Collection of Stories

Progress

A short story about Alex having to face her ex for the first time in almost five years. Will she decide to move on with her friends or get sucked into the past with a promise of romance?

There was ringing from under the bed. I groaned and rolled over to try and grab my phone from the floor. Who could be calling me at eight in the morning? I found the offending object and squinted at the screen. An unknown number, apparently.

I slid the icon to the right and held it up to my ear, "hello?" I tried to sound as uninterested as possible; as if answering the phone had been more of a hassle than it actually was. Maybe I could guilt whoever it was into leaving me alone.

There was silence at first, a moment of uncertainty. Maybe the caller had dialed the wrong number and they were trying to figure out why my voice didn't match who they were expecting. I was about to hang up when there was a quiet, "Alexis?"

I knew that voice. "Uh..." I struggled to find the words. "Who is this?" I knew already, but I needed confirmation. It's been long enough, maybe she doesn't sound the same anymore?

"It's um..." there was another hesitation, "It's Cassidy. Cassidy Moore."

My mind seemed to stall at that, the phone nearly slipping from my grip. I stuttered out, "Oh! Uh, long time no...yeah. Hi, uh, hey...Cas." So many words bubbled to the surface that I didn't know what to say.

Cassidy began talking before I sorted anything out, "Listen, I know we haven't talked in...a while, but I'll be back in town for a few days and thought we might...you know, hang out. Catch up. What do you think?"

"Sure," I said before I could stop myself, "Got time today? We could get a coffee or...something."

"Great!" Cas was overly chipper, something I was glad she hadn't lost over the years. "I've got time around three if that's okay? I know a cute little place that just opened up in town and I'm craving one of their muffins, I know you'll just love it." I felt bile rising in my throat at the statement, she didn't know anything about me anymore, how dare she say that. "I can't wait to see you," she said, "it's been so long!" And then the phone clicked.

I set the phone down beside me and just stared at the floor for a moment, trying to process what happened. It only took her five years to get back to me but...if I'm going to get any answers then I have to meet her, right? 

I knew I wouldn't fall back asleep so I made myself busy until it was time to get ready. Simon said he had something to show me and Spiel. I yawned, already planning to nap in the car to make up for the lost hours of sleep.

~~~

"Alex!"

Something pushed me, jarring me from a nap. I yawned and rolled my neck, trying to ease the ache that came from sleeping in a car. I tried to ignore the twist in my stomach, the anticipation of where I was going later.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," came a voice from the driver's seat. Simon was half turned in his seat, an arm reached out towards me. "C'mon, we're there." He rotated and pushed open the door, leaving me bleary-eyed and confused in the backseat.

A heavy knock followed a few seconds later, and I turned to see Spiel grinning at me from outside. Red sunglasses covered her unfocused eyes, but her hand rose with practiced precision and tapped the glass where my head been resting.

I gave her an odd look, remembering that she couldn't see the exact expression, and moved to open the door when Simon appeared at her side. They shared muffled words for a moment before he looked at where Spiel was pointing and began to laugh. I looked around and finally noticed a smudge of drool across the glass. I groaned, rubbing it away with the corner of a sweater tossed in the floorboard, before getting out and following after the couple.