Hugh-Mann Creek

4: Text Messages and Arcade Games

Waking up to the tv still on at three in the morning. I turned it off and quietly climbed out of the pillow fort, not disturbing Awsten on my way to the bathroom.

Once done with my business, I washed my hands, only to get my eyes stuck to the reflection in the mirror. It was only of myself, nothing strange at all. Yet, I felt strange. Yesterday's events played in my mind like clock work.

Stacy? Baby, please pick up... you don't mean that, sweetheart... don't text me, don't talk about me...

"Oh Scott..." My fingers had somehow found themselves on my face. On the brink of tears, my phone buzzed against the marble counter top. Who could that be? It's three in the morning...

Quietly, I picked it up. It was an unknown number, but as soon as I read the message, my heart fluttered, and the tears were gone.

Unknown: Hey, sorry I wasn't able to message you earlier, it's Mikey btw

Oh wait... this is from hours ago... why is my phone doing this!? Stupid thing... ugh, I hope he doesn't think I'm ignoring him or anything...

Without even thinking I began tapping on the little letters.

Me: It's ok, srry I wasn't able to respond sooner, my phone's been acting weird

A finger only hovered over the send button. What am I thinking!? It's three in the morning! I should wait...

But my fingers began to tremble from anxiety.

He'll think I'm weird... he won't like me like that anymore... it's three in the fucking morning! But he's already waited this long for a response... Mikey... his smile was so cute... and his hair... his eyes... everything... pretty boy...

Finally, I had become calm again with thoughts of him. Staring at the message, I was still undecided. Until there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Y/n!? Are you alright!?" I dropped my phone on the linoleum floor, and squeaked.

"Yes, Awsten, I'm fine!" I crouched down to pick up my phone.

"Alright, if you need anything, I'm right here..."

"I know, I'm fine..." I answered, examining the little device, "Shit!" I murmured. The message had been sent.

"What!?" I opened the door to see my best friend standing there, eyes full of worry, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I think..."

"You think...? Did something happen?" He sat on one of the beds, I joined.

"Mikey texted me."

"Just now?"

"No, hours ago. But, I didn't get it until a few minutes ago."

"What did he say?" I showed him the message, "You messaged him back?"

"Yeah," I sighed, worriedly, "I wasn't going to. But then you knocked on the door and I dropped my phone and I-" He held onto my shaky hands.

"Hey, hey, calm down," His tone stayed gentle, "Everything will be alright. I know how you get at three in the morning. It'll be fine. Let's just go back to sleep, and deal with this in the morning." The tears came back and before I knew it my arms were around Awsten. His arms were around me.

"I'm just..." I sniffed, "...If I'm not good enough for Scott, how can I be enough for Mikey?" He sighed, and rubbed my back.

"Y/n, he'll like you," He pulled away, and held my shaky hands again, "I know he will. You're awesome! And if he doesn't see that, well, I'll beat the shit out of him." I giggled.