Wrong Number

Chapter 10

Isobell's lip was becoming numb from the amount that she had chewed it, and it was fast becoming a red beacon on her face, swelling to make it look as though she had been kissing. She couldn't forget how quickly the conversation had turned a couple of days ago after she had told him that she's been asked out by Benjamin, it had been playing on her mind over and over again. Despite the fact they had spoken since, the conversation had been stilted, and slightly uncomfortably, with him seemingly being overly cheerful to compensate, therefore exacerbating the situation. She desperately wanted to go back to the way they had been before, carefree and not worried about anything that they said to each other, there was obviously something up with him, and she didn't know what. Isobell had been worried the distracted and stilted personality he had been displaying over the past couple of days was a signal that he was turning back towards more alcohol abuse, but she didn't know how to bring up the conversation with him, and even more so risk offending him if he had simply been in an off mood for the past coupe of days.

Isobell secretly wished that his off mood were because she had told him about her potential impending date, but really knew that in reality he probably had not been feeling that way towards her. How could he? He was no-where near as romantic as she was, and she knew herself that she had become too attached far too quickly to someone whom she hadn't even met yet. The thought was painful and pushed her to think that maybe she should accept Benjamin's date, part of her felt that maybe it was too soon after what happened with Marcus, it was undeniable that a nervousness crept up her throat when thinking about being intimate with another man, and exposing herself to potential pain. Yet she still knew that it was needed to push herself out there and open herself up to that, and maybe at the end of it have fun, but part of her still wished it were with him.

Isobell released her lip from between her teeth and sat up straight at her desk, Benjamin's desk was only a short walk across to the other side of office, but to her embarrassment she couldn't force herself to get up and walk over to him. It was stupid, she could even see him sat there for God's sake! She shook her head as she muttered to herself, her embarrassment creeping up her cheeks in a form of a blush for absolutely no reason.

Instead she typed a quick email; 'Rumour is I'm ready to be asked out for a date'.

Her finger hovered over her mouse hesitating for a moment before she rolled her eyes at her own behaviour and brought her finger down for the satisfying click. A sudden feeling of pride overcame her, she had never initiated any kind of flirtation or interest, and this felt like a big step for her and her confidence.

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He stood at the back trying to remain anonymous in the shadows that the sickly orange glow of the strip lighting didn't reach. It wasn't how he expected it to be, they all looked so… well… normal. Sitting there, all facing the front listening with an intensity that spoke of this being their salvation, that nothing would sway their attention or become more important than what was being said at the very moment. Rows upon rows of people that seemed to Archie to stretch on forever, but in reality he knew couldn't have been more than ten, with an aisle running down the middle it ironically looked like a church, with its faithful members congregating – something of a joke that was not lost on him.

Swallowing thickly Archie's hand twitched with nervousness, he had come here as a last resort, having desperately searched on the internet for the least likely looking place to come to one of these meetings. She hadn't been in this evening, as she foretold him, having a work commitment, no doubt holed up with that guy who had asked her out, having a wonderful time that she deserved and one he couldn't give. This coupled with the impending start date of his next filming project with Kroeger had driven him to despair; doubts returning of his abilities, along with the maddening sense that he was loosing Isobell, despite the fact he didn't even have her in the first place. He knew he had been moody and out of sorts with her over the phone for the past couple of nights, with her receiving that sort of attention as best she could, but he knew exactly what her was doing. He could hear the bewilderment in her voice at his taciturn answers, knowing that in the long run he was punishing himself by acting towards her like this. Along with that he had the guilt of knowing she didn't deserve to be treated in such a way, she had only been doing what every young woman would be, and he had no right to react to her thus. And the guilt had gnawed at him, clawing at his throat as a demon desperate to get out and wreak havoc.