One Number.

Chap. 9

a/n: said I was gonna publish this chapter like... a week ago. ended up getting flooded with school work, but ayo I have tomorrow off so it's gonna be a writing and uploading day so woohoo.
anyways, hope you enjoy :D

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The rest of the day passed with Clay leaving shortly after we stopped. I had packed him some of the cobbler to take home, along with a few other random treats I had baked this past week.

He may have left shortly after, but that didn't mean it wasn't hard for him to actually leave, since he kept pulling me in for kisses. But, I digress.

I sighed contentedly, just laying on my bed after he had left. I then put my hands over my face and squealed, like a girl in middle school who got noticed by her crush for the first time.

I sat up in my bed, slowly taking out the ponytail that had been keeping my hair in place. I raked my hands through the thick mass, trying to even it out.

I looked at the time, seeing that it was nearly 4 P.M.

I sighed and got up, making my way into the kitchen after grabbing any plates or leftover mess we had made from my room. I sat down on my couch, turning on a random TV show from my Netflix watch list.

I started to doze off, letting my head fall on the armrest of the couch.

I was then startled awake by the ringing of my phone, and quickly grabbed it. I saw texts from Sam, and quickly typed in my passcode.

Sam:

Hey bozo, you forgot to put my number in your phone so I did it for you.

Just wanted to say that I'll be gone for a while, probably like a week or smthn. Trinity asked me to stay at her place. Hope you had fun on your date :))

I shut my phone off, too drowsy to reply. I had only taken a short nap, and I still needed more sleep. I mean, it was only 6 P.M.

Wait.

I fell asleep a little after four.

I let out an annoyed sigh, not bothering to eat dinner since I had a late lunch with Clay.

I turned off the TV in the living room and locked the doors, turning off the lights before I planked onto my bed, and finally turning my little LEDs and fairy lights on.

I sat on my phone for a while, absent-mindedly watching random videos on YouTube or TikTok for a few hours, not being able to fall asleep after I had slept for two hours.

I was scrolling through Pinterest when my phone started ringing. I looked at who was calling me, wondering why the hell they were calling at 11 P.M.

Once I saw that it was Clay, all feelings of annoyance left my system.

I answered, holding the phone to my ear.

"Hey." Was all he said.

"Hey. You couldn't sleep either?" I answered back quietly.

I heard a sigh from the other end of the call, and some rustling of sheets. "No, I couldn't. You?"

"Same. Why can't you sleep?" I asked.

"I just... have a lot on my mind, I guess." He mumbled back.

"Oh? Like what?" I inquired.

"Today. When we... y'know-" He stammered over his words, that nervousness appearing again.

I laughed lightly, turning to the side. "When we kissed?" I finished for him.

It was adorable that this man had pulled me into his lap and had basically given me hickeys earlier but was too nervous to say that we kissed.

"I- yeah. I can't stop thinking about you, in general, honestly." He quietly admitted, the line emitting a low buzzing noise with how quiet it was.

My heart fluttered, my chest rising and falling to calm the nerves. "Really?" I asked, sounding a little breathless.

"Mhm." He hummed. "I want to see you again. Tomorrow." He said, sounded excited just at the mention of seeing me.

I sighed, twiddling with a piece of my hair with one hand. "I can't. I work until three tomorrow, then I have to go in again at seven."

It was almost like his frown was audible as he said, "Oh. Okay."

"I'm sorry, Clay. I want to see you, too." I said, my disappointment clear in my voice.

The line went silent for a second, before I heard a small inhale. "Wait. What time do you get out after you go in at seven?" He asked, sounding giddy again.

"Uh, eleven, I think." I said, furrowing my brows. "Why?"

"I was thinking I could pick you up from work, if that's okay with you." He said, sounding unsure.

That possibility hadn't even crossed my mind. "Actually," I started, "Yeah. That does work. You sure you're okay with coming that late to get me?"

"Yes. I stay up until 3 A.M. on a good night. I won't be tired." He said, sounding oddly proud of his shit sleeping schedule.

I huffed out a laugh that turned into a yawn, sniffing afterwards.

"Are you tired?" He asked, sounding so far away yet so close.

"No, no. I'm wide awa-" I was cut off by another yawn, my eyes beginning to droop. Today had been full of excitement and energy, and it was just hitting me.

I heard a soft chuckle from the other line before a gentle, "Goodnight, Vi. I'll let you sleep."

My eyes opened as I pulled my phone closer to my ear. "Wait. Clay?"

"Yes, Vi?" He answered. My heart jumped at the cute nickname, groggily smiling.

"Can you stay? On the phone, please?" I asked quietly, my voice soft and tired.

"Of course. Of course I can, Vivian." He said, and noises of him settling in sounded through my ears.

"Clay?" I said, my words slurred from being half asleep.

"Yes?" He asked, sounding not even tired.

"Can you tell me about your day? I like hearing you talk." I said, the words low and muffled.

"Alright." He started talking about random things, and I listened. My breathing eventually evened out, my eyes closed.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a faint, "Goodnight, Vi."