Painting

Chapter 15

I walk home without looking behind my back. I don't want to look crazy. A girl walking, then turning around every couple of steps, that's a bit strange. I don't want people to worry about my mental health.

Control your breathing.

Walk fast, but not too fast.

You're okay, everything is fine.

However, I hold my phone in my pocket. I hold it so tight that my hand is getting a bit white.

In front of my building it vibrates and I jump. Gosh, I'm so tense. Relax, everything is fine. I open it, I got a text from Victor. I think it's better if I don't open it here. Just in case, I have a strong reaction. Like bursting in tears, because he tells me that all of it was mistake. Even if I wouldn't be surprised. I put it back in my back pocket. I climb the stairs as fast as I can. I open up the door and sit on the sofa. I take the phone in my trembling hands. I touch the app and it opens up. I see the beginning of the text.

Victor: Hey!

Well that doesn't look so bad, it doesn't look sad, hostile or like an apologizing text. Let's see all of it.

-I know we haven't talk to you in a while, I'm really sorry. We've been going through some stuff at our work place. It's not easy to explain like that, but we could talk about it over a good meal. I've learned how to make the perfect rosé sauce. I just pour it over some simple pasta. No pressure, but I really need someone else than Tyler to taste it. So what do you say?

June: That would be great! Where are you guys? I can come to you this time.

Victor: We'll come and pick you up. In an hour. I'll be at the bottom of your building.

June: Ok, see you later!

I didn't fight to come on my own. I mean why would I?

Now, what am I going to wear?

Nothing too fancy, just casual. Nothing white, we will eat pasta, can't risk having spots of sauce on my outfit, even if it would be funny. We're not close enough to tell each other we have something between our teeth, so no spots of sauce.

I'll go for a plain black T-shirt and black jeans, with a cute coat, because it's cold. It's almost December.

I jump in the shower and I can't stop smiling.

Where are we going to be? I mean, we're too far away from the cabin, I never got the chance to ask if it was theirs. Now, I'm pretty sure it is.

I'm looking at the window, I see the black truck stoping. I grab my purse and my keys. I go down the stairs. Wait! Did I tell anyone I was going to see them? No... Maybe I should, I take out my phone and send a text to the only person, I'm sure will see it, my boss. I only tell him that I'm going to see friends, but he understands and send me a "ok, call if you need".

I put my phone back in my pocket and look at the car. Victor is waiting inside, but Tyler isn't there. I smile and he waves his hand at me. I take the passenger seat.

-Hi!

-Hey! How are you? I'm sorry we didn't talk to you sooner.

-It's okay, I can say the same about myself.

-I just... We just...

-You can explain what happened at your workplace later over that meal you were talking about.

-Ok.

He starts the car and carefully engage in the street. He puts some music, but he lowers the volume.

-When you texted Tyler about that guy...

-Teddy?

-Yeah, I began to worry.

-To worry?

-I wanted to keep contact with you, that guy seems a bit out of his mind.

-He was always a bit like that.

-Like what?

-A bit jealous.

-Hmm.

He gives me a furtive glance. He seems really worried, but he's hiding it.