Love & Cigarettes

Chapter 10 - Salon Appointment

Dinner with my parents wasn't as intense as I thought it would be and I didn't expect Anna to be here too but it was a nice surprise.

It's only a few days before I go back to work and my mom still thinks I should not clock in and that I should just wait until I am ready to do so but I am okay.

I miss being at school and doing what I love- which is teaching so if anything, I am excited that schools are reopening again.

My students miss me and I miss them too. I am thinking about my car and when I will get it back but I guess I will have to keep checking with Dean.

After showering, I am tired so I just decide to relax in bed and have a cup of rooibos and chamomile tea. When I'm done I put the empty tea cup on the tray. My mind drifts to Dean. Today was the closest I have ever gotten to him and I let him touch me...

I am not sure how that makes me feel and the fact that he drove me back home and parked his car on the driveway and I sort wanted to make up with him. He knows how protective my dad is but he still parked his car infront of my parents house.

If it was a random boy, I know my parents would've lost it and confronted me first thing when I entered through the front door if they had seen me with him, let alone kissing him but they seemed clueless and didn't ask me a thing so I guess they never saw our little silly interaction on the driveway then.

I smile as images of me with Dean earlier today in his car, replays in my mind. The way he kisses so possessively - he is a bit of a rough kisser but I like that too. His nicotine mixed with cologne scent, is my latest favorite thing about him.

Hilary's too, a voice inside my head adds.

Dean didn't exactly say who she was maybe it's his mom's name or a girl who happens to be a friend - I try to convince myself, which puts me off the mood and now any nice fake scenarios about Dean that I thought I'd play in my mind before closing my eyes today in bed- are cancelled.

•• Next Day ••

The following day, I am woken up by my mom's voice and some loud knocking on my door. I shift to get up from my bed.

I open the door , ready to go off on her but when I open the door, she has a cup of hot chocolate, three very big blueberry muffins and a Strawberry and banana fruit salad in a bowl on a tray - prepared for me.

" Goodmorning sweetheart, I made you breakfast" she says as she enters and places the small tray on top of my bed.

I think she's here to ask me about Dean or maybe where my car is but she doesn't. Maybe it's the guilt of not picking up their phones that day. I am not sure.

I'm still standing by the door looking at her before telling her thank you as she walks past me to leave, she kisses me on the cheek before she holds the door handle to close it behind her.

I run back to bed. I find my cellphone - change it from pilot mode and check it for any messages or missed calls and of course, it's five missed calls from Dean. I get excited, this means he is thinking of me like I do think about him. The thought makes me happy.

I want to debate with myself on wether to call him back or not but I decide not to.

If it's important, he will call me again.

I scroll past Dean and press Anna's name but it goes to voicemail immediately.

I am surprised by this because yesterday, we talked about her ignoring me that day at 24hr FoodWilly and how she regrets not picking up my call and we fixed it, now her phone sends me straight to voicemail.