Page 113 of Left on Base

What if she says yes?

My heart feels like it’s going to explode into pieces in my chest. The thought alone makes me sick.

How was your date??

That’s what I send. Casual. Like I’m not dying inside. Right?

You’re fucking losing it, Bro.

I flip my phone over on my chest. I don’t know if she’ll reply but my phone vibrates with a text soon after. The buzz against my sternum feels like a defibrillator.

I pick it up and see her name and the message.

Camdyn

Wait what?

How do yk abt that?

Ollie said you went out with Nathan

Oh

That’s all she says and the bubbles stop. I can’t leave it at that. The silence is worse than any answer.

So… how was it

Idkkk

Wdym by idk

She starts typing, then stops.

Again, and stops.

The three dots appear and disappear in Morse code of indecision. Just when I think she might reply, she doesn’t. Maybe she doesn’t want to tell me about it. I thought my question was better than the first. Maybe not.

I finally type out:

Hmmm

That she replies to.

You mad?

Nah

You’re such a fucking liar. And if she knows me, like I think she does, she knows I’m pissed. I’m so mad my heart’s pounding and I can barely hold my phone. I set it down on my chest again. I shouldn’t say more. But my curiosity gets the best of me and I pick it up.

I type again.

Did you fuck him?

Delete.

I want to know so fucking bad, but if she says yes I’ll probably send this phone through the window beside me. I glance at the window. The streetlights flashing in the bus seem to mock my indecision.

My phone buzzes again, but it’s not Camdyn. Inez pops up on my screen and my jaw clenches.

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