It Started with the List

The Ex

The sound of a phone ringing brought my attention to Shaylie, who continued reading my book on my bed like the phone wasn't ringing. "Are you going to answer that?" I asked her.

"Nope, it's someone from New York, and I don't want to speak to anyone there." She says, turning the page. The ringing stops, then starts again. Annoyed, I get up out of my seat and flip her over, grabbing her phone out of her back pocket. "Hey!"

I answer the phone, putting it to my ear. "Shaylie, I'm so glad you answered. I can't stop thinking about you and I-"

"Sorry, dude, not Shaylie." I say into the phone as Shaylie gives me an annoyed look.

"Who the h_ll is this?" The guy on the other line asks, his tone instantly changing.

"Who are you?" I retort.

"Thomas, her boyfriend." He says angrily.

"Thomas?" A flash of panic sets into Shaylie's eyes, but I put my hand out to stop her from doing anything. "Last time I checked, you were the ex." I tell him.

"And who are you?"

"Um.., Henry, her boyfriend." I lie. Shaylie gasp at me, throwing one of my pillows at me, which I dodge and laugh at.

"Boyfriend? I'm the only boyfriend she ever had." He said.

"She's moving on. Get with the program already." I say as Aileen and Henry enter the room.

"Who's that?" Henry asked.

"Thomas, the douche." I say, not even bothering to cover the phone so he wouldn't hear. Henry glared daggers into the phone.

"You don't know me, so you can't call me a douche." Thomas said, trying to defend himself.

"I know enough to call you a douche." I informed him.

"You got a last name, Henry?" He asks me.

"Vendetta. Henry Vendetta, I live in Houston, Texas. Feel free to stop by anytime to have your arse handed to you. I live near Shaylie's cousin, Aileen, you know where she lives. So, feel free to knock on doors till you find mine. Texans are really nice, they'll tell you." The entire time I was speaking, the three other people in the room stared at me, eyes wide, mouths open.

"Maybe I will." He told me.

"Just remember, I'll put you in a coma for Shaylie. I love her with all my heart and I'll fight for her." I tell him.

"I honestly doubt she loves you back, her heart belongs to me." He informed me.

"Oh my god, someone's cocky. Come down here, I freaking dare you. Then we'll see who really has her heart." I say.

"Fine!" He yells.

"Fine!" I yell, and I hang up. "Looks like I'm going to be fighting a New Yorker." I say with a sly grin. They all shake their heads, disappointed at me. "What?" I ask.

*

5 hours after that call, we were all sitting on the couch, watching X-Men: First Class. Half way through, banging sounded from the door. The four of us looked at one another. After Henry paused the movie, we all went to the door as a pack. I opened the door to see a guy my age standing there, furious.

His eyes went over to Shaylie and Aileen. "Shaylie, Aileen, so nice to see you two." He says with a smirk and Shaylie gives him the bird. Henry stands in front of them so it's like we're a wall separating them from Thomas. He glared at the two of us. "Which one of you is Henry?" He asks.

"Me." We say at the same time. Henry looks at me.

"It's not fair! I talked to him, so it's only fair I get to fight him!" I whined.