Aftertaste [COMPLETED]

Chapter 29:: Wake Up

I TOYED ANXIOUSLY with the edge of the plastic cup sat before me on the table as I waited for a response from the other end of the line. The phone rang one...two...three times.

"Please leave your message for-"

No answer.

I ended the call, irritated. This would be the second time I'd called Dan that day, the first being 9 a.m. about an hour after I woke up to get ready for class. I heaved a sigh and slumped back in my chair as my eyes trailed the coffee shop. I was briefly reminded of the first time I stepped foot in the cafe, with Logan, the first real encounter I'd had with him. But that side of him, that I was introduced to that day was a mere flicker of light off in the far distance of my murky memory.

A ghost of a smile crossed my lips at the irony of it all. Isn't it funny how things can change so suddenly? I went from not wanting to be bothered with Logan, right back to not wanting to have anything to do with him and everything in between; it was a full 360, but of course the reasons were opposite one another.

My phone began to vibrate violently underneath my hand and I recoiled quickly. I picked it up and put it to my ear. "Hello?"

It was Dan.

"Hey, you called?"

"Uh, yeah. Actually I- god, I feel bad already."

"Why? What's up?"

"Um, it's just...I was sort of wondering if maybe we could reschedule our date for tomorrow night, to maybe say...the day after tomorrow?"

He was silent for a moment and the quiet seemed to last forever.

"Okay. But why? If you don't mind me asking."

"No, no it's fine. It's just, I was thinking about it and I have to see my friend off at the airport tomorrow and..." go ahead and say it, and your other friend is a manipulative psychopath and your afraid what he might do if you go through with the date anyway. "And I told him a while back I'd help get rid of any stuff left over in his flat and mail his stuff off for him, so..."

It wasn't the best excuse I could come up with, but he'd be better off not knowing the truth.

"Oh, well, that's fine, you made a commitment, wouldn't want you to break your promise."

I could hear the disappointment in his tone and it broke my heart just a little.

"Okay.. thanks for understanding, I'll talk to you later."

"Alright, I can't wait to see you."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I sighed, and sat still for a moment. Rubbed my eyes witch were itchy from allergies. When I opened them again and allowed my vision to focus, I could see a shadow looming over me. I started in my chair and the breath left my body.

I turned abruptly to see a rattled Chad standing there with wide eyes.

Oh, it's just you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to scare you-" he took a step back.

"No," I waved a hand in front of me. "No it's okay. I've just been really edgy lately."

He laughed uneasily. "Um, listen, I just wanted to apologise for yesterday, I was out of line, and I hope you don't hate me too much."

I watched the way the light played on the freshly waxed floor as he spoke.

"I don't hate you."