Seeking a Refuge (31)

The sound of the phone ringing early in the next evening wasn’t unexpected, though Stephanie still needed to think about what she should do. She walked in the living room slowly, picking up the receiver with trembling hands.1

“Hello?” she barely managed to say.2

“Hey,” Chris’s voice seemed relaxed and clear, though the girl could hear the agitation behind that calm façade. “I just thought about saying hi and maybe... Hmmm... Are you upset?”3

Stephanie answered promptly but unconvinced:4

“No, I’m not upset. But... I think I need a few days alone to clear my thoughts if you don’t mind.”5

“Oh. Sure,” Chris replied in a low tone that almost scared her. 6

“So... are you going to call me in a few days?” he asked.7

“Ok,” she promised before thinking. 8

Stephanie hung up with a sigh, turning round right on time to see Steve enter the room. 9

“Hi,” he said walking towards her with a small smile on his face. 10

“Hey,” she greeted him back, looking at her feet very carefully. “I... I kind of need to talk to you, Steve.” Her expression was motionless and almost cold. They sat next to each other and stayed silent, until she found enough strength to name the problem that had been haunting her mind for what seemed an eternity and even more. 11

“I have a little dilemma here... You know I’ve been talking to you about Chris recently. Well, the problem is... he’s in love with me.”12

“Ah.” He thought for a minute, then said, unruffled:13

“Well, I definitely can’t blame him.”14

“Steve, I... it would be fair if I admitted this to both you and myself. I think... I just might be in love with him as well.”15

“But don’t get me wrong,” Stephanie rushed to add, blushing, “I love you... I just... I’m sorry,” she moaned, crying.16

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” her boyfriend comforted her, putting a clumsy hand on her left shoulder. “This kind of things... It’s not something you choose. I’d say your feelings are the most important. Your honesty makes me proud that we’re lovers."17

The phone had been ringing for about ten minutes when Chris decided that if he wasn’t going to answer, his neighbors would eventually force him to. He still didn’t feel like it, though. Stephanie’s voice felt like an unexpected shower of mixed emotions flooding his numb brain. 18

“Hi,” he stuttered, “I thought one hour ago you said...”19

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, “I was confused. I... Well, how about getting together and talking it over some?”20

“That would be great,” the man answered, bemused. “How about...”21

“Can you come to my place, tomorrow at 6 p.m.? My address is 110 79TH PL SE” She clearly wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. 22

They had decided. Stephanie thought about it, analyzing every possible thing she was going to say the next day. Steve held her tight in his arms until the teenager fell asleep.23