Chapter 9: Two Love-Struck idiots

                                    

                                          
Roxy

The day after our fight felt like it would never end. Even work couldn't take my mind off the heartbreak. I kept telling myself it was for the best, over and over again. The pain was still tolerable, and so was the effort we put into our relationship.
After my late shift ended, I was ready to crash. I wished I could pour my heart out to Lorrie, but she was away for the weekend at her parents'. So, it was just me and my thoughts. I risked a glance at my phone, hoping for a message from Cath. But, like every other time, there was nothing. Why would there be? I was the one who messed up, and if anyone needed to make the first move, it was me.
But what could I even say? 'I'm sorry, Cath, but hey, if you're interested in dating a criminal ex-junkie without a high school diploma, let's give it a shot.' I'd love to see her reaction to that.
Minutes dragged on. I wrote out messages to Cath a bunch of times but couldn't bring myself to send any of them. Damn, why did she have to be so amazing? If only she were a heartless, arrogant bitch, maybe this wouldn't hurt so much.
It was just after midnight, and I'd been staring at Cath's number on my phone for what felt like forever. Her voice was just a button press away. What did I have to lose? I'll call her, apologize, and maybe, just maybe, I'll find the courage to explain everything.
It rang. Once, twice. Please pick up; I wouldn't have the courage to call again. Three times, four times, and finally, the call was answered.
"Hailey?" Cath's voice sounded surprised.
"Hi," was my simple greeting. My heart was racing, and I struggled to think straight. "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have left without talking to you."
"You shouldn't have," she replied calmly. Was she upset?
"Can we talk about it, if you're still up for it?" I asked, feeling my nerves on edge while waiting for her response. A few seconds ticked by before she finally answered.
"Yes, let's talk." I let out a sigh of relief. "But not over the phone," she added.
"I'll come over," I suggested.
"When?"
"Now."
"It's the middle of the night," she pointed out, sounding a bit worried. But I was too wired to care about the time.
"Do you need your beauty sleep?" I teased. I heard a small laugh from her, and the tension eased a little.
"I think I'll be fine without it for now."
"Great, see you soon then."
"Okay. See you."
I hung up, buried my face in the pillow, and screamed. The tension melted away, only to come back stronger. The hardest part was still ahead of me.

On the way to Cath's, I kept running through what I could say to her. I went over hundreds of phrases in my mind, but none seemed right in the end. Screw it! I'll just go with the flow. Spontaneity was my thing anyway.
When I got to Cath's just after 1 am, there was a noticeable distance between us; no physical contact when we greeted each other. I waited for her to offer me a drink like she usually did, but nothing. Oh yeah, she was definitely more than just upset. Anxiety started creeping in, making me fear that our conversation might turn into a disaster.
"So, why can't we be together?" Cath cut straight to the chase—no small talk, no pleasantries. This woman was a pure efficiency beast.
I needed a few seconds to decide how much to reveal. When someone like Cath holds a grudge, they can easily make life hell for the other person. So, I chose my words carefully.