XI: Unknown Number

I wake up to the splash of sunlight pouring through my window. It's so bright, it's almost blinding.

I look over to my phone.

1:15 pm.

Right underneath the time, I see a row of texts.

310-435-****: Hey, meet up at 3 to finish our discussion? Oh, this is Jeremy.

424-818-****: Got your number from Jeremy. We're meeting at 3 just so you know.

I reply to Jeremy, then to the other number, which must be Dylan.

Unknown Number: Hey, what's up? It's been a long time.

I reread the text message from an unknown number. It must be someone I know.

I begin typing.

Reply: Hi, I bet. Who is this, by the way?

I reread my reply and delete it.

I get out of bed and stroll over to uncle Jerry's room, which is right next door. I knock once before opening the door.

"Woah!" he yelps and pulls his sheets up. I quickly spin around and turn my back to him.

"Can you leave for a second?" he asks and I shake my head.

He sighs. "You're so stubborn. What is it?"

"I got a text this morning from an unknown number," I explain.

I walk over to his bedside and take a seat.

"Ow," I hear a man's voice from beneath the sheets.

My eyes go wide, and so do my uncle's.

"Jermaine!" I yell and he leaps to cover my mouth.

I sense sweat dripping off of his forehead and fear in his eyes. "It's not what it looks like."

I begin to mumble words in his palm before he lets go.

I breathe a long breath. "Yes, it is," I say matter-of-factly. "The town is going to flip once they hear this."

I get up from the bed and smile sinisterly at him.

"Come on, Danielle," he pleads.

"It's Stella-Rose," I glare.

"Stella-Rose, come on, you can't do this."

"What do you mean?" I ask. "Mom's right downstairs in her room, she thinks I'm in mine, and your down here with a man in your bedroom."

"You don't understand," he says.

"No, you don't understand," I explain to him. "You're sinning. Not just by him being a man, but this is fornication. Do you know what that is, Jerry?"

"We just fell asleep," he says.

"Really?" I yank the sheets off of the other man, who only has on his boxers. "You just fell asleep with your clothes off?"

"Please don't tell, I can't afford to be kicked out again," the other man says. I look over at him with fire in my eyes.

"Again?!" I shriek and Jerry gasps.

"You said this was your first time!" Jerry screams.

"It was! With you, at least" he says.

Jerry sighs a long sigh. "Get out."

"What?"

"Get out, right now!" Jerry's mad, and I match his feelings.

Imagine if I was caught with Jaime in this position and he was being an ass about it. Sad.

"Fine, but I know you'll be back," he winks.

"Like I said last night, you were just an experimental flame. Like the song."

The guy swings his legs over the bedside and sighs. "See you around, Jerry."

Then, he dresses up and jumps out the window, possibly the same way he came.

When he leaves, I look over to Jermaine. He gets up and dresses.

"What is wrong with you?" I ask, surprised.

He ignores my question. "Why did you come in here?"

"You know it's a sin."

He looks over at me. "So what? Don't tell me you haven't sinned before."

"Well, I haven't."

"I can't believe that. Not even with that go-lucky boyfriend of yours back in the city?"

I look down for the slightest second, then back up.

"No, we were clean. And I wouldn't sin."

"Sure," Jerry rolls his eyes and smirks.

"Either way, you can't be doing this," I say. "At least not with another guy."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a sin."

"I don't care if it. This is what I am and what I want to do."

"But-"

"-But nothing. And speaking of relationships, maybe that guy that sent you that text is your ex-go-lucky boyfriend."

I sigh and look from Jerry to the text on my phone.

"It would be great if you got out of my room now," he says annoyed.

I look at him. "Fine."

Walking out of his room, I look back. "But this doesn't mean my lips are sealed."

I walk back to my room and open my phone.

Unknown Number: Hey, what's up? It's been a long time.

I begin to type.

Reply: I bet it has been. But, who is this, may I ask?

I send my reply and wait.

And wait. And wait.

10 minutes go by before I decide to check the time again.

2:49 pm.

My eyes widen and I rush into my bathroom for a quick shower.

I'm out of the bathroom in 5 minutes and throw on a hoodie and jeans before running out the door.

"And where are you going?" Jerry asks once I'm at the last step on the stairs.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"To meet friends. Don't pester me. I'm not the one doing anything wrong."

I put on my shoes at the foot of the stairs and rush out the front door, muttering a "bye!" to my uncle.

I hear a light buzz at the back of my pocket.

Maybe the unknown number? I stop running and reach for my phone.

Jeremy: Hey, where are you? I'm with Dylan right now and we kind of need you here.

Reply: Sorry, I slept in a little too late. I'll be there in 5 minutes.

I stop and look around myself.

Reply: Wait. Where are we meeting?

It takes a couple of minutes before Jeremy replies.

Jeremy: Darnelle's. The cafe down Merin street.

Reply: Thanks.

I pick up running again. By the time I'm a few stores down from the cafe, my phone buzzes again.

I stop and pick it up to unlock it.

Unknown Number: Right, I should have said who I was beforehand. It's Jaime. It's been almost a year since we last spoke right? I've missed you.

My eyes go wide.