Saving Bagel ↠ Editing

Chapter 8: G for Gray

The night was pretty exciting actually; my book had wrapped its fingers around my heart and didn't let go. Tears still stream down my face from the last chapter, but I smile because of the next. I've been reading for hours, but I just can't stop.

My heart is beating wildly as I curl my back into the headboard of my bed. My back is killing me, but the book has too much of a grip on me to even care.

I bite my lip as I read for the next hour or so, it was 1:00 in the morning by then, but was interrupted by the buzzing of my phone in the middle of a damn good chapter. Growling, I reach for it by my feet, and look at the caller ID.

Lo and behold, it's Joby. But it has been for a week now.

After he stormed out of the restaurant and left me convulsing on the Chinese tiles, he's been constantly calling and texting. I never bother to respond, because I know how he felt- embarrassed and ashamed of ever going anywhere with me.

All those lies of "I'm so sorry. Forgive me' s?" and "Can we talk's?" have been deleted from my phone, just like how I want to delete him from life.

Oh, if there was only such a button.

Why can't he just leave me alone, though? We both know how the other feels, it's no good trying to make up for it. Rage burns at my cheeks and claws my neck, as my book completely washes away from my mind.

Screw him, screw my Mom, and screw the whole effing world. Because I've just given up on caring.

Growling, I pick up my book and begi to read right where I left off. Right as the world was about to wash away in a fountain of words, my goddamn phone rings again! Maybe- maybe I should answer. It would be the humane thing to do wouldn't.

But the heavenly angel gets flicked off my shoulder when the devil on the other hits the End Call button. I reluctantly put my phone back on my bed and warily pick up my book again. Thoughts swim through my head and the words begin to drown, causing me to reread the same sentence at least five times.

I can't lose myself in this book anymore, because Joby has me wrapped around his finger. He's guilt tripping me.

Now don't get me wrong, it's one in the morning, and I'm being guilt tripped by the boy who abandoned me while I'm in the middle of an amazing book. So, why wouldn't it be the perfect time to cuss out the world?

After I'm done, I pick up my phone, and angrily call Joby back. The second-guesses are pushed aside by just plain anger.

Several rings later, his side of the phone clicks and when it does- Joby gasps.

His voice was tired and so were his words, but they sounded genuinely sorry. "Gable? Oh my god, is this you?"

I roll my eyes. "Who else would you call at one in the morning?" I was most definitely not tired, I actually felt alive. But I wanted to make him feel guilty for ever calling.

He sighs into the phone. "I'm sorry. For waking you up, but I'm so sorry for leaving you there at the restaurant. I wasn't thinking, I was-"

"Oh, you never have Joby. But do you really expect me to forgive you? Do you really expect for us to be friends again?"

"Um, yeah, I was kind of wishing-"

"Well dreams never come true." I fire into the phone with steam coming out of both ears. "You left me, you abandoned me like all of the others have. So why would I ever trust you again? You better give me one goddamn good reason-"

"I know it seems like I'm untrustworthy, but there's more to this, more to me, then you know. If you could just give me a second chance-"

At this point, we were both pleading. But as we talked, I never really knew what was coming out of my mouth other than knowing that the words were on fire. Maybe- maybe I should just give him a second chance. Maybe he actually has a reason. Besides, I'm never going to finish my book if he keeps calling me.