Rejection Hurts On Both Sides

Chapter 8: You Think He's My Boyfriend?

Chapter 8: You Think He's My Boyfriend?

Do you know the trepidation that creeps up whenever you call someone's number for the first time? Hoping that it's the right one? Hoping that you aren't calling the vice-principal's sister by mistake?

That's what I'm feeling right now. It's Saturday, and for the first time since the start of high-school, when I was still a socially awkward blabbermouth (let's face it, I still am) - I was about to dial the number of a complete stranger who I met at a damn party.

"Hello?" He answers after a nearly a minute. His tone is sleepy.

"Hey, Evan?" I cross my fingers, hoping it's him. "It's me, Elizabeth."

"I'm sorry, who?"

"Uh, it's Elizabeth. You know... the one who locked you and your friends in the big room with the chandelier in Maria's party?"

"Oh... Elizabeth? You sound nothing like the idiot who abandoned me to fend for myself last Monday night." I can hear the smile in his voice.

I laugh. "A thousand apologies, but I had to do the unexpected."

"Yes, throwing eggs and paint on us was certainly unexpected." He chuckles, and then yawns. "Not that I'm not flattered, but why are you calling me?"

"Um, hello? We made plans to meet, remember?" I remind him.

"Plans to meet?"

"Come on; don't tell me you've forgotten!" Annoyance slithers into my tone. "You're the one who proposed this stupid meeting after you hugged me!" I pause for a moment. "And on a side note, we really need to change the name of your business. Evan's Free Hugs really isn't the best name to use."

"Evan's Free Hugs?" His voice contains no recognition whatsoever, and it bothers me for a moment.

"I already said that!" I snap at him. "What are you, a freaking parrot!? And what's up with you? Have you forgotten everything we've talked about?!"

Evan yawns once more. "Sorry, Eliza- I mean, Agatha, but as you can tell, my brain really isn't up to speed right now. I really need sleep."

"What? But it's morning!"

"Agatha, it's... 4:46 am."

"So? It's still morning, isn't it?" I'm baffled. Weren't boys usually the early birds to get the worms?

"It's basically night time for me." Evan's voice grows fainter. "Give me four hours, yeah? Then... you can call me again when I'm... fully awake, we'll meet somewhere, and you can... screech to your heart's desire."

He hangs up.

I stare at my phone for a moment. "How dare he?! I DO NOT SCREE-"

"Shut up, will you?" My sister's irritated voice floats past my closed door. "There are people trying to get beauty rest here!"

I snort. Beauty rest? Please.

Both our parents are working late night shifts- they'll be back at around 6:30 am.