Stumbling Through

Invites

Chapter Ten

The silence running through my house was deafening me.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, not looking for anything but peace of mind. But I couldn’t think straight with everything that was weighing me down.

I twirled my phone between my fingers. 10:15.

Was it too early to call Derek and see if he was still okay that I could come over to his house today?

I chewed down on my lip, deciding it was best just to send a text.

[What time do you want me to come over, or do you want to wait for another time – Willow]

I decided to go with the straightforward text and hit send.

I wasn’t waiting long for a reply. My phone buzzed loudly alerting me of my incoming text. Typing in my pass code I checked the message.

[Whenever you’re ready you can stop in I have nothing planned for the day – Derek]

I felt my lips pull up into a smile. I was eager to see him. I didn’t want to stay alone in my house for so long, but I also didn’t want to see my friends. Not Chrissie and Jenifer, because I couldn’t stand their pity right now.

It would be a couple of days until things would be back to normal between us all.

[On my way – Willow]

I threw my feet over my head to roll off my bed, landing lightly on the balls of my feet.

I’d already dressed and readied myself earlier in the day. I’d even gone as far as to straighten my hair and re-paint my nails with the spare time that I had, to stop myself dying of boredom.

I looked more done up then usual, but it wasn’t overly done.

I pulled on my nearest pair of shoes, which were the purple converse that Jenifer had gotten me last Christmas. Thankfully it went well with the pink shirt I had picked out this morning.

My phone buzzed once more as I was preparing to leave.

[See you soon – Derek]

I didn’t bother typing anything back, knowing that in a few minutes I would be at his house anyway. As I shut my front door I opened my mouth to yell out where I was going, but I remembered there was no one else in.

Shutting the door behind me I held back the shout.

I remembered fairly well how to get to Derek’s house without having to try use the directions that I had before.

When I arrived it was Julie who opened the door, with a bright smile on her face.

“Willow!” She greeted chirpily. “You’re here early.”

I smiled sheepishly. “Yeah.” I scratched the back of my hair. “I text Derek and he said it was alright…” I trailed off, suddenly wishing I had chosen to go somewhere else.

“Oh yeah! I’m not bothered, come on inside.” She opened the door wider inviting me in.

“Thanks.” I mumbled as she closed the door.

“No problem. Come on through to the kitchen, I think Derek just went to the toilet.” She gestured me to follow her.

I hesitated for a second before following.

“So are you a close friend of Derek’s?” She asked me, starting up a new conversation.

“Yeah.” I kept my answer short.