Chapter Seven - Call me, Maybe?

Kilig:

(n.) The rush or the inexplicable joy one feels after seeing or ex-periencing something romantic.

Chapter Seven – Call Me, Maybe?

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It bothers me to no end that Charlotte doesn't seem to notice my uneasiness around her, or the fact that we have been barely speaking to each other. She doesn't even seem to know that some-thing went wrong, she forgot it that same evening. I, however, still have this feeling like it's just not right. Maybe I'm not made to live in a place like this, but it's so stupid that I had never thought of it before.

I'm used to following the rules with closed eyes and then all of a sudden I start thinking of wanting something else, maybe even someone else.

I don't know why, but suddenly everything is boring around here. This routine that's always been here, makes me feel imprisoned. I try to do something else instead and it's almost scary how simple things -like having breakfast first, before putting my clothes on- feel like small victories. I also decided to let Charlotte have the car as I got picked up by the company's chauffeur. Then we both have more freedom, without really showing it to the rest of the community. And without Charlotte noticing how I want to be more independent.

Another thing that has been bothering me is the fact that Evan hasn't called me yet and it's almost been two weeks. Maybe he's simply got something more important to do, or he decided that our friendship isn't going to work out. But even then I had expected a small text message, a simple thing to let me know he's alright. And this worrying has brought me to the point that I am looking through our company's files to find his account. To see if his number is somewhere in the system.

Grace doesn't questions it as she sees me scrolling through thousands of contacts.

'There's a search bar in the upper left of your screen.' I immediately type his name and within five seconds his profile pops up.

'Thanks.' I say with a smile and she just throws a couple of files on my desk for me to look at before walking out.

I don't even doubt myself as I put his number in my phone, under his own name, before closing my computer off and starting on the files.

My eyes fall on a brown envelope and as I open it a small piece of from our local newspaper falls out. I scan over the words, but nothing really registers right now. But then I see Evan's name in the letter and it immediately spikes my interest. My heart begins to beat faster as I read over the lines and I so badly want to throw something around.

Hereby I declare that Mister Alexander Donahew has fired me on aspects of false accusations. Not only did he believe a client -Evan Knight-, who was not satisfied with our care, he didn't even give me a chance to defend myself. Now I am not a rich man, therefor unable to do anything law-related to this matter, but I will not stand for this. I seek for support via you people, the community that supports each other, to help me in this matter. And this isn't the only mistake mister Donahew has made this week. He left his wife after calling her the most horrible names, and after this he stayed away for a whole night, leaving the woman to fend for her-self. Please people, foresee that I am not doing this to shame on mister Donahew, as I have forgiven him already. But be aware of his tactics, he won't care about your situation if it's for mister's own benefit.

The paper in my hand is crumbled and I can see the angry tears blurring my vision. I can't believe that a man would do this to me, but mostly to Evan. People know me, they sometimes understand that rumors are spread, but they don't know Evan. They will probably search for him and make him pay for something he hasn't even done.

For a minute I just stare at my hands, why do I trust Evan? Is it because he has those bruises? Those could have been from a random guy at the corner of the street. Or was it the fact that he looked so innocent, so pure and yet so broken.

I shake my head in disappointment as I start thinking about how trustworthy Evan is. I shouldn't doubt his motives just because of a stupid article some unemployed society member has sent.

Without a second thought I pick up my phone and scroll through my contacts, until Evan's name comes into sight. I hover over his name for a bit, doubting if I should really do this. And then I start thinking about what I risk to lose right now, that's almost nothing.

To: [Evan Knight]

From: [Me]

3:30 p.m.

It's been two weeks and I still haven't heard from you yet?

Maybe I hit the send button too fast, the text doesn't seem really catchy. My eyes widen at the thought and I shake my head. Since when have I ever thought twice about sending a simple text message?

I stare at my phone for at least five minutes, but it doesn't seem as if he's going to answer anytime soon. I let out a disappointed sigh as I lay my phone back down and pick up another file.

Just on that moment I hear the familiar bell that signals that I have a text message. A frown makes itself known as I look at the crumbled piece of paper next to it, the whole reason I wrote the boy a message in the first place. I pick up my phone anyway and I smile at his response. Even the way he texts makes me smile, as if he's right in front of me.

To: [Me]

From: [Evan Knight]

3:37 p.m.

Oh, I didn't think you would really want me to. I'm here now though, so what are you up to? :)

My fingers stumble over the keys as I try to express my excite-ment without really coming of as desperate. It seems almost impossible as I re-write message after message.

To: [Evan Knight]

From: [Me]

3:39 p.m.

I understand, I normally give my personal number to strangers and tell them to call me for fun :p Not much actually, would you want to meet up tonight?

After ten re-writes I just hit send and I almost slam my head down on the table. Seriously Alexander, it almost looks as if you are trying to flirt with the poor guy. I take a deep breath and let my phone fall from my fingers onto the desk as I pick up the same file from ten minutes ago. I should focus on my work and really get things done for a change. It seems like doing that has become harder over the last few weeks. There is just so much on my head, so much distraction, that reading thousands of files doesn't seem to keep me in check anymore.

To: [Me]

From: [Evan Knight]

3:46 p.m.

Evan Knight: Haha sorry ':) I'd love to! Where do you wanna meet?

I feel stupid as the question catches me off guard, but I answer him anyways.

To: [Evan Knight]

From: [Me]

3:49 p.m.

Your local bar?

To: [Me]

From: [Evan Knight]

3:51 p.m.

Evan Knight: Great! CU 2night! ^^

I can feel the smile on my face and it is strange how he can make me smile, whereas I can't even do it myself anymore. Evan has really changed me and it is weird to accept that I have gained a friend in less than 2 weeks, whom I have only seen twice. I only have a hand full of friends and three of them had moved to an-other state, something about following their dreams. And then the other one is a nice friend who you watch a football game with, but don't want to see more than a couple of hours at a time.

The rest of the day is a big blur and even though I do get to finish all of the paper work Grace had sorted out for me, I couldn't get the small boy out of my head.

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A/N: Hello there you!

Please leave behind a small comment or vote so I can appreciate you even more than I already do? ^^

~Noortje