Shattered Reflections

Chapter 26

June 17, 2024

That afternoon, Fae was lounging at home, her phone buzzing with notifications. She had just settled in when she saw Kai's name pop up. He was texting her, and his messages were coming in fast and furious, each one more disjointed than the last. It was clear he had been drinking.

Kai: "Hey, you up?"

Fae: "Hey, what's up?"

Kai: "I'm so fucking sad, you know? Just... rejected by a girl."

Fae's heart skipped a beat. Rejected? By what girl... What. The. Fuck. She didn't even ask for details. Kai was already on a roll.

Kai: "But honestly, I'm just so grateful for you. You've always been there for me. I appreciate it, you know?"

Fae's heart melted a bit. She didn't know how to respond, so she stayed quiet, letting his words sink in.

Kai: "Fuck that girl. I love you. Thank you for sticking with me."

Fae's breath caught in her throat. Was he really saying he loved her? The shock left her momentarily speechless, but a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through her. Maybe there was something real here after all.

Kai: "Did I ever tell you that you literally have the best boobs in the world? No one beats them."

Fae couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at his bluntness. "Wow, Kai. That's quite the compliment."

Kai: "I mean it. I just... I wish you were here right now. I'd be all freaky with you. But also, I'd love to lay on you while you play with my hair and kiss my forehead. Just... tell me everything is going to be okay."

Fae's heart ached at the sweetness of his words, even if it was mixed with drunken ramblings. She could almost picture the scene he described: cozy, intimate, and comforting.

Fae: "Kai, that's really sweet. But I actually need to go. I'm heading to the beach, so I have to hop off."

Kai: "Alright, alright. Just know I'm thinking about you."

Fae: "I know. And I'm thinking about you too."

They ended the call, and Fae sat there, smiling to herself. She was left with a lingering sense of warmth from his words, and even though he was drunk, it felt like he'd revealed a piece of his true feelings. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for them.

Fae was lounging in bed, scrolling through her phone when she got a text from Kai. She tapped it open.

Kai: "Hey, what's up?"

Fae: "Hey! Not much. You?"

Kai: "Couldn't resist texting you."

Fae: "Always happy to hear from you. How was the night?"

Kai: "It was okay. Played pool. Lost a game though."

Fae: "Oh no! What was the score?"

Kai: "I lost by two points. I blame it on the fact that I was distracted by a really annoying song they played."

Fae: "Ha, that's rough. What song was it?"

Kai: "Some old pop song I've heard way too many times. Can't even remember the name now."

Fae: "Classic. So, what else is new?"

Kai: "Not much. Just thinking about how nice it would be to chill with you right now."

Fae: "Sounds nice. What would we do?"

Kai: "I'd probably make us some snacks and we'd just hang out. Maybe watch a movie?"

Fae: "That sounds like a perfect night."

Kai: "Yeah, I think so. You always know how to make things better."

Fae: "That's sweet. I try my best."

Kai: "You know, if we were to actually  hang out right now, I'd probably joke about us making out as friends."

Fae blinked at her phone, a little surprised. "As friends? You just told me you loved me today, but okay.'"She thought.

She laughed it off, trying to process his words. She decided to play along, though she was still a bit confused by the mixed signals.

Fae: "Let's make out as friends then."

Kai: "I want you so bad."

Fae blinks.

Kai: "Just, you know, thinking out loud."

Fae: "It's unexpected, but okay."

Kai: "I guess I just got carried away. You're on my mind a lot."

Fae: "Alright, well... I'm glad you feel that way, I guess." she typed in a following text. "I've got to get going."

Kai: "Sure."

Fae: "Talk to you later."

Kai: "Goodnight, Fae."

Fae: "Goodnight, Kai."

Fae was deep in her thoughts. Okay what the fuck. First he tells me he got rejected by another girl, then he told me he loves me. NOW he's telling me he wants to makeout as friends but follows up by saying he wants me so bad. WHY CAN'T HE BE FUCKING SURE ABOUT HIS FEELINGS. 

Just because you're unsure of your feelings doesn't mean you can mess with mine.