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Chapter 2: Decision made

Listen to "Happier" by Ed Sheeran for this chapter

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I put on my red off-shoulder dress, and put on slight make up. I had a date today. Natalie was again at my place. She was face-timing Jared and fighting over how ridiculous his new hairstyle looked. I'm not complaining, their "fight" wasn't even a legitimate "fight", they were laughing as they shot insults at each other. If anything, I'd call it cute. Also because, this was something I was accustomed to.

"Don't you think his hairstyle looks like a llama?" Natalie showed me Jared's face on her screen as she walked into my room.

"yeah" I grinned.

Jared huffed,"When was exactly the last time you sided with me Ashley?"

I shrugged,"last to last birth maybe?"

Natalie laughed. Jared scowled,"Thanks alot".

In a few minutes, Nat hung up. She stood by my side near the mirror where she helped me with my eye liner. I've never been able to get the wings right. Nat, was my ticket to perfect eye-liner wings. Make up on fleek.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Thinking it was my date for the night, I asked Natalie to shove me the phone from my dressing table. Then without checking the caller ID, I picked the call.

"Hello" a hoarse voice from the other end said.

I froze.

Then I cut the call.

Before the screen black out, Natalie caught a glimpse of the name on the phone. The caller.

"him?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Maybe you should speak to him" she said.

I looked at her blankly.

"come on Ash! It's been 6 months now that I know you. And nearly every fucking day he gives you a call! There must be something important!?" She said

There's nothing important, I mentally told myself. She didn't know yet.

The phone started buzzing again.

Caller ID: Vincent

I looked at it.

"pick it up Ash" Natalie said. I held the phone in my hand, Natalie got out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Then without knowing anything I picked it up.

"hello" the male voice spoke again. This time in almost a whisper.

"hey" I struggled to say. My voice shaking, the words choking me.

"It's been so many years"

I remained silent.

"why didn't you pick up?" He asked

"I... I.. I wasn't ready"

"I'm sorry for all of it Ashley"

I remained silent again.

"please don't be silent. It's been years since I last heard your voice. I can't bear it. Please"

"I don't know what to say"

"You never told me where you left after Stanford"

"yeah"

"where are you now?" He asked. His voice was soft.

"L..L...Los.."

"Los Angeles?"

"Hmm"

"I missed you"

"hmm"

"God!" There was silence,"I miss seeing you! I miss my best fried!"

best friend. The words stung me.

"are you busy?"

"I'll be going out"

"where?"

Something inside me told me not to answer it. To cut the call. But the other half told me to answer it. The latter got hold of me. It had been years since I had last seen him. Years since we'd last spoken. I missed him. Alot. True that he had tried contacting me nearly everyday. I couldn't bring myself to talk to him ever since what had last happened between us. His voice made me want to tell him how much he'd hurt me, how much I knew I had hurt him, how much I missed him.

"date"

"you have a boyfriend?" He asked

"no. A casual one"

"what??!" His voice became stronger. Almost protective.

"yeah"

"okay" he seemed to calm down. But there was an understandable agitation in his voice.

"I'll speak to you later"

"wait. Can I call back tomorrow?"

"hmm"

"does that.. Does that... Do you forgive me?" He asked. His voice shaking.

"I don't know Vincent. I don't know"

"It's okay. I'll wait"

I could feel him giving me his sad smile. The smile I ached to see suddenly right now. The one that had once made me feel special.

"bye" I said

"bye"

And then I hung up.

I walked out of my room to the living room. Natalie was sitting on the couch watching Finding Nemo on TV. She looked at me,"How did it go?" She asked.

I shrugged,"Fine"

"cool" she smiled. I was kinda happy that she didn't pester me to tell her my story about Vincent right now. Today's conversation was pretty uncomfortable.

"I'm leaving right now" saying, I swung my hand bag over my shoulder and walked out of the flat.

"Good Luck!" Natalie shouted behind my back.

That night I returned home early from my date. Not that my date wasn't good. It was pretty nice and David was a good guy. We ended up friend zoning each other later on as a matter of fact (yeah right), But my mind stuck on the call.

That night after returning home at 9. I didn't rush to my flat. Instead I went to Natalie's room to finally open up about my little secret concerning today's caller.

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So yes. They spoke. :)))))

But this is just the beginning ;)

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[ Next update on Sunday ]

Peace