Tempting - Chapter 28: To be Fired or Not to be Fired

I sigh as I scroll through the previous messages. I don't even try to think back to yesterday, not

yet ready to endure the striking pain that remembering will bring me. I would like to stay in

vegetable state for as long as possible. I sluggishly go to my calls and see the caller I.D. Turns out

David had called me, but it doesn't fill me with the same giddy emotion. Instead, its replaced

with a stronger one, and I'm not yet able to pin point what it is. I call him back and he picks up

on the third ring.

"Good morning." His deep voice brushes against my ear perfectly, but I'm not awake enough to

take notice.

"Good mornin." I slug.

"Did I wake you up?"

"Kinda."

"Oh alright, well its already 2 pm so I thought you'd be awake by now."

"I'm just really tired."

"I can tell. Did something happen?" I slightly frown when I hear those words through the receiver. Does he know something?

"No... I'm- I'm actually just having a hangover."

"You were drinking?" David says in a surprise tone.

"Yeah I went out yesterday."

"Do you need me to come over?" I swallow thickly as I place my other arm over my eyes. I don't

want him to come over right now, especially after what I found out yesterday. A sharp jab from

my headache causes me to wince after I try to remember what Coldren told me in detail. No,

too much pain, both mentally and physically. I'll just remember later.

"For what?" I answer a little too bluntly. He doesn't speak for a moment, probably a little thrown

off by my comment. I don't even have the strength to apologize.

"I don't know, thought you might need someone there."

"I'm fine. I just need sleep right now."

"Calvin... Ow! Diesel! Bad dog, out of the room now."

"Are you okay?" I say as I turn on my back.

"Yeah. Diesel has been kind of acting up lately. Like biting everything in sight, I'm going to ask Jasmine to take her to the vet tomorrow."

"Hopefully nothing's wrong with her."

"Me too." I feel my eyelids grow heavy as the sweet embrace of sleep was just one END CALL button away. However, to my disappointment, David kept on going.

"Calvin, why did you go drinking yesterday?" I scrunch my eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

"Was it because of Friday? Because of me sending you away, I swear it was not personal."

I can't believe what just came out of his mouth right now. I swallow thickly, trying to submerge

the extreme anger bowling in my temples. IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF YOU, BUT I GUESS THE

WORLD ALWAYS REVOLVES AROUND YOU is what I wanted to say, but thankfully my headache

didn't make me that grumpy.

"Are you sure?" I mutter, images of Ms. Collete smirking riling me up even more.

"What did you say?"

"Nothin."

"Calvin if something is bothering you, you can tell me."

"I said nothing David. Can I sleep? That's all I want." I feel a small strand of guilt in my gut as David sighs, not speaking for a moment.

"Alright, just let me know when you're wake up."

"Okay." After that I ended it, chucking the phone near my feet as I cozy back into the pillow of my

couch. Sleep soon envelopes me, and I am able to leave behind the headache, the heart pain,

the shakes, and the guilt.

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I spring up as I brace against the morning light showing through my window again. Why is it still

so sunny? I felt like I slept for an eternity... My eyes glaze towards my clock and I swear I almost

jump off my couch from what I see.

"How is it 8:00 am again?!" I exclaim, throwing off my blanket frantically. How did I sleep till the

next day? Oh my god, David's going to kill me! I scamper into my bathroom and splash cold

water on my face, then grabbed my tooth brush and brushed furiously.

I need to leave now. I was supposed to be at work 2 hours ago. I put on my standard white shirt

and black pants as I sling my black strap over my shoulders. I am so dead. With that, I barge

through my door, not even paying attention to the other house residents who looked at me

funny.

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The bus feels unbearably slow as it turns on the polished street of Graven. I wipe the stress

sweat forming on my eyebrows as the work place pops into view from the window. He's going to

fire me. The heat surrounding me makes me feel dizzy as I imagine his stone face etched into a

permanent scowl. It doesn't make matters any better that I had an attitude with him just before I

hung up the phone. I never even called him back. Guilt is doing a excellent job punching me in

the gut every few seconds. As the bus finally pulls up to the curb, I rush out to the big glass

doors of my workplace, opening it and running through. I scan my id then take the elevator. I'm

really hoping that their are limited people in the lounge so they wouldn't see me walking in so

late.

Once the doors open, I see a few stranglers around the lounge room, printing out papers or

taking a water break, but none too interested in my appearance. I let out a big breath and slide

my shaking hands into my pockets.

No sign of David anywhere, not even Ms. Collete.

I half walk/run to my office door, almost in the clear when I feel a tap on my back, and i imagined

the worst scenario possible. I reluctantly turn around when the night eyes I thought I'd meet

were light oceanic ones.

"Hello Calvin." He says as an almost familiar feeling drifts around me.

"Mr... Mr. Hamsure?"

"That's my name. I just wanted to check up on you after Saturday."

I silently let out a breathe as the night before... well actually 2 nights before comes rushing

towards me like a bat. Mr. Hamsure had helped me home and with the other situation I got

myself in.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm still recollecting memories from that n-night."

He nods towards my wrist and I can see that it has gotten a lot darker from Saturday.

"How about your wrist. Is it okay?"

So Calvin turned up to late to work? Who knew he had it in him. I wonder how Mr. Malone will react to his sudden rebellion :) Vote if you feel like it!