REAL | Jeff Wittek

-five-

It had been about a week since I was over at David's. A few of the people in the group had gotten my number from David or Brandon in order to keep in touch with me. Part of me has been waiting for a text from Jeff but it hasn't happened.

Putting my phone down, secretly wishing the most recent notification was from him, I walk into the living room to find it empty. Where's Madi?

I decided not to worry about it and focus on cleaning up a bit around the house since it was starting to get messy. It's weird when the house gets like this because Madi has always been a neat-freak which means she's either always cleaning or making me clean.

After almost and hour of cleaning I sat on the couch and checked my phone. Still nothing from Jeff.. but there's a text from David?

Why would she not tell me any of this?

I rub my forehead trying to think of explanations she might have as I try to get ready as soon as possible to go to David's. Once I changed my shirt and put on my sneakers, I had to find my keys. I felt like a chicken with its head cut off running around the apartment. Getting frustrated, I call Madi.

*ring* *ring* *ring* *ring* " Hey! It's Madi, leave a messa-"

Again.

*ring* *ring* *ring* *ring* "Hey! It's Mad-"

Again.

*ring* *ring* "Yo"

"Uh Hi? Thanks for answering."

"yeah, sorry! What's up?"

"Where are my keys?"

"Oh.. uh.. I took the car. I didn't think you'd mind."

"The car? You mean MY car. Without asking?"

"I didn't think you'd care. Jeez."

"It's my car and you've never even drove it before. What makes you think I wouldn't care? And you didn't even tell me we were supposed to go to David's today, and yet you went."

"Jesus Shay. It's not that big of a deal."

I let us sit in silence until I thought of what to say. "Whatever. Can you at least come get me?"

"I'm sorry but I can't... David said he needs me for a bit."

"Fine."

And with that I hung up. I aggressively tossed my phone onto the couch and I flopped down beside it, frustrated as all hell. Madi has never done anything like this before nor has she ever even shown interest in driving my car because it's a Jeep and according to her, she hates Jeeps.

For the past week she has been acting out of character as she's never home and when she is, she's always on her phone. She barely even talks to me and we're best friends that live in the same house.

After sitting in silence and coming up with fake arguments in my head for a while, my go-to was to get on YouTube so I could unwind but when I unlocked my phone I saw a message.

JEFF??

I bite my lip to try and contain my excitement then rush to get ready (again) This time putting more effort into my outfit. I throw on some fishnets under my favorite pair of ripped jeans and a cropped band tee.

By the time I put on mascara and fixed my hair, I got a text saying that Jeff is here so I put on the same pair of sneakers once more and go down to his car. The farther down the stairs I got and the closer his car became, the more nervous I felt.

"Hi." I smile as I get in his car that smells like the same expensive cologne he had on the first time we met. It smells sweet and bitter at the same time, giving me a small amount of goosebumps. "It smells so nice in here."

"Oh, uh yeah. I forgot to put on cologne before I left the house so I did it in the car." He said nervously

"Mhm, that's a good cover story to be honest." I joked, implying that he put it on for me.

"What's that suppose to mean?" He asked while laughing but all I did was shrug my shoulders while giving him a smug smile.

It was quiet for a small while until I heard his voice speak up from beside me. "So where's you're car?"

At first all I could do is scoff, thinking about what Madi had done. I ended up telling him what happened and I explained to him the changes that I've noticed.

"Maybe it's David." He said bluntly.

"What?" I quizzed. "No. There's no way."

"Are you sure? I mean obviously you know her better than I do but I've seen a lot of people treat their friends like shit all because of a crush."

His words left me speechless while I thought to myself and connected all the dots. "Y'know... now that I think about it, that could actually be it." I mutter with my head down.

He must've noticed my disappointment because I felt his hand on my knee. "You have a whole group of friends now. No matter what happens you have us. You have me."

"Thank you." I whispered with gratefulness.

I have him.