In this life

Chapter 5

The next morning was the late summer bank holiday Monday. The sun was out and warm on my face as I woke lying on top of the covers of my bed.
Alone.
There was a rose on the pillow next to me where I had expected Daniel to be. As I sat up I saw my bed was in fact, covered with my roses, my bed of roses.
     My heart fluttered in my chest.
     I climbed off the bed to search my flat for Daniel but he'd gone.
     I couldn't remember what had happened last night, I didn't even remember falling asleep. I wondered if we had slept together, panic rushing over me with unwelcome thoughts racing through my mind. Maybe we did and that's why he'd left, maybe I was just a one night stand. But rationality kicked in as I realised I was still fully clothed.
     My mind returned to my bed and the thoughtfulness of his actions before he'd left. I think that was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to me. I ran back to my bedroom and threw myself on the roses.
     I wondered if he'd texted me so picked up my phone and was slammed back into reality when I saw fourteen missed calls and eight text messages, all from Ronnie. Fuck. I promised I would let her know when I got home safely. I swiped my screen and grimaced as I opened her messages;

New message from: Ronnie
     You okay babe? Did you get back alright?x

     New message from: Ronnie
Babe, let me know you're alright please x

     New message from: Ronnie
Rosie, answer your phone please I'm starting to worry!

They went on and on, gradually getting angrier. Part of me felt bad because I'd made her worry.
Part of me giggled.

     New message from: Ronnie
Seriously Rosie! WTF??!!

The last message was the angriest and actually made me worry a little about calling her to say I was okay and offer an apology;

New message from: Ronnie
Rosie! I swear to God! You'd better be dead in a ditch or something because I'm going nuts! ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE!!!

     I opened my recent calls list and I tapped on her name. I held my breath as I pushed call.... It rang twice.
     "Well well well! Look who is alive!"
     "Ronnie, I'm so sorry"
     "Don't give me that shit! Do you know how worried I've been?!"
     "I'm so lucky to have you in my life for that very reason" I thought I'd try flattery to calm her down.
     "Fuck off!" It didn't work.
     "Seriously though Ronnie, I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry, I must have just fallen asleep when I got in." I decided telling her about Daniel might make her even more angry thinking of me going home alone with Mr Potential-Psycho-Killer.
     "You're a twat d'you know that?"
     "Love you my little Ron Ron"
     "Shut up, you nob" I could hear that she was smiling.
     Peace had been made.
     "So, did anything good happen after I left last night? What happened with the guy you were with at the bar?" I changed the subject.
     As she started filling me in I was only half listening, making the appropriate noises and commenting in the all the right places, but I was laying on my back with my feet on the headboard twirling a rose on my nose.

***

After showering, dressing and putting my hair in curlers, my thoughts were back with Daniel. To be honest I hadn't actually stopped thinking about him. As I carefully replaced the roses into their vase in the kitchen I debated calling him. I'm sure there was some sort of time frame to wait before making contact, I just couldn't help myself. Technically though we weren't even dating, I could just text him instead? If he was busy or didn't want to speak to me then he would feel less awkward in not responding and could let me down gently. I sat staring at my phone. A line blinked waiting for me to start typing, I didn't know what to say. I'll just keep it short and simple, it's just to make contact, right?