“Okay great, see you in a bit!” He hung up and she walked the short distance back to school, the pressure constricting her chest, momentarily eased.
***
That afternoon, her phone chirped with a text message.
Unknown number: We need to talk.
Well, that was a message no one wanted to receive. Like ever.
Maddy: Who dis? New phone.
Wow, she had completely forgotten the long ass time it took to type even the briefest of messages.
Unknown number: It’s the vampire lord.
Maddy stared at her screen. Had he just made a joke?
Maddy: I don’t believe you.
Unknown number: You’re gonna make this difficult, aren’t you?
Maddy: A little bit.
Unknown number: It’s Nate.
Maddy: Hi Nate! How is my fellow time-traveling pal?
Nate: Very low on patience and running lower by the second.
Maddy laughed softly as she imagined Nate’s grumpy face hunched over his phone. She couldn’t resist teasing him just a bit.
Maddy: Those frown lines are going to be permanently etched when you’re older.
Nate: Iamolder, Madison. That’s the problem.
Maddy: And this is your chance to strike pre-emptively so that your future self will reap the benefits.
Nate: Why am I feeling like this discussion is leading nowhere?
Maddy: Because you’re determined to be grouchy. I can feel your negative vibes all the way over here.
Nate:The situation calls for some negativity, don’t you think?
Maddy: Would you feel better if we met up and talked things out for a bit?
Nate: I don’t know. Is it going to be more talk about frown lines?
Maddy: I can’t promise it won’t be.
Nate: That’s what I’m afraid of.
Nate: But since it’s the lesser of two evils, I’m sending you my address.
Maddy: Woah, easy there.
Maddy: Is that a Netflix and chill kind of thing?
Nate: There is no Netflix.
