Once in a lifetime.

40

September

Sent 8:04
Hey,

When my phone chimes I roll over to see who it is. My heart stops as I see the unknown number. All it says is 'hey' and I wonder for a second if maybe it's Dalton.

Stop

I tell myself.

We know it's not him.

I glance at Tori to make sure she's asleep next to me. I stare at the area code, it is the same one as Dalton's, although with all we've been through I can't imagine him just responding 'hey'. But maybe he would. I lock my phone and try and rollover. I do my best to fill my mind with thoughts that did include Dalton but it doesn't work. He's been consuming me nonstop since I met him and I'm starting to worry that I've become obsessed. I let out a long exasperated sigh as it chimes with a text, I roll back over towards my phone.

Juliet- Sent 8:10
Hey?

Then I wait like an idiot, part of me hoping it's him, the other part of me hoping it's not. When my next text appears across my screen my heart stops, and my stomach jumps. I deleted his contact, but I feel like I'd have to lose my memory to lose his number. That actually doesn't sound too bad right now.

Cayden- Sent 8:12
It's Cayden, I hope you don't think it's weird that I'm texting you.

Cayden? Like Dalton's friend Cayden? I bite my tongue wondering what I should do. I wonder if it would be normal for me to text back, or even okay? I decide 'to hell with it and text him back.

Juliet- Sent: 8:17
Oh hey

I don't know what to say, and as soon as I press send I wonder if I've made a horrible mistake. I sit up and bed and try to push the insecurities down into my stomach. I get up, work out, and by the time I'm done with my shower, there is another text waiting for me.

Cayden- Sent: 8:18
I just wanted to check up on you and how you were doing.

I swallow,

Why does he care?

I wonder. Then my mind goes into a dark place and I start to spiral out of control.

This is all a joke

I think. He's talking with Dalton about you and they are making fun of you right now. But then another thought peeks through the dark ones and says,

Maybe he's just worried

And maybe he is 'just worried' but it still brings up the question of why. What's making him worry about me? Which means Dalton has to have told him something right? All of these thoughts come back to one thing, the question of why. So that's what I text back.

Juliet- Sent: 8:20
Why?

I think it's a fine question to ask. Why do you care so much about your friend's girlfriend, he obviously doesn't care about me. Or, ex-girlfriend I guess. Tori interrupts my thoughts when she bursts through the bathroom door.
When she sees me she stops, "Oh shit sorry." I quickly tug my shirt over my head.

"It's fine," I mumble but we both know it's not fine. Her eyes go over my body and I can't tell that she's trying to be polite.

"How are you feeling Jules?" The question probably seems simple, nice, innocent, and maybe it's because I'm insecure, but I bite back.