Stay ~ Applewood Series #1

15| abby

Jesse's final messages put me at ease right before going back to work. We haven't seen each other since that night, only texting throughout the week. The giddy feelings begin flooding through me and I start spending more time in anticipation than concentrating on taking notes.

All of a sudden, my phone rings. Looking to my side I exhale when I see Sam's name appear on the screen. Thankful for the distraction, I pick up the call and hold my phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Abby, hey. I know it's last minute, but Rachel and I are going to visit Caroline and James tonight. Do you want to come with us?" she asks. My heart sinks when the question comes over the phone since I have to turn down the invitation, the second time this week. First because of a school deadline and now because I am getting together with Jesse. I hope this doesn't stop her from asking me in the future. I don't want to say no, I want to hang out with her and Rachel and their friends.

"I'm sorry I can't. Jesse just asked me to come over tonight," I explain.

"Okay, no worries, there's always next time. I'll be sure to ask you before Jesse," she teases and I relax knowing that she isn't upset, that she is considering another time to get together with everyone.

"How do you feel about going over tonight?" she asks. I told her about our semi-parting and sparse conversations, confiding my worries about him losing interest. Sam is more optimistic than me, telling me that he is just nervous and is trying his best to deal with everything himself. Her reassurance is very much welcome as my brain is tired from constantly overanalyzing everything I say or he says.

"Um, I'm a little nervous, but I'm always excited to see him," I reply. "I don't know why, but when we're together in person it's a lot less... uncomfortable? At least for me it is."

"That makes a lot of sense, it wouldn't be something I would be worried about though," she assures me, but now I am second guessing myself already before the words even come out of her mouth. I don't know how she senses my panic over the phone but she does and immediately continues.

"Abby breathe. Being bad at texting doesn't mean you aren't compatible with each other. I think it is great you are more comfortable with him being right next to you instead of over the phone. I think that is way better than the other way around." Just like that I feel my breathing steady and my subconscious reassured. I don't know how she knows exactly what to say, but she never fails. Maybe she should be the therapist instead of me. "And you know if it bothers you that much, you can always call instead of text. Maybe that would be better for you," she suggests.

"Maybe. Thank you, I really needed that," I say.

"Of course Abby, I've always got you," she replies. I don't know if I could ever put into words how grateful I am that Sam and I have crossed paths again in a way that made us friends, someone to talk to.

"Anyway, enough of that. It totally slipped my mind to tell you about the cat café we went to."

"Oh yeah, how was that?" I ask.

"Oh my goodness, you have to come with me and Rachel sometime because the kittens were the cutest! I mean, the actual drinks and food was pretty mediocre, but they totally make up for it with the adorable animals," she gushes.

I close my laptop, disinterested in writing anymore. Putting my phone on speaker, I climb into bed and allow myself to relax while talking to a friend over the phone.

***

Over an hour later Sam and I hang up when Rachel got home. Then up until 5:00 I drag myself through writing the rest of the first draft before beginning to get ready to be picked up. I put away my school stuff, take out my purse and change into fresh clothes.