Begin Again

Chapter XVI. Differences

Instead of a damned button up, I decide on wearing a normal white t-shirt and a Jean flannel over it. It's finally the weekend and I slept in until...I think two in the afternoon. Last night I kept tossing and turning thinking way too much about just every single event that happened two days ago.

Sometimes, like now, I really appreciate how boring and routine-dependent my life is. I get extremely uncomfortable with sudden changes, I'm not the most expecting person there is. And I'm scared I might fired soon.

And so to avoid that risk, I took a week off yesterday and Mr Richards was more than willing about it. I was glad. I didn't want to lose job, I need to get my mindset right.

I brush back my hair quickly, and take my key as I hurried out the flat to the elevator. I hadn't checked mail yesterday and I'm expecting a few things to be delivered by now. Among them is an approval from a firm to use my design and inform me when they'll start building it.

I slide open my phone in the time being, and I curiously open the few texts I have from Taylor. She must have sent them when I had my phone on the silent mode.

Taylor
Be my friend right now

Taylor
don't you think he's the least bit nice?

Taylor
He can't be that bad, you don't even know him

I frown, hating what she's claiming after the last text I sent her. I am being a friend. I don't like that Sam or whatever, I don't care if he looks charming or some shit, he just is so off and it pisses me off Taylor thinks he's nice.

Hell, I was nice to her in that party the second time we saw each other, and look how that fucking ended.

I open my mail box in annoyance, already having ruined my mood in the hour I've been awake. I find two letters only, and I recognise one of them as the phone bill and the other one an invitation to one of my guy friends' wedding.

I take a moment to read it, scanning all the details and clearly not recognising the name of the girl he's marrying, also seeing that it's this November. Which is in less than two months.

Many weddings all of a sudden, hm...

Could have been one of them, mate.

I scowl and slam shut the box and lock it, retreating back to the elevator with the letters. I think Taylor knows Mason, I just don't know if he invited her. I think he did, everyone likes Taylor.

I call her name in my contacts, and I nearly step out to the hallway when I realise Ray is in front of me and it's not my floor.

I step aside, looking up and avoiding any eye contact, and mentally pray Taylor picks up. She has to.

I could feel the faint tension as soon as the doors close. And as my phone keeps beeping, I figure she won't answer, she must be busy with something or taking a nap. Unlike me, who literally woke up an hour ago.

I keep the phone pressed against my ear, humming and pretending I'm talking to someone. Ever since I met Raymona, I think the times I'm on my phone are the only moments she'd stay quiet.

But to be fair, and honest, we haven't spoken either way since the kiss. Kisses, I mean kisses. Yeah, we shared the elevator like two times, this is the third, and spotted each other a few other times, but she didn't approach me. I can't help but feel like she's either avoiding me or regretting kissing me back, or maybe she's...intimidated? I'll never know.

I head straight to my place after I reach my floor, spend the rest of the afternoon watching action movies and cooked myself mac and cheese. Throughout the three movies and fifth beer I had, I decided I distracted myself enough and I should man up and talk to Ray. I owe her at least that if those two kisses were for nothing.