Tempting - Chapter 32: Thanks But...

Walking is a chore now. Every time I move a little too fast, black dots invade my vision like its

war. I eat a small tomato before calling it even, walking out my door to the lobby. The bright

morning sun hangs over the sky like a death wish to anyone that's dehydrated and that anyone

is me.

I think about David and what happened yesterday. In all honesty I want to apologize for

everything I said, I want to hang in his arms, and I want to experience what we did in his house

again. I want to be a real couple with him, but are my dreams too far-fetched? Am I living in

fantasy land?

I sigh deeply and as I'm about to walk out the lobby's entrance, I catch sight of someone

standing beside the door. As I accidentally bump him with my elbow, I immediately turn to

apologize, but my heart jumps through my shirt as I see who it is.

"Hello again Calvin."

"M-Mr. Hamsure! Oh, oh I'm sorry I didn't know you lived around here." I say as he smirks. He's

leaning against the wooden frame of the entrance, almost as if he was waiting for someone. I

have to say, Mr. Hamsure really knows how to dress himself. He's wearing a mustard brown suit

with a dark tie, and his hair is, as always, gelled back.

"You can say that. But I don't live on this street."

"Oh, were you waiting for someone?" I look by the curb to make sure that my bus hasn't arrived

yet.

"Yes actually. I was waiting for you." He says slickly. I look up at him as my cheeks light up, an inferno heat rushing around my body. Stop it Calvin!

"M-Me?" I choke.

"Yes, I just wanted to tell you that during our infamous ride home you have told me some troubling things about your financial situation."

"Wha-"

"And I took the liberty of helping you out."

"Wait, wait. You... YOU paid for my rent??" I stand there dumbfounded as I stare into his bright

blue eyes. I can't help it as my breaths come short, nearly making me gasp like I've been

punched in the gut.

"Now, I know what you're thinking. Just think of this as a little gift. Helping a friend."

"Y-You, you shou... shouldn't have..." Finally, he starts to notice my hand clutching my chest.

"Calvin, are you alri-"

I feel my head go lighter as the last thing I see is his deteriorating blue eyes fill with alarm.

Everything around me sounds muddled. All I see is darkness, and then suddenly everything

turns white.

-------------------------------------------------

"Cal..."

What's that sound? I feel like I'm drifting too much, almost as If I'm floating.

"Calvin..."

That's my name...

"Calvin." My eyes snap open as a instant wave of nausea hits me. All I see is blobs and white light, so I have to squeeze my eyes shut from the delirium.

"Calvin! Oh thank god you're awake." I feel something press into my arm.

"W-" My throat feels unbelievably dry and I'm relieved when a cup of water meets my lips. I try

again to open my eyes, and this time a bleary image of a man's face fills my vision.

"Its okay, take your time."

"W-Where..."

"You're at my house. You passed out outside of your apartment, and since emergency care at hospitals are slow and expensive, I decided to take you here and call some practitioners."

"My head." I try to sit up, but I feel a prick in my arm way me down.

"You didn't have enough electrolytes in your body so they're giving you some intravenous fluids."

"T-They're giving me what?"

"Just some fluids to help stabilize everything. You were lacking a lot of energy." I lean back as I

let my vision settle. As everything starts to set in place, I see Mr. Hamsure still in his

mustard brown suit, but instead surrounded by big art pieces around the room and a long white

curtain covering the only window. Wait, David! My heart beats faster as I realize that I'm yet

again late for work.

"I guess this is just a warning to never pay your rent again." He chuckles.

"How long have I been out?"

"About... 1 hour and a half?"

"Oh my god." I struggle to yet again to sit up, but this time, Mr. Hamsure helps me.

"I need to go to work! I wasn't supposed to miss it again."

"Well, with your condition, I don't think it'll be safe for you to go do work of any kind." He comments, folding his arms over his stomach.

"You don't understand..."

"You can just call in sick."

"No I can't, he will want to know why I can't come in. And if he finds out he'll..."

"If he finds out you've been starving yourself?"

I stare at him with broad eyes before looking away, a shameful flush coloring my cheeks. Oh no, he knows.

"Look Calvin, I don't know the exact reasons as to why you're doing it, and how far you've taken to avoid eating, but I want you to know that-"

"I know what it looks like, but I don't starve myself. It was just a diet and I guess I took it a little too far."

"Your readings said you were really depleted of-"

"I didn't eat breakfast. Maybe that was the cause?"

"No, that comes from a frequent thing."

Silence consumes me as I swallow shallowly. I can't shake him off, he knows.

"You fainted, whatever diet you were doing was not healthy."

"..."

"... Look, I didn't mean to make you upset or anything, but things like this are serious."

"...Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Can you please help me get to work?"

"Calvin-"

"I swear I will be careful." As he's about to be swayed into assenting, I feel a low buzz near my hips. I search my pockets and pull out my phone, my worse fears validated.

"Um, do you mind if I take this?"

"Oh, no problem at all." He stands up haggardly as he stretches, standing at a good 6 ft

something. Once he leaves the room, I scramble to get myself together, downing the glass of

water next to me to clear my throat. I have to make sure that nothing sounds wrong.

I answer the phone as I inhale deeply, waiting for the bomb to fall through my receiver, and it does.

"CALVIN, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Uh- David I-"

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AN HOUR AGO, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES IVE CALLED YOUR PHONE AND YOU DIDN'T ANSWER?"

"I k-know I-"

"WHAT? DID YOU SLEEP IN AGAIN? THAT CAN NOT ALWAYS BE YOUR EXCUSE. MS. COLLETE IS ALWAYS ON MY ASS ASKING ME TO FIRE YOU, AND YOU'RE GIVING HER MORE REASONS FOR ME DO SO."

"David..."

"WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? IT BETTER BE GOOD CALVIN."

"I... I wanted to give you a little space." I mentally slap myself as my poor excuse comes rushing from my mouth.

"You what?" David falters.

"I w-wanted to give you a little space since you seemed mad at me. I thought this would be the best thing to do because then we won't bump into each other as much."

"WHAT? YOU CAN'T JUST-" I hear David sigh deeply. I can almost see him in his office, pinching

his nose out of frustration.

"Calvin, no matter what we have going on between us, that isn't a excuse to not show up to work at all."

"Y-You're right. Can I... Can I still come?"

OH MY LORDY! Alright, that one person in the comments before who actually guessed what was going happen, props to them ;D David's upset and Calvin wants to come back to work. I wonder what will happen from here ;) Vote if you want and have a good day!