I never really considered how much my friends paid attention to where I was, or what I was doing when I wasn’t spending time with them. To be honest, I didn’t think they cared. Sometimes even people you’ve known for most of your life can surprise you. It turns out that my friends did notice when I wasn’t around as much as usual.
9:59 pm, November 23, 2010
I yawn, staring at the flickering screen in the darkened room. My eyes dart down towards my phone again. It’s been four minutes and I still see nothing but a blank display. I force myself to look back up at the television, but my fingers reflexively wrap around the device. I jump when it vibrates in my hand a second later, a smile forming on my lips as I lean over to read the message.
“Lyn, what are you doing?” Stacy asks pausing the movie. Joan stretches and Margery shoots both of us a dirty look.
“Nothing,” I reply, trying to make my voice sound innocent as I slip the phone into my pocket. My heart is pounding in my chest, but that has nothing to do with Stacy’s question.
“She’s been texting with her boyfriend for the past hour,” Margery says rolling her eyes. “Can you turn the movie back on now? This is the best part.”
“Wait, did I miss something? Lyn has a boyfriend?” Stacy replies glaring at me.
“He’s not my boyfriend Stace. He’s a boy who also happens to be a friend. I don’t date, remember?”
They all look at each other, and Joan is trying not to giggle. Despite my best intentions, their silent communication tells me they know exactly what I have been doing for the past two weeks. Well, everyone but Stacy. Clearly Stacy is out of the loop. Margery throws her hands up in the air, declares it’s time for a bathroom break, and storms off. Joan loses her battle with laughter and runs after Margery leaving Stacy and I alone.
“I don’t understand. How could you not tell me anything? I thought I was your best friend!”
“Stace, there’s nothing to tell. Honest.”
“Let me see your phone,” she demands thrusting her hand into my face.
“No way!”
“Well at least tell me who it is.” My phone vibrates again against my hip, and my hands twitch. It takes all my power of concentration not to pull it out. I grit my teeth as I fold my arms over my chest. Her eyes grow wide as she looks at me. “It’s not Oliver is it?”
My delayed reaction gives me away. “Celebrity is just a friend, okay?”
“Now I’m really curious. What has he been saying to you?”
Another message buzzes in my pocket and I jump up. “I’ll be right back,” I say hurrying down the hallway toward the bathroom. As soon as the door closes, I pull out my phone, stifling a giggle as I read the messages. I key in my reply, hit send, and hold the phone to my chest as I wait impatiently for an answer.
I’m only waiting a few seconds, but my heart leaps into my throat as I read the latest message. I smile, turn off the phone, and bounce back down the hallway to finish the movie with my friends. I try to keep up with the conversation, but I’m lost in my head wondering how hard it will be to sneak out past them tonight.