Ch. 8 - Texting

A/N:- Quick note for this chapter – Veronica's will be preceded with one hyphen ( - ), while Jamie's messages will be preceded with three (- - - ).

 * * *

We had missed the last of the performance by the time we got back to Noir's, but Jamie still had the chance to complete his agreement with Owen, which put a smile on his somewhat troubled face, and then, after talking until closing just as did on previous meetings, we made our way home with Jamie insisting, as usual, to take the cab as he felt was already late enough and didn't want to bother me with the extra ride to his place.

I let out a deep exhale after locking my front door and pulled my phone from my pocket. As close as Jamie and I seemed to be drawing, he still eluded a sense of mystery which I, very uncharacteristically, ignored, no matter how much it nagged at me. Maybe it was as simple as me just enjoying hanging out with someone during my evenings at Noir's, or maybe it was because, despite my prior nonchalance at the whole idea of love, I was falling, hard and fast.

     - I'm home.

I messaged as I promised I would and then went to get ready for bed.

There was already a reply by the time I was finished. Jamie apologised if he had seemed off, explaining that he had been getting cold and tired, and promised to make it up to me when we met again, which was supposed to be in the next few days although nothing had been set yet.

      - Make it up how?

      - - - Wouldn't you like to know?

I'm very sure we don't have the same idea, I mused recalling his shy, cautious kiss.

      - Goodnight, Jamie.

      - - - Goodnight.

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A good morning message awaited me in the morning and by mid-day I found myself jumping to check my phone at each beep or buzz.

"Who's the guy?" Kimmie asked as she rolled her chair over to my desk.

"What guy?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

Kimmie leaned over to peer at my phone. "You've been messaging all morning."

"No, I haven't."

"Yes, you have."

"No, I haven't," I repeated. "He's been in class most of the day so I know you're exaggerating."

Kimmie let out a high gasp and pressed her hand against her mouth. "It's that Uni student you told me about, isn't it? When did this happen?" she said, giving a general gesture towards me which I couldn't exactly make out the meaning of.

"Nothing happened. We just swapped numbers."

Kimie pushed her lips in a sideways pout and made a low 'hmm'. "You've had my number for over three years and I have to wait, on minimum, an hour before I ever get a reply from you when I text."

That was true. I wasn't big on checking messages or replying to messages and the thing I hated most was getting caught in a text-based conversation.

"You've got it wrong. It's a coincidence that I just happen to have a message every time I check my phone," I said, trying my best to throw her off her line of thought.

"I think the coincidence is that your phone is on your desk and the notification sound is up. I've never seen you do that before either."

Correct again, I thought but gave a small shake of my head in denial.

Simultaneously our eyes darted to my phone which gave three notifications in a row.

"Pfft," I said and looked back up at my screen before typing a few words that I wasn't even sure concluded the thought that I had started before being interrupted. "Hey," I directed to Kimmie who was still watching me. "Let's hurry up and finish this so we can go for a coffee."

Kimmie let out another 'hmm' and gave a sharp signal with her fingers towards her eyes and then back at me before sliding back to her desk.

This is fine, I told myself, after defeating the urge to check the messages. We're just talking, I don't need to inform people every time I talk to a guy.

After all, that was all that we were doing.

We did share two small kisses the night before, and he did hold me for a good fifteen minutes in the rain, but nothing at all happened after that, and nothing further was said about the status of our relationship. Although he had confirmed, or at least suggested that he liked me and would maybe want to become more than just friends, but, despite my heart's overly zealous palpitations whenever I thought about him, he was pretty difficult to work out.

I was used to guys who knew what they wanted and didn't hold back from trying to get it. That was mostly what I didn't like about guys, how they were always so quick in wanting to move to the next stage before I was even sure if I wanted to move ahead at all. So it was my luck that the first guy I did want to move ahead with was more on the cautious or just plain slow side than me. But then, as much as it was frustrating, it was so powerfully endearing.

Jay was just as curious as Kimmie had been, the next evening when I still couldn't put my phone away even though I usually complained about how long Jay spent on his.

"Anyone interesting?" he asked, flicking his eyebrows towards my phone.

"Just a friend," I answered nonchalantly.

It was too early to bother telling Jay about him, especially as I knew there would be a barrage of questions waiting for me.

"Which friend?" Jay asked. "Anyone I know?"

"I doubt it," I said, once again fighting the urge to pick up my phone as more messages came through.

"Maybe you should invite them round sometime," he said, giving me the look he gave when he thought he had caught me out on something that I was trying to hide from him.

Who knew that holding a secret conversation via text would be so engrossing to the people around me? I thought, Or is it that my usual life is just so boring that any kind of new activity is newsworthy?

"Well, you might meet him soon, we'll see," I said, knowing I was baiting a ton of questions, so before Jay could start I rose from my seat and bid him good night.

"Wait! Him?" he called as I walked out. "Come on, V. Who is he?"

"Don't stay up too late," I called back and rushed up the stairs heading straight to the bathroom to prepare myself for bed, as well as hide out from any attempts of further investigation.

Jay didn't bother to follow me, so I was safe to get into bed and get back to my now favourite app.

      - Sorry about that. I was just getting ready for bed. You ok?

I didn't wait long before a reply came.

       - - - You're going to bed already?

      - Yeah, I'm really tired.

      - - - But it's like 9 o'clock. You're joking, aren't you?

Gosh, I wish I was, I thought.

I was worn out even though work hadn't even been very taxing, but I had stayed up pretty late the night before texting with Jamie about anything and everything which was probably why he thought I was joking with him.

I held my phone up, turned the camera on and took a quick shot. I was dressed decently enough in a peach satin pyjama top and shorts set, and my hair was neat so I clicked send before I could give myself a chance to overthink it.

That earned me three shocked, blushing emojis and three grinning emojis from Jamie along with the message 'Cute AsF'.

      - AsF?

      - - - LOL ... Why don't you know any of these acronyms?

      - - - You do understand LOL, don't you?

      - Yeah, I know what lol is

      - - - AsF = As F (Yeah, the F word but I don't really wanna write it)

Oh, right. That makes sense, I thought and gave myself an imaginary facepalm for not picking up on it.

      - - - You realise you didn't use the disappearing photo setting

I immediately flinched and wondered why I was in such a hurry to send it without clicking that setting. Also, why on that particular photo out of all the ones I'd sent? I pressed down and held the image to highlight it.

      - - - Wait

      - - - Don't delete it, please

      - - - Can I keep it?

I paused.

      - - - I won't show anyone. Promise

What would be the harm? It's not indecent or anything.

      - Ok

Another three grinning emojis.

There was a short silence while I silently thanked God that I wasn't wearing anything skimpier and then another message came. It was a photo of Jamie, sitting in his room, topless. His hair was combed messier over one side of his head as if he'd just run his fingers through it a moment before taking the picture. He really is so God damn gorgeous, I thought before typing.

      - Cute 

I texted, playing down what I was actually feeling as I looked at his photo.

      - - - Cute? What happened to 'hot guy'?

Great, a reference from that first time we met, does he not forget anything I say?

      - I thought you didn't like it when girls compliment you

I said in reference to what he had told me previously. I guess we both pay attention when the other talks, I smiled to myself.

      - - - I hate it like girls compliment me 

Exactly!

      - - - I love it when YOU compliment me

Subconsciously, I pulled the phone into my chest and squeezed it, and I swear I even let out a squeal. I still couldn't fathom what it was about Jamie that was drawing me in so deeply and sweetly, except that no one had ever made me feel so giddy and warm inside.

I pulled the phone back to look at the screen, three minutes had passed and he was still online. Is he waiting for a reply?

'Noted,' I typed and then swiped the photo to the right so I could type a reply to it;

      - Hot AsF

A good chance to make use of the lingo that I'd just learnt.

Three more grinning emojis.

      - - - Should I leave you to get some rest?

NO, I screamed internally, but in reality, I was already tired and the next day was set to be a long one, with the party in the evening so I gave a short 'I you don't mind.'

      - - - I wish I could be there to give you a goodnight kiss

And there went my plan of getting a good night's rest because there was no way I would be able to sleep with those last words ringing in my mind.

      - You'll have to save it for when we meet again

      - - - I'll owe you a few by then { winking emoji }

      - Looking forward to receiving them { blushing emoji }

I dropped the phone onto my bedside table and grabbed my pillow, pulling it tightly to my chest as I shuffled under the covers.

Again, I'm sure I let out a squeal.

And just as I suspected, sleep evaded me, warded off by the loud, violent beating of my heart every time I closed my eyes and instead of silent peace, I was bombarded with images of Jamie, his oh-so-sweet voice, and the even sweeter words that he said to me.