My Favourite Part

58: promises

Scott Kellerman

"Mate, what's she saying?"

"Shh, she hasn't said anything yet, she's typing."

Why the fuck is this so nerve-racking?

I shush Jimi even though she obviously can't hear either of us through the screen, but my heart's pounding so fast I think it'll explode from sensory overload.

Jimi Skyped me with the intention of 'studying' for Physics – i.e. copying my homework answers word for word – but the second my phone pinged and my face went bright red, he knew who it was immediately, and little Physics had been done since then.

Evangeline texted me. She texted me. I mean, I know I told her to, but I hadn't expected her to actually remember. Nonetheless, the tiny slice of hope I was holding out sure was happy she did.

"Jesus Christ, how long does it take to type 'yes'?" Jimi whispers, having fallen into the same sense of anticipation as me.

"See, I told you the 'Monday' thing would put too much pressure on her. She probably thinks I'm trying to trying to force a date, or I'm some bloody, I dunno, obsessive stalker or something."

"Well..."

"Jimi, shut the fuck up."

He lets out a laugh, shaking his head. "Calm down then, mate. You gave her a day to give your jacket back, not a wedding date."

"Yeah, but – oh, she texted!"

"Shit, what'd she say? What'd she say?"

"Well, I don't know, do I, I'm opening it now!"

I'm frantic at the sight of the notification, as I key in my code and press the message. I'm glad Jimi's just as invested as I am, because I know that under any other circumstances, he'd take the piss out of me and call me a 'simp' for being so damn jittery over a text message.

"She said: 'Monday', with a smiley face, and 'thanks again Scott'..."

"What?" Jimi asks abruptly. "Why are you pausing like there's more? What did she say?"

I bite the insides of my cheeks to hold back the grin, and shrug as casually as I can,

"Uh, she said 'thanks again Scott' with one of them little 'x' things," I say, tracing the letter out nonchalantly. Jimi's reaction is more in line with how I currently feel inside.

"Are you serious? She put an 'x'? Scott, that's a fucking kiss!  As in 'x's and 'o's, kisses and hugs! Mate, EFC just sent you a bloody kiss! Why aren't you freaking out right now, holy shit!"

"Shh! 'Cause I'm trying to think of what to say back, man – okay, okay, how about 'don't mention it Evangeline, hope you're feeling better'?

"Yep, but add an 'x'."

"Hell no! I'm trying to be friendly, I don't want her to think I'm moving to her."

Jimi tuts as though he's some guru, and I'm the clueless student with too much to learn.

"Bro, you might not be trying to move to her right this second – obviously, she's freshly dumped, wound's still open..."

I roll my eyes at his crass explanation, but let him finish anyway.

"But think about the long-term. Won't future you wish you'd put an 'x' right now?"

"I'm not putting an 'x', Jimi. I'm going with the don't mention it and hope you're feeling better. I'll add a smiley face too, if it makes you feel better."