The Girl With The Dice Necklace

Chapter 13- My Indecision to Call You

 I stared at my phone, contemplating whether or not to call. Sure, we had texted plenty, I'd got to know her that way, but calling, calling is different. That means you have to use the right tone an take turns talking. It makes me that much closer to saying the wrong thing. Why didn't I just pick up the damn phone already and call her?! Did I even want her to come? Of course I did, and we could bring friends to make it less awkward. Keep it just friends. I mean, that's all we were anyway. 'Just call her' I told myself.

     My fingers reached for the phone on my bedside table. I searched the rows of contacts, stopping shortly at the end of the A's when I came to Audrey. Audrey Grey. I forced my fingers to press 'call'.

"Hello?" Her clear voice answered.

"Oh, uh, hi it's Pete." I answered tensely, not realizing she would answer so quickly.

"Um, hi. Sorry I didn't realize who it was."

"It's fine. I was just calling about maybe going-- or, or we don't have to, I mean, you know, if you're busy or--"

"No, I'm not busy. I'd like that. That'd be fun." She answered, the smile I knew she was wearing in her voice. There was silence for a bit.

"So where're we going again?" She said chuckling and I felt a burning blush appear on my face.

"Oh yeah, ha, um well I was thinking we could go to the movies. And I mean, you can bring some friends if you want. I was going to get a little group together. You know, so it isn't..." I trailed off. I didn't want it to be awkward but I also didn't want her to feel disappointed if she was expecting just us or something. Not that she would.

"...Awkward." She finished, almost like maybe she thought the same as I...

"Yeah." I responded, followed ironically by an awkward silence.

     I could feel Audrey's waiting. Perhaps she was waiting for me to start conversation. Or maybe she wanted to leave, sick of such awkwardness.

"Sorry, I'm just, so awkward." She said over the phone.

"No. I know how you feel though." I answered comfortingly.

"Well, anyway, when are we seeing the movie?" Audrey asked.

"Oh, um, does Saturday work?" I asked her, planning more around her than anyone else.

"Sure. And what time?"

"Whenever."

"Oh um, well maybe sometime late afternoon?"

"Yeah. How about 5:00? If that works--"

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" I said quickly with enthusiasm.

"Okay cool!" She said back.

"Oh! Crap-- I gotta go! Sorry, but um, we can text or something later..." She said in a rush. In the background I heard someone knocking on the door and yelling her name.

"Oh, yeah sure, whatever works! See ya!"

"Thanks for everything." She said back. With that we both hung up. Quietly, I praised myself for getting the guts to call. Now I just hoped all would go well at 5:00 on Saturday.