12 - Alone

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Lilli sent herself personal messages from her work account. She thought about pretending, but she figured at some point Zach would want to see her efforts to lure Rejectedwriter.

Rejectedwriter ignored her attempts. If it were another person trolling, Lilli would mute the account, but the situation was different. Ree needed to turn down Lilli's attempts to contact her or Zach would try. She didn't want to message with him.

Rejectedwriter had her social media, although her twitter account didn't have a lot of followers. Ainsley announced new chapters and sometimes readers contacted her to dissect a character or a scene. She also had a Tumblr account, but it was a holdover from her Twilight obsession and her fanfiction days. She would make occasional announcements, but had outgrown its purpose. Ainsley monitored both accounts for her. Lilli used Instagram and Snapchat for her real self, although lately, her life was too boring to bother with either.

On Friday, when Rejectedwriter had not responded, Zach encouraged her to try again. "Text, if you hear from her this weekend."

Lilli felt nauseous, as she said, "I need your number." Ann had her phone number right away, but she never bothered her during non-work hours. Lilli texted Ann once, but only because she was too sick to work. She went to work hungover, but not with a fever.

He smiled and handed her his iPhone. It wasn't two models behind like hers. She tapped in her number and sent herself a text.

Lilli felt like she held a bomb in her hand. Drunk texting can never happen. She would slap her wrist later to emphasize her warning.

"Lilli!"

Zach's voice caused her to jump. She looked up at him. "What? Sorry."

He shook his head slightly with an amused grin. "You'll text me if you hear from her."

"Yeah. Hey boss, be patient. Okay."

"Olay, but something about her feels special."

Lilli laughed. "She's a rejected writer. We both know how many are out there."

He nodded and frowned. Lilli learned long ago not to feel guilty about sending rejections.

He sighed. "Have a good weekend, Lill."

By late Saturday afternoon, Lilli published the last two chapters of her current story. Personally, she thought it was crap, but didn't care. She was trying to scare off a very nice literary agent.

Two weeks working for him and her infatuation had turning into something deeper. She was slowly getting to know him. The man was fair and kind to work for. He found her amusing, which scared her. She wasn't trying to be funny most of the time. It was her nerves causing her to say crazy things.

Lilli looked up from her iPad. "Ainse, I'm done with this stupid story."

"It's not stupid. People like it."

Lilli groaned. "I don't because I had to force half the chapters. I might do an edit, but my focus is on my promotion."

"If you don't get fired for doing the nasty with your boss..." Lilli jumped forward to protest. "In your story." Ainsley laughed. "You're so touchy. You need to celebrate. Come out with me tonight."

Lilli was in a rut and had been staying warm at home on weekends. "Oh alright, but I don't want to drink too much."

Ainsley said, "You're no fun."

"I know." Was she growing up or afraid she'd text Zach?

It was after eight when they left the apartment. They were meeting Nina, Ainsley's friend from work, and her friends at a bar in Cambridge. It was across the river on the red line. Some nights, the venue featured live bands, but the stage was empty with only a DJ playing music. They gathered around a table and ordered drinks. Lilli ordered a beer because it was cheaper, more filling, and didn't go down as easily as a sweet cocktail. Beer reminded her of sitting on the beach at night.

The music was loud, so it was hard to talk. The hockey game played on the screens around the room. There was an open space by the stage and Ainsley's friends got up to dance.

"Come on, Lill," Ainsley screamed in her ear.

They danced in a crowd for a few songs. Others joined them and soon guys were dancing too. Lilli turned from Ainsley, who was dancing with a cute guy. She looked around. There were couples everywhere. She was standing like a fool in a clump of bumping and grinding couples.

She slipped through the crowd and sat at the table. The music was good, as she glanced at the screen and tried to follow the puck. She didn't watch a lot of sports, but knew the basics of each. She missed her dad, who loved hockey. Maybe she should have tried to like it since he didn't have a son. In hockey, the players skated back and forth to score the puck before a player on the other team rammed them and caused the puck to go to the other team. Boston was ahead by one point.

Glancing around the room, she saw guys looking at her. She smiled at a few, but none were interested in her. Lilli was sure it was her height. Men like shorter women.

The game didn't hold her interest, and she had to buy a second drink. It was crazy because Ainsley would be drunk after only shelling out for one drink. Nights out were expensive for Lilli if she wanted to drink. Draft beer was more affordable.

She took out her phone. No messages. She could post something to Snapchat, but she was alone. Here's Lilli alone in a crowded room.

She opened up her Novelpost app. She knew she had a message. Rejectedwriter sent a succinct reply, 'not interested'. To think it took her a lot of internal debate to decide on her response.

Without thinking, she tapped on her phone.

🗨L: She replied, not interested

🗨Z: How can she not be interested?

🗨L: idk

🗨Z: It's Saturday night. What are you doing on Novelpost?

You'd be surprised how many Saturday nights I have spent on Novelpost.

🗨L: For my boss

🗨Z: Seriously? You should be out having fun.

🗨L: I am out.

🗨Z: Why are you texting me?

🗨L: I was bored.

🗨Z: Where are you?

🗨L: A bar

🗨Z: Why are you bored?

🗨L: Because everyone is dancing.

🗨Z: You don't like to dance

🗨L: I do, but no one is asking me.

🗨Z: You're joking.

🗨L: No. They never do.

🗨Z: I don't know where you are, but I don't know why guys aren't fighting over you.

Just throw salt on my wounds.

🗨L: My friends say I'm intimidating. You must be out?

Changing the subject, when she should end it.

🗨Z: I went out for dinner, but I'm home. Should I send her a message?

🗨L: Let me try again. Have you heard of patience?

🗨Z: I have a lot of patience. Believe me.

Lilli didn't know what to respond.

🗨Z: Where are you?

🗨L: In Cambridge, but I'm going to head home.

🗨Z: Alone. You should take an Uber, not the T.

Lilli smiled. He cared about her safety. She had no problems texting with him. Sure, her belly felt excited, but they only talked about work and her inability to attract men. He was probably just being nice.

Ainsley appeared smiling and damp with sweat.

"Where's your dance partner?"

"Getting me a drink." She smiled. "He's cute, but don't worry."

Lilli shook her head and smiled. "I'm not worried, but I'm gonna go."

Ainsley grabbed her arm. "Nooo! You can't. We come together. We go home together."

"Except I'm tired and bored."

Ainsley yelled over the loud music. "Stop intimidating all the men."

Lilli frowned. "I'm just sitting here. Obviously, I can't shrink. I thought men like legs. You know I have legs to spare."

Going out was more fun when it had been the three of them, but now Rhys had Terry. Things had changed since they first became roommates, and it wasn't just Terry. She and Ainsley had changed their focus to prioritize their careers. She frowned as she remembered the time they went to Club Café with Rhys. Seriously, she was asked to dance more at the gay club. Maybe only women liked her - women and older men.

It was true. Even when she was in high school, an older guy liked her. True, he was like twenty-four, but at seventeen it was old. The guy was on vacation at the beach and kept talking to her when he came for coffee. He asked her to walk on the beach with him, but she was too scared and said no. Then there was the father of the kids she babysat for in high school who made her uncomfortable.

She could write a novel about all the older guys who liked her, but she wasn't writing anymore. When she was younger, she thought she would be fine, because if older guys liked her, she would have an advantage when she was older herself. Only it never proved true. She had a string of one-night stands and no lasting relationships to prove it.

Ainsley's guy came back carrying a drink. He was cute, but about the same height as Lilli.

Ainsley shouted at him. "Got any friends to dance with my bestie?"

He shook his head. "My friends are douchebags."

Lilli knew where this was going, but all she could think about was texting with Zach. "Ainse, I'm going."

"Noooo!"

"Yup. It's midnight and I'm tired."

"Just a few minutes and I'll go with you."

She walked home from her subway alone in the dark after work, but it was different after midnight. Like Zach suggested, if she left on her own, she would have to pay an Uber. Maybe she should have asked him to come drive her home. No way in hell would she have done that. Jillian might, but Lilli knew the difference between fiction and the real world.

Damn, she was stuck waiting.

Ainsley's dance partner said, "I'll walk you to Central Station if you're going that way."

Ainsley sighed and checked him out over the drink she was sucking down. She was debating if she liked him. Lilli knew her simple rating system.

"What do you think, Ainse?"

Her face was serious. "One point five."

Great. Two meant he was good enough to kiss, but one indicated more than a kiss.

Ainsley sucked the last of her drink, making a noise loud enough to be heard over the music. She slammed the glass down.

"Let's go. Ready, cutie."

Lilli smiled. Ainsley didn't know his name. When they stepped out onto Mass Ave, it took a moment to adjust her eyes. The street lights were brighter than inside the bar. Even with the city noises, it was quieter and colder. Lilli was glad she wasn't sweaty.

"I'm Lilli. Thanks for walking us."

"Jeff."

Both girls giggled, but Ainsley looped her arm around his. "Ooh. Jeff."

When they stood outside the entrance of the subway station, Lilli hung back, curious to see if Jeff would make a move.

He asked, "Which way are you going?"

"Orange. Are you going back in there?" Ainsley pointed to the bar.

"I don't know, should I?"

Lilli smiled. It was like watching a mating ritual in an animal documentary. At least two males weren't fighting for Ainsley.

Ainsley asked, "Do you want to?"

"I could make sure two single girls get home safe."

Score one for Jeff.

Ainsley leaned in and whispered something Lilli couldn't hear. Whatever she said, it worked because he started kissing her. Lilli turned her head. She might write about kisses, but she didn't care to research them through observation. If Zach was interested in demonstrating, of course.

As they walked into the station, Ainsley held up one finger. Lilli checked her phone. No more messages from Zach.

Looked like one girl and the guy were scoring tonight. Lilli wasn't good at math, but it meant one was alone.

Poor Lilli. Please give her vote 🌟


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net