Imprinted Hearts

Chapter 9: High as a Kite

Laying on his back in bed, Ethan grabbed his phone and sighed. He wanted to text Hope and ask to hang out again before Rune came back, but he wasn't sure if he could. Well, if he made his fingers hit the buttons on the screen to make the words to make the message, he could definitely type a text. But sending it? Oh god that was a lot harder.

Still, though, didn't stop him from typing and erasing and typing again.

Ethan: Dear Hope,

No, that was stupid.

Ethan: Hey Hope!

Too peppy.

Ethan: Hey Hope.

No, that was too we-need-to-talk.

Ethan: Hey Hope

Okay, that was better. Punctuation at the end just made it look weird.

Ethan: Wanted to know if you wanted to hang out? I'm kind of feeling trapped, and I'd love to get out of here for a bit

Too depressed! God, why couldn't he just-WHACK!

"Fuck!" Ethan swore as his phone landed on his face.

"You okay?" came the muffled voice of his dad from the other room.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ethan said, grumbling. He glanced back at his phone to erase the message and saw his message with a key smash at the end of it had sent to Hope. Ethan sat up. "No! No, no, no no no! SHIT!"

"What happened?" Victor called. The squeak of his wheels on the linoleum floor indicated he was turning his chair to face them.

Fuck-fuck-fuck! Ethan thought. Out loud he said, "Nothing! I'm fine! Just dropped my phone on my face."

"How the hell did you manage that?" Victor asked, confused.

"Not the time, dad!" Ethan said, scrambling to think of a way to unsend the text or be like 'Haha j/k' and smooth it all over, but he knew for a fact Hope wouldn't believe him. He didn't even believe anything he was coming up with. Suddenly, the bubble at the bottom of his screen indicated Hope was typing.

"Fuck," Ethan muttered so his dad wouldn't ask more questions. His heart was in throat. He typed furiously for a second and hit send before he could think about it.

Ethan: Only if you feel up for it. You don't have to! No pressure.

Hope: Sure!

Hope: Let me get ready and meet you at the park. I just got out of the shower at the gym. I'll be a few.

Ethan: No worries!

He stood up and had to stop himself from pacing in his room. She wanted to hang out! This had to be a sign. What if she didn't want to be with Rune after all? ...Or what if she just saw him as a friend and wanted to hang out as a friend? His heart sunk at the idea, but it didn't entirely disappoint him. She considers me a friend; he thought. And that's better than not being able to talk to her at all. A ding from his phone had him racing back to his bed to pick it up and looking at Hope's latest message.

Hope: I don't mind! Hope the park is okay.

Ethan: It's fine! Sorry for springing this on you

Hope: Not at all. I could use the company for a little bit. Been feeling weird. Was hoping a shower would help but I'm still off. I need to have someone nearby for a bit to make sure it's nothing, but Rune isn't going to be back until tomorrow, and my sister's in Mobile at a softball tournament for my niece. I hope you don't mind me using you as a scapegoat!