Trace

Chapter 55

"Do you think we should wake her?" Sean whispers to me, as he wraps a tie around his neck.

We have classes in about an hour, and Gretchynn is still knocked out in my bed, softly snoring.

"Better not," I shrug, taking a sip from my steaming coffee cup, "and why the fuck are you wearing that tie?"

Sean looks down at his blue polka dotted tie and smiles slightly.

"Thought I'd look nice today. There's this girl in my psych class who I think likes me," his slight smile turns into a wide grin, teeth flashing.

"So it's not that one chick you were having a good time with when we first met?" I chuckle at the memory and Sean joins in.

"And you called me Shane to get on my last nerve," he laughs from his belly, but then steals a glance at Gretchynn and clamps a hand over his mouth.

"Oops," he blushes.

I wave my hand. "You're fine. She's gonna be out for awhile now, I reckon."

"Who says I'm not already?"

Sean and I turn around to see Gretchynn sitting up and stretching her arms in the air, the straps of her tank top falling down her shoulders.

"Do you want some coffee?" immediately offers Sean, pacing to his desk.

"Coffee sounds lovely, actually. But my head feels like a fucking train wreck," she moans, covering her makeup-smeared eyes with her two hands.

I pick up my jacket from the desk chair as Sean pours our hungover guest a cup of coffee.

"It's still pretty hot," Sean warns, handing the steaming cup to Gretchynn.

"Thanks," she mutters, taking a cautious sip from the hot liquid.

I notice her eyeball the desk and her eyes land on my cell phone.

"Has that person tried contacting you again?" she questions casually.

I laugh, "not that I know of. Probably just the wrong number."

Even still, I walk over to pick up my phone to check. There is a new message.

"They sent me a text, I think," I tell the two after seeing the number.

"What does it say?" Gretchynn wonders aloud.

"Says 'please call me'," I read, walking over to Gretchynn to show her the screen.

She laughs and takes another sip from her cup.

"You'd think they would address their self before texting you."

"Or maybe they just have the wrong number," I suggest.

"It's the same number from last night?" asks Sean.

I nod.

"Should I reply?"

"Duh!" Gretch giggles from my bed.

"Ask who it is," she tells me excitedly.

"I never knew that receiving communications from an unknown number was so intriguing," I chuckle, typing in the words she told me to.

"Did you send it?" she asks eagerly.

I click the 'send' button and nod.

"All done."

Gretch sweeps her red hair alongside her shoulder and bites on her lower lip.

"So you got learning to do today?" she crosses her fish-netted legs and stares up at me.