Two Weeks Later
I was talking to Zoe on the phone about our plans for Christmas and what we were going to do. She lived with me in Brighton for half the time and I lived with her in Bath for half the time, so what would happen during Christmas? I mean we both wanted to spend time with each other's respective families.
"Well do you want Christmas or Christmas Eve?" Zoe asked for about the one hundreth time. It was starting to get really annoying. I really didn't care, I just wanted to be with Zoe.
"You've already asked me that about a hundred times," I said through gritted teeth as I glanced at the clock on my computer. Zoe and I had been talking on the phone for about an hour and we still hadn't made a decision.
"Well I've forgotten what you said, all right!" she said and it sounded like she was just as frustrated as I am.
"I don't care Zoe. We can do whatever you want," I said leaning back in my chair and catching my balance right before I fell all the way back.
"But I care about what you want. Why don't you just decide? Christmas or Christmas Eve?"
One hundred and one times.
"Zoe I don't-" I started to say but she interupted me.
"Just pick!" she almost shouted it and both of us fell silent on our sides of the line, the tension was so thick you could cut through it with a knive. Zoe never rose her voice in our previous quarrels. This one was the first.
"You know what, why don't we just spend Christmas Day and Christmas with our own families?" I said quickly. I knew this had surprised Zoe for there was a small intake of breath on her side.
"But Alfie, you're my family..." she said trailing off. At this point I had had it. This conversation had gone on too long and it didn't help that I wasn't in a good mood at all.
"And you're mine Zoe. But I mean with our actual blood related families. Then everything would be easier."
"Fine," she said and then she hung up. I felt terrible the second she had gone. I didn't mean for anything to come out that way and frankly, I didn't know why I said any of it. I wanted to call her back and apoligse and tell her how wrong and stupid I was, but of course I didn't.
I set my phone down on my desk and took a deep breath, before standing up and going on with the rest of my day. Zoe and I would make up after Christmas. We had to, I just knew it. Nothing would let Zoe from us seeing each other on New Years. This year was going to be the first anniversary of our first kiss and I knew she would want to relive it.
I just hoped we weren't fighting anymore when that happened. I really really didn't want anything to wreck that moment.
xxx
