Chapter 19 – The Man Who Sold The World

 

 

            Emily and I were left standing silently in the living room. Her eyebrows were scrunched up and her face was cold.

            “Emily?! What was that all about?”

            She turned around and started to walk back to her room. “Nothing. It was in the past.” I watched her turn a corner and disappear and heard her door slam in a distance.

            The week went by slow; I had a final almost everyday. Emily was reluctant to tell me what happened with her and Amber, so I had to call her soon. I miss Paul’s touch, the smell of his cologne and the sound of his voice. Even though we talked on the phone everyday, it wasn’t the same. Graduation is in 2 days and I’ve been stressing out like a mad woman.

            “What time are ceremonies on Sunday?” Emily asked me while getting a drink from the fridge.

            “Um, I think around two-ish? I’m not sure.”

            “Ok...good.”

            “Why, what’s up?”

            “Oh nothing…I can just tell P—I can clear my schedule...”

            I cocked an eyebrow at Emily and let out a sigh while getting up. “Ok, whatever you say. I gotta go pick up my gown, do you want to come?”

            “Nah, I’m gonna take a shower.”

            Without even replying, I headed out of the door. My cell phone started to ring when I got into the elevator.

            “Hello?” I said.

            “Hey Hailey, it’s Amber!”

            “Heyy man, what’s up?”

            “Oh nothing, what are you doing today?”

            “Well right now I’m going to pick up my graduation gown…you?”

            “Nothing...”
            “Do you wanna come with me? I’m going to the university”

            “Yeah sure,” she paused, “I’ll be there at 2:30”

            I looked at my watch; 2:30 was in 10 minutes. “Yeah, I should be there at that time…meet me at the admissions building. Ok?”

            “K, see ya!”

            “Byer”. This was going to be fun; I could finally ask Amber what was up with her and Emily.

When I got to the university, I found Amber almost instantly. We headed off to the main building, which is about a 5-minute walk.

“So umm…what’s up with you and Emily?”

“Oh…I knew you were going to ask that.”

“So, what’s up?”

“Well...stuff happened in the past.” She started to walk much slower.

“Like?”

“Stuff with me and Benji.”

“Shit…” I replied. I know how sensitive Emily is about Benji.   

“Well…I had heard they were going to play a show in Pittsburgh, so I decided to go to the show with a couple of friends. I was floating around the venue after the show, when Benji came up to me…he was acting all crazy—screaming my name to see if it was me. It was really funny…”

“So what happened?” I asked.

“Well, we started talking—because we hadn’t seen each other in a couple months. And…we kinda started to relive the past.”

            “Relive the past?”

            “Yeah…we were kinda together before he left for New York.”

             “Ha!!! I always knew something was happening between you two!! You always denied it…sneak!” We started laughing.

            “Well yeah…anyway, we were talking outside alone and he was starting to flirt with me. He didn’t tell me he had a girlfriend, so I flirted back. And well we started kissing…for a long time.”

            “Wow…” I could tell my face had a little bit of a surprised look on it.

            “No…it wasn’t like that...it wasn’t like I was some random groupie, ya know?”

            “Yeah, trust me…I know.”

            “So we’re ‘doing our thing’ when this girl starts screaming at him…I thought she was a crazy fan at the time, but it turned out to be his girlfriend. She said some shit to me, like she wanted to kick my ass, but it never happened. Me and Benj didn’t talk after that, not even a goodbye.”

            “Wow…”
            “Stop saying that. So then I guess Emily never got over it or something and she’s still bitter about it.”

            “Wow...” I giggled at the look on Ambers face when I said that, “I’m sure everything will be fine.” I knew I was lying because Emily never forgets about things like that.  

            “Yeah...maybe…hey there’s the building.” Amber said.

            After I got my gown, I walked Amber to the train station and headed home to my apartment. When I got in the door, Emily was on the phone and quickly hung up in the middle of her sentence when she saw me. I didn’t even want to know who she was talking to, because she wasn’t going to tell me. I simply smiled, nodded and walked into my room. It was only 3:30, so Paul should able to talk. I lied on my bed and grabbed the cordless phone that was on my nightstand.

            “Hey there.”

            “Hey!!” Paul sounded happy.

            “So, how’s touring?”

            “Ehh, it’s ok. I miss you so much.”

            “I miss you too.” My heart ached for him; I loved him so much.

            “How are things going with graduation?”

            “Stressful…I can’t believe I’m graduating in 2 days.”

            “Yeah…you’ve earned it.”

            I let out a sigh, “So when are you coming back to New York?”

            “Don’t hate me but, we can’t get off on Sunday to come a day earlier, so I’m gonna have to miss your graduation.”

            “Oh……………………….well…”

            “I’m so sorry..”

            “No it’s cool, I understand. Work is work; at least you’ll be here the next day.”

            “Thanks for understanding, I love you.”

            “Love you too….” There was a knock at my door that interrupted me. “Paul, hold on.”

I opened the door and Maddie dragged me into the living room. “So!! How do you like it?”

“Like what?”

“The colors…we painted while you were out.”

“You did? But, I just came home and I didn’t notice and...”

“That’s because you’re oblivious Hailey.” Emily said.

“Well then, I like it a lot. Thank you Maddie.”

“No problem...now go finish talking to Paul.”

I walked back into my room, closing the door. “Wow that was weird…” Paul didn’t respond. “Paul? Hello?” His cell phone must have cut us off. I tried re-dialing, but it was busy so I gave up.

 

I woke up Sunday morning sad because Paul wasn’t going to be here. I slowly stumbled out of my room and made myself breakfast. I couldn’t believe this…in 3 hours I’m graduating college.

“Hey babes.” Emily said.

“Hey…how was your night?”

“Good...yours?”

“Restless…I’m so nervous.”

“Awww, you’ll be fine.”

“What’ wrong?” Maddie entered the conversation a little to late.

“Nothing, I’m just a little nervous about today.”

Maddie gave me a look like I had just said something ridiculous. “You’re silly. You’ll be fine. Now go get ready before you’re late!”

After I finished my breakfast, I took a shower and finished getting ready. Standing in my room, zipping up my graduation gown, I realized that this was everything I had been wanting and now its coming true. As much as I wanted it to happen, I wanted it to happen quickly; the sooner the day is over, the sooner I see Paul. And that’s all that mattered. I put on my cap and adjusted it in the mirror.

“Come on Hailey! You’re gonna be late!” Maddie screamed.

“I’m coming!” I gave my cap another quick adjustment, smiled and then walked into my living room.

“Wait…” Emily grabbed my arms; “I have a surprise for you.”

“Ok…” There was a knock at the door, “I’ll get that…”

I opened up the door and Paul was standing on the other side. My heart ached from the shock of him being here.
            “Surprise!!!” Emily and Maddie screamed simultaneously.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around Paul’s neck; avidly kissing him and crying tears of bliss.