Page 9 of Count On Me

Me

Jordan… Well, enjoy. I’m sure he’ll be a lot more fun than me.

Jordan’s been trying to lure him away from me since he came here. He’s told me about the parties, the girls, the drinking. Obviously he was bored here and I was too stupid to see it. With that realisation, the breath leaves my lungs in a whoosh and I crumble onto the bed, my legs dangling off the side, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. I’m an idiot.

Jaxy

Eddie… it’s not like that. I just needed somewhere to stay.

Me

You had somewhere to stay. You chose somewhere else.

Jaxy

What can I do to make it up to you?

Love me.Want me as more than a friend.

I throw my phone down on the bed and open up my laptop, sending an SOS email to Angie instead of a reply text to Jaxson. Her phone’s probably on do not disturb mode, but I tell her to get her arse here as soon as possible anyway.

My phone dings three more times with texts, but I refuse to look at them. There’s nothing he can say that will take away the humiliation that’s making my cheeks flame and tears fall from my eyes. He wanted to get away from me so badly he moved out the very next day. Whilst I was planning to tell him how I felt and was gearing myself up for us finally being together, he was packing his stuff up and running to God knows where. Anywhere to get away from his delusional friend.

I bury my head in the pillow. The same pillow I sighed into last night whilst picturing our happily ever after. I’m such a fucking idiot!

A rap on the bedroom door knocks me out of my pit of despair. Before I can even ask who it is, Angie bursts into my room laden with junk food and a face full of concern. “What happened? Did you tell him? Does he want to stay friends? Edie, talk to me!”

I stare at her blankly, her barrage of questions hitting me one after the other, stinging even more as I think of how to answer her. She shoves the junk food on the little desk in the corner of my room and flops on the bed next to me, making me bounce as she drops onto the mattress.

“He moved out.” My voice is flat, emotionless. Resigned to the truth of the situation.

I cover my ears as she screeches, “What do you mean? He moved out because you told him how you feel? I’m going to fucking kill him. Where did he move to?”

Even though I feel like shit, I have to laugh at her misunderstanding and overly protective instincts.

“I didn’t get the chance to tell him anything. He was already gone when I got home. Moved out this morning whilst I was at the library.” I throw my phone at her as I peel myself from the comfort of my bed. “I’m going to the bathroom.” I walk out slowly, leaving her to read the offending texts for herself.

As I enter the bedroom again, she’s looking decidedly calmer. And guiltier too. I know that look.

“What did you do?”

She shakes her head, her blonde hair falling around her perfectly symmetrical heart-shaped face, but her blue eyes go wider than I’ve ever seen them.

My phone dings in her hand and I snatch it back before she can read what it says.

There are several new texts between me and Jaxson. A conversation I didn’t have, but is clearly in our text message thread. “Angie. You messaged him pretending to be me? What the fuck?” I shout at her and wince when I hear my mum shout up the stairs at me to stop swearing. I really need to move out once uni is done with. Rolling my eyes and shutting my bedroom door, I whisper-shout at her, “What the fuck did you do? And why the fuck did you do it?”

She stands up and faces me, planting her hands firmly on her hips. “You two need to talk. I’m fed up with you both skirting around the issues. I just gave you a kick up the arse. Look at his reply. I’m going to make a cup of tea.” She stomps out of the room and I frown at the door long after she's gone.

Bringing up the text thread, I read what Jaxson wrote and her responses.

Jaxy

Please don’t ignore me, babe. I can’t cope with you ignoring me.

Jaxy

Remember the last time you ignored me? I fell out of the tree and broke my arm.

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