01 || Read Between the Signs || Chad Crawford

The phone rang and I raced to snatch it up, eyes wide with desperation.
"Hello?" I knew I sounded so hopeful that if it wasn't who I wanted it to be I would sound like a complete idiot.
"Dawn, it's Chad!" For the first time in the three days I'd been back, I felt like my blood was actually circulating.
"Oh, Chad, I'm so glad you called."
"You answered pretty quickly. It didn't even ring twice," he commented, and I could hear his smile and picture it in my head, which made me smile as well.
"Yeah well, I was right next to the phone," I said, even if he did know that I'd ran to pick it up.
"Right, because, that explains why you're out of breath."
"Exactly!" We laughed together, and I swear it was the best I'd felt since before Tor had called to deliver the news of death.
"So what did you do yesterday?" he asked after the moment of humor passed.
I didn't want to tell him that yesterday I'd gone to lunch with Steven, then back to his house to watch a couple movies with him and James. I knew that I should, but I just didn't want to.
"Nothing, just hung out here with Tor." The idea of lying to Chad was terrible. But actually really, physically doing it was horrifying. I wanted to take it back right then and tell him what I'd really done, but it was too late.
"Really? Because I called and Tor said you weren't there..." Busted. God, he sounded so confused that I wanted to kill myself right there in the kitchen.
I laughed nervously. "She did? Must have just been the mood she's in. She's been feeling pretty shitty lately. It probably made her sad that you called for me,since James is definitely not going to call for her any time soon."
"Oh, alright. Shit, I feel so sorry for her. It would suck to be in her position."
He was so sincere, so not-suspicious of my dishonesty. I kind of wished that I wasn't so good at lying so he would have caght me. Then I wouldn't have to live with the guilt of deceiving him.
"Yeah," I agreed, and was quick to get off the subject."I start work tomorrow. Guess where I got a job?"
"Hm, a strip club?"
"Oh of course. Where else would I even think of applying?" Hearing him laugh was amazing, but not enough to settle the lump that had formed in my throat. "No, I got a job at the cafe."
"Our cafe?"
"Yes, our cafe." I grinned and rolled my eyes.
"That's great," he said. "I'll have to stop by when I come to visit."
That simple fragment, 'when I come to visit' was enough to counter the stimulant of hearing his voice.
"Chad," I began awkwardly, "you arecoming visit me, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I love you; why wouldn't I want to see you?" I could not pinpoint the problem, but something bothered me about this whole ordeal.
"I hope so. I miss you a lot, you know."
"Dawn, it's only been three days. How do you plan on lasting the rest of the four months?"
I couldn't decide if he said that to avoid saying he misses me too, or if it was sheer curiosity.
"That's so sweet, that you miss me already."
"Don't you miss me?" You can imagine how pathetic that must have sounded.
"Duh," he said, with a hesitation afterwards for effect. "But hey, I've gotta go. Busy with band stuff, you know how it is."
"Oh. Okay." I tried not to seem down, tried to sound like I completely understood. "I love you, Chad."
"I love you too, so so much! I can't wait to talk to you again."
I guess that last part brought me up a little, but I only hoped he wasn't just saying it. Maybe I was just being way too pessimistic for the situation; you know me, my habit of thinking the worst of everything. Maybe I hadn't changed like I thought.
I fiddled with my locket- something I found myself doing quite often. I flipped it over to read the engraved "I love you' for the billionth time.The words and the pictures inside restored my faith in our relationship, and now all I had to worry about was lying becoming a habit of mine.