Step by step

Chapter Six

I wanted to sleep the rest of the day off. Tom was rather rough on me when I got home last night, probably because of his work schedule at the hospital. He was tired and I tried to understand that. Then I tried calling Matt when I got home, just as he told me to, but he didn't answer. All five calls went to voicemail.

I woke up at about 3 in the morning to see Tom reverse from the driveway, flicked his headlights open, and his Toyota Camry purred down the street, disappearing as he took the turn to the main road. He didn't even say goodbye. I went back to sleep and woke up from a nightmare at around 5, and I was awake til now.

The clock ticked. Half past five.

My heart throbbed as I thought about Matt, what he was doing right now and what he was thinking. Was he really that mad to ignore me so bad? I let out a sigh, checking my phone for its emptiness.

"Oh, Matty. What will I do with you?" I groaned and buried my face into a pillow, half screaming and half sobbing. Just as I was about to drench my pillow, my phone vibrated and I immediately shot up from my bed, snatching the phone off the side table. My heart sank a bit when Matt's name didn't flash on the screen, it was a number and in an open parentheses the word Unknown was written. I glanced at the time, 5:41 am. Who could be calling at such an early hour?

"Hello?" I answered hesitantly. Only the sound of a surprised withdrew breathe answered me. "Hello?" I spoke again, this time only muffled breathing was at the end of the line. "Who is this?"

"Emmett." He quickly answered and I recognized his voice. My heart suddenly slowed.

"Emmett? You okay? Why'd you call?" I rubbed my eyes dreamily and settled my back against the headrest of the bed. I waited for his answer which came in more than a few seconds after. He seemed nervous and agitated, something felt wrong with him.

"I actually didn't expect you to answer." He nervously chuckled. I pictured him in my head, in bed the same way I was and was biting on his thumbnail with his other free hand fisted into his hair. "Weird, right?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, you call a person because you want to talk to that person, not expect that person to not answer the call." I chuckled.

"Yeah, I know its weird. Sorry. Did I wake you?"

"Nope, all good. I'm actually already awake." I closed my eyes as his voice filled the entirety of my mind.

"Oh, early bird?" His voice was smiling, I could feel it.

"Nope just awakened bird." I joked and he half-heartedly laughed. The sound of his laughter filling my head, making my lips curve into a stomach-fluttered smile. I think he just made my day fifty percent brighter.

"Why are were you awaken?"

"Problems. Family, friends." I tutted and obliviously continued to savor in his voice.

"Mind to share?"

"Um, I don't know you well." I played hard to get.

"Well, I'm offended. You've known me for 11 hours, almost a day." Emmett kid, his voice a pitch higher with a sarcastic tone.

"Really, its no big deal."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah,"

"Really?"

"Yes,"

"For real?"

"Emmett!" I nagged him in an entertained tone. My eyes opening and I found myself smiling with his playfulness.

"Okay, okay." He laughed, I hear shuffling at his end before it becomes silent. "Hey, El?"

"Yes?" I slipped into a comfortable physically-sleeping and mentally-awake trance.