Surprise.
Mateo
1:24 PM
We’ve been sitting at this coffee shop for a while now, and Aimee still hasn’t shown up. In the back of my mind, I’m starting to wonder if she’s ditching us- moreso, if she’s ditching Rufus. I know that that probably isn’t plausible; why would she ditch her friend who almost died yesterday? She’s most likely just late, but the concern still lingers.
I can see the disappointment on Rufus’s face, I know how important Aimee is to him, and no matter how much that bothers me, I know how important this is to him. I pull him aside for a second, it would probably be weird for the whole group if I started reassuring Rufus out of nowhere. They’d definitely pick up on something, then.
“How are you holding up, Roof?” I check up on him, knowing that that’s all I can do. Every bone in my body is aching to touch him; to comfort him. With this game we’re playing, I know that I can’t. That makes this a little more fun.
“Hm?” He responds, no longer spaced out. “What do you mean?”
“Aimee’s not here.”
“Yeah,” He smiles softly, “I know. I’m okay though.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mhm. I’m a little down about it, but if she doesn’t wanna show, that’s her problem. There are people that came here for us that care, and those are the people that matter to me.”
“Good, I’m glad you aren’t letting it get to you.” I smile back at him.
“Now, can we please get back to the group? They’re watching.” He says, making eye contact with Lydia from across the room.
I shrug, but nod. “Your fault for being mopey.”
We walk back to the table where our friends sat.
“Yo, your phone buzzed. You left it face up, so we all kinda saw what it was. Aimee’s late for a reason.” Malcolm says, sliding the phone over to Rufus.
“Why?” His eyes scanned the cell before picking it up.
“She broke up with Peck this morning.” Tagoe chimes in.
I freeze. Isn’t Peck the guy that tried to kill Rufus? I stay silent, anticipating a negative reaction from Rufus.
“Uh..Okay? Why are we acting like that’s big news?” Rufus chuckles, nervously. I don’t think any of us were expecting that kind of reaction.
Malcolm stutters, “You- Damn, Roof.”
“What?” He gives me a confused look.
“Yesterday changed you, yo. In the past, your reaction would’ve been a lot worse.” Tagoe practically finishes Malcolm’s sentence.. What is up with these guys?
“I don’t think it’s that,” Roof sighs, “I just..don’t have feelings for her anymore.”
While saying this, he looks away from me. He wanted me to hear it, but he didn’t want me to think it was meant for me to hear it. He wanted me to realize that he’s being honest.
Lydia looks directly at me, though. She’s smiling like a mom. I bet she’s thinking, ‘My boy finally found love.’ Which itself, is an embarrassing sentiment, but I can’t help but be happy with her.
“What changed?” Malcolm and Tagoe ask in unison. Seriously..this is getting weird. Do they both have telekinesis or something?
“I found something that’s more worthy of my time.” He still doesn’t look at me while speaking, however, unlike last time, he brushes my hand with his under the table.
My face uncontrollably grows red, so I look down in order to hide it.
“You’re being cryptic.” Lydia huffs, as if she doesn’t know that we’re together.
“Yeah, for real!” Malcolm mutters, crossing his arms. “Still though, I wonder if she’s gonna show up.. Aimee, I mean.”
“I think we all knew who you were talking about.” I laugh.
“Just confirming!”
“Speak of the devil..” Rufus whispers.
Everyone turns to look at the door, including me. Walking in is Aimee, who looks way too good to have just gone through a breakup.
“Hey! I’m sorry I’m late, I-”
“Broke up with Peck, I know.” His voice is suddenly cold. He was fine on the phone with her this morning, what happened?
“Yeah.. I see everyone is here. Even..” She waves at Lydia, “I’m sorry..what’s your name?” Aimee asks, looking at Lydia with a glimmer in her eyes.
“I’m Lydia.” She responds, the same glimmer in her eyes, as well. “You’re Aimee, right?”
Aimee nods, taking a seat next to Lydia. I give her the same look that she gives me anytime I even LOOK at Rufus. She blushes at this.
I nudge Rufus with my elbow, and nod towards the two girls with my head. It takes him a second, but once he realizes what I’m alluding to, he grins. His cold demeanor changes.
“I think they’re getting along.. Don’t you think so?” I move my eyebrows up and down, which Rufus laughs at.
“I do. Hey man, I’m glad she’s crushing on someone who’s not me, even if they just met.” He whispers back, “Like us.”
“Dude, shut up.” I grin.
“What are you two being so secretive about?” One of the boys ask, I’m too distracted looking at my boyfriend to realize which one is asking.
“Nunya, Tagoe.” Rufus replies, still grinning.
Ah, Tagoe.
“Damn, whatever!” I look at him, which he responds to by playfully rolling his eyes.
Just as I’m about to come up with a snarky response, I feel a vibration in my left pocket. I pull my phone out, assuming that someone is calling me. Who, though? Maybe Deathcast. Maybe they’re calling me to tell me that I actually am going to die. Or, they could be calling to apologize for their mistake yesterday.
To my (unpleasant) surprise, it’s not Deathcast. This is actually worse. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be called by Deathcast.
“Sorry guys.. I gotta take this.” My voice is small, embarrassing.
“No problem, dude.” Malcolm smiles.
Him, Tagoe, and Aimee smile at me.
Lydia and Rufus aren’t smiling. They know. They’ve gotta know.
They look at me concerned, I would reassure them, but I don’t have time. I have to pick up this call.
I walk outside and answer the call…I answer the call from the Hospital. This can’t be good.
“Hello, this is Mateo Torrez?” The woman on the other line asks, her voice is familiar, which is unsettling, because that means that I’ve been in that hospital so often that I’m starting to recognize the staff’s voices.
“Yeah, that’s me. How can I help you?”
“Well, I am happy to inform you that your father-’
“Is he okay?” I interrupt. I look inside the Cafe window at Rufus and Lydia. They’re both sitting on the edges of their seats, almost like they’re preparing for me to faint or something.
“Yes, sir. He is more than okay. As I was saying, I am happy to inform you that your father is awake.”
My knees buckle. A stinging feeling curses my eyes as they grow wet, it hurts, but in a good way. I’m happy, really, but what the fuck? Where did this come from? Especially the day after I was supposed to die.. That’s just not fair. If Deathcast was right, that means that I couldn’t just wait to die one more day. I would have died a day too early.
“Sir? Are you there?” The nurse’s voice rings throughout my head, stabbing into my ears like a knife.
“Oh- yeah, sorry. I’m here. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll.. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up without saying goodbye.
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“What the fuck?” I sigh, running my hand through my hair.
I have to get to the hospital, now. I debate just going without telling anybody, but I realize that that’s probably not a good choice, not today.
I run into the coffee shop with no time to waste. “I’m sorry, I have to go.. It was nice seeing you guys, but I have to leave.”
“What happened?” Lydia and Rufus ask, both standing up.
I can’t find a way to respond, my mind is running circles. “I have to get to the hospital, right now. It’s my dad.”
“Is he okay?!” Lydia's tone tells me that she’s about to start crying, too.
“He’s awake, he’s fucking awake.”
“Holy shit, we gotta get to the hospital!” Rufus picks up his drink and waves bye to the Plutos.
“We can catch up later, Roof. Good luck at the hospital, you guys.” Aimee spoke up. The three others were obviously in awe.
“Yeah.. Come on guys.”
With that, Lydia, Rufus, and I run, and I mean RUN to the hospital.
I can’t believe he’s awake.