Game Over: Life's Over

Ghosted

Soleil practically ghosted me after my graduation party. She didn't show up at the park when we went on Sunday. She wasn't at playgroup on Tuesday or Thursday. Even Will said he hadn't heard from her. She just... vanished on us.

That really wasn't like her. Normally, she would bug us to do something with her or complain that we weren't messaging her back fast enough for her liking. She liked having the ability to get ahold of us whenever she needed someone to talk to. This time, she was radio silent.

I wasn't sure what had changed. We got along well at my party. She didn't want to leave as she was having so much fun. It felt odd that she didn't want to talk after such a fun evening. Did I say something that pushed her away?

I tried to think back to what happened at the party to see if there was anything said that would have made her vanish. We talked about some personal things, sure, but I didn't think they were bad things. Was she embarrassed about what she had said?

She didn't have any reason to be, if that were the case. The thing I liked most about Soleil was that I could talk to her about stuff and not feel judged. She resorted to humor to get through tough topics and situations. She helped to ease any hard conversation into something a little more comfortable. I wanted to do the same for her but with her lack of contact, I wasn't sure how I could.

I checked all the rooms downstairs, looking for Theo. I knew he was around somewhere. He was busy putting away laundry and cleaning. The place would've been clean enough to lick the floors with the way he cleaned.

I walked upstairs and heard Theo in his bedroom. He was listening to a Podcast on his phone while he put away clothes in the dresser. He was always trying to find ways to multitask.

I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, my legs dangling below me.

Theo paused his Podcast and looked back at me. "Hey, what's up?"

"Soleil hasn't texted me back."

Theo frowned. "It's been, what, a week or more since your party?"

I nodded.

He shrugged. "Maybe she got busy."

"Soleil doesn't get busy. Not too busy to not text me back."

"You know her better than me. Why do you think she's been so quiet?"

"It's called 'ghosting'. And I don't know why. I don't think I said anything to hurt her feelings. She seemed fine when she left, right? She wouldn't have wanted to stay if she was mad at me."

"Do you want me to call and see if something's going on?"

I nodded. "Can you? I at least want to know that she's okay."

He smiled. "Sure, I'll give Carrie a call."

I groaned and laid back on the bed. "My life wasn't supposed to be complicated like this."

Theo laughed and went back to folding and putting away clothes. "Were you expecting it to be a walk in the park?"

I glared up at the ceiling. "No. I mean... I thought girl problems would be the least of my worries."

"Did she profess feelings to you that you didn't reciprocate?"

"What?"

"Did she tell you that she liked you and you didn't say it back?"

"No. I mean, yeah, she did tell me she liked me but I feel the same way so I'm not sure why that would be a problem."

"Does she know you feel the same way?"

"I... I think so?"

"Have you ever come out and told her that you like her or have feelings for her?"

I tried thinking back to the conversation Soleil and I had at my party. She told me she liked me but... did I say it back? I felt that way but I didn't think I had to say it in return. I thought it was obvious.

Theo sat down on the bed beside me. "Girls don't like guessing if a guy likes them. They like knowing because the guy said it. Even I'm the same way. Eric can be hard to read sometimes so I like knowing what he's thinking and feeling without guessing."

"Do you think that's the reason she's not texting me?"

"It's possible. Maybe send her a message telling her how you feel. It might get her to open up to you."

I looked over at him. "Can you still call though? Just in case she doesn't want to talk to me?"

He nodded. "Of course."

"Thanks."

"Can you do something for me in return?"

"Like what?"

"Can you fold and put away your laundry?"

I sat up and looked at him. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"I have a disease. I can't do chores. My body can't handle that."

Theo looked at me pointedly. "You are so full of it."

I laughed. "Is there any way I can get out of it?"

Theo grabbed a shirt and tossed it at me. "Not a chance. Start folding."