Cal was in the middle of his shift and was on his break when felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out of his back pocket. On the phone screen it was a number he didn't recognise.
"Hello, it's me"
"Taylor?" Cal recognised the voice. "What do you want?"
"I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet" Taylor responded.
"What for?" Cal asked, feeling the anger inside him.
"To go over everything"
"And why do you want to do that?"
"They say that time's supposed to heal you. But, I ain't done much healing."
"And do you think I've done any? You lied to me, Taylor. You made me steal money from my brother!"
"Hello, can you hear me?"
"Of course, I can hear you. Look, Taylor I don't want to hear what you've got to say."
"Please, Cal. I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be. When we were younger and free."
"I don't care about that anymore. Why should I listen to you any way? You lie. How do I know what you're saying is the truth?"
"Because I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There's such a difference between us. And a million miles."
"Like I said before, I don't care. Goodbye Taylor."
Cal was about to end the call when he heard Taylor's voice come through.
"Hello from the other side. I must have called a thousand times"
"Yeah, I know. You have called a thousand times. But, why would I listen to what you have to say?"
"To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done."
"You're sorry?" Cal scoffed. "You're not sorry. Because if you were, then you would have told me the truth in the first place."
"I am sorry, but when I call you never seem to be home."
"I have been at home, but maybe I just didn't want to speak to you."
"Well, at least I can say that I've tried to tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart."
"Yeah, you did break my heart. You told me that you loved me."
"I do. But, it don't matter. It clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore." Taylor told him.
"Not any more it doesn't. I've moved on with my life and maybe you should too."
"I can't. I've tried to but, I can't. I still love you." Taylor said. "Anyway, how are you? It's so typical of me to talk about myself. I'm sorry. I hope that you're well?"
"Well? I more than well. In fact I've never been happier."
Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened?"
"No. And why would I?" Cal asked. "I've got everything I want hear?"
He heard Taylor laugh.
"You mean that brother of yours?"
"Don't you dare talk about Ethan like that!" Cal shouted. "At least I can trust him. He's never lied to me."
"How do you know?"
"Because he's my brother. I know him."
"Sure you do." Taylor told him sarcastically. "And it's no secret that the both of us are running out of time."
"What do you mean running out of time? Look Taylor if you want to talk to me then talk, but if you try to manipulate me in anyway I will hang up and I don't ever want to hear from you again." Cal explained.
"All I want is to talk to you. So can we meet?"
"Fine." Cal said, eventually.
"Thank you. Meet me at the pub in about 10 minutes?"
"Okay."
With his answer, Cal ended the call. Ethan had entered the staffroom by then and had just caught the last bit of his brother's conversation.
"Who was that?" Ethan asked.
"No one." Cal quickly said. "Uh, are you finished with your shift?"
"In about 5 minutes. Why?"
"I, um, will be a bit later than I thought. So don't wait for me when you're finished. I'll just walk home."
"Alright." Ethan said. "Are you sure you're alright though?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Cal said as he closed his locker and walked out of the staffroom.
As he watched Cal walk out, he couldn't help but feel that there was something his brother wasn't telling him. However, he just shrugged off his worry.