Page 6 of Diverge

Chapter Three

Billie

Ughhhhh.I audibly groan as I roll out of bed and get ready for yet another day in what feels like prison. Slipping into the bathroom of my one-bedroom apartment, I look at myself in the mirror. My hair is knotty, dark bags under my eyes, and my lips are so chapped that no amount of ointment will fix it. Well, I guess that’s what you look like when you work forty hours a week and snore like someone is cutting off your air supply.

That would be nice.

Quickly throwing my hair up, I wash my face and brush my teeth, then slap on some makeup to make me look somewhat human and head to the kitchen for some much-needed caffeine. Taking my phone off the charger on the counter, I see I have several emails from work.

Surprise, surprise,and a text from a number I don’t have saved in my phone.

––––––––

Billie, I know youprobably never want to see or speak to me ever again, but please at least let me explain to you what happened. Let me try and make this right between us. I really don’t want to...

I stop reading as soon as I realise who this message is from. Sighing, I turn and make my way over to my tiny balcony overlooking the garden.At least the sun shines onto my balcony in the morning, and I can get some essential vitamin D. I look back over to my phone on the counter, fighting with myself over if I should read the rest of the message. I know I’m going to end up reading it, but at this current moment, I just need a second to myself to think.

Do I really want to hold on to all that past pain?

Could there possibly be a good reason as to why he left and never contacted me?

I can’t believe I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt after ten years of radio silence. Though a part of me wants to know, and a part of me desperately wants an explanation as to why he left and didn’t say anything.

Why did he at least not send a text or even an email? I just want closure for the ten years that he has occupied my thoughts and my heart.

Feeling the sunshine on my face, I soak up every minute I can of the sun’s rays and decide I’m going to hear him out. The least he can do is explain, and I don’t need to share anything, I can just listen. Closing the balcony door when I’m inside, I pick up my phone and continue reading.

Billie, I know you probably never want to see or speak to me ever again, but please at least let me explain to you what happened. Let me try and make this right between us. I really don’t want to impose on your life, but I need you to know my side of the story. I won’t stop trying to contact you because I need you to know. I need you to stop being so stubborn and talk to me.

There’s a twinge in my heart as I reminisce about all the good times we shared together with his sister as well. The days we spent riding his parents’ jet skis, camping outside in the mountains, and sharing basically every waking second together in school.

I squeeze my eyes shut as the memories all come flooding back in. Everything I had hoped to override or erase somehow.

How can you, when they were probably the most fun you had with your friends? ’Cause that’s what we were back then.

Friends.

Billie- Aged 18

“Are you sure you want to do this, Billie?” Finn’s hand cups my face. His eyes locked onto mine as he holds himself up on top of me while the rain patters against his tent.

“I’m sure.”

I place my lips on his, moving my hands from his bare chest to his broad shoulders. Deepening the kiss, his hand trails down from my face to my breast. I’m nervous because this is my first time, and I’m happy it’s with Finn. I trust him. I’ve known him for a long time, and I’ve had a crush on him since we were kids. Electricity courses through my skin as he squeezes my breast resulting in an escaped moan.

“You’re so beautiful, B,” he whispers into my ear, and I can’t think anymore.

The ability abandoned me as soon as his lips touched mine. He adjusts himself and slowly pushes himself inside me. It burns and aches, but the sensation is odd because it starts to feel... good... in a way.

“I’ll go slow,” he reassures me.

---