Page 30 of Collide
Then, it dawns on me.
I’ve written a song.
About him. Alex.
For the first time, I’m inspired by something that happened to me.
And it feels euphoric.
This was the inspiration I’ve been searching for.
As I set the guitar down, my phone buzzes. It’s Riley calling.
“Hey,” I answer, fiddling with the piece of paper that holds the lyrics. My mind is still half lost in the song I just created.
“Babe, Pip was going crazy looking for you yesterday! Are you okay? Were you with someone?” she asks, playfully teasing. Under normal circumstances, I would laugh it off, but this time, things are different.
“Actually, yeah,” I murmur, a grin creeping across my face as I remember the night with Alex.
The scream Riley lets out on the other end of the phone is so loud, I almost drop it. I quickly pull the phone away from my ear to avoid permanent hearing damage.
“Bitch! Tell me everything!” she shouts, still in shock.
I burst out laughing, unable to contain the giddy feeling bubbling inside me. “Okay, calm down.”
I recount the incident to her slowly, almost as if savoring the memory. But as I speak, my excitement begins to dull, giving way to doubt. Without meaning to, I start downplaying everything that happened last night—and this morning.
Maybe it was just a kind stranger being polite after I had hurt myself.
But Riley isn’t having any of it. “No way, Elena. I can hear it in your voice. If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have given you his number!”
“Yeah.” The memory of Alex handing me that piece of paper makes me feel hopeful.
“You’re not imagining this. He’s into you. I mean, come on, a guy doesn’t act like that unless he’s interested,” Riley says, her voice firm. “I hoped that table would’ve knocked some sense into you. Babe, he made the first move. The ball’s in your court now. If you don’t go for it, I swear I’ll come over there and go for round two on the head-knocking.”
I laugh, the tension in my chest loosening just a little. “You really think so?”
“I know so. Trust me, Elena,” she encourages me, her tone softening. “Go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? If itdoesn’t work out, at least you’ll know you tried. But I’m telling you—he’s into you.”
I pause, letting her words sink in. Riley’s confidence in me gives me the boost I need.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” I agree, a little surer of myself.
“Hell, yeah, you will! Call me when you do.” Riley cackles. “And don’t forget, I’m rooting for you, so make me proud.”
I chuckle, feeling a little more lighthearted.
I can do this.
After the call with Riley, I find myself sitting on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, staring at Alex’s number. My heart beats faster the longer I look at it.
What am I doing?
I quickly glance at the lyrics to the song I wrote. I can’t believe I’m about to send a text to a guy who made my heart race with a few touches and a smile. Something I’ve never done before.
I start typing, my fingers hovering above the screen for a moment as if I’m trying to summon the right words. It’s so easy to overthink these things.
Hey Alex, it’s Elena. I hope you got home okay.
