Rainy Nights

Nervousness

January 18

3:00 P.M. He stared at his cell phone screen for the 100th time. Her cell number graced the screen, right next to her picture. It wasn't exactly a magnificent photo: her eyes were tired, her hair stuck out at random places, and the lighting was horrible. But there was a sparkle in her eyes, her lips were turned upward into a genuine smile and, to him, she was more beautiful than any goddess could ever be.

After waking up yesterday at the coffee shop, they had quickly exchanged numbers. He had promised to call her and she told him she would be waiting. He had then drove home, feeling as if he was on cloud nine.

He then continued the rest of his day in ecstasy, until he reached the actual calling part. He had planned on calling her after taking a short nap, but he had overslept and when he woke up it was already 9:00 at night. Deciding it was too late, he vowed to call her the next day during lunch. But when he sat down and pulled out his phone, he couldn't bring himself to press her number.

Therefore, his phone had stayed frozen on her contact information, and, three hours later, he was still trying to call her. His mind was having a battle, one side telling him that calling her was a bad idea, and the other telling him to man up and just press the number.

What if she doesn't want to talk to me? But she said she was waiting for my call! Yeah right, it could be sweet talk. Well what if it wasn't, and I lose this amazing chance because I didn't trust her? But what if this isn't even a chance for anything? Then just call her and find out. Am I telling myself to let her reject me?! I'm not saying she'll reject me, and if she does, then man up and accept it with pride. But...what if she's busy? Then leave a voice mail and she'll know that I tried! But-

"Hey, Nolan, you alright?"

He was torn out of his mental battle by the voice of his friend. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be alright?" he answered, letting out a shaky chuckle, trying to convince his friend though deep down he knew he was also trying to convince himself. I mean, it's not like I've been having a mental battle with myself.

"Well, you've been out of it for a while. It's not really like you to take three hours to finish that pack of papers," his friend explained.

He looked at the stack of papers in front of him and let out a sigh. It was true, he wasn't usually like this. He stole a glance at his phone. His eyes lingered over her beautiful features, her brilliant smile. He thought back to the day before, her words ringing through his head.

"I'll be waiting for you."

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pressed the number.

~•~•~•~

2:45 She stared at her phone. Lately, more clearly, the past two days, she had developed a strong habit of always checking her phone.

"Okay, Mira, what is going on with you? You've been glued to your phone for, like, the whole day!" an irritated friend said, slamming one hand on her desk, the other perched on her cocked hip.

"N-nothing," she answered, trying but failing to sound nonchalant as she bent over her unfinished pile of work.

"Don't 'nothing' me. You're, like, never on your phone. What's going on with you?" her exasperated friend complained.

Before she had a chance to retort her determined friend, her phone started ringing. She sprang at it, quickly picking up without bothering to read the caller's i.d.

"Hello?" she asked unsurely.

"Hello, this is Dayworks Products calling. We would like to-"

She slammed her phone down, not even giving the telemarketer a chance to finish he sentence.