Awkward

Chapter 4: The Wonderfully Awkward Phone Call

Mike sat nearby while Timothy and Jimmy were locked into a football game on the laptop, controllers in hand, eyes fixed on the screen.

After a few seconds, Mike looked up from his phone.

“Timothy, when is your date happening?”

Timothy’s fingers paused for a moment, but his eyes stayed on the game.

“My date?”

Mike nodded. “Yeah. With the girl you met at the ice cream stand that weekend.”

Timothy gave a small nod while still playing. “Oh yeah. I didn’t forget.”

A short silence followed as the game continued.

“Um, I’m still thinking of a gift I can give her,” Timothy added.

Mike finally looked up properly. “Still thinking?”

He shook his head slightly. “I can help you with that. Let’s check out a jewelry store. Girls like jewelry. I think that should work.”

Timothy gave a small nod. “Alright.”

Anne sat quietly in her dorm room. Her phone rested on the desk in front of her. She leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the screen, then leaned back again. Then forward again. Her fingers tapped once on the edge of the desk and stopped. Nothing. Still nothing. What if he doesn’t call? She looked away toward the window, then immediately looked back at the phone.

Jessie walked in. “Anne?”

Anne’s hand shot to her chest. “Ah! You scared me.”

Jessie paused in the doorway. “Scared you?” She stepped inside. “Why are you scared?”

Anne straightened herself quickly. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking.”

Her eyes drifted back to the phone.

Jessie noticed. “You’ve been staring at that phone for a long time. What’s going on?”

Anne’s fingers closed around the edge of her sleeve. Then quietly: “I’m expecting a call.”

Jessie blinked. “A call from who?”

“From him.”

“From him?” Jessie frowned slightly. “Who is him?”

Anne looked away for a second. “The guy we met at the ice cream stand. The one I gave my number to.”

A pause. Anne lowered her head, her hand pressing lightly against her forehead.

“I was so anxious I forgot to ask for his name.”

Jessie stared. Then she burst out laughing.

Anne covered part of her face, shoulders drawn in.

“It’s not funny, Jessica,” she said.

Back at the boys’ dorm, Timothy sat with his elbows on his knees, turning his phone over in his hands.

“What if she doesn’t like the jewelry I pick for her?” he asked. “What do I do if she doesn’t like it?”

Mike looked at him. “I think she’ll like it.”

“But what if she doesn’t?” Timothy asked again.

Jimmy spoke up before Mike could answer. “I remember she gave you her number. Have you called her yet?”

Timothy shook his head. “No.”

“Maybe you should call her,” Jimmy said. “Ask her what kind of gift she likes.”

Timothy scrolled through his contacts. He found Anne’s name. He stared at it for a moment, then pressed call. The screen lit up. It started dialing.

In the girls’ dorm, Jessie was stretched out on her bed. A movie played on her laptop. A bowl of popcorn sat nearby, half eaten. Anne was at her desk. Her phone rang. She turned sharply. The screen lit up with an unknown number. She pushed back her chair and stood, then stopped. Her hand reached toward the phone and pulled back.

“Oh my god,” she whispered.

What if it’s him?

She pressed both hands flat against the desk. “I think it’s him,” she said quickly. Her voice climbed slightly. “What do I say? What do I — Jessie, come on, help me! Pause the movie!”

Jessie sat up. “Hey, hey, hey. Anne. Breathe. Relax.”

The phone kept ringing. Anne’s fingers hovered above it without landing.

“What if I say something wrong?”

“You won’t,” Jessie replied. “Just pick it up.”

The phone rang again. Anne stepped back slightly.

“Answer it,” Jessie said, more firmly.

Anne’s hand moved toward it. Then stopped. The ringing stopped.

“Oh no.” Anne’s voice dropped. “It stopped. I missed it.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth. “I can’t even tell what he might be thinking now. Jessie—”

The phone rang again.

Anne took one step back. Jessie swung her legs off the bed.

“Come on,” Jessie said. “Just pick it up.”

Anne did not move. Her hand stayed at her side, fingers curling and uncurling.

“I don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t do this. Jessie, please.”

Jessie let out a sharp breath.

“Anne,” she said. “You’re ruining my movie time.”

Back at the boys’ dorm, Timothy still held his phone. The call was still going.

Jimmy glanced over. “Maybe she’s away from her phone,” he said.

Timothy’s thumb drifted toward the red button. He hovered over it. Then the call connected. Mike leaned forward. Jimmy straightened. Timothy looked between them, one hand moving in a quick helpless gesture. A voice came through.

“Hi, this is Jessie, Anne’s friend. She has been expecting your call.”

Timothy blinked. “Oh. Hi.” His voice came out slightly unsteady. “I called because I was thinking of getting a gift for Anne for our date. I don’t really know what she would like. I was hoping maybe you could help me ask her what she might want?”

A short silence on the line. Jessie looked toward Anne, who stood nearby, one hand gripping the back of her chair.

“Hold on,” Jessie said. She turned slightly. “Anne.”

Anne stepped closer. “It’s him?”

Jessie nodded and held the phone toward her. “He’s asking what gift you want.”

Anne’s mouth opened. “A gift?”

Jessie sighed softly. “Just answer.”

Anne leaned in slightly. “I don’t know,” she said quickly. Then quieter: “Maybe a chocolate cookie.”

Jessie raised an eyebrow. “A cookie?”

“Yes. Chocolate cookie.”

Jessie turned back to the phone. “She would like a chocolate cookie.”

“So when are you guys going on the date?” Jessie continued.

Timothy shifted where he sat. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that yet. What time will Anne like?”

Jessie glanced at Anne briefly.

“Also, what’s your name?” Jessie asked.

“It’s Timothy.”

“Okay, Timothy. Anne is kind of busy right now so I’m helping her with the call.”

Timothy went quiet for a moment. “Okay. Is she okay?”

Jessie looked briefly at Anne. “Yeah. She’s fine.”

“So about the date,” Jessie said. “When exactly are you planning it?”

“I was thinking maybe this weekend. Friday evening. It’s Thursday today. I don’t know if that’s too soon. Could you confirm from her if that’s okay?”

“Friday evening,” Jessie repeated. “I’ll ask her.”

“Okay,” Timothy said softly. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll get back to you.”

“Alright.”

“Bye,” Jessie said.

“Bye,” Timothy replied.

The call ended.

Back at the boys’ dorm, Timothy set his phone down slowly. He leaned back and looked at the ceiling.

“I did it,” he said under his breath.

Mike turned toward him, a grin spreading across his face. “You actually did it.”

Jimmy looked up with a quiet smile.

Timothy nodded once. He let out a slow breath.

Then the phone rang again. Timothy’s hand shot toward it. He looked at the screen. It was Anne calling.

Mike leaned forward immediately. “Pick it up.”

Timothy answered. He brought the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

Jessie’s voice came through. “Hi, Timothy.”

“Yeah?”

“Anne agrees. Friday evening is fine.”

Timothy’s hand dropped slightly from his ear.

“Okay,” Jessie added. “That’s it.”

“Thank you,” Timothy said.

“Yeah. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The call ended.

In the girls’ dorm, Anne sat down on the edge of her bed. She let out a long breath, her shoulders dropping.

Jessie pressed play on her movie without turning around. “Anyway. I’m continuing my movie.”

Anne looked at the back of Jessie’s head. “Thanks, Jessie. I really don’t know how I would have figured it out without you.”

Jessie raised a thumbs up without turning.

A few moments passed. The movie played softly in the background.

“You really zoned out there,” Jessie said.