Washed Out Page 4
“Thank you, sir,” Ned said.
My father excused himself and walked into the kitchen again.
I tried not to laugh.
“You have a cool dad,” Ned stated.
“I know.”
Ned’s phone rang and he picked up the phone. “Hey, yeah, I’m on my way now.”
He hung up, and turned to me. “Celia, I have to go. My friends are waiting for me at home. We got, umm, some important things to do, if you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all,” I said.
He waved to my father in the kitchen, “See ya, Mr. Williams.”
My father offered a brief wave in return. “Take care, Ned.”
Ned collected his stuff, and walked to the door. He opened the door, and looked behind him, “See you tomorrow?” He asked.
“We’ll text about it,” I said.
He left.
I TEXTED KENT BEFORE I went to bed to see if he was still mad at me.
Me: Kent
After five minutes of waiting he sent a text back.
Kent: Hey
Me: Hey!
Me: I’m so sorry about earlier
Me: I was in a bad mood
Me: I’m so tired, with everything that’s going on
Kent: Yeah, it’s fine
Kent: We really need to talk
Kent: The sooner, the better
Me: Yes, sure
Me: Anytime!
Me: Tomorrow then?
Kent: Sure
Kent: see you tomorrow
Celia sent a kiss sticker
On the other side, I sent a text to my girls’ group on Bubblechat.
Me: GIRLS
Max: I’m awake!
Jane: Yes?
Me: I’ve talked to Kent
Me: Just now
Max: Aww, how was it?
Jane: Did he forgive you?
Me: Kinda
Me: I don’t know
Max: What do you mean you don’t know?
Me: I said sorry and stuff
Me: He said it was fine
Max sent a shocked face sticker
Max: That’s NOT good
Jane: What happened then?
Me: He said we needed to meet up tomorrow
Me: He said we need to talk
Max: I have a bad feeling about this
Max: But I don’t wanna stress you out
Jane: You’ll be okay for tomorrow :)
Me: GIRLS
Me: I’m in tears now
Me: What should I do?
Max: Honey, keep calm
Max: You don’t need this tress right now
Max: Whatever happens, happens, you know?
Jane: We’re here for you
Jane sent a heart sticker
Max: Yeah, what Jane said
Max: Don’t over think the situation
Me: What if I can’t
Max: Then get drunk or something
Max: I’m not serious, DON’T DO DRUGS
Jane: they’re cool
Me: LOL, you two are the best
Max: Glad we made you laugh
Max sent a hugging bear sticker
Celia sent a rainbow sticker
Jane sent a kiss sticker
Max: Girl, kick some ass
Max: Stay strong
Me: That’s what my dad said
Max: Well, it’s TRUE
Max: You’ll do just fine
Jane: Don’t forget to call us when anything happens
Max: let’s hope nothing will happens
Max: Keep calm and stay positive
Jane: Follow the light :)
Max: Gurl, you drunk?
Jane: ME?
Max: Yeah, YOU
Jane: Maybe
Me: Jane, you’re amazing, seriously
Me: You can be caught drinking!
Max: Told her
Max: She never listens
Me: Lol, love you girls
Max: Love you too, baby
Jane: Love you both
Jane sent a two heart sticker
Celia sent two friends holding hands sticker
Max sent a star sticker
Chapter Six
ON SUNDAY MORNING, we all sat around the dining room table, as normal families would do. We ate quietly as we looked down at our plates. Last night was a rough one, and no one was ready to talk about it. Not even Amelia and Adam, they were too busy with their thoughts, and kept glancing at Mom and Dad. I saw the look in their faces. They had enough of bad days. Had enough of Mom getting more sick every day.
Mom grabbed the food with her bare hands, and ate with no manners. But that didn’t matter; what mattered was that she was able to eat and sleep, and there goes another day.
My phone beeped and I looked at my phone, which was resting on the table. It was Kent. I felt like a breeze when I saw his text.
Kent: Don’t forget our date today.
Me: I’ll get ready
Kent: I’ll be there in five minutes
Me: Can’t wait
I looked at everyone at the table as they were eating, “Excuse me, I have to get ready for my date today,” I announced with excitement. I couldn’t stop my heart from fluttering, when I imagined Kent’s handsome face when I meet him. I couldn’t wait for his warm hugs and soft kisses. I got up from the chair and ran upstairs to my bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and picked my sexiest outfit there. The red sleeveless blouse and a leather mini skirt.
I wore the outfit, and put on some smoky makeup, and looked at the mirror of my dressing table. I thought I looked sexy enough for Kent. I took my pair of heels, and wore them. I heard my phone ring and I picked it up.
“Hey, sexy,” I heard Kent’s sexy voice, “I’m waiting for you outside.”
“Give me a sec, babe,” I told him.
I went down stairs, and went out of the front door. When I got outside, I saw Kent waiting in his car that was parked in the driveway. He winked, “Hop in!” He said.
I got in the car, and buckled up.
He leaned closer and kissed me with his soft lips.
“Where are we going today?” I asked.
He raised his eyebrow, “Anywhere my mind takes me,” He replied.
I laughed, because I knew what he was about to do, “A café then?”
His eyes were wide, “How did you know?”
“Oh, it’s just the fact that I know you too well,” I said, and winked at him.
He laughed, and drove the car onto Virginia Street. He drove us somewhere near the campus, where there was a small café around the corner. He stopped the car in the parking lot. We got out of the car, and held each other’s hands as we entered the café. The lights really did brighten the room, and the smell was familiar. It was coffee’s aroma all over the place. Kent picked a table for two, and pulled out a chair for me. “Thank you,” I said, and sat on the chair. Kent sat across from me, and we smiled at each other.
I rested my elbow on the table, and placed my hands under my jaw, as we exchanged looks. I was calculating the situation and tried to predict what he wanted to talk about with me. Did he want to ask me to move in with him? Was he going to propose to me? I had a lot of questions and doubts in mind, which made my heart race even faster in my chest.
He took my hands and held them together, and planted a kiss on them, “Boo,” He started.
“Yes, babe?” I called.
“I want to tell you this in a while, but I couldn’t,” he explained.
My heart sank, “Of course you can, babe, tell me,” I said.
He looked into my eyes, and I saw his eyes welling up in tears, “Boo, I want to break up with you,” He stated. I inhaled deeply, and yelled, “What?”
He backed off, “Boo, I’m sorry, I just met some other girl,” He confessed.
I pulled my hand from his grip, and inhaled.
I let out a breath, and stared at him with open mouth.
I wasn’t crying at that time, but I felt so s
hocked. It was like a cold slap on my face. I didn’t know what to do, I was looking around the café. How dare he take me on a date to tell me that he wanted to break up with me?
Then I felt anger.
I was so angry, that I got up and went to the exit, and I hear Kent behind me saying he was sorry and he didn’t mean it to happen that way. I didn’t look back; I took a cab and instructed him to go home. In the cab, I turned around to see Kent behind, holding his head with both hands, and muttering something, and I was crying. I was finally crying.
WHEN I GOT HOME, I opened the front door, walked in and closed it shut behind me with force. I took my heels off while I was in tears, and tossed them on the floor. I ran upstairs, while I heard Dad call me. “Honey, what’s wrong?” but I kept walking to my bedroom.
I closed the door and locked it behind me when I entered my bedroom, and slammed my body on the bed. My face was on the blanket, and I felt the wet tears soaking it. I haven’t stopped crying, since I left the café, and couldn’t forget the scene when he asked me to break up with him, and his teary eyes, and apologetic voice. At the time, I wanted him real bad, and I wanted those dates back. I wanted our hugs, and kisses back, and when he called me sexy. And his face when he saw me looking at him with passion, and our hands when we lock them together.
I wanted all that back.
I heard the knock on the door, “Honey?”
“I can’t talk right now,” I told him under a muffled voice.
“Honey, please talk to me,” Dad convinced, “What happened?”
“Please, go away!”
After a while, I heard his footsteps leaving the hallway, and going down stairs again. I hiccupped, and sniffed. Then I started crying loud, because the blanket could cover my voice. It took me hours to calm down, and when the pain in my chest became mild, I slept on the bed.
I WOKE UP AT MIDNIGHT, with a heartache. I was still hurt from the conversation with Kent, but I tried to stay focused. I checked my phone, and dialed Max’s number.
Max picked up the phone, “Hey, Celia.”
I cried, “Max,” I said with a sniff.
“Oh my god, what happened Celia?” She asked with a worried, panicky voice.
“Kent dumped me for a girl,” I hiccupped and sniffed, “He said he liked someone else.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” Max said, “I wish I could come over, but I have class tomorrow, and you’re hours away.”
“I know,” I said with a shaky heavy voice, “I want you here.”
“I know,” she whispered, “I wish I could be there too.”
“I can’t stop thinking about him” I confessed, and felt my shoulders tense.
“It’s okay, it’d take time for you to forget him,” Max advised, “We’re here for you.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Kent’s a jerk anyways, if he did that to you, then he doesn’t deserve you,” Max said, “You’ll move on the meet someone else. Someone hotter.”
“With abs?” I sniffed.
“And six packs too,” Max, “We should go out to the club this weekend, and mingle.”
“Okay,” I said.
“I bet there’re guys who’re waiting for a hot girl like you,” Max said, “If a guy doesn’t see that, then he’s blind.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes, really.” Max replied.
“Thank you, Max,” I said, “For being there for me.”
“Of course, what are friends for,” Max said.
“I gotta go now,” I said.
“Okay, take care,” Max said.
I hung up the phone, and felt it vibrating in my hand. There were a few texts from Ned.
Oh, God, not him, I thought.
Ned: Hey
Ned: You there?
Ned: Can we talk?
Me: Not now
Ned: You seem tight
Me: ?
Ned: Err, did I upset you?
Me: No
Ned: We’re supposed to meet up tomorrow
Ned: for the project
Me: I don’t know
Ned: You don’t know what?
Me: I don’t know
Me: I don’t feel well
Ned: You okay?
Ned: Something happened?
Me: I don’t wanna talk about it
Ned: Alright
Ned: But trust me, I can keep secrets
Ned sent a winky face sticker
Me: Please
Ned: Can I confess something?
Me: No?
Ned: I’ll write it down anyways
Me: What a surprise
Ned: I had a crush on you since you joined the art class
Me: Ned?
Ned: Yes?
Me: You had a crush in me?
Ned: Yes :)
Me: umm, why?
Ned: Why?
Ned: You’re an amazing girl with great looks
Ned: And a big heart
Ned: I felt that you had struggles
Ned: With your mom and all
Ned: You’re doing a great job holding yourself together
Me: Thank you
Me: That’s so sweet
Ned: It’s the truth
Ned: I don’t understand why guys see you as an object
Ned: you should be treated like a princess
Me: I don’t know either
Me: Must be because guys are shallow
Me: bastards who date two girls at once
Ned: But not all of them are bad guys
Ned: You should look around carefully
Ned: You might find the one who treats you right
Me: Right
Me: I should look around my campus
Ned: Yes
Me: Maybe that hot guy in the swimming team
Ned: umm
Me: Is he dating someone?
Ned: I don’t know
Ned: You should ask him
Me: Thanks, Ned
Me: for the advice
Me: never knew you were good with girls
Ned: I wasn’t
Me: Goodnight
Ned: Goodnight
I closed our chat and placed my phone on the bedside table. I laid on my bed on my back and stared at the ceiling. My cheeks were dry, but my heart was shattered into pieces. I shut my eyes, and took a deep breath. I remembered Kent’s scent when he put that special cologne for our special occasions. His dark longer hair, and thick eyebrows, and eyes that were too sharp. I rolled over and covered myself with a blanket. I tried to forget Kent’s face for that night, and remember Ned’s comforting words. I had to stay strong, my family needed me. I took my phone again and opened the gallery. I swiped down to check Kent and my old photos together. His face with mine was a perfect match, like we were born for each other. And everything we had together that I thought was destiny was gone. I had to start over again. I couldn’t think that I could meet someone new and go through all those processes again. It took us time to know and love each other, and it seemed difficult to start over again, with another love story, with another guy.
I gathered my strength and deleted all his pictures, one by one. I started crying again. It was too painful to lose his photos, because I wanted to be able to see his face every day. I deleted all the photos, and I was left with photos of my family on a cruise together, when Mom was alright, and Dad was happy. We were all happy, and it was just last year. It felt like a fantasy that never happened. I put the phone back and closed my eyes, hoping to wake up in another day, with less pain in my heart and more hope in my soul.
Chapter Seven
IT WAS THE WORST MONDAY I had ever had. I woke up still not believing that Kent actually broke up with me. How could he do that after all that love we shared with each other. How could he forget all that we did together, and the struggles we went through as a power couple. I couldn’t even imagine myself doing my daily routine without his kisses, texts, or calls. But I had to get out of bed and do everything all over a
gain. The start of another week.
I got out of bed, and dragged my feet all the way downstairs to see if breakfast was done, and they were all eating around the dining table. I walked carefully, not to show that I wasn’t feeling well, and sat beside Amelia. I took a piece of toast and smot7hered it with jam. I nibbled it, and poured some coffee from the coffee pot into my mug. I drank slowly, and glimpsed at them while they stared at me.
Dad stared at me for a second, and sighed, “Celia.”
“Dad, I’m fine,” I reassured.
He nodded, and started eating again, minding his own business.
Mom touched her food, and stopped eating, “Celia?”
“Yes, Mom?”
“I have a job interview today,” she started not making sense, but I got used to it. It was one of the symptoms of dementia.
“Mom, you don’t have a job interview,” I stated.
“Yes, I have. Yes, I...” she trailed off, and started eating her breakfast.
I looked down at my plate with agony, “Excuse me,” I said and got up from my chair abruptly.
“Celia, where are you going?” Dad called, “Celia!”
I ran upstairs and shut the bedroom door.
I texted in my Cheetahs group, hoping to read something good that would make me forget what I had to face that day.
Me: Girls
Jane: Hey, Celia
Jane: Max told me about the breakup
Jane: I’m so sorry
Max: He’s a jerk
Me: It’s okay, girls
Me: It still hurts, though
Me: I really want him back
Me: What should I do?
Max: Are you serious right now?
Max: That MF ditched you
Max: Do not ever go back to him!
Jane: :(
Me: I can’t help it
Me: I miss him
Jane: Come on, Max
Jane: I guess she could at least talk to him
Max: No way, gurl
Max: He ditched you like yesterday’s broccoli
Jane: Eww
Me: So I’m a broccoli...
Max: I’m not saying you are
Max: But he might think you are
Jane: I hate broccoli
Max: Shut up, Jane
Me: What if I saw him somewhere?
Me: Should I just ignore him?
Max: Act like the bigger person
Max: Cause you are