Robbery in Progress

Fifteen

I cried. My body slowly drifted down the wall and I cried. I felt so bad. I was mad at myself for opening up to someone again. I got hurt and I blamed myself. It wasn't fair.

...

I don't know how long I sat there on the floor. I raised my head only when I heard my phone ring. It was Paul. I did not want to talk to anyone so I selected decline and slowly made my way upstairs to the bathroom. I took a shower and then went to bed. I wanted the day to just be over.

...

At work, I knew Paul would say something to me about not accepting his phone call the day before but I was not ready for that.

"Jen? Why didn't you accept my call yesterday?"

"Not now, Paul. I don't want to talk about it." I saw his face. He looked concerned. He was pretty much like a big brother to me.

"Jen, you know you can tell me anything, right?" I shook my head.

"I know."

"Well, if you want to talk about it, I'm here." I wanted to tell him how mad I was at myself, how mad I was for starting to trust someone again, for opening up to someone...but I just couldn't find the words. We sat at our desks in silence until finally, I gave up.

"Paul?"

"Yes, Jen?"

"Is it okay if we talk?"

"Of course it is. What's going on?"

"You know how I hadn't heard from Derek in a few days?" Paul nodded.

"Well, I called him yesterday and he ended up coming over. I asked him why he hadn't called or anything and he said he was busy. When I told him I felt like I deserved at least a text from him saying that he was busy, he got mad at me. I made him leave the house after that."

"I would've, too, Jen."

"Don't you think I deserved a text? I mean, how long does it take to send one text?"

"Of course you deserved a text. That was rude and disrespectful on his part. If he cared about you then he would have sent you a text or even called and told you he was busy and missed you."

"That's what I thought. He didn't feel the same way, though."

"I'm sorry, Jen. Did you two break up?"

"I have no idea, Paul. I slammed the door behind him after kicking him out of my house. I haven't talked to him since."

"I would call or text him. You need to figure out where the two of you stand."

"I don't know what to say. You know how I am."

"Yes, I do know how you are. However, you need to do this and you know that. Text him right now."

"What do I say?"

"Tell him what's on your mind." I rolled my eyes at Paul and sent Derek a text.

'I want to see where we stand now. After our fight yesterday, I haven't felt right. I just thought I was important to you, but I guess I'm not as important to you as I thought. One text wouldn't have hurt, you know.'

'Jen, I was busy.'

'I think we have established that fact, Derek.'

'You don't understand.'

"What's he saying?"

"Here." I gave my phone to Paul.

"Wow. This guy is a real piece of work. Let me text him for you." I could tell that Paul's protective side was coming out and I was fearful of what he might say to Derek."

"No, Paul, don't. Just give me my phone back and I will handle it." I grabbed the phone back from him and continued typing.

"What do I not understand Derek? That you didn't think about me while you were busy or working? That you were rude and disrespectful to me by not letting me know what was going on? Tell me.'

'I'm not doing this. Goodbye Jen.'

'Are we over?'

'I believe so.'

'Fine.'

'Fine.'

"What happened, Jen? What's going on?"

"We are over." Paul looked empathetic. He placed his hand on mine.

"It'll all be okay, Jen." I lightly smiled at him and we went back to work.