Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 37

The next morning was Monday, and it sure as hell felt like it. I laid in bed and stared up at my ceiling, debating on what I should do.

Whitney and I had a meeting scheduled in about an hour, but I didn't think that I could face her. I grabbed my phone and clicked on her contact, trying to decide if I should text her or not.

I typed a message out, but I deleted it and tossed my phone to the side. She didn't need an explanation, she knew why I wasn't going to show up.

The semester was almost over, there's no way that it mattered that much if I just stopped going. At least I hoped that was the case, because that's what I was going to do.

I fell back to sleep for a while, and when I woke up again I saw a message from Whitney flash on my phone screen.

"You probably shouldn't just blow off our meetings."

I rolled my eyes and let my phone fall to the bed next to me. Yeah, she was pissed, and I didn't blame her.

I pulled my comforter up over my head and officially decided that I wasn't going to go to any of my classes today. I only had a few, but it wasn't going to happen.

I didn't even realize that I'd fallen asleep again, but I nearly jumped out of my bed when Gabbie knocked on my door.

"You in there Bailey?" She asked.

"Yeah," I said groggily.

She slowly cracked the door open and saw me laying in bed.

"Can I come in?" She asked quietly.

"Sure," I said.

"Weren't you supposed to have a meeting this morning?" She asked as she came and sat down next to me.

"Yeah," I said, "I did...but I didn't go."

"You know you won't get your credit for that if you miss too much, right?" She asked me.

I shrugged as I leaned back against my pillow.

"Did you really expect me to go after what happened this weekend?" I asked as I glanced over at her.

"I don't know," she sighed, "maybe not, but you don't want the whole semester to be a waste."

"I don't really care at this point," I said, "I can't stand the thought of seeing Whitney right now."

"Did she say anything to you about missing the meeting today?" She asked.

"She just texted me and told me I probably shouldn't blow them off," I shrugged.

"You know," Gabbie started, "you're kind of making the whole 'I'm fine' claim kind of hard to believe."

I narrowed my eyes at her as she looked at me cautiously.

"I meant I was fine as in I wasn't going to go off of the fucking deep end again or anything," I said, "deciding to skip out on a meeting and a few classes is nothing."

"And I didn't mean that I was like...fine, fine," I continued, "you guys both know I'm not."

"I know," she sighed, "I don't like seeing you like this."

"I'll get over it eventually Gabs," I said as I closed my eyes again, "I just need some time."

"Well don't take too much time and flunk out of your senior year," she said.

I looked over at her and grinned as I shook my head.

"I won't, don't worry," I told her.

"Alright," she said as she stood up, "I'm heading to class, I'll see you guys when I get back tonight."

"Later," I responded.

I crossed my arms over my face as soon as she walked out, and I tried to keep myself from absolutely losing my shit.

I wasn't usually a crier, but it felt like I was damn near close right about now.

***

I tried to get myself out of the funk that I was in as the week went on, but I didn't have much luck. I was at least able to force myself to go to my classes, but that was about it.

Gabbie and Kaia continued to check in on me like I was their child, and I appreciated their concern, but it was getting a little old.

I wasn't sure how many more times I could tell them that I was fine, when the truth was that I was far from it.

I missed Whitney, I was still mad at Whitney, all I could think about was Whitney.

I couldn't figure out how to handle the emotions that I was having, and I had no idea what to do. It was hard to explain it to Gabbie and Kaia, because I truthfully didn't know what I was feeling.

When Friday came around again, the three of us were out to dinner together, and we were finishing up and getting ready to leave.

"You guys want to go to the bar next door after this?" Kaia asked.

"Sure," Gabbie nodded.

"I think I better go back home actually," I said, "I'm not feeling it tonight."

"Well we don't have to go," Gabbie said, "do you want us to come back with you?"

"Yeah sorry," Kaia said, "I should've thought about that."

"No, no," I shook my head, "you guys go, I'll just head back."

"You sure?" Kaia asked.

"Yes," I grinned, "quit asking me and just go, I'll be good."

"Okay, we'll just go for a few drinks and then we'll be back," Gabbie said.

"Don't limit your alcohol intake on my account," I teased.

"Text us if you need anything," Kaia told me as we got up from the table.

"Yes mom," I said as I smirked at them, "see you guys in a while."

We went our separate ways, and I got back to the apartment a few minutes later. I changed into more comfortable clothes and settled down on the couch.

I found a movie to watch, and I thought that it might keep me distracted for a while, but I was wrong. I was starting to regret my decision to not go out with Gabbie and Kaia.

I did want to go when they asked, but I didn't want to put myself in the position to get absolutely trashed again. Who knew what I'd end up doing this time.

I tried the movie thing for a while, but it was useless. My mind kept wandering back to Whitney, and all of the mistakes I continued to make when it came to her.

"God damn it," I said as I got up from the couch.

I'd known for a while what I needed to do, and I was finally going to force myself to do it.

I texted Gabbie and Kaia on my way out so they wouldn't worry about where I was if they got home before me.

"Going to talk to Whitney, back in a while."

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