Taylor
Shit, did I leave my TV on again?
I’ve done it before and had Micah hitting the walls, telling me to turn off my porno collection. I don’t have a porno collection. I just stream it. Who buys DVDs anymore?
Cracking my eyes open, I look down at the foot of my bed. Nope, TV is off. I hear the muffled moan again and realize it’s not a television. It’s Veronica.
For all her cutesy and innocent demeanor, I would’ve never guessed she was a screamer. I chuckle at the thought, grabbing my phone to check the time.
“Eight o’clock? Are you kidding me?”
Another moan, this one louder than the last, and she says calls out his name.
“Hey!” I slam my hand against my headboard. “I’m trying to sleep in here!”
I don’t have work for another three hours, which means I have another two hours and thirty minutes of sack time left. I’m not really upset at them either. Ever since transferring to Woodbridge High all those years ago, Micah’s become my best friend. Almost like a brother. And I’m happy for them. I really am. But if this is what it sounded like to Micah while he was single and I was having my fun, I seriously don’t know how he didn’t move out. Not only is it annoying, but now I’ve got a raging boner.
“Sorry!” Veronica’s muffled apology echoes through our apartment. I hear Micah laughing.
I’m just about to put my phone back on my nightstand when it dings with a text message.
AJ: Sorry, I know it’s early. U up?
Me: I’m up. What’s up, kid?
The thought bubbles pop up like he’s typing something then they disappear. They show up again and then they’re gone again.
AJ: U didn’t come to the recital anniversary?
I knew he was going to say it, yet it still stings.
Me: I know. I’m sorry. They scheduled me to work and I tried to it get off, but the only other day I could get was a day I had an exam in one of my classes.
AJ: It’s okay :(
I feel like a real bastard, but not just because I missed the anniversary of Reese’s recital. It’s because I’m lying. However, I can’t tell him the truth. I can’t tell him I have to distance myself away from all of that. That was a lifetime ago. I was a different person then. I can’t be that person anymore.
AJ: You’re still coming for her birthday though, right?
Of course I can’t say no to that. Nor would I ever want to.
Me: Absolutely, kid. I got cupcakes last year. Think she’ll like those again.
AJ: I was thinking cookies.
Me: Really?
AJ: Yeah, she loved oatmeal raisin.
I laugh at the screen. A genuine laugh that doesn’t happen a lot while talking about Reese.
Me: Yeah, she does.
It doesn’t go over my head that I still use the present tense with her. I always will.
Me: Okay, oatmeal raisin it is. We playing video games after? It is a tradition, after all.
AJ: Yeah, a tradition of me kicking your butt in any game you pick.
Me: We’ll see. I’ve been practicing. You better watch your back.
AJ: Alright, cool. Later T. I gotta go to school.
Me: Later, buddy.
Birthdays and anniversaries. They should be happy events filled with laughs and love. And I guess, in a way, they still kind of are. But it’ll never be the same. I’ll never be the same.
I know there’s no way I’ll be able to go back to sleep now. Might as well open an app.
“Nope.” I swipe left. “Hmm, maybe … naw.” Another swipe left. “Oh, you could be fun.” Swipe right.
My phone dings. It helps I keep the profile picture of myself right after an intense workout session.
Looks like I’ve got my day planned out. Head to the gym for work, after work stay for a workout session, hit up my late afternoon class, and end the day forgetting my past life with another face from the crowd. Hey, it’s worked so far.