One Night ✔️ Editing

Chapter Six

"Hello?"

"Hey... hi." His voice was taut with nerves. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier."

Though he couldn't see me, I shook my head. "Don't, I shouldn't have pried. I'm sorry."

"No, I mean, I definitely could've handled it better."

I sighed. "Listen, there's no sense in dragging this out.

A couple beats of silence passed before either of us spoke again. If it wasn't for Joseph clearing his throat, I'd have been convinced the line went dead. "Uh, if you'd like, and I sincerely hope you will, do you think you'd be up for a slice of pizza? Consider it an extension of my apology."

There was a tinge of humor in his voice.

"Ah, I just had dinner about ten minutes ago."

The disappointment in his voice was evident. "Oh. Well maybe another time then?"

I'm not sure if it was me not wanting him to eat pizza alone or if it was me genuinely  wanting to see him, but words left my mouth before I could come to a conclusion.

"I could go for dessert, though. This pizza place- say, do they have cheesecake?"

"The best you'll ever have," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Alright, ya got me. I can meet you somewhere?"

"I'm like two seconds away from your house, also courtesy of Alex."

"Holy hell, okay but park a couple houses down and remind me to post her address on Craigslist."

The sound of his laughter reverberating through the speaker made my heart flip.

"See you in a minute," I said, hanging up.

I was excited, but it didn't last long before realization hit me: my mom probably wouldn't let me leave. A good excuse is what I needed, something that could get me out with the least amount of followup questions. Then another thing hit me: Alex. She owed me anyhow.

I made a quick run to my dresser and sifted through my drawers. My hand landed on a sheer red top that, so I slipped that over the tank I was already wearing. Lastly I pulled on my chucks and left my room trying to contain my giddiness.

"Mom?" I called out halfway down the staircase.

"Yes?"

It sounded like she was in the living room and this was good. I'd have a much slimmer chance of cracking if I wasn't speaking directly to her.

"Uh, could I head over to Alex's for a little?"

"It's 6:30, what are you guys up to?"

The English project was due the next day so technically I wouldn't have been lying if I said I needed to go over it a couple more times.

That was a lie. I was most definitely lying. I wasn't going to rehearse, I was going out with Joseph, my very interesting, undeniably attractive new acquaintance.