I decided to skip my last class on Friday because I'm partially embarrassed over the incident in the cafeteria and also because I now have two guys I'm trying to avoid running into. I'm planning on just binge watching Netflix today but it always takes me forever to find something to watch. I spent a good part of my morning watching trailers and saving the good ones to My List rather than actually watching something. I finally settle for a comedy. My cell rings and it's an unknown caller. I've nothing better to do so I answer it while the movie keeps playing in the background.
"Hello"
"Hey Cari" My breath gets caught in my throat and I can't breathe. My ears are ringing and I can't believe it's him. It's his voice on the line.
"You there?"
"Yes" I whisper
"I saw you uhm fall Tuesday in the cafe and that guy carrying you out. Are you okay? What happened?"
Is he fucking serious right now! He's been ignoring me for months and now he's concerned. Un-frickin-believable!
I do my best to calm my nerves and racing heart before I answer.
"I'm fine now. Elliot took good care of me."
"How do you know him?"
I want to say none of your damn business.
"We have a class together. Thanks for your concern but I'm fine now. " I hope he catches the double meaning even though the ladder isn't true.
"I'm glad, I was worried about you."
I want to scream into my couch pillow or throw my cell against the wall.
"Was there anything else Jesse?" I'm ready to end this call and I can't believe it. For months this is what I wished for and now I want to hang up as fast as I can. What the hell is wrong with me.
"How have you been?" His tone tells me he's trying to be sincere. I sigh and close my eyes.
"Good." I try my best to sound convincing.
"How's your mom?" Okay, that's it!
"You ghosted me for three months and now you're concerned or what is this?"
I hear his sharp intake of breath. Now it's his turn to be uncomfortable.
Knock knock.. what the hell, who's here.
"Hold on, there's someone at my door."
"Look out the window first." I roll my eyes even though he can't see. Like I need safety tips from the guy that left me broken. I still do what he says and gape. It's Elliot. It's been three days since I've seen him.
"Who's at the door Cari?" I want to shout at him not to call me that. He doesn't get to call me that anymore but instead I do the next best thing.
"Listen Jes, I gotta go." And hang up. Wow that felt amazing! I can't help but smile. That was so satisfying! I silently jump up and down like a lunatic and then look down at myself and remember I don't have a bra on. I haven't brushed my teeth or hair, and I have mismatched socks on with faded joggers that have a bleach stain on the thigh. It's my favorite pair so I haven't thrown them away. Ugh I look like death. Oh well, I can't keep him waiting outside because I'm afraid he'll leave. I open the door half way.
"Hey" I say while standing partially behind my door. I want to look down to see if my nipples are showing. Dang it, I forgot to check before opening the door.
"Hey" He has his shy smile displaying his dimples but they quickly disappear.
"I didn't see you in class this morning and I don't have your number. I guess I was a little worried about you." He puts one hand behind his head rubbing it. His shirt lifts and I see his skin. It's sun tanned and toned.
"I decided to skip today, no driving for a week remember." He nods remembering what the nurse said. He hands me a sheet of notebook paper.
I take it and open it.
"It's the homework assignment in case you need it. I realized too late you probably emailed the professor but I was already half way here."
"No, I hadn't so thanks. Do you want to come in?" OMG I mentally slap myself. He has a girlfriend. He's just being nice because he feels sorry for me. He looks back at his truck and then back at me.
"I mean if you have somewhere you need to be it's fine. Thanks for checking on me and bringing me the homework." I rush the words out. "I was just watching Netflix anyway and stuffing my face." Why did I just say that.
"What are you watching?" He peeps behind me.
"I open the door wider and say "Wedding Crashers."
"I love that movie, it's funny but I really should go."
"Okay, thanks again."
"You're welcome Carolina."
"Did we know each other before this week?" The way he says my name, caressing it makes me feel like I know him.
An almost hurt look crosses his face but he quickly recovers it.
"We went to elementary school together."
"Really, Sunshine Elementary? Were you in my class? What grade?" I'm so surprised.
He laughs and says Mrs. Gardner's 2nd grade.
"What! Really!" I'm going back in time in my mind trying to see if I can remember 7 yr old Elliot but I'm drawing a blank.
"Wow, that's crazy!" I run to my room and leave the front door wide open. I grab my stool and put it just inside my walk-in closet where I keep my stack of old year books. For once I'm grateful for my mom.
I find my 2nd grade yearbook and flip the pages to my class. It has a photo of my teacher and her assistant at the top and then starts the kids. I sit on my bed and begin scrolling through each row paying close attention to each boys face using my finger to keep my place as I scan each page. I find mine first. I cringe and make a sour face. I have two pony tails only one is higher up than the other and I'm missing a front tooth. I skip over it quickly and place my palm over my pic. I hear a chuckle and my eyes dart to my bedroom door. I guess he decided to come in but he's leaning on the door frame.
"Oh hey, I thought you left."
"You left the door wide open, I thought you wanted me to come in?"
"Yes, come." I pat the spot next to me on the bed and keep scrolling. Shit, I did it again. He has a girlfriend!
"I'm good over here."
"What's your last name. It will go faster if I know it since the pictures are in alphabetical order by last name." I look at him waiting for his response.
He walks towards me and takes the yearbook from me. He flips a few more pages and then hands the open book back to me pointing at a picture. I nearly fall off the bed.
"You're fatty Eli!" I slap my hand over my mouth! Kids are cruel.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."
"It's been a long time since anyone has called me that but yeah, that's me." I know I'm sporting a shocked look on my face right now but I don't care. I look at his picture then at him then back to the yearbook picture. He has big rosy cheeks and he's wearing a collared polo shirt with the hugest smile on his face.
"It's really me."
I jump out of bed and throw my arms around him. "Eli, I can't believe it's you!" He has no choice but to catch me.
"Oww my ear." He gently puts me down and steps back one big step away from me. I clear my throat.
"Sorry, I just can't believe it's you. What happened to you after 5th grade. We were best friends and you didn't even tell me you were moving. I half shout at him. He's looking at me with a weird look on his face.
"Well?" I tap my foot on the floor impatiently and cross my arms over my chest remembering I don't have a bra on. I cringe when I realize I once again rubbed my boobs all over him. What's he going to think of me.
"My dad's job relocated him suddenly. I went by your house but your mom said you had gone to your dad's for the weekend. It all happened so fast. Your mom promised me she would tell you I came by."
"Why didn't you leave me your address or number or I don't know something."
Now he crosses him arms.
"I left you a letter in your room but you never wrote me back."
"What?!?! I swear I never got it Eli. I promise. I cross my heart with my finger and his eyes drop to my chest. I immediately grab my pillow and sit down placing it on my lap covering my headlights. Why do I like my apartment so cold.
To my surprise he sits next to me. He leaves space between us and then turns to look at me.
"It's okay. We both turned out just fine in the end, right?" He says it so low I can barely hear him. I scan his face and then my eyes dart to his lips when he speaks. He definitely lost all his baby fat but he still has those specs of freckles scattered on his nose and cheeks. You can barely see them now but they are there. Without thinking I lift my hand and reach up and put my palm to his cheek. I used to do this to him as kids when he was having a panic attack every time a kid was bullying him over his weight. I would stand up for him. Lucky for me, I matured quicker than most everyone in 2nd grade and I was a Tom Boy so all the boys were scared of me. Eli closes his eyes as if remembering too. Then he jumps out of bed suddenly as if realizing what we are doing and bolts out the room and my apartment shouting "I'll see you in class on Monday!" I'm left feeling very happy and amused. For the first time in three months I'm looking forward to class on Monday.
Eli was the first boy I let in after my dad left us and then he broke my heart too when he left. He was the second to leave me. He was my first kiss. My first love.
YOU ARE READING
Save Me
RomantizmHave you ever loved someone so bad it hurt you to the core when you lost them and just seeing them makes you die inside over and over again because they aren't yours anymore. The pain makes time stop, it's never ending and you are living in your ow...