Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

Fuck. I must’ve reached the message time limit.

I call again. The voicemail message sounds out again. I wait patiently for the beep.

I lean back in my chair, getting comfortable to talk to Helena. “Sorry, I’ve been told I talk a lot. Anyways, I was saying if you’d let me, I’d like to take you to an early dinner to apologize for being, well, stupid last night.” I sit up. “You know, I think I already feel so comfortable with you, because you’re Nat’s sister, and I love Nat. I mean, I know you don’t like me, but if you—”

Beep.

Motherfucker!

I quickly redial and cover my face with a hand as I cringe at myself. “The fuck am I doing?”

Beep.

I sigh into the phone. “You know what? Don’t worry about it. I…uh…I just realized I’m busy today anyways. So, um…yeah. Just…just don’t worry about it. Sorry for spilling pizza on you. If you need a new pair a pajamas, let me know and I’ll pay for ‘em. And sorry for making you cry.” I pause. “Never meant to hurt you, cupcake.”

The message still recording, I tap my phone against my temple then end the call.

Well, that wasn’t half-awkward.

I sink into my chair and wallow in self-pity.

***

Helena

Having just woken, I sit cross-legged on my bed in my spare set of pajamas, seeing as my favorite ones are still covered in tomato sauce. I listen to the three new voicemails.

“Um…Helena. Hi, it’s Max. Nik’s brother. The guy you found sleeping in your bed. The same guy who threw pizza at you last night. Anyways, I just wanted to see if you were free tonight. I mean, I know it’s Saturday and you’re probably going to the club tonight with the girls, but—”

I smile to myself then listen to the next message.

“Sorry, I’ve been told I talk a lot.” I chuckle and listen on. “Anyways, I was saying if you’d let me, I’d like to take you to an early dinner to apologize for being, well, stupid last night. You know, I think I already feel so comfortable with you, because you’re Nat’s sister, and I love Nat. I mean, I know you don’t like me, but if you—”

My face flushes bright red. Oh dear God. Nat told him I don’t like him? I’ll cut a bitch!

But he called anyways to apologize and ask you to dinner.

My brows rise as I ponder this. This is true. What do I do now?

Go out with him. Let him buy you dinner. Talk to him. Get to know him a little.

Yeah. I straighten on my bed. Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. My stomach flutters in excitement. I start to listen to the third message.

He sighs. “You know what? Don’t worry about it.” My face falls. My heart sinks. “I…uh…I just realized I’m busy today anyways. So, um…yeah. Just…just don’t worry about it. Sorry for spilling pizza on you. If you need a new pair a pajamas, let me know and I’ll pay for ‘em. And sorry for making you cry.” A slight pause, then a quiet, “Never meant to hurt you, cupcake.”

A sudden rush of anger flows through me. I delete the messages. “Fuck him.”

He’s right. I am going to the club tonight. My determination steeled, I get out of bed and head for the shower. I am going to the club, and I’m not coming home alone.

Chapter Eight

Max

I can’t shake it, this feeling I have just sitting like a rock in the pit of my stomach.

Why did I do that?

Stepping out of the shower, I wipe down my body and stand in front of the fogged mirror. I use my hand to wipe at it to look at my reflection. Yep, that’s me. I mean, it looks like me, but I don’t feel like me. Not today. In sixteen hours, I’ve thrown pizza at a girl, a girl that doesn’t even like me, asked her out, and then cancelled. I’m normally a confident guy. What is it about this broad that’s fucking with me? I’m sure there are people who don’t like me. I know how I can get. Sometimes, I’m not very likeable. But I always try. Always.