?"

I replied with "good how's cali?" and waited. Timmy saw how nervous I was and grabbed my hand. I felt nervous and had butterflies in my stomach, but it wasn't from talking to James. I got another message and it said "good. i miss u."

I didn't know what to say. Timmy noticed this and said, "How about you tell him that you've moved on?"

"Okay," I said as I took a shaky breath.

James replied back with "me too and I'm sorry about everything that happened. i just miss my best friend."

As I read the message a tear rolled down my cheek. James had been my everything. We shared all the same friends, interests, and when I lost him I had lost a part of myself. It wasn't until now that I realized I could still have all that because even if James and I weren't soulmates, it didn't change the fact that he was my friend first.

Timmy noticed that I was crying and wiped the tear from my cheek with the back of his hand. 

"Hey, it's okay. This is good, right?"

"Yeah, it's really good. I'm just so happy we can still be friends."

Timmy wrapped me in a hug, and I felt safe in his arms. 

A few moments later, I slowly pulled away and said, "Thanks, Timmy. You've been such an amazing friend these past few days."

"Of course," he said. "I would do anything for my friends."

We talked for a bit and exchanged numbers now that I had a new phone before I had to leave. I didn't want Cece to worry. 

When I got home, Cece still wasn't home from work yet, which was a good thing. I took a shower and changed into comfy clothes, and when I was done, she got home.

"Maya?" she called.

"Yes?"

"I have news!" she sang in a happy voice.

"So do I," I said. "You first."

"Okay, so I'm at work right? And this super cute girl walks in, she's totally my type. Well, we start talking and one thing leads to another, aaaand we're going on a date tomorrow night!"

"I'm so happy for you!" I said, and I hugged her tightly.

"I'm so excited! Okay, what's your news?"

"Well, last night I got a DM from James. And we talked a bit today, and we've decided to be friends."

"Wow..." Cece said, but I could tell she wasn't as excited as I was. 

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, it's just that last time he hurt you. Bad. And I don't want it to happen again. That's all."

"Don't worry, Cece, I know what I'm getting into. I promise if I start to develop feelings again, I'll back out."

"Okay," she said and she started smiling again. 

I made pasta for dinner and we watched a movie before bed. My phone buzzed and it was a text from Timmy. It said "goodnight :)" and I couldn't help but smile. Timmy was so sweet, but I told myself I could not mess this up. I had to stop thinking about him like that. He was one of my only friends in New York, and I couldn't afford to lose him. I text goodnight back to him and drifted off to sleep.