𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐒, k.jacobs

TWENTY FOUR.

TWENTY FOUR ;
radio silence

real life !

Admittedly, Marley has had a lot of shitty days in her twenty three years of living. A lot of them have been in the last two months, and today, apparently, was not an exception. She had assumed that the bad days would stop, now that she knew was happened with Karl, but now they were bad for a completely different, yet still Karl related, reason.

It had been an entire day since she had messaged him. Typically, he would always answer her, even when he was away for work. It wouldn't always be immediate, and she didn't expect it to be, but he never ghosted her like this. She knew that despite being busy, he would have at least seen the message. Maybe he would have sent a quick message saying he was really busy and he would call when he could.

But he never just didn't answer. Marley couldn't even remember the last time he had taken more than a few hours to respond. Even while they were on their break and he was at work he always made sure to respond sometime during the day.

It was nearing noon and she still hadn't heard a single thing. Marley had even tried calling him a few times, but had no luck.

"Maybe hes just really busy," Tina offered as she gave Marley a sympathetic smile from her phone. "I doubt he would just be ignoring you, especially since he planned on having that talk with you when he got back."

Marley shrugged and continued to pick at her nails, "Maybe. I don't know, man. If he's really busy he usually at least reacts to the message...do you think he's okay?"

"Of course I do," she said, quickly reassuring the other girl. "You and I both know that if anything happened Jimmy would call you immediately. He'd probably even fly you out. Don't worry, Mars. Karl is probably just being is normal self and overworking himself until he crashes randomly. I really don't believe he would ever just be ignoring you because he doesn't want to talk to you or something."

Marley laughed softly, "God, I hope not."

"I know it for a fact, so no need to waste your time hoping," Tina replied, before frowning. "Do me a favor, my love. Please never think that man would ever do anything with the intention of hurting you when we both know he would literally doing anything just to see you smile."

Mars couldn't help the smile from forming on her lips because she did know that was true. He had told her that all of the time just so she would never forget it.

"I miss him, Tina. But I swear if he doesn't give me some kind of sign that he's still alive i'm going to fly to California and kick his ass for stressing me out."

"Seems fair to me, honestly."

Marley hesitated, before nervously asking the question that had been on the tip of her tongue since she had called Tina. "...Has he messaged you at all? Or is he not talking to anybody?"

"He hasn't answered me either, Mars," she replied as she looked away from the camera.

"Are you lying?"

Tina's eyes widened at that, "Huh? No! It's just...he hasn't answered me."

"But he's been talking to someone else," Marley finished with a frown. "Who? Alex?"

She shook her head, "George. I don't know when exactly because he said the other day and I don't really know what that means for him, but he's the only person who's said they've talked to him recently."

Marley sighed heavily and shrugged, "I mean, I talked to him a few days ago so it's not like I haven't heard from him in days. But usually he answers within a few hours. I know he's busy and I probably sound crazy...I feel like i'm going crazy. Maybe that's just it. Maybe i'm...I don't even know anymore, man."

"Is there a reason you're trying so hard to get ahold of him? Because I didn't know you two were actively talking again...are things better between you two?" Tina asked with a slight frown. "Not that it's really my business but did something happen? Oh my god, did he tell you why he said what he said?"

Marley hesitated, "No, he didn't."

"...what?"

"His mom accidentally told me," she said, wincing as she recalled that incredibly awkward conversation. "She was under the impression everything was going great between us and then she asked me some questions and basically told me what Karl had been doing when he told me he didn't want to be my boyfriend anymore."

Tina stared blankly at her for a few seconds before clearing her throat and gesturing for Marley to continue.

"Well," she started as she lightly ran her finger over her bare ring finger. Briefly, she imagined a small silver ring on it, before shaking her head and looking back up at Tina. "I guess he was trying to propose."

Once Tina finally processed her words, she nearly dropped her drink all over herself. "How the fuck did he butcher a proposal that badly!?"

Marley shrugged, "That's what i'm trying to figure out! But nooo, he decides the one time he's going to ghost me is the one time I need to talk to him ASAP. Kinda fucked up, huh?"

"I feel like that's the understatement of the year, Mars," Tina replied with a small laugh. "I know it's probably shitty timing for you to find out...but I think this was best case scenario. Who knows if Karl actually grew a pair while he was in California. For all we know he could've put telling you off for another couple of weeks and then you'd both be miserable."

Marley considered her words before sighing, "Yeah, you're probably right. This is literally just the dumbest and most frustrating situation i've ever been in and i'm sick of it."

"Sending you virtual hugs right now!" Tina said with a grin. "I have to be on a stream in a little bit, but i'll talk to you later!"

"Have fun!" Mars said with a small wave. "Love you!"

Tina blew her several kisses before shouting a quick love you too and hanging up. The second she was gone, Marleys smile slowly disappeared as she stared at her phone, hoping to see it light up with a message that never came.