The Only Exception | W2S

THREE.

"Don't we all, don't we all," Cal chimes in. "So....."

The podcast lasted for just over an hour, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. We talked about all aspects of my life - my family, my friends, my work-life balance, and it actually felt nice to be the guest for once. Just going along with the flow.

Their podcast set up was much more professional than mine, but I still felt very comfortable being open and honest, and everyone on set was professional, making me feel very welcome.

"That was great, Holly. Viewers are going to absolutely love it," Cal says to me, whilst we're both in the break room.

"I'm glad. I was just thinking how it was nice to be a guest on a podcast for once," I laugh, drinking from a cup of coffee.

"Well, you're part of the friend group now. I'll be down for any video ideas you wanna send my way, to return the favour - if it's something you're interested in. Just let me know, yeah?"

I nod my head feverishly. "Sounds great. I'll definitely take you up on that," I agree, saying goodbye as he leaves me alone in the break room.

A strange feeling washes over me, sending a chill right through my spine.

Despite originally feeling okay talking about my old relationship in depth at the time, it had me still thinking about it, which I knew would continue to fester for the rest of the day.

My mind had a habit of doing this - every time I would think about a situation that had affected me, I would continue to overthink, playing the scenario out in different ways, wondering if I could have done anything differently.

Maybe I wasn't as okay with it as I'd claimed earlier.

Instinctively, I picked up my phone, and called the one number I knew would help ease the wariness.

"Holly? You alright?" The voice on the other end of the phone asked.

"George? Are you busy?"

"No. Need picking up?" He asked, reading my mind.

"Please," I requested, and he paused, clearly wondering if he should ask the all important question, but all he replies with is that he'd be fifteen minutes.

I wait in the car park outside, smoking the last cigarette I have on me. It does little to calm my nervous brain which is currently going into overdrive, but it's better than me doing nothing.

As promised, George arrives in little under fifteen minutes, which makes me a little suspicious that he was speeding, but I don't question it. He's my closest friend, and I would do the same for him, if he ever needed it.

"Get in loser," he yells, winding down the passenger window, music blaring from the speaker.

Already feeling a little better, I jog up to his car, clambering in, relaxing against the seat.

"I don't know how you haven't gone deaf from listening to music this loud," I tell him, turning down so he's actually able to hear me.

"WHAT?" He shouts sarcastically reversing out of the car park.

"Idiot," I chuckle, plugging my seatbelt.

"Good time?" He asks, when we're stuck in traffic in Central London.

"Yeah," I answered truthfully. "I feel like I've said this so many times today, but it felt good to be a guest on a podcast. We talked about a lot. Talked about Matthew for the first time," I tell him, dropping the bombshell slowly.

He looks genuinely taken aback. "And? How do you feel?"

I shrug. "So-so. I felt fine talking about it. Now I feel a bit like, I dunno. Like I could have another existential crisis," I say honestly.