At the End of the Day...

Chapter 29

"So I heard you're leaving on Monday," Niall says from next to me at the booth, as he sips his drink. He winces as he swallows it. Must be strong. 

It's Wednesday, and I think I've probably tried to call mum 20 times since when I first tried on Monday. She still hasn't answered, and I'm genuinely worried. What if she's hurt? I would try calling the people she's with - a group of friends - but I don't know their phone numbers. I figure if I just head over on Monday I'm sure to find her. I mean, I know the address she's at, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I hope.

"Yeah, like I never agreed to stay the full amount of time anyway, so I hope Harry's not too upset," I reply, taking a sip of my own drink. 

"Well, he said it was for a good reason...do you want to talk about it?" He blinks slowly and I can tell he's trying to stay focused despite his tipsiness.

"Maybe...I mean, yeah, but maybe tomorrow or something when we're both sober," I chuckle and so does he. 

"Fair enough!" He responds, then looks past me, waving to someone. I look over and see Ingrid. "Ingrid!" Niall greets her with a smile.

"Louis' not coming tonight, is he?" I whisper before she reaches our table. Without a second thought, Niall shakes his head. Thank God. I do not want anymore drama. If Louis got a few drinks in him, I know he would start making accusations about Ingrid, and he would probably confront her. I just don't understand what his problem with her is. Luckily his and my relationship hasn't changed at all because I haven't brought her up since that day. But at the same time, Ingrid and my relationship hasn't faltered either. I didn't bring up that whole situation to her because I knew she would feel extremely uncomfortable, but we've been texting and calling ever since, and now she's here.

"Hey Ingrid," I stand up from the table and give her a warm embrace, and so does Niall. 

"Where's Harry? And Lottie?" She asks, and she looks absolutely amazing tonight. She's actually got on an ensemble that resembles mine a little bit, funnily enough. A dark vampy lipstick and an LBD. Classic look. 

"Harry's getting us some more drinks," I motion over to the bar, where he is seated, waiting. "And Lottie wasn't feeling well tonight, she's not coming."

Ingrid nods her head slowly as Harry walks over with about six drinks - all in his two hands. "It's slipping, it's slipping, it's slipping," he says, quickly jogging the last bit to place the drinks down on the table. "That was lucky. Almost fell out o' m' hands," he slurs a bit with a lopsided grin directed towards Ingrid and I.

Just as we all sit down again, my phone begins to ring. It's just sitting there, on the table, and I can see the caller ID. Everyone can see it, and everyone is frozen. 

Harry clears his throat. "Are you going to pick it up?" He asks hesitantly, caressing my hand from across the table. Am I? Do I want to talk to her yet? Is now the right time? In front of my friends? 

My hand, which I now realise is shaking, begins to pick the phone up without my brain's consent, and before I know it, I've answered the call.

"Eva," she breathlessly says. How do I respond? What am I supposed to say to her after what she's done?

"Kaia," I say in a similar tone. Wow. It feels weird to say her name. "What do you want?" I try not to sound too hostile, but I can't help it. She hurt me, and she needs to know that. 

I think she already does though. 

I don't know what to do. 

I feel like if I never forgive her, I'll always think back to that time in my life and that is the last thing I want. I want to forget all about Brad and everything he did to me. It may have been high school but that doesn't make it hurt any less.