Long Distance Call | tayley ✓

22 | Thinking Of Her

[Taylor]

Once I take care of business, I pick up my phone. After some hesitation, I choose to text Hayley.

Taylor: Hayley, hey. It's Taylor. You probably know that, but yeah. I need to tell you something. Get back to me as soon as possible, but no rush. I just need to talk to you and explain myself.

Seconds later, my screen lights up. She's calling me. Well, that'll work too.

I choose the accept button and raise the phone to my ear. Once the call connects, there isn't much sound coming from the opposite end of the call.

The deadly silence gets the best of me. Though I did not originally intend to be the first one to speak, there's no reason to be immature about it. So instead of allowing this silence to continue for longer than what's comfortable — not like the current silence is at all comfortable — I speak up.

"Hayley?" I say her name. In response to hearing her name, a hum comes from the female.

"Taylorrrr," she says in a whiny kind of tone. I laugh over her behavior. But then, more silence.

"So, uh," I go on, disliking this silence between her and I. "I know we sort of, I don't know... I said something dumb, something that I didn't mean. Do you know what I'm talking about? You know, the thing I said a few days ago. About, uh, not liking you.." I trail off, and she hums a sound of approval.

"I didn't mean that. I...I do like you. I sound so childish, like I'm confessing my crush for you or something. I shouldn't have said what I said, but I was nervous and feared that you wouldn't want to talk to me. I was overdramatic." I gulp. Following my words, there is another silence. After a few seconds, she giggles.

"That's okay. Hey, don't stress it dude! You know Josh? Well obviously you know Josh, duh. But I saw him today, and he apologized for what he'd done, and yeah. Do you still talk to him? I wonder what he's doing right. frickin. now."

Okay, now I can tell something's definitely weird with her. But I choose to not say anything about it. Instead, I listen to her rambling.

"Yeah, seriously. I don't know. He's cute and all, but he still sort of scares me. Anyway. I'm with Lynn right now. I'm with her most of the time, so that's not new. She might be leaving in a little while, I'm not sure. Hold on," she pauses.

When she mentioned finding some attraction in my former friend, it causes my blood to boil. It's like he has to be sure to take away anything that I have interest in. As if he just knows.

"Lynn, how late are you staying?" I hear her speak. "She doesn't know," Hayley says, as if I was so curious about how late Lynn was staying.

"Are you okay, Hayley?" I finally decide to ask her, considering how odd she seems to be behaving. Compared to her regular self, she's acting like a brand new person. She giggles.

"I'm great. Lynn brought stuff over, the good shit, so I'm doing good." The good shit. She doesn't have to say any more in order for me to understand. She's high. I can't believe it. Something about this is oddly both hot and adorable. The way she's acting is adorable, but I wish I could be there to join her.

"Have you ever smoked before?" I ask with a smile. Not like she's able to witness my expressions, but that doesn't mean I can help it.

"Obviously. I just did," she scoffs. Oh yes, I had no idea.

"No, I mean before tonight," I attempt to sound tough and all, but that's difficult to do when a ridiculous grin is glued to my lips.

"Nope," she says, putting a bit of emphasis on the end of the word.

I think that high Hayley is my favorite Hayley. But I always think a certain Hayley is my favorite, but I think that I'm going to appreciate her no matter what.

Her and I spend a while longer speaking. It's nearing 10 PM here. Which means it's almost 4 in the afternoon over in Tennessee, I'm pretty sure. I could be wrong. Figuring out timezones requires thought and little effort, but that's still too much for me. Wait, who the fuck gets high at 4 in the afternoon? I didn't bother asking why she did what she did, but I'm assuming she chose to smoke for fun. I don't know, why bother her about it. It's not important.

A bit later, I say my goodbye to her. I don't want to, but I have to prepare for bed. It isn't too late but I plan on figuring out my sleeping schedule. I have to shower, change, and then probably lay in bed for two hours, thinking of her.