Southern for the Summer

Chapter 4: Liv

Chapter 4: Liv

I go upstairs and go on my cell phone.

4 Missed Calls

7 Unread Text Messages

I unlock my phone and check the calls. One from Bradley, two from Hannah, and one from a different number that I don't know. I ignore Bradley's and skip over Hannah's, and forget about the other number for now.

I go to check my messages. Three from Bradley, and three from Hannah. I open Bradley's.

2:33PM

Hey, Liv.

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2:52PM

Please answer me.

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3:09PM

Liv, come on, please!

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Ugh. I broke up with him for a reason. I go open Hannah's.

2:26PM

Hey girly! Any cute cowboys?

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4:47PM

Sorry, you're probably catching up with family.

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5:21PM

Text me when you can! I miss you!

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I decided to call Hannah.

One ring...Two rings...Three rings...Four...Five...Six...Seven...Hey it's Han, sorry, I can't get to the phone write now, leave a message and I'll call you back!

I sigh. I really miss my best friend, but of course the one time I get to call her, she doesn't. I miss all our memories. I really miss how right now, she'd be at my house for our annual school's out sleepover. I remember two years ago, when we decided that--

"You know what we should do, Liv?" Hannah asked me.

"What?" I had asked her. It was our 4th annual school's out sleepover, and we were staying up as late as possible.

"You know how when you call someone, and they don't answer, it rings eleven times and then it goes to they're voicemail?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, we should make a secret code that tells whichever one of us is calling what the other is doing at the moment and why she can't answer."

"That's a good idea!"

"Isn't it?"

We decided together what the code would be, and wrote down two copies, one for each of us to keep.

'LIV AND HAN'S RING KEY

One Ring- Family Emergency

Two Rings- Movies

Three- Family Party

Four- Party (Non-Family)

Five- Friend's House

Six- Boyfriend's House

Seven- Date

Eight- Chores

Nine- Grounded

Ten- Shopping

Eleven- Sleeping or Not in the Room'

I remembered that like the back of my hand. We've been using that code since then, so it's stuck in the back of my mind. I don't know how I let it slip from my mind. Let's see, her phone rang seven times before she turned it off, so, Han's on a date. I wonder with who. I think about who she likes. Only one name comes to mind. Bradley. Him and I just broke up though, she can't possibly be on a date with him. Can she? I just hope it was just a coincidence that she stopped it on seven.

 There's one last text from the same number that had called me. I open the message, hoping that the sender said who they are.

7:56PM

Hey Liv. Your dad gave me your number earlier in case we couldn't find you in the airport. It's Austin. Can I come in?

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Come in? What? Wait a second...

I look at the clock. 7:58. Ohh, come in, as in--

7:59PM

Knock knock, can I or can I not, I'm right here.

I text Austin back.

Yeah come on in.

My bedroom door creaks open and he squeezes in. "Hey," he flashes me a grin.

"Hey, what do you need?" I ask.

"I just wanted to give you this."

Austin throws a balled up piece of paper towards me. "Read it, but don't let anyone see it."

He goes to walk out the door, but I stop him.

"Austin, wait."

"Yeah?"

"When am I supposed to read it? And why can't anybody see?"

"When you're alone, tonight. Just don't let anyone see."

And with that, he walked out the door. I put the paper under my pillow and sat on my bed. I pull out my laptop and open it up. Just as I'm about to go on Skype, a hand pushes my laptop shut. "Hey sweetheart."

I look up. "What do you want, Nathan?"

"To hang out with you."

"Why?"

"Just 'cause."

"What's the real reason?" I look at Nathan closely. I notice that his eyes are red and puffy, and he looks like he's been crying. "What's wrong?"

He looks down. I see a tear fall from his eyes, but he wipes it away as quick as it fell. "It's nothing. I'll leave you alone." Nathan walks out my door quickly and shuts it behind him.

I get up and lock both doors that you can get into my room through. I sit back down on my bed and open the note.

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Questions to answer in the comments:

1. What do you think the note says?

2. Do you think it was just a coincidence that Hannah's phone stopped ringing on the seventh one?

3. Why was Nathan crying?

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~Lexx<333