I'm not sure if I should feel irritated, invaded, or just plain angry.
"Why is your face on my phone?"
I mean to be rude. I mean for her to feel embarrassed or ashamed. What she did was wrong, plus, I got a bit nervous thinking she'd figure out it was Alex.
"Ohh... I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
I didn't let her finish, I got up my chair, excused myself from others, and went outside the pub.
I dialed Alex's number and waited for her to answer it.
"Hey!" Hearing her voice was such a relief.
"Hey, how was your flight?" I asked her.
"We're still on the plane, just about to go out. When I text you that we just landed, the wheel of the plane literally just landed on the ground." I heard her chuckling.
How I missed her already.
"You there, Cara?"
"Yeah, Yeah. Sorry. I just, I missed your voice, I miss you." I told her sincerely.
It was her turn to be silent.
"I feel the same, Babe." She said after a while. "Where are you? The background seems loud."
"Ohh, umm, I'm at the pub, a few blocks from the office. I made a promise to the interns that I would join them tonight."
"Pub huh? Are you drinking?" I heard her tone change.
"Just a beer, after one pint I'm going home. I didn't even want to come tonight, believe me, it's just that, I was already compromised." I leaned my back to the wall of the pub and played the stone on the ground with my foot.
"Hmmm, and you're just making an appearance, is that it?" I know she was mocking me but I still chose to answer her.
"Yes, Ms. Williams. That's the plan." I let out a soft laugh.
"I have done that before, Cara, in so many parties. I told myself I was just making an appearance, after a glass or two, I was gone. But I was always. always going home drunk and sometimes with someone. So, tell me how that goes, okay?"
I let out a sigh.
"You don't have to worry, Alex. I swear to you, I ain't getting drunk nor bringing someone with me to my apartment."
I guess they were out of the aircraft already as the background noise got louder.
"Alex?"
"Can you just, promise me that? I know you did already but just promise me again. I've seen you get drunk, Cara, and boy if you are surrounded by perverts or people who have bad intentions, you'd be gone before the sunrise." I could hear the worries in her voice.
"You know I should be the one worrying about you, Alex. What time is your treatment tomorrow?" I changed the subject.
Hon, walk fast! I heard her Mom from the background.
"7 AM tomorrow I should be there so after we dine out tonight, I'll turn in." She said while I heard her panting a bit as she quickened her pace.
"Okay, text me when you're in bed."
"Cara!" I heard her call me before I hung up the call.
"Yeah?"
"Can you text me when you leave from there and once you're home?" She still worries.
"Of course!"
Everybody's eyes were on me when I joined the table again.
"What?" I asked all of them.
"That was a long call." It was Lisa who dared to answer me.
"It was an important call." I sat again on my chair while Audrey still eyeing me. I ignored her and gulped my beer.
Their conversation resumed, from time to time I was participating while Audrey kept her silence.
I don't really care about her, though I'd admit, it bothers me just a little bit thinking that she might figure out who called me a while ago.
It was 8 in the evening already and I was trying to find the right time to bid my goodbye.
Some of the guys were playing darts, the others watched while they cheered and laughed.
I found Lisa at the bar counter ordering for another round.
"Lis." I called on her.
"Hey, are you enjoying yourself? How's Audrey with you? You know she likes girls right?" She giggled. "She's been asking about you ever since she saw you on the 10th floor on your first day and man, she wouldn't shut up about inviting you out with us. Did she make a move on you? Come on, tell me!"
I didn't think someone could be so enthusiastic about these things.
"There's nothing to tell, Lis. Listen, I have to run, I uhm, my Dad was planning to uhm, visit me tomorrow morning so I have to clean my apartment and go grocery shopping for breakfast tomorrow."
It was so lame, I know.
"But it's only 8." Lisa looked at her phone confirming the time.
"Exactly, it's 8 already. I'll go to the grocery after here then it will take me at least 20 to 25 minutes to go home then I need to clean then do my 3-week laundry, there's a lot I need to do. So, thank you, Lisa, really, I enjoyed tonight. Don't drink too much okay? I'll see you in the office on Monday."
I purposely talked too fast and didn't give her the chance to oppose.
"Guys, good night! I gotta run, thank you, and see you!" I yelled at the interns who were very focused on the game. I turned my back fast and didn't care if they heard me or not.
As soon as I was out of the pub, I took out my phone from my bag and composed a text to Alex.
Leaving the pub. And I hit send.
"That was so fast, so fast I'm starting to think it has something to do with me."
I was startled to hear Audrey's voice behind me.
I put my phone back in my bag and looked for my keys before I answered her, without turning my back to see her.
"Oh, believe me, it has nothing to do with you. I have some errands I need to do tonight."
I was so glad when I found my key so fast, I pressed it open and as I reached for the door handle, Audrey's hand prevented me from opening it.
"What the hell?" I looked at her side and found her smiling, it's irritating.
"Why so eager to leave, Cara Greene?" She leaned her back on my car door, blocking it completely.
What is the problem of this girl?
I crossed my arms against my chest and looked straight into her eyes. If she thinks she has some kind of effect on me, she's wrong. It was only Alex who made me feel nervous and made my knees tremble just by gazing at my eyes.
"Didn't I just say I have some errands to do tonight?" I repeated my reasons, still looking straight into her eyes, trying to intimidate her but she didn't even budge.
God, this girl is so irritating!
"I heard that, I just don't believe it." She said smirking at me.
"I don't really care what you believe and what you don't, all I care about is getting into my car and leaving this place. So please, can you freaking move from my car?"
I made sure that the irritation I felt toward her was heard in my voice but damn, this girl is thick.
"In one condition!" I mentally rolled my eyes.
"No." I said firmly even if I hadn't heard what she had to say.
"Go out with me."
"What did I just say?" Can she be more annoying?
"Oh come on, Cara. One coffee wouldn't hurt." Her feature softened.
"Please? I'll behave, just one coffee." She begged.
I didn't know what came into me, probably I just wanted to go home so bad and I said yes to her for her to let me go.
What have I done?
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