Wild World Comms

Chapter 6: Dan (Awkward Museum Guy)

Having a stare off with the parcel wasn't going to lead it to magically open... although you wish it would. That somehow your perfectly crafted death glare would scare it apart. Or that you had suddenly developed telekinesis, and just like Matilda you could watch the ribbon dance off the parcel.

But the last forty minutes had proved that these magical attempts were all but futile. You were still in the same position as you were when you threw yourself down on the sofa. Dan's parcel resting in your lap, it's mystery making it feel a lot heavier than it actually was. All you had to do was open it, then you hoped that everything would make sense.

Your mind had only been imagining the worst. That his apology was more of a ticking time bomb ready to destroy your life. That when you lift the box's lid a sarcastic balloon would slowly rise out, one that resembles a helium filled NME award (well back when they were still a thing); a hand flipping you off. You imagined this to be accompanied by a yellow post it note with the words 'Got You' stamped in capitals across it. And after reading the two simple words aloud, the front door to your apartment would be shattered open, with files of WWCOMMS clones charging towards you, uniform in their white jumpsuits, ready to take you away to god knows where.

It might seem a little bit out of hand. But this was nothing to dissimilar to some of the horror stories you had heard about WWCOMMS. Goosebumps emerged up your arms, as your brow started to dampen in worry, and your hands started to subconsciously shake.

But before your mind could run to any more ridiculous conclusions, an intense vibration against your thigh shocked your attention from the parcel to your mobile phone. Fishing it out of your pocket, the screen lit up with the face of your best beardy friend.

"Hey, are you alright?" He sounded as though he had just run up five flights of stairs, and his concerned tone of voice made you feel as though he was about to tell you that your dog was going to have to be put down. Not that you had a dog anyway.

"Hey Will." Your reply devoid of all emotion. You had no idea how to feel at this point, "I don't know."

"You don't know? Well, where are you? I bumped into Emily who said that she handed you a parcel, then you turned a ghostly white colour and fled the building."

"I'm at home." For some reason your mind was not letting you have a proper conversation with Will, even though that was probably the one thing you needed the most at the time.

You heard a sigh of relief come through the line, "I was hoping that you would be there, I couldn't see you in our usual coffee spot." There was a momentary spell of silence, as you embraced Will's strong emotional concern for your wellbeing.

"The parcel... it was from him"

"Dino Dan?" Will chuckled, briefly disturbing the intensity of the conversation. You couldn't help but also let out a slight laugh.

"Yeah. It has been sat on my lap ever since I got back to the flat."

"You mean you haven't opened it?" Will sounded surprised at the fact that you hadn't yet opened the box. That was no shock though, as you were always like an excited puppy whenever it came to opening presents.

"No... I don't want to."

"I don't believe you." God he knew you too well.

"I'm scared Will." You tried your best not to sound pathetic. Even though you knew you were being.

"What's the worst that could happen? A decapitated head? I'm sure you have watched enough Game of Thrones for that not to scare you anymore."

You laughed, he was prying you out of your mind's labyrinth of worry.