Long Distance Call | tayley ✓

18 | She Wants You Back

[Taylor]

"So, Mr. York. It's very nice to meet you. Take a seat, if you will," one of the team owners says, pointing towards the seat opposite his. I take a seat, hands resting in my lap in an awkward fashion.

"It's an honor to meet you, Sir," I say to him, kicking my feet a bit as the other man sits down. He clears his throat, raising a clipboard and adjusting his bifocals a bit. I recognize my name typed out on the paper, and the team's red and yellow logo beside it. I exhale nervously.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asks, and I shrug my shoulders. He calls a passing secretary into the room, anyway. "Two sparkling waters. Unless you want still water," he says the last sentence to just me. I shake my head.

"No, either is fine. I'll have sparkling water," I nod my head, and chew on my lip some. I shrug my shoulders a tiny bit in an effort to make the suit jacket I'm currently wearing more comfortable. I haven't worn this in a while and I've been working out more lately. So as my arms have been becoming thicker, my shirt sleeves have felt tighter.

I feel my phone buzz from within my pocket. I don't want to be a dick and check it, so I reach inside my pocket and hold my power button down for a few seconds until it's turned off. My hands return to my lap as I wait for the older gentleman to speak. The secretary returns to the room, placing two tall bottles of sparkling water on the desk. I take one bottle and unscrew the cap.

"As you're probably aware, this meeting is meant for sorting out a contract. That includes how long we'll be keeping you on our team and how much you'll be making per game. Considering you're a rookie this season, it's most likely that we'll make your contract last for one or two years. We've seen your talents, and we are very impressed. And this is far from set in stone, so don't get your hopes up too high, because we'll still have to see you perform on this level. But we'd like to offer you 25,000 pounds per week," he tells me. I'm told that while sipping from my water, so I  choke on my drink, covering my mouth with my wrist.

"Wow uh--"

"There are many players earning higher salaries, yes. But don't feel discouraged or anything. The higher earning athletes of this club are older, have been around for years and therefore have proven themselves. Keep up the good work we expect of you, and you'll be making more and more. We're a high earning club. Any questions?"

Questions? No. No way. I'm more speechless than anything else. I search my brain for words to say. But I end up finding myself staring blankly at the older gentleman.

He chuckles. "Alright, I guess you're alright with that salary. Make sure to show us everything you've got, whenever it is that we get to practicing. Some rookies and prospects are going to be tried, but also some professionals, to give you lads a real challenge. We expect a lot from you fellas," he comments, before taking a pen to the piece of paper that's sitting on the clipboard. He jots something down before looking back up to me with a small smile.

"You may go, if you please. We'll be sure to reach out to you the next time you're needed. Have a good one," he says and I smile. Standing up, I reach over to shake his hands. He takes my hand into his own, giving it a firm shake.

I head back to my apartment, with a grin on my face. I turn up the radio, to hear BBC Radio 1 playing. I have no clue what the current song is, but I don't care. It's upbeat so it fits my mood. I rarely experience happiness, but things seem to be looking up, finally.

What happened with Hayley wasn't ideal. I should reach out to her, I know. But what do I say?

My car pulls to a stop once I reach a red light. I pull my phone out of my pocket and turn the device back on. I glance back up while waiting for it to start up. The light is still red, cars rushing in front of me.

I log into the phone, once it loads. The first thing I see is that I'd received three new text messages. Clicking on the Messages app, I see exactly who it's from. And I'm not really sure how to react over it.

Zac Farro. Him and I haven't talked in years. Why I still have his number saved is a mystery to me. I guess I've always hoped that him and I could be friends again. Not like we had some falling out that led to us having this relationship where we act like strangers, while we were once the best of friends.

We just parted ways, I guess. I graduated a year before him. That meant Josh and I graduated the same year. I tried hanging out with the both of them, but that didn't turn out too well. Once I found out about Josh being the reason for my ex and I's breakup, that was all it took for me to no longer be friends with Josh. So it was awkward to be around Zac, and we just ended up being too different.

I hear a honk coming from behind me, catching my attention. The red light's turned to green, making me look like an idiot. I press down on the gas pedal, pushing me down the street and closer to my apartment. After I get home, I'll check what Zac had texted me.

—

After a bit of traffic, I'm able to get home. I park and head upstairs to my apartment while humming a happy tune.

Whilst waiting in the elevator, I whip out my phone to take a look at what Zac had sent me.

I check the messages.

Zac: York!! Hey man.

Zac: Heard you're out in England, now? How's that?

Zac: Hope you have a good one, bud. Haven't talked in awhile, but I miss ya.

The elevator dings and I glance up before stepping out and heading to my apartment. I step inside my living room, crashing on the couch. Maybe I should reply to Zac. Even though this seems typical, like he's just talking to me because he wants money or wants to know a famous person. But him and I were once the best of friends and ignoring him seems rude of me.

Taylor: Hey, Zac. Long time no see. Yeah, I'm in England. I actually just got home after some contract negotiations with my team. It's scary to be here. Why did you want to talk? Something you want?

I know there must be some reason. Now, I wait for an answer.

After a few moments of staring at my phone screen, a new message from Zac appears.

Zac: Okay, I'm reaching out to you because someone else told me to.

Taylor: Then just tell me that. Who?

The word "read" appears, showing that my former best friend had read the message, and is probably not sure on what to say. The text bubble appears, saying he's typing. It disappears which causes me to groan.

Just say what you were planning to say, dude.

Zac: Okay, it's Baylie, remember Baylie? You dated her for six months after like a month of just sex. And you ended things with her, because she got clingy. She reached out to me. Why, I don't know. And honestly this is the weirdest thing, this whole thing. She wants you back.