the lonelier version of you

It's a Setup

this chapter is for Maddiekoj who messaged me and said they like this story.

"Why?" I asked.

"He was the guy Jess was supposed to of set you up with. They've been talking back and forth. Iris, they've known each other the whole time." He said giving me a horrible and weird feeling inside.

"Hold on, I'm locking my door. He went out to the store but he's coming back." I hobbled to my front door and locked and dead bolted it. "How do you know all this?" I asked.

"At the shop I over herd her talking to him about all this over the phone, she used his name and were specifically talking about you." He said. " it was creepy"

"What did they say?" I asked.

"I listened a while, and what I got from her talking was that when you didn't show up for the date she told him where you would be and made him go to the tower and talk to you. Then she got him to come into the shop everyday, then take you your phone which she took from you to begin with, she told him which apartment you lived in and a lot of things about you." He explained.

"Why? Why would she do this? Why would HE do this? This all just fell creepy to me.

"He's not getting back in here. What do we do about Jess?" I asked.

"Recorded her with my phone and showed the boss, she's getting fired." He said. I took a deep breath trying to take all of this in.

"Thanks Tim." I said and I herd a knock at the door.

"Is that him?" Tim asked as I hobbled back into the bathroom and closed the door behind me as I herd Patrick call my name from outside my front door.

"Yeah its him." I said in a whisper to Tim.

"Ris, you should call the cops." Tim said gravely making some emotion in my head stur.

"I-I can't." I studered out.

"What?" Tim asked confused.

"I can't do that to him." I admitted.

"Are you crazy?" Tim said in disbelief "hes been stalking you for whatever reason this whole time by the help of Jess."

"I should talk to him." I said and "I'll text you" I told Tim and hung up I hobbled my way to the door and opened it to see Patrick about to knock again with a bag in the other hand. His hair had little flakes of snow in it.

"Sorry, I was in the bathroom and it took me a minute to get here by crutches." I apologized and let him in.

"I was getting kind of worried." He smiled and put the bag on the coffee table. He took off his coat and shoes that were packed with snow. "What do you want to watch?" He asked as I sat down on the couch and propped the crutches beside it.

I picked up the remote and turned on the TV and he sat beside me." I shrugged then settled on the movie 300 which had just came on.

He put a pillow on his lap and patted it.

"Here, let's get your leg over here so its propped up." He helped me gently lift my heavily casted leg onto his lap.

We watched the movie in silence for a long time I felt emotions balling in my stomach again it just kept getting worse the more I was silent. I didn't want to ask, I knew Tim wasn't lying he had never lied to me. I was just afraid I didn't want to lose Patrick but I felt so betrayed. I just sat like this a moment longer enjoying everything.

"Hey Patrick?" I asked. He turned his face from the TV to me, his face was the picture of innocence. "How come you never said you knew Jess?" I asked calmly then watched his eyes grow wide.

"I don't know, I-I just.." he began to stutter.

"Wish you would of been upfront with me about this the whole time." I felt a lump forming in my throat making it hard to get my words out."

"It was only meant to be a blind date but she just kept pushing it, I guess I just weaved myself a web of trouble and secrets with Jess flaming it. She just wanted you to be happy so bad. And I just thought you were so... so- I don't know."

"This hurt me, Patrick. I feel like son sort of game. Do you even like me? Did you ever?" I asked as the tears now brimmed in my eyes.

"Yeah, of course, that was the point." He said.

"I think you should leave." I said quietly as the first of many tears spilled onto my cheeks. I watched the heartbreak on his face.

"If that's what you want." He said softly. He gently put my leg off his lap and got off the couch. The went over to the door way and slipped on his boots and coat.

"I uh I really hope you get to dance again." He said but I didn't answer so I watched from the couch as he let himself out.

I called Tim back.

"Are you alright?" He answered.

"Physically, I'm fine." I said

"I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't of even said anything." He said.

"No, no. I'm glad you were honest, at least someone is." I said. I still felt like curling up and crying.

"Do you need me to come over or anything? You know I will." He said.

"I know. I think I just want to be alone right now but if you want tomorrow you can." I said.

"Alright. If you need something I'm here. How's your leg?" He asked

"Not hurting as bad as my emotions." I said.

"Well that's a good sign, I think." He said making me smile.