My phone buzzes violently with a notification waiting to be read. I don't want to look at it, but my body denies my thoughts and picks it up. According to my calendar, it's Dallas' birthday. I honestly forgot about it. Should I call him? Send him a text? Send him a letter? No, not that last idea. I don't even know where he is.
I decide I'll wait until later to call him and wish him a happy birthday. Until then, I plan to stay in bed and dread every breath like I have for the past week. I don't want do anything, go anywhere, nor do I want to talk to anyone.
Someone puts their hand on my shoulder which startles me awake. I turn over and see dad. He's smiling at me, but I don't return it. I'm too tired to force even a fake smile on my face. "What's wrong?" For some reason, this is the first question I have.
He chuckles and places his hand on my cheek, slowly caressing it with his thumb, "Nothing. Have you talked to Dallas yet?"
"No." I prop myself onto my elbows.
"Well, when you do tell him happy birthday for me, will you, sweet pea?"
A groan escapes my body as I turn back over, smothering my face into my blankets. "I will later." Dad leans down to kiss my forehead, and then leaves.
After my door shuts, I check my phone. Social medias have blown up my phone reminding me of his birthday. I don't want to talk to him, but dad wants me to. After a moment of hovering my finger above Dallas' contact, I decide to tap it and select the call option. The phone rings three times before someone answers. "Hello?" Loud music and laughter almost drowns out the voice.
I hesitate for a second, "Dallas?" He says something muffled to someone, and soon enough all the background noise is muffled. Maybe he stepped outside? Where is he? What did he step out from? It sounded like a party.
"What do you want, Jodie?" His voice sounds uneasy.
"Uh, Happy Birthday. My dad told me to tell you that for him." I sit up entirely now, and shift under my covers anxiously.
He scoffs, "He could have called me. He has my number. Why did he have you call me?" I didn't know that.
"He probably wants us to try to talk things out."
Dallas sighs into the microphone built in his phone, "I'm kinda busy right now. You should've done that when you had a chance." I'm so stupid, I shouldn't have called him. Before I know it, there's a beeping that tells me he hung up. I toss my phone onto the other side of my bed and hide under my covers. Maybe I can sleep my embarrassment away. If I sleep now, I can forget that ever happened. My eyes give into the dark room as I fall asleep.
YOU ARE READING
The Beginning, Middle, but not the End
Teen FictionJodie Sizemore is a normal teenager--she lives in a nice house, goes to a good school, and has a group of loyal friends. However, there are a few inevitable obstacles that seem to prevent her from enjoying her life, also known as Generalized Anxiety...
