Awakening
3
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3.
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>He's just late …
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>So he's caught in traffic … Or he
could have a flat tyre … Or have run out of gas … Or … Or there could be an
accident …
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Beep beep
… beep beep …
Text message.style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> It would be him, of course - he'd
be on his way, but there'd be traffic problems and he'd be sorry and certain
he'd be there in no time now …
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Sorry baby - havent
been feelin 2 good - must b a bug. Will
make it up 2 u next weekend - miss u. Take care. x
She
sank down onto her bed, holding her mobile phone in one hand. She should have
known …
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Why did I let myself get my hopes
up? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
For
a few minutes, she merely read the message over and over as if she could
somehow change it just by sheer willpower. Then she wondered if she should just
ignore it, let him stew for a while, or reply - she really should let him know
just how hurt she was, send him an angry text that would let him see what he
was doing to her … Deep down though, she knew she wouldn't … And she wouldn't
just ignore it either - would he even care if she did?
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Sorry
Stupid,
stupid, stupid!
She
had no sooner sent it than the helplessness of it all welled up inside her and
her vision blurred as persistent tears spilled over from her eyes. Dropping her
phone, she lay down on the bed and pressed her face into the pillow, willing
herself not to give in to the tears, but fighting a battle which she quickly
lost. And the thing which hurt her most of all was that she still wanted him -
if he appeared there and then and took her in his arms, telling her how sorry
he was, she would forgive him in an instant. It would be so much easier if she
could just hate him …
As
her sobs finally subsided a little, she did the only thing she could think of
and picked up the phone again. Dialling the number hesitantly as she wiped at
her eyes with her sleeve, not caring that her ruined make-up must be making her
look like a racoon.
"Hello?"
"Shaun
…" was all she could manage before she dissolved into tears again.
"Kelly?
Oh, sweetheart, no - hang on, I'll be right over." he said, not waiting
for a response before hanging up.
*
She
was still holding the receiver when she heard the knock at the front door. He
had been as good as his word and made the short distance in record time. As if
in a dream, she made her way down the stairs and opened the door, just standing
there silently looking up at her neighbour and best friend.
"Kelly,"
he sighed when he saw her, "C'mere you."
Acting
quickly, he stepped inside the door and pulled her into his arms, kicking the
door shut behind him. He’d never seen her look so crushed … If it had been any
other girl standing in front of him, he knew he’d have made some awkward excuse
and left sharpish – he wasn’t good with this kind of
stuff; guys tend to bottle it all up or get drunk or take it out on someone
else, but girls … Well, that was a whole different story. But none of that
mattered – she was his best friend, had been for years, and she needed someone.
That was enough for him and so, as she clutched helplessly at his t-shirt and
hid her face against his chest, he ran a hand soothingly over her hair and
lightly kissed the top of her head.
"He
ain't worth it, sweetheart - you deserve so much
better …" he whispered in her ear, hugging her tightly.
"I
really thought … he'd b-be h-h-here …" she managed to choke out between
sobs, "How c-can he keep d-d-doing this to
me?"
"I
don't know, Kels; I just don't know - the guy's
obviously got a screw loose! If he can't see when he's on to a good thing - his
loss." he said sincerely, "Now come on, lets get you cleaned up;
can't have tears spoiling that pretty little face now, can we?"
Straightening
up with a weak attempt at a smile, she took a deep breath and tried to wipe
away her tears with the back of her hand. "God, I must look a right state!
I didn't mean to go to pieces on you … sorry."
"Hey,
you don’t have to apologise to me - I told you I'd be here for you and I meant
it. Don't be so hard on yourself."
With
a little nod, she turned to head up the stairs to the bathroom to splash cold
water on her face and for a second, Shaun merely watched her instead of
following, his concern evident on his face. This so-called boyfriend of hers
had been messing her around for a while now, but he had never seen her break
down like this. Sure, she'd been upset and maybe she let go when she was alone,
but she had never been as bad as this, even around him and there wasn't much
she hid from him. How stupid did you have to be to risk losing someone when you
were damn lucky she even gave you the time of day in the first place?
*