Burnt Ramen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

            Immediately, Kate is drenched. The rain seeps through her hood and begins to soak her hair as well, making her very unhappy. Taking one last glance at Alice’s building, she sighs heavily and turns around. Wiping the water out of her face, she attempts to walk forward on the sidewalk through her blurry vision.           

            One thought keeps nagging at her as she walks.

 Could Alice be right?

But Alice can’t be right, because then Kate would have been hopelessly repressing her feelings for nothing. Nothing. And the thought of that is almost too much to bear.

Kicking at a puddle in the sidewalk, Kate feels lost. Not physically, but mentally. Because her anger towards Alice is slowly dissipating, and regret is forming in her mind. Maybe what Alice said wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but even that’s forgivable considering the day she had. Not to mention that Alice may have a point.  

From Alice’s point of view, she can see why she sounds slightly delusional and paranoid. But she still can’t believe that her own best friend hadn’t noticed how isolated Kate felt. That brings back some cross feelings and she begins to walk faster.

Everything in her head feels muddled now. She doesn’t know whether it’s right to want to yell at Alice, or to believe everything she said. Kate doesn’t know what to do at all. Already she wants to make up with Alice, but she just can’t decide how to interpret the words she said.

Thankfully, as she is thoroughly sopping and grumpy, Kate spots a building marking roughly the midpoint between the two apartments. Feeling a small sense of victory as she passes it, she wonders at the mess she’s become tonight. There’s so much more to consider, everything that she had pushed to the back of her mind.

Starting with Alice, Kate hopes to get in contact and apologize. For overreacting and also for just leaving her alone during such a time. That’s probably what she feels the worst about. It’s basically in the definition of best friend, being there when the other is in need. Especially after a rough break up. And not only did Kate leave Alice alone, she fought with her.

Scurrying to one of the few payphones in the city, Kate carefully digs change out so as to avoid getting her own cell wet. Dialing Alice’s number, Kate holds the phone up to her ear and waits as it rings. She feels silly thinking Alice would pick up when the answering machine rattles off quick information and beeps, putting Kate on the spot.

Struggling with words, Kate blurts one thing out, “Sorry.” And that’s what it takes for her to nearly break down in tears, hardly noticeable with all the rain streaming down her face. “I’m so, so sorry Alice. Now I think you’re right, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that I’m a horrible friend for leaving you right now. I shouldn’t have done that. Your feelings come before mine at a time like now.”

“No they don’t,” comes a teary sounding voice. “I forgive you Kate, and I’m sorry too for getting so worked up. But I think you have something important to do.”