Perfectly Imperfect 1

19- You're Still My Friend

CAL:

I step out of the shower grimacing at my reflection in the mirror. What the hell have I let myself become?!

The guy who looks back at me from the mirror looks much too much like my father for my liking. He even has the same bloodshot eyes. I refuse to believe that’s me! That isn’t me!

I smash my hand against the mirror. It shatters into tiny pieces, only half of it remaining. My hand’s bleeding and I’ll definitely have to pay the hotel back for this.

Sighing to myself I pull on my clothes and flop down on my bed. I call the lobby and tell them what happened. A very concerned young lady first makes sure I’m alright before telling me that she’ll send someone up to clean up the mess. This is why I love hotels...no questions are ever asked.

I grab my cell phone and scroll through my contacts stopping at Elle.

‘Hey Elle. I was wondering whether you’d be at the park tonight? I kinda hope you will. I could really use a friend right now.’ I type quickly before hitting the send button.

I wait an eternity, but no reply comes. 

‘Hey Elle...I’m sorry I stood you up two nights in a row.. I totally get the whole silent treatment thing.’ I send the next message.

Despite the fact that I know she’s ignoring me, I can’t help but dismiss the thought that she just may end up in the park. I grab my coat and head down to the lobby, jump into my car and gun the engine.

I walk across the damp grass and sit down in the spot where Elle and I have met the past two times.
The seconds turn to minutes and the minutes turn to hours, but she never shows up.

Nice work Cafferty. You lost two friends, in a single day!

I pull out my cell phone again, this time scrolling down to Kayla’s name and contact details.

‘I’m sorry you can’t accept people the way they are. It’s sad actually. Nobody is perfect, I thought you of all people knew that. I told you I smoke and drink. You didn’t mind being my friend then. I don’t see why you suddenly did a 180 on me. You remember how you went on and on about popular kids? How it shocked you that some could be nice? Well, Kayla, I think based on that definition you’d make a pretty swell popular kid! So yeah, I’m sorry you’re ‘disappointed’ in me. But I also think that I shouldn’t be the only one apologizing!’

I send the message, gritting my teeth. I’ve had people do this to me before! Why does it feel so much worse when Kayla did? Must be because I coined her as the nicest person I had ever met. Guess I was as wrong about her as she was about me.

***

“Hey man! Missed you in school yesterday,” Keith comments.

“More importantly, I saw you leaving Lizzie’s party with the new girl. Wanna share what the hell is going on between you two?” Jordan demands, smirking.