Inseparable

Sandy took a deep breath and thought for a minute.

“What I’d probably do is call him once. If I didn’t get a hold of him then I’d just treat him like a UFO. I experienced something. Not sure what it was. But I was probed and I’ll say no more about it.”

I couldn’t help laughing, elbowing Sandy playfully in the ribs as we continued to walk toward the mall exit.

“Very funny.”

“I was probed and I liked it.” Sandy laughed. I tried not to but I giggled, too.

When I finally got home I had the house to myself. My parents were both at work until five and it was only two o’clock now.

I took the tiny piece of paper that had Lucas’s number on it and pulled out my cell phone. Then I proceeded to pace around the house. I went to my room and flopped down on my bed. The springs squeaked a familiar tune that I had been hearing for the past eight years at least. I looked around at the place that had been my refuge my whole life.

I'd be living in the dorm at Columbia. My new home would be half a room with a stranger in the other half. Suddenly I felt like I wanted to cry.

There wouldn’t be any Saturday morning coffees with my parents. Sandy was waiting for her soldier boyfriend to come back from the Philippines this coming January and then they were getting married.

Everything was changing.

“That’s right. Just like that night you let yourself just enjoy life. This is no different. If he doesn’t want to talk to you. You’ll be leaving in a few more weeks and will never see him again.” I comforted myself. “Besides, who is he going to tell? If you hadn’t heard by now the chances are no one.”

I took a deep breath, dialed the number then hit end call. I walked to the kitchen for a glass of milk. Still carrying my phone and Lucas’s number I dialed once more but hit end call when I realized I didn’t know what I was going to say. I drank my milk on the way to the bathroom. I pushed my hair back and quickly rehearsed my lines.

“Hi, Lucas. It’s Tilly. Remember me?”

“Hi, Lucas, It’s Tilly. How are you?

“Hi, Lucas. Sorry to hear your arms got chopped off so you couldn’t dial my number.

"Lucas, the phone works both ways. Believe it or not, you can call me, too."

“Hi, Lucas. I was just calling up to see if you needed any help yet cleaning your house. I’m not offering to help I’m just inquiring if you need help.”

I snapped my fingers. Biting sarcasm was always my language of choice.

I dialed the phone and hit the little green button.

“Brine Residence.” An older sounding lady too old to be Jenna answered the phone.

“Hello. My I speak to Lucas please?”

“May I ask whose calling?

“Tilly Grant.” I let out a deep breath. At least I wouldn’t have to say “Tilly. Tilly Grant. Telula Grant from school. The one you had sex with in your dad’s Bentley the other night.

“I should hang up. If he wants to talk to me he’ll call back thinking we got disconnected. Maybe I should do that. It’s a perfect plan that would save me a lot of embarrassment and I could…”

“Hi, Tilly.” His voice sounded serious. All business.

“Hi, Lucas.” I swallowed hard. “I was just calling to see if you survived your party.”

“I did.” He sighed. “The cleanup cost me a lot more than usual. But the house looks pretty good now.”

“Well, I’m glad.” This was not going well. It was like calling a friend right after their spouse died in a freak chainsaw accident or some relative you know hates you but keeps you on the phone none the less just to hear you squirm.

He didn’t say anything more.

“I guess I’ll let you go. I didn’t mean to bother you.”