Meet Kristal Jane Anderson.
The girl that feels as though she was stripped from all the joys of life on one ungodly night. A night that changed her whole perspective on love forever, a night in which she stopped believing in it's existence, a night...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A ding coming from my phone pulled my attention away from the book in my hands. I cursed at myself a time or two for not silencing my phone before I started reading.
I reached for my phone on my nightstand with every intention of muting it, but the name on the screen stopped me in my tracks.
Aiden.
I slid my bookmark into my book and shut it before opening the text without any hesitation. I couldn't help but reason with the little voice inside my head asking me what the fuck had gotten into me. . . stopping my reading session because of a man. . . that's concerning.
But that voice was quickly silenced when I opened his text.
Aiden: I think I've figured it out
Me: Figured what out?
Aiden: You and the reason you can't leave your house. I have a couple of hypothesis actually
Me: Go on. Amuse me. A pang of excitement shot its way through me knowing that this was going to be the highlight of my day.
Aiden: Option 1– you're being held captive
Me: Nope. I'm here on my own free will
Aiden: Thought you'd say that which is why I have option 1.5– you're being held captive and you've developed Stockholm syndrome
Me: Both are equally wrong. I live with my very loving aunt and I have for most of my life. Me: where are you right now? I asked half of me wanting to change the subject, the other half just out of pure curiosity.
Aiden: In a meeting
I couldn't contain the laugh that rolled its way through me.
Me: So let me get this straight. You're in a meeting and instead of. . . oh I don't know, paying attention you're texting me about possible theories as to why I don't leave the house?
Aiden: Precisely. It's the only thing getting me through this shit.
Me: Glad to be of service. I could just tell you but I enjoy the element of suspense this puts between us so I'll let you keep guessing
Aiden: So you're telling me that you're enjoying the fact that 25% of my thoughts are filled with possible scenarios for your situation?
Me: Maybe I do. What about the other 75%?
Aiden: I could just tell you but I enjoy the element of suspense this puts between us so I'll let you keep guessing
I couldn't help but smile as he quoted my exact words.
Me: Touché.
A minute passed then two passed and no response came from him, my body subconsciously sank back down onto my bed as a wave of disappointment rolled through me. Well that and a wave of panic, my mind began racing, that six letter word suddenly seemed like the dumbest possible response.
With my thumb hovering over the button to delete that simple text, the rational part of my brain finally decided to take over and remind me that not everyone was inside their house 24/7, doing absolutely nothing. He had a life, a job, hobbies that didn't and would never involve me.
After that much needed reality check that left a bitter taste in my mouth, I finally got out of bed for the first time today and decided to go get myself some breakfast. . . at 12pm.
With my phone and book in hand I began my descent to the kitchen.
"How are you so calm about this? Have you forgotten what this could mean for us?" Aunt Jenna's became more and more audible the more I descended the stairs. She was on the phone with someone. There was something off about her tone. Something different.
". . . must I remind you that if. . ." Just then her eyes met mine and something seemed to snap in them, it was a subtle switch and maybe I even imagined it all but something about her eyes changed in a matter of milliseconds, "if. . . this continues, I will be cancelling my membership," She let out a sigh listening to whatever the person on the other side of the line was saying, "Alright fine, just make sure it doesn't happen again," She added before hanging up the phone.
"Hey honey," Her usual bright smile was back on her lips just as I stepped off the last stair, "I'm sorry you had to hear that, can you believe that that food delivery service I use had the audacity to send me expired strawberries?" She sighed, shaking her head, "but anyways, how are you feeling this morning dear?" She asked with a smile quickly changing the topic not giving me a chance to respond.
I returned the smile as I walked over to her and placed a quick kiss on her cheek, "I'm okay, just coming down to get some breakfast," Just as the words rolled their way through my lips, my phone vibrated against my hand and I hate to admit that my smile only grew bigger at the thought of another text from Aiden.
"Well I made blueberry pancakes, I've already had them and God are they delicious," She said with a chuckled taking my hand pulling me along to the kitchen, "but I'll join you so you don't feel lonely,"
We sat on the stools of our kitchen island as I practically inhaled the fluffy pancakes. She asked me about the book I was currently reading just like she always did even though she probably couldn't care less. Aunt Jenna was strictly a self-help book reader but she still always took the time to ask me about the plot of the silly romance books I read just to make me feel appreciated. I was convinced this woman was an angel sent from the heavens above.
I took her everything– well everything I'd read so far– and she listened intently. Although everytime my eyes glanced at my phone that laid on top of my book beside my plate of pancakes, an unmissable itch rose over my hands and it took everything in me not to open the text from Aiden. But I found the strength to keep my phone down while I spoke to her, she took the time out of her day to sit here and accompany me even though she had already eaten, the least I could do was be present.
But God, did a small– a very small– part of me want this conversation to be over as soon as possible so I could go back to texting him.
Fuck.
Over a hundred days inside the house could really fuck someone up. Here I was developing an attachment to a man I barely knew, never spoke to in person, and most probably would never see face to face. Great.
She got up to make herself an iced latte just as I was a few bites away from finishing my plate and I couldn't contain myself any longer and I decided to take a little peak, just one tiny peak.
Aiden: Will you be at your window tonight?
Me: Depends. If I have a good enough reason to be there, I'll be there.
Aiden: Am I a good enough reason for you to be there?
Me: I guess you'll have to wait and see.
Thank you all for sticking around through another chapter! I appreciate it so very much!
