by Ally Nelson
She knitted her eyebrows together, trying to remember what his exact words were to her. Indeed, he had said to inform him once she got home safely. That obviously meant a text message on her part. But it had been 14 hours since the sending of that message and he was yet to reply.
Could it be that he was extremely busy and did not bother to read it? No, Blair knew for a fact that this wasn’t true as underneath the chat bubble of her message was that dreaded four lettered word.
Read.
He had opened the text almost immediately after it was sent, as indicated by the tiny notification changing from Delivered to Read. But after all this time, he had not so much as bothered to reply even with a single word.
Blair put her book away, deciding to stop reading for the night. Her mind was too much of a tangled mess from contemplating all the possible reasons why he had not replied her back. It was quite late now in the night time and she decided it would probably be best if she were to sleep it off. Maybe in the morning she would not obsess over it so much.
But even when she shut off all her lights and slid between the covers, she could not help but mull over it. She knew she was overthinking it to massive proportions but could it be that the kiss had freaked him out? And that is the reason why he was ignoring her?
The possibilities were endless, as she tried to come up with a reasonable conclusion. She tried to remember exactly who had initiated the kiss – but even she figured out that it was she who made the first move, she could not remember there having been any resistance on his part whatsoever.
So he had definably wanted to kiss her too but what did that mean for the two of them? Usually, when two people shared that, it meant the dissolution of the boundary of ‘just friends’. But what did it mean when it was shared between two people that were not exactly friends?
He was her doctor. Blair stopped herself from fantasizing about how nice it would be if they were to pursue something. Strange, yes but she got along with him so well. Better than she had with any other man in her life. And there was no hiding the fact that she was so attracted to him – even though they had quite an age difference, it only served to make him even more desirable to her. And now that she had a taste, she was not sure if she could go on without wanting more of it.
Blair groaned loudly and buried her head back in her pillow – indeed, this was going to be a long night.
Chapter 7
“Mom, you really didn’t have to do this,” Blair said sheepishly as the doorman opened the door for them.
“Oh stop it,” Melissa dismissed her daughter with a casual wave of the hand, “it’s my treat – your deserve it.”
Melissa Carter had treated her daughter out to dinner at one of the city’s best restaurant’s and while Blair had resisted it at first – not feeling in the mood to go out – eventually, her mother had won, as she often does. Blair had caved to her wishes and now the both of them were all gussied up and outside the doors of this place.
Melissa Carter puckered up her lips and walked up over the man at the entrance, “Reservations for the Carters,” she told him.
The man told them to wait for a few minutes and that their table would be ready in a moment. Blair groaned – it wasn’t as though she did not appreciate her mother’s sweet gesture towards her – she was touched that Melissa was so enthused about her acceptance, it was just that Blair was in no mood to go out and have any sort of social interactions at the moment.
Truth was, even though she should have been too overjoyed to even care about anything else, she was still hung up on something that happened a whole 48 hours ago.
That’s right. It had been forty eight hours since she had sent him that text. Yes, Blair had been pathetically keeping track of the time.
Blair had already exhausted the lists of possibilities in her head by going over them incessantly but the conclusion she came up with now was perhaps even far worse than what she could have conjured up before. Could it be possible that Blair was making the whole kiss thing into a bigger deal than it was?
Who was Blair to know? Perhaps he went around kissing patients on the daily! He certainly had the face for it and Blair barely knew the guy – who knew what he got into in his free time?
But even as she thought these things, she knew in her heart that she was being just plain ludicrous. He was a busy adult and did not need to go around texting her every second to validate his – feelings for her – did he even have any? Abruptly, Blair stopped her own train of thoughts before she could dig up herself an even bigger hole.
But then she was catapulted back to right back where she started, as she realized with look of horror strewn upon her face, the identity of the person who had just emptied up their table and was walking over.
Blair gulped loudly. Daniel was present at the same restaurant as them and apparently he was not alone. Because right by his side was a woman - traditionally pretty, probably in her early thirties but most importantly, she had her arms draped around Daniel.
Shit! Was he married?
Blair was had not even realized she was straight up gawking the two of them until her mother’s voice pulled her out of her reverie, “Blair, it’s rude to stare, my dear. Who are you even looking at?”
Blair snapped her head back to her mother and cleared her throat embarrassed, “I, um – no one. Can we – go inside? Quickly.” Blair’s word were coming out in a series of awkward phrases, she mentally cursed him for having that sort of effect on her.
Blair wanted to disappear off the surface of the planet, decimate into a puddle of nothing or simply just cease to exist. Because the last thing she wanted right now was to see him in this situation.
But her luck was rotten, as always, as realization struck her mother. “Oh, isn’t that your doctor? I recognize him from when I went to book your appointment. Oh, what a wonderful coincidence! Shall we go say?” Melissa asked her daughter in her usual tone brimming with glee.
“No – mom, I really don’t think that’s a good-“ but Melissa was off towards their direction before Blair could even get in another word edgewise.
After a moment of Blair just standing away from her, keeping her head down so she could avoid any eye contact with them and so basically pretend like she did not even know they were there, Blair eventually had to go join in as her mother called her over.
“We’re actually here to celebrate. Blair just got another acceptance – one of the top schools in the country!” her mother gushed, only just needing an excuse to boast about her daughters accomplishments.
“Oh! Is that right?” Daniel said, turning to Blair, who merely just shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, congratulations,” he added, when Blair showed no signs of articulating a reply.
“That really is an accomplishment,” the woman beside him spoke, addressing Blair for the first time.
Her mother nudged her discreetly in the ribs and Blair belted out a dry ‘thank you’ complete with a farcical flash of her teeth to the both of them. But then before they bid their goodbyes, Blair suddenly turned around and called out.
“Dr. Williams,” she said, emphasizing the word doctor, “may I speak to you for a moment? About the – reports.”
“Is everything okay?” Melissa asked her daughter, her eyes darting between the two of them.
“Yes, mother. Please – you go on and sit. I’ll be just a minute,” she said, keeping her voice composed.
Daniel shot her a searching look but none the less agreed to accompany her. Blair took him a corner and when she was sure she was out of earshot, she turned to him.
“You never told me you had a wife! What kind of person are you?” she whisper-yelled at him, her nostrils flaring and her eyes narrowed at him accusingly.
To her utter shock and then aggravation, Daniel just laughed at her fiery projectile of accusatory remarks, “Relax, Blair. She is not my wife.”
Blair backed up a little, feeling both relieved and stupid. “Oh, right..,” she mumbled, “who is she then?�
�� she inquired, looking up to meet his eyes.
Daniel chuckled yet again and Blair was beginning to find it very annoying how he found amusement in her miseries, “She’s only my date,” he said, briefly and to the point.
“Oh – your date, huh?’ Blair was struggling to keep her voice composed at this point.
“Yes,” he chuckled yet again but then his expression turned serious, “why do you seem so upset with me?” he inquired, giving her a swift once-over with his eyes.
She shook her head, “I’m not upset – I,” she bit down her lip and contemplated whether she should spill out the inner workings of her brain to him or not. In the end, she caved. “You never really replied to my text, I was just wonderin’.”
“Oh Blair,” Daniel said, suddenly sounding like as though he had been disappointed by those words, “You cannot possibly – I thought you knew better?” he said slowly and Blair felt his words like the weight of a rock; slowly crushing her.
When Blair did not reply, he spoke again, “How’s the tattoo?” flashing her another one of his signature grins.
Blair just gulped but it did not help to swallow down the burning sensation she felt at the base of her throat, “It’s fine. Hey, you know what? It’s fine, this. I need to go,” she said hurriedly and turned to her heel to scurry back to the table her mother was seated.
“Blair wait,” he called out after her and when she turned back, “That lipstick looks nice on you,” and then he winked, before walking away ahead of her.
And just like that, for the second time that night, Blair was left staring back at him with her mouth agape.
Chapter 8
Blair had never been the kind of girl who sits and mulls over about a boy - but right now, she was the exact antithesis of all she had stood for before. She desperately wanted to somehow shake it off her but the constant nagging feeling would not budge.
Telling Melissa about her anguish did not help. Listening to music did not help. Confiding in a journal did not help. Nothing worked and Blair was now past the point of redemption – so much so, that she felt like she should pull her hair out just to provide her with some momentary of her misery.
Blair’s eyes darted over to her cellphone and her hand reached over to grab it. Toying with the small metal square in her hands, her mind began to deliberate. It possibly wouldn’t be such a bad idea if she were to check up on him, just casually see what he is up to.
She decided against sending another text message, in fear of it going un-replied again and her fingers darted straight to the call option.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
“God, pick up you sweet bastard,” she cursed under her breath but was surprised when a voice from the other end answered those words.
“Well, that’s one way to say hello,” he was chuckling yet again. Blair felt her cheeks turn red.
“Oh shit – sorry I didn’t mean to-,” her explanation was cut off halfway abruptly.
“What do you want, Blair?” he inquired her, curtly.
Blair sighed, “I don’t really know,” she said honestly before adding, “What are you doing?”
“Work.”
“Do you want to maybe, hang out tonight?” she said in a tone where if she was in the 90’s right now, she would be twirling the end of the telephone line between her fingers.
There was a pause. “Oh Blair. I’m busy tonight,” he said, sounding apologetic.
“Got another date?” Blair did not mean to sound so bitter about it but she had the feeling she definitely came across that way.
“Yes,” he was laughing again, “and no. I actually have a charity fundraiser event to attend at the old cavalry ground this evening.”
“Right,” she said, slowly, “are you sure you can’t skip-“ but her sentence was interrupted because he decided to speak again.
“No, Blair. Listen, I need to go now. Take care, Blair.” And then the line cut off.
Blair removed the phone from her ears in half a state of disbelief. Take care?
In the grand list of things they would make about the things Blair was proud of in her life, this would definitely not make the cut. But yet, here she was dressed up in her nicest evening dress outside the Cavalry around.
“What are we doing here again?” It was James, who was similarly donned in a black suit and tie, but was looking increasingly confudled as he took in the expanse of his surroundings.
Blair suppressed a groan and turned over to look at him, “We’re here for a party,” she said sweetly while batting her eyelashes, hoping that the action would disarm him enough to stop probing.
James sniffed, “But it’s full of old people,” he said with an expression of displeasure.
“Come onnnn, James,” Blair droned in a singsong voice, “You’re my date so act like it, okay?”
Of all the phrases Blair thought she would say in her entire existence, referring to James as her date was not one of them. Yes, it was a purely pathetic last ditch effort and a serious 90’s teen romantic comedy type cliché but Blair did not care; she only wanted to see Daniel again and if this was the way, then so be it.
Blair was dressed extra fancy and she made a point to smear on some of that lipstick Daniel mentioned that he liked. It was going to go well.
“Put your arms around my waist,” she nudged sharply but her elbow and he complied in a second.
If Blair did not know James well enough, she would almost feel bad for employing him as essentially a tool in her contrived scheme to get Daniel’s attention but the fact was that she did. She knew his type exactly and also knew that he went around and used women left and right – so it was only fair that he was having it done to him for once, a twisted form of karmic intervention almost.
They walked into the venue with their arms interlaced. Blair’s eyes scoped out the horizon but she did not she who she was looking for. A few drinks and several complaints by James about how boring this party was he finally showed.
Blair had half a mind to tell him off for being so late but that went flying out the window when she saw him. He was donned in a navy blue tuxedo and had his hair combed back, gelled into place; Blair nearly wanted to drink him up on sight.
Indeed, he was with another woman but Blair noticed it was not the same person from the restaurant yesterday. Then, as if he had noticed her staring at him from the distance, Daniel’s head whirred towards her and then he was walking over right towards them.
Blair fidgeted and quickly turned to put both her arms around James. Leaning in close to his ear she said, “Quickly, hold me and pretend like you’re saying something romantic to me,” she instructed him in hushed urgency.
“Why would I do that-“ but his protest was quickly silenced as Blair jammed the front of her heel on his shoe – he steadily complied.
“Oh god, James, stop ittttt!” she giggled comically loud and playfully slapped him across the chest whilst still in his arms.
James gave back a small nervous laughter, “Huh, well.”
“Blair?” Daniel voice called out to her as he approached her, “What are you doing here?”
Blair briefly broke away from the embrace of James, “Daniel! Hey,” she greeted him cheerfully, “have you met James?” she said, pointing over to her companion.
Daniel raised his eyebrows, “James, is it?” he said, extending out ahead for him to shake.
“Yeah man,” he replied, “So when does this party start anyway? It’s a real snooze fest and frankly, I’m just thinking of taking my baby and ditching it all together,” he said, turning his face to Blair to flash her a gigantic grin.
Blair just giggled playfully and gave him a small push, “Be patient!”
Something changed in Daniel’s expression and then he was chuckling, much to Blair’s confusion.
“What’s funny?” she asked him bluntly, knitting her eyebrows together.
“Nothing,” he said between laughter, “I’ll see you around, Blair. Tak
e care of her James,” he said laughing again and then turned to walk away.
But Blair was not having any of it - she did not work this hard and come all the way over her, and most of all, tolerate James! – so he could just stand her up again. She hastily broke free from James’ grip on her hand and walked on after him.
Grabbing him roughly by the edge of his shoulder, she turned him to face her and he stopped walking.
“What do you want, Blair?” he asked her, folding out his arms in front of him impatiently.
Blair let of a huff of air she had been holding in, “Why do you keep walking away from me?” she asked.
“I thought our conversation was already over?”
“No,” Blair groaned, “you don’t let us have a decent conversation long enough to it to be even considered over!”
“Blair – why are you being this way? I thought we made things perfectly clear,” he said, looking over to her, “then why are you chasing me around?”
Blair felt like she was hit by a ton of bricks all at once, “I – where’s your date?” she asked, avoiding his question.
“She’s around.”
“Why are you so curt whenever I ask you about these things,” Blair replied, running a frustrated hand through her hair, “I mean, a few proper answers won’t kill you, you know.”
“They won’t,” Daniel replied, he was looking amused again, “you’re right. Come with me and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
He held out his hand for her and Blair took it oh-so eagerly. Together, they walked on over to the edge of the lawn where there were not a lot of people around.
“Now,” Daniel said, letting go of her hand and facing her directly, “what do you want to know, beautiful?”
“Okay, that. You can’t call me that if you’re going to go all stoic cold on me for days after,” Blair said frustrated, “And I don’t know - how come you’re here with a different girl than the one from yesterday?” she asked.
