AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Sorry. Morning.’
‘Morning. Come here.’ He pulls me in even tighter. ‘Close your eyes. Go back to sleep.’
I look at the time. Jasper is going to be here in an hour to give me a ride home for lunch. I feel sick at the thought of telling Caleb, but I have to. I start quietly. ‘Caleb? I need to get up. Jasper—’
‘For goodness’ sake!’ he announces abruptly, untangling himself and snatching his shoes and jacket, before storming out. The door to his room slams so hard, it reverberates around the flat. I follow and barge into his room.
‘Why are you angry now?’
‘I just want to get some sleep, Ariella. I don’t want to hear about you, Jasper and the sneaky shit you’re getting up to!’
‘There’s no “sneaky shit”. He’s my friend!’
‘The wayI’myour friend?’ he spits back.
‘What’sthatsupposed to mean?’
‘Nothing. I’m trying to sleep.’ He shuts his eyes and turns away.
‘What do you mean?’ I am not letting this go. His mood swings are getting unbearable.
‘Are you doing more than friendly things with Jasper, Ariella?’
‘No! We’re just hanging out.’
‘You do know tonguing each other’s faces off isn’t just hanging out, don’t you?’
‘For the last time, I’m not kissing Jasper. And even if I was, who cares? It’s not like it matters!’ I yell at him.
‘Of course it matters!’ he yells back.
‘Why? Why the hell should it matter?’ I shout at the top of my voice, raising my hands and my eyes to the sky in frustration.
He shouts louder and harder at me. ‘Because I’m not running a sexual training course here. For the love of everyone’s fucking sanity, how can you not see that I have feelings for you?’
Neither one of us moves. Caleb looks just as shocked as I am. He springs up, grabs his jacket, shoes and keys, then shoots to the front door barefoot.
‘Caleb, wait!’
He makes it out of the flat and slams the door behind him. I am shaking when I call Jasper and make my excuses. The next call is going to be harder. I decide on a strategy as I return to my room and sit on the bed. I am going to keep it short. I lie back and make the call.
‘Hello, Mommy.’
‘Aari. We can’t wait to see you later!’
‘I’m really sorry, Mommy, I can’t come today.’
‘Oh no. Are you okay?’
‘Yes. Can I come up for dinner during the week maybe?’
‘You don’t sound great, baby. I’m sure Daddy will be happy to come and pick you up. Honey, what’s wrong? Please tell me, I’m worried…You sound like you’re about to cry.’
I burst into tears. It’s times like this that I know I need my mother. It isn’t until I start to talk that I realise how much I needed to tell her everything. So I spill it all. I recount every last detail, including those that are inappropriate for a mother to hear, while she sits silently over the phone with me. When I finish, the phone is so hot against my ear, I put my earpods in, and as I do so I notice the clock. I have been talking solidly for nearly an hour. I check that my mother is still there.
‘Mommy?’
‘He finally told you.’
