High Off Love

Chapter 33

October 29th

I untangle myself from Toby in the bed. I stand on the side of the bed and look at him. It is weird how there is a tumor that could kill him any second inside of him. He sleeps so peacefully. I probably look really creepy right now, so I walk into the kitchen. I find my sponsors card on the table. Her name is on the front. I never call her by her name.

"Good morning." Toby walks in the room and his hair is a mess.

"Good morning." I put the card down.

"You should do it." He walks into the kitchen and grabs a coffee mug out of the cabinet.

"Do what." I look up at him.

"Go with her." He turns around and smiles at me. I give him an abashed look. "Call Sam and tell her you will talk to the kids." The smile is still stained on his face. I am still looking at him the same way.

"Sam?" I squint my eyes.

"Samantha." He tries to remind me who it is. I knew that was my sponsors name, but I'm going to make him talk some more. "Your sponsor."

"I'm not doing that." I move her card across the counter.

"You did say you want something to do. If you end up liking this job you could do more of them." He is still trying.

I take a deep breath. "I hated it when people would try and help me."

I walk back into the bedroom. "They would be going for help." He followed me.

"Or they were forced." I argue.

"Please just go this one time." He grabs my hand as I search for some clothes to wear. "For me." I made the mistake of looking into his eyes.

I pull an outfit from the closet and put it on.

"I can't find my phone." I walk around the bed and search for it on the ground.

He lays it on the nightstand right in front of me.

"I guess I have to call her." I say in a put out kind of way.

"She has done a lot for you." He sips his coffee.

I groan and stand up from the floor. They are probably all going to hate me. I hated almost anyone who wasn't joining me. My sponsor has done a lot for me, but she has been paid to do that. She probably doesn't even want me to really go.

I still find myself picking her name to call.

"I'm glad to hear from you." She answers. I can hear her smart smirk through the phone.

"Yeah I was thinking of going with you. I just don't know what to talk about."

"Want to meet for dinner tonight? I'll come get you." She asks.

"I have plans tonight." I half lie. I can make plans for tonight.

"Alright, all you need to do is tell them your story." She starts to explain, but I cut her off.

"I don't have a story. I have a life, and nobody knows anything about my passed. If you expect me to tell them, then I'm not coming." I whisper the last part. I don't want Toby knowing I gave him a mostly made up story of my past.

"Tell them what you want. Just make it sound good." She replies to what I was hoping would be a way to be uninvited. "I'll see you tomorrow at noon."

I hang up the phone.

"So Alison, what was your choice." Toby walks into the room.

"That's not my name." I turn around with a smile. "If you call me that I will call you Tobitha." I try and make up a name.