Millie

Chapter Fourteen- Word

W- Hi, I'm sorry this text is late. Months late. I didn't know what to say then, because I wasn't any better and had nothing positive to tell you. Today, I have so much to tell you Mill. I'm in therapy, and working hard. I feel like I can finally breathe again... until I remember how I've treated you. I shouldn't have vanished without any word. I'm sorry. You need to know though that you've never left my mind. I hope we can catch up one day when I'm home. If you want to?. Love always, Wren.

***
After four months of radio silence the text bell on my cell jingled, and as I lifted it casually I almost choked on the strawberry pop tart in my mouth, to find the name Wren lit up on my screen.

I had word.

But did I want to open it?! What if she was texting to tell me I made the right decision because she met someone else at camp. What if she wants me out of here because she changed her mind about me staying here?!

"Stop being a wimp" I chastised myself. I sat up on the couch and dusted off the pop tart crumbs, and I willed myself to unlock the phone...but all I could do was stare at it in a frozen state of stupidity.

Veda appeared, leaning over the back of the couch and forcing the cushion behind me to dip below my shoulder "Why are you sitting in the dark and staring at a locked screen"

"Wren text me" I reveal.

"She's the ex" she asked.

I nodded "she wasn't meant to be... it was meant to be a break"

"This is Ross and Rachel territory" she said snatching the phone out of my hand.

"Hey" I said reaching to grab it back as she danced away from my reach. "There will not be we were on a break drama... and you don't know my security code you dummy. Just give it back"

"Hmmm" she said thinking about it theatrically with her finger poised as she sat on the armchair opposite. "So you never slept with anyone else in the interim" she asked.

I rolled my eyes "Not one"

"Kissed?" She added.

"Nooo" I argue. "Did you forget I was bunked up with the dark lord for the summer in a tin can"

She focused back on the task of unlocking my phone" it's gotta be something boring and expected. You may be a psychology major who happens to be a perfectionist, but you are absolutely clueless on the streets"

"I'm not clueless" I defend.

She typed something in and got it wrong. "Poop" she said after her third attempt "you're not so predictable"

I leap forward and take the phone back, settling back into the couch groove I had created with an afternoon of trash TV.

I put in my password and click on the text. I take my time to read every word. Veda watches me eagerly.

"Well... what did she say" she asks.

"She's sorry she vanished... and she's asking if I want to meet up when she's back?" I return, not taking my eyes from the text.

Veda claps her hands together loudly "Yes ... we love a bitch with intent"

I look up and scowl at her "language"