Ellie
Nickbeggedmetogo and hang out at Working Class tonight, but I am not interested in the slightest. My comfy clothes are on, and I have no desire to sit in a bar and try to be social tonight.
I’ve been picking up extra shifts lately to make more money for next semester, but it has been causing me to feel completely drained, physically and mentally. It’s not like I have anything better to be doing, but I didn’t realize how big of a toll it was taking on me. The most I can do right now is lay on the couch and stare at the television while it soothes my tired soul.
It has to be a slow night at the bar because Nick keeps texting me about how bored he is. As I’m about to put my phone on ‘do not disturb’, I get an unexpected message.
Nick:Patrick is here.
A pang of sadness hits me hard, and I take a deep breath before I respond.
Ellie:I don’t care.
Nick:Maybe you should…There’s a blonde girl all over him.
Ellie:It doesn’t matter. I’m not his girlfriend, and I never was.
Ellie:He can do what he wants.
I am so sick of thinking about Patrick. Yes, he said that we would stay friends, but neither of us has tried to reach out to the other. So, I guess this is how it’s going to be.
Placing my phone on the coffee table just out of reach, I do a good job at ignoring it for an hour. When the credits start rolling, I decide that it’s time to check on Nick. Ten unread messages fill the screen—he is such a drama queen—but only the last one catches my eye.
Nick:I just overheard him telling that girl that he’s moving.
I’m filled with a rush of anxiety as my fingers move fast over the screen.
Ellie:Moving? What? Where?
Nick:Oh….so now you care… *rolling eyes emoji*
Nick:I don’t know much. I think he said something about Raleigh?
Ellie:Fuck.
Ellie:That’s where his family lives.
I am fuming.
I understand not wanting to talk to me after I made him lose his job, but he said that we’re friends. At least, I thought we were friends. It's not a very friendly thing to do to move to a completely different state and not tell each other about it. That's not something friends keep to themselves.
Needing to fact check this before I freak out anymore, I pull up Natalie’s number and type out a message. I should probably include some formalities, but I can’t think straight.
Ellie:Is Patrick moving to Raleigh?
Natalie:Ummmm, I’m not sure.
Natalie:He said that is his back up plan, but I didn’t realize that he was there yet…
Natalie:Is everything okay?
Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m getting in my car to drive to Working Class. I need answers straight from the source, and I need them now.
Surprisingly, the bar is packed.
With all of the times Nick has texted me, I thought the place would be empty, but I was wrong.
When scanning the crowd for Patrick, my eyes fall on Wes first. He is wearing a ridiculous birthday sash and taking shots with a few girls in flashy outfits. Patrick must not be far from him, and looking around, I immediately spot him leaning on the bar. My feet start moving before I have a chance to think about what I’m going to say.
