texts

three - aiden

CHAPTER THREE:

  "I would love to have a Toby in my life right now" I say, admiring the character in the series.
  "Don't worry honey, you'll meet him someday, for sure." Harper says and smiles. Lucky her, she's had a boyfriend for three years already, and I didn't even have my first kiss yet. Don't judge me, I'm visiting a school for girls only, so it's actually pretty hard for me to meet boys, especially when you are in bed all day watching Netflix instead of going out with friends.
  "Yeah, you can say that so easily. You and Mason will probably marry and have kids and the perfect future, while I'm just here thinking about whether I should buy chocolate or a green smoothie." I sigh and watch as Harper's smile slowly faints.
  Her head turns to look at the ground and her face starts growing a pained expression. "Do you think he'll find out eventually?"
  "Find out about what?" I say.
  She looks up at me, eyes wide and mouth pressed closed. "That I slept with this Aiden" She snaps.
  "Oh shit, Harper, I'm so sorry. My mind's just still a little foggy" I say rubbing my eyes, they kind of hurt. "I don't know, but maybe it's best if he doesn't know. I mean, you weren't clear-headed yesterday. I'm sure you wouldn't have slept with him if you weren't drunk."
  She is quiet for a moment. She probably has to digest my words, a hangover is pretty bad. "I don't know Ave. Promise you won't tell Mason, but I feel a bit bored sometimes. Like me and him have been dating for three years, four months and 14 days already. Maybe it's time for a break and play the fronts a bit, see what's out there" she sighs and turns to look at the ground again. I feel that she's uncomfortable saying this.
  "Wow, you even count the days?" I ask, but continue as I figure she won't give me an answer. "How long have you been thinking this?"
  "I don't know, for about two months I guess."
  "And you've been keeping this to yourself all this time? Why didn't you say anything? And why now?"
  She's still fidgeting where she's sat. I can tell that she doesn't know what to do nor what to say. "Yeah, I guess I was ashamed of myself for feeling this way, thinking that it would go away after a few days, but I was wrong. That's why I kept it from everyone, I didn't want everyone to know that I'm a stupid bitch that doesn't even appreciate her boyfriend anymore. It pretty sucks knowing that you are. I'm telling you this now, because of yesterday. You know, even when you're drunk, you're still yourself. Sometimes even more than you would like. And I guess I did what I wanted yesterday. I broke through the fences that held me and just enjoyed freedom. I don't know what it felt like anymore, but if breaking a heart is the price for this kind of freedom, I don't know if I want to pay it, because Mason still means a lot to me."

I'm taken back from her many words. I've never felt that way before (duh) and I don't think I can say anything to make her feel better, so I just drape my arms around her and hold her in my arms. I listen as a few sobs come from her mouth. Then a few more, until it's pure crying. Eventually, the sobbing stops and I find Harper's head lying on my lap, her body rolled up into her chest. Her eyes are sealed shut and that's how we stay until my eyes glance at my cell phone that's placed on the small table between the television and the sofa. Carefully, I reach for it. I unlock it and see that I have four missed calls, all from the same unknown number. Also, there are two new messages and I decide to open them. They are from the unknown number and they say:

Unknown: Hey, Ava? Thought I'd text you. ;)

Unknown: Is the hangover bad? Haha ;)

Does he know something I don't? I decide to reply.

Ava: Hey, who is this? This is Ava... How did you get my number?

After a few minutes, the stranger comes online and starts typing. A few moments later I get a reply.

Unknown: You gave it to me yourself lol. I guess that answers my question of how bad your hangover is haha :D
Ava: I did? Well yeah, it's pretty bad haha...

I wonder who this is. Maybe it is Dylan O'Brien. But it is probably just an infamous someone just like Harper and me. I put my phone down, wanting to follow another episode.

Four episodes later, Harper wakes up. She keeps turning and moving until she falls off of my lap, onto the ground. I burst out in laughter.
"Not funny, Ave." She says with a pained expression as she uses one hand to pull herself on the sofa again and the other to hold her head, as if it will make her headache go away. "How long have I been sleeping?" She asks.
  "Don't know, I think about three hours, you've missed a lot" I answer, pointing to the still playing television.
  "Oh shit." She says, rubbing her eyes. "Did you get any texts?" Smirking, she takes her phone and unlocks it. Then, we hear three knocks at the front door. "Who is that?"
  "Yes, I actually got a few. And I don't know, I don't live here Harper. I wasn't expecting anyone."
  "Ah, right." She says, still a bit sleepy. "I'll get it." She walks to the front door and opens it. Behind the door is stood a masculine figure, very muscular must I say. He's wearing a white tanktop with some black jeans. "Hello." Harper says blankly.
  "Hi." says the overly attractive person. I think I'm drooling.
  "Um... Can I help you?" Harper asks with a confused expression evident on her face.
  "Yeah, are you busy? I brought some croissants and smoothies." The overly attractive person smiles and looks at me. "Hi." He simply says and I think about calling 911 because I might be having a heart attack soon.
  "Hey." I say awkwardly, blushing immediately at the fact he's still looking at me.
Then, sadly, he turns to look at Harper again.    
  "Who are you again?" Harper says, still confused.
  "Aiden. Don't you remember yesterday babe?" He smirks, kissing her on the cheek. Harper's mouth forms into an o-shape and then she turns to look at me with the same expression still on her face. I grin widely, holding my thumbs up in the air, trying to tell her that she should let him in. "I see your friend is over, shall I come by later?" He says, gesturing at me, still sitting on the sofa with a grin on my face.
  "Oh no, no, it's fine come in, we weren't doing anything. Um... You two chat a little, I'm going to change into something more... um... representable." Harper says and leaves me and the stranger behind in the living room.
 
  I run after her and as soon as we are safely inside her room, I start lashing out. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
  "Ava, chill. I'm just going to take advantage of the situation."
  This is all so wrong. Going on a date with a guy you've just met just because you're bored with your own boyfriend. "What is Mason going to think of this?"
  "I'm just trying to figure out what happened last night, ok? It's going to be harmless. As soon as I know more, I'm going to tell him I'm feeling sick!"
  "You better are. I'm not supporting any of this" I say, crossing my arms and turning to walk out again.
  "Don't you want to know what happened last night, too?" She asks desperately.
  I look at her over my shoulder. "I don't need to, but go. You could use the information."
  She looks disappointed.
  "As long as you tell me everything." I slightly smile and she smiles back. We hate fighting and never last more than 5 minutes.