Page 38 of Girl Like Me

“It’s not my birthday. It’s shopping day for Formal. We have accessories to buy.” Clarissa chides.

Oh god, I had forgotten about the formal. I don’t even know if I have a dress to wear. Surely Bristol had something that was over the top.

“Okay, I’ll be ready in an hour. I have a feeling I’ll need a new dress and I’m inviting Chloe to join us.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll be there in an hour.”

She hangs up the call and I reluctantly sit up, flicking off a text to Chloe asking if she wants to come and she texts back instantly that she’s on her way. So I’m guessing Chev is being his wonderful self again today.

Getting up, I head to the ensuite and put my phone on the bluetooth speaker and blast my Maximus playlist. I always think of him when I listen to it and I think it’s linked to what he’s listening to. Somehow he knows when I open the app and he plays songs just for me. He has me signed into his account and said that if I skip a song he’ll know I’m there. So I do just that before I start to get undressed. A song that I’ve never heard before starts playing and it’s different from what is normally on there. I walk over to my phone and see it’s a song called “I miss you.” by Incubus.

I smile and go back to running the shower and jump in while I listen to the lyrics. As I wash my hair the song changes and it’s another song about missing someone. I wash as fast as I can and decide to call him while I get dressed, even if he can’t talk to me he can still listen.

I wrap myself in a huge fluffy white towel and hit face time. His incredibly handsome face fills the screen and he smiles. I love his smile, it takes over his entire face. His curls are unruly this morning.

“Good morning. I thought I would call and talk while I get ready because I miss you too.”

“You’re beautiful,” he says in a whisper. Most of the time when he speaks to me it’s in whispered tones but I’ll never force the words from him, just cherish the ones I do get. I don’t want him to feel pressured or embarrassed, I’m just honored he trusts me enough to talk to me.

“Thank you, I have to go Formal shopping today, I forgot all about it. Have you guys sorted out your tuxedos for yours?”

“Not going.”

“What do you mean you’re not going? You guys have worked your asses off and should get all dressed up.”

I put the phone up on a small shelf on my wall so he can only see my face while I get dressed. The weather is cooler now and I throw on a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a cute blue top. I have a cute knitted jumper to wear when I leave the house.

“We have other plans,” he says and damn him because he knows I won’t push him to talk more than he wants to.

“You know I’m going to call Rocky. He’s the weakest link and will spill his guts.”

Maximus nods but points behind me. I turn and see Chloe standing in the doorway, she gives me a slight smile and waves to Maximus. I turn back to him but can see he has completely shut down and won’t speak to me in front of her.

“I’ll text you later. I love you.”

He smiles shyly and nods. I end the call and within seconds my phone buzzes with an incoming text.

Maximus:I love you too.

I turn back to Chloe.

“You’re here, thanks for coming. I like Clarissa and all but she’s a lot to handle.”

Chloe looks at the ground and fiddles with her fingers as her face flames a bright shade of red.

“Hey what’s up? Are you okay?”

She looks up at me through her big thick glasses and tears lace her eyes. I sit on the bed and pat the spot beside me. She reluctantly walks over and plops down next to me.

“Do you promise that you’re my friend?” I turn to face her and take her hands in mine.

“I know I was an asshole to you before my accident but I can promise you that besides the guys, you’re my only true friend.”

“Not even Clarissa?” She questions.

“Nope, not even her. We are friendly because I feel like that’s how we used to be but friends no.” I explain as I shake my head.

She looks up at me, taking off her glasses and wipes her eyes before putting them back on.

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