The Ruffled Lucy-To-Be

I didn’t call him, at last, all afternoon, or even text. I didn’t know what to say to him, with all these things that I had known and my mixed feelings were so getting in the way. But after a few hours thinking alone in my room that evening, while waiting for Sasha to come back from her campus activities and give me advice, I think I have to be true to myself, and to him. Even though it was almost 10 pm.

I called the number that called me this morning.

“Evening, Clay, this is Anita,” I said as soon as he picked up the call.

“Hey, I was waiting for your call all afternoon. How were the casting announcements?”

“Yes, I got the role. But there’s something I must ask you. Why didn’t you tell me that you’re also going to perform? I saw your name in the leading role”. Damn, I can’t help myself from sounding a bit upset.

“So, my name is on the list? Sorry, I didn’t mean to hide this from you, Anita, but after the audition, Pax said they still didn’t have the perfect cast for Count Dracula’s role, and he asked me if the play director and all the section heads of the club agrees. I know it’s a bit unfair because I didn’t even do the audition process, unlike you and all of the other casts. Moreover, it’s a leading role”, he explained. “You don’t like to act with me that way, do you?”, he asked.

I could hear a little bit of uncertainty slipping inside his voice.

“Well, to be honest, I... I don’t know what to say,” then I paused. “I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say, even can’t really comprehend what I’m feeling right now”.

There was a slight pause afterward. We didn’t say anything for maybe ten, fifteen seconds.

“Umm…Where are you now? At the campus or dorm?” he asked.

“Dorm, why?” I was puzzled.

Why did he suddenly ask me this question?

“Wait for me at the dorm’s front gate, I'm already back in town. I’ll be there in… around 20 minutes. Wear jeans and warmer clothes. See you.” he said coldly and hung up.