The Roommate (The Camgirl Part 2)

Part XLI: She's Gone

XLI: Blake and Lexi

Blake

Blake ended the call and let the phone fall to the bed.

For a while, she just sat there. She hugged one knee to her chest, the other leg hanging off the side of the bed. A towel still wrapped around her damn hair, and another closed at her chest, giving her at least some semblance of warmth and security despite how cold the news had left her.

At some point, Blake realized she needed to talk to someone. Her first instinct was to call Liam but...

That would be too much explaining. He doesn't know about any of this.

She didn't want him to know. She didn't even really want to know or remember it most of the time.

Taking a deep breath, she picked the phone back up and called Chloe.

Blake bit her lip. A part of her hoped Chloe wouldn't pick up. If Chloe hadn't picked up, she wouldn't have to tell anyone, and if she didn't have to tell anyone, she wouldn't need to acknowledge that it was real. Not yet.

"Hey, Blake. What's up?"

Blake took another deep breath.

Chloe must have caught it, "Shit, are you okay?"

Blake swallowed, "She's gone, Chlo."

"Who?"

"Her. The reason I'm--the reason everything is so fucked up."

Chloe was silent for a moment. Then, "Oh."

Both of them were silent for a while, which was what Blake needed.

"Is it fucked up that this feels so bad?" Blake asked, "That I feel cold and just...empty? Shouldn't I feel good that she's finally gone? Be fucking partying or something?"

Chloe sighed, "I think feeling happy would be worse. Doesn't matter how much she fucked you up. You're a good person, Blake. Maybe some relief is understandable, but she--"

"Don't," Blake said, voice suddenly raw, "Don't fucking say it."

Chloe sighed, "Sorry. Just kinda fell into the cliché. You know I'm here for you, right? If you want to come over or want me to come over--whatever you need."

Blake managed a small smile at that, "Thanks. I...I don't think I want to be around anyone just yet. I need to process the whole fucked up situation."

Chloe took a breath, then hesitated.

"I take it you haven't called Liam yet, then?"

"No. I--I don't think I'm going to."

"Blake--"

"He doesn't need to know, okay? He won't understand. He'll think I'm heartless for not going, and I am not fucking going."

Blake took a deep breath, pinching her forehead, "Even if I was going...I don't want Liam to look at me differently."

Even as she said it, the thought of how Liam might look at her or act toward her if she told him made her stomach clench.

Chloe sighed, "I get that, Blake. You won't be able to avoid it forever, though. And honestly, I don't think that's going to be an issue with Liam. With other people, maybe. But if you've been telling me the truth about Liam, I don't think that's going to be a problem."

Blake held in a sigh. She really wanted to believe that. But she was afraid. Liam was so incredible, so perfect, but at the same time, she knew no one was truly perfect, and she didn't want to risk this being the one area where Liam wasn't amazing.