Ch 13 - No Prayer

So I'm up on the fence
And I'm still not convinced
Can't decide which side looks greener
So I just stay where I am
Remain indifferent
What happens, what's happened
It's easier

“No Prayer” - Bright Eyes

I sat in the leather chair, drumming my fingers on the arm impatiently. I was in a bad mood and not in the frame of mind for therapy, but I knew it wasn’t optional. So I begrudgingly showed up, albeit a few minutes late, and sat here in complete silence as Dr. Nelson stared at me.

We’d been sitting here for at least 10 minutes, neither of us speaking. I didn’t know what his problem was, why he was watching me so intently. Perhaps he sensed my mood, or maybe he was just playing some twisted game where he was trying to crack me by making me break the silence. But I had news for him—that wasn’t happening.

He was irritating me, pissing me off even more, but at least he wasn’t writing. I think him scribbling on that legal pad of his would’ve caused me to explode. I still couldn’t figure out what he’d written down all those times… it seemed like the more I talked, the less notes he took. Maybe my theory of his writing having nothing to do with me held some weight, after all.

We stared each other down a few minutes longer before he abruptly broke the silence. His voice was sharp and to the point.

“Do you know what happened to Tyler Crowley?”

I scoffed. His question caught me off guard but I kept myself composed, showing no signs of alarm.

After a moment of no answer from me, he spoke again. “You must at least have a theory of what happened.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a theory.”

“Okay, share it with me.”

I smiled mischievously. “Vampires? Werewolves?”

He huffed loudly, shaking his head. He picked up his pen and started writing. I chuckled at his reaction. He thought I was being sarcastic, which I had been counting on. Unfortunately, though, I wasn’t being snarky. That really was my theory.

“So if you don’t want to talk about Tyler, let’s go back to the accident. Do you have any theories on how you survived?”

I nodded, unable to stop the smirk. “I’m betting it was the Vampires or the Werewolves again.”

He dropped his pen, narrowing his eyes at me. He shut off the timer, gazing at me for another moment, before turning away.

“I can see we’re not going to get anywhere today so you’re free to go. We will be making this session up later in the week, however. I’ll be in touch.”

I shrugged and got up. I knew it was wrong of me and realized he likely viewed me as being non-compliant and I could get into trouble for that, but technically I told him the truth both times.

I headed home to change my clothes, needing to go for a run. I had some aggression and frustration I needed to let out. I pulled on a pair of blue shorts and a white sports bra. I threw a white wife beater overtop of it. I located my IPOD in the bedroom and put the ear buds in my ear before heading down the stairs and outside.

I stretched quickly and started off with a jog, listening to Fall Out Boy. I increased my pace after awhile before eventually pushing myself as hard as I could. I decreased my pace to a jog after awhile before finally slowing to a walk. I turned, deciding to take the scenic route through the park on the walk home.

When I made it back to my building, I grabbed my mail before heading upstairs to my apartment. As I started to unlock the door, I heard my phone ring. I slipped inside quickly, going straight to the bedroom where it was and picking it up.

Caller ID Unknown

It had been a week since they last called… it was the day I’d slept through it and didn’t answer. That was the first time I hadn’t answered their call, and imagined they likely thought it was intentional since it just happened to coincide with their text message.

I hesitated, part of me afraid to answer. I knew voice mail would be picking up soon and if I didn’t answer this time they’d possibly give up. Curiosity quickly won out and I flipped the phone open.

“Hello,” I said. There was complete silence on the line again. I chuckled at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“It’s been awhile since you’ve called. I told you last time that you’d eventually have to either speak or stop calling… I figured you’d made your choice but I guess you’re still being indecisive.”

They said nothing, so I started spouting off randomness. I figured there was possibly a chance that they’d eventually slip up and say something. At some point, something I said would have to spark a response.

I told them about the run I’d just gone on and named all the random songs I could recall listening to. I talked about food again while I fixed myself a sandwich. I talked about the weather again, and TV shows, and even colors.

The fact that the situation was bizarre didn’t escape me, but curiosity caused me to keep it up.

After a while I started yawning and ran out of obscure things to speak about.

“You know, I would’ve texted you back last week if I could’ve… but obviously your number is blocked so it wasn’t possible. I’m not going to lie; it freaked me out a bit when you called me Bella. But anyway, there’s only so much I can say that doesn’t require a response to keep the conversation going, so I’m going to just hang up now. Take care.”

I hung up and slipped my clothes off, heading for the shower. My muscles ached a bit from my run so I let the hot water soothe my body and loosen me up. When the water started chilling, I shut it off and wrapped a towel around my body. I brushed my hair and headed into the bedroom for some pajamas. While I was slipping my shirt on, my phone beeped. I picked it up, flipping it open to find a text message.

From: Caller ID Unknown
Message: 360-640-0184

I finished putting clothes on and flopped down on the bed with my phone. I plugged the number in my address book, saving it. Right off the bat I knew it was a cell phone number from the Port Angeles area, most likely Forks.

I typed out a text quickly: So you were listening again.

My phone beeped almost instantly. Yes. I always do.

That’s nice to know, I responded with immediately.

Is it? Doesn’t it freak you out?

I thought briefly about their question.

A little, but I’m more curious than frightened by it. I typed after a moment.

What are you curious about?

Everything. Who you are, why you’re calling, what you want.

Those are all very good questions. They answered with after a moment.

Are you going to answer them for me?

What do you think?

I laughed. I’d say it’s unlikely.

You’d be correct.

I’ll figure it out eventually, you know, I typed. And I meant it… I was bound and determined to figure out their identity, especially now.

I don’t doubt it. Doesn’t mean I’m simply going to give you the answers, though.

I started to type a message when the phone beeped again with another incoming message.

And don’t bother googling the number, you won’t get anything from it.

I sighed. We’ll see, I typed. I yawned and closed my eyes, exhaustion taking over. I drifted off to sleep quickly.