Octavia (Completed - 2018 Watty's Longlist)

Epilogue - Edmund

I've never been so anxious in all of my eighteen years. I can't even remember the last time I was even close to being this anxious. Maybe my anxiety was heightened as a vampire which wouldn't be a good thing seeing as my anxiety was bad enough as a human. Who knew that vampires even had anxiety?
Anyway, the cause to all of this anxiety is the object currently lying in my hand, staring impatiently at me. My new phone. I kind of wish that Sylvia hadn't bought me a new phone so that I wouldn't have to do what I'm about to do. Though I know that I have to, it's the not knowing what is going to happen that makes me wish I didn't have a phone.

Octavia, too, sighs and looks impatiently at me which makes me even more anxious because I know that she is waiting for me to just dial Jamie's phone number. I just don't know what's going to happen when I do. Everything could go extremely well and we could all celebrate how good of an actor I am or thus could all go very South very quickly. I hope it's the former.
"Come on, Edmund. You have to do it. If you don't then you're little plan will be all for nothing and -"
"I know." I groan, squeezing the phone in my hand, though I immediately stopped because I knew that I would probably crumble it in my hands. "But I'm nervous."
"Oh, really?" She scoffs. "I didn't notice." Her sarcasm was heavy and all I could do was roll my eyes at her.
"You're not helping." I mumbled and she sighed, wrapping her arms around me comfortingly.
"I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get you to calm down."
I pouted, knowing that what I was about to say I was going to regret if all of this does go South. "Fine, I'll do it. But if this ends badly I get to choose where we go." I joked, praying to God that what I was joking about wouldn't be my future. Octavia raises her eyebrows and stand up to leave, but not before I reached out and pulled her back to me.
"Uh-uh. You're not leaving me. I need moral support." I wasn't about to let her leave me to fight this battle all on my own. She flopped back onto the couch that faced the beautiful view in her room and waited patiently for me to finally dial the digits to Jamie's number.

Each digit I pressed I felt my dormant heart thud and knew that if I were human my palms would be sweaty. Once I had punched them all in, I took a deep breath - I don't know why, it didn't help because vampires don't really need oxygen - and pressed the 'call' button.
Jamie answered on the third ring and I swear I felt my heart drop to the floor when I heard his voice on the other end. "Hello?" His deep voice answered. It sounded weird on the phone now that I was a vampire. Then I freaked, because now it was my turn to speak. Will he notice the change in my voice?
"Hey, Dad. It's me - Edmund." I held my breath, again, for what reason I don't know.
"Edmund? I've been trying to get a hold of you for days! Where have you been?" He does not sound very happy.
Oops.
"Ah, yeah, about that. Look, I'm sorry Dad for not ringing you back. You see, I've been really busy with something and -"
"Busy with what?" He questioned, interrupting me. I was glad that he did, I was starting to panic.
"Don't worry, Dad. I've just got to take care of some things for a few days. I'll be back by. . ." I freaked out because I didn't actually know what day it was. I looked at Octavia with wide eyes and she whispered, 'Monday.' I nodded and turn my attention back to Jamie on the phone. "Next Monday."
I heard him 'humph' on the other end. "Why so long, Edmund? What are you doing?"
"Nothing that you need to be concerned about. Trust me on this, Dad. Everything is, and is going to be fine." I could tell that he was leaning towards the 'just let it go, he's a good kid' side. He had gone quiet on the other end, which meant that he was going to agree. He didn't like to agree much. Usually when he does, there's a catch, like him wanting a phone call every few hours to check up on me. So I was surprised when he just mumbled. "Be safe, Edmund."
I fought back a sigh of relief. "I always am, Dad. I'll see you soon." At my words, I felt suddenly guilty, for I had lied to him. He has no idea what has happened to me. He has no idea that a few days ago I made the choice to be unsafe and that ended up costing me my life and turning me into a vampire. Would he be able to see the difference in me? Would he be able to tell that my heart has stopped beating? That I'm not warm anymore? That I'm dead?
I waited for Jamie's response as these thoughts jumped around in my head, but he didn't say anything; he just hung up.
Huh. Well then. . .