the lonelier version of you

Hurt

"So what's up with the Fall Out Boy guy?" Tim asked with my floral back pack slung over his shoulder.

"I don't know. I met him at the Willis Tower a few days ago. I shared a taxi with him and he's just been at the coffee shop for the past two days." I shrugged as we walked down the sidewalk together.

"Sounds like he likes you or something." He said.

"The feelings not mutual, he weirds me out a little bit."

"How did your date go the other day? The one Jess set you up on?" He asked.

"Why would Jess eve tell you about that?" I rolled my eyes.

"Its a small coffee shop news gets around quick, and by quick I mean in seconds. How was it?" He persisted with a smirk on his face knowing it was bothering me and I didn't want to talk about it.

"Didn't go. I went to the Willis tower instead, where Patrick started bothering me. I can't win." I said.

"You could win." He said looking at his feet. "I mean you could go on on a date with me or something."

"Don't do this again, Tim." I begged.

"Sorry, I just thought I would try." He said. "How are you getting home?"

"Probably a cab." I said.

"I have to work until eight or else I would come back and-"

"No, you've went through enough trouble." I said.

"Plus I know how you like your space, your all about your space." He said and it actually made me smile because it was the truest thing about me.

"Go back before the boss comes in or Jess has a melt down." I said and he nodded and we went our separate ways.

I went into the studio and changed into my ballet clothes and shoes. I walked into the empty studio with mirrors and bars on each side and sighed.

I knew it would hurt, but I wasn't expecting that much. I hadn't tried to dance in a month I had just been slowly giving up. I went back into the bathroom to change and began looking for my phone to check the time. I dug through the bag in search of my missing phone. I looked until my mind had accepted that I had lost it.

I flagged down a cab and brooded the whole ride home over the missing phone and the pain I was in.

We pulled up at my apartment and I paid the driver. When I got out my eyes focused in the dark on a figure standing outside my apartment door dressed in black. As I approached a smile spread across Patrick's face and he held something out to me with his other hand in his jean pocket.

"You forgot your phone, your friend Jess sent me over here to give it to you." I took it from his hands.

"How long have you been out here?" I asked as I looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Long enough. First she sent me to the dance studio.. but I-uh.. saw that you were busy." He looked down now with his other hand in his pocket too.

"You were watching me?" I asked in disbelief.

"No, not really. I-I know it sounds worse... I seem like a total creeper." He said through chattering teeth as his breath formed little clouds.

I signed and got my keys out "come on."

"No, I should go." He said.

"Get in the house." I rolled my eyes as I held the door open he looked at me and walked in as he was told. I walked in and was hit by the warmth of home.