A/N: Hey guys! It's a new Chellmann story from me just in time for Christmas! Who would have thought it. (Certainly not me, this one sneaked up on me...) This one will be short and sweet, just ten chapters, with much shorter chapter lengths than I usually write. I wanted to try being more concise for once.
Big thanks to Aicosu for writing 'Message Sent' and first giving me the idea of a wrong number fic, and for being so supportive when I was concerned about a few minor similarities :)
It began deceptively simply, as so many life-altering things do. An unexpected incoming message that sent her phone skittering across the kitchen sideboard.
Unknown number 5:41pm
Hello, this is my new number – Doug
None of it was familiar; the number, the name… Only the area code. She dashed off a speedy reply.
Me 5:42pm
Who is this?
Unknown number 5:44pm
Doug. From work
Me 5:45pm
Sorry, I think you have the wrong number
Unknown number 5:47pm
Very funny, Henry. I finally take your advice and get a new phone and you ridicule me for it
She raised her eyebrows.
Me 5:49pm
I'm not Henry!
Unknown number 5:52pm
Of course you're not
Chell glanced at the text, interpreting the sarcasm easily. She shrugged, setting her phone back down. She'd tried.
Whatever, buddy, she thought, turning her attention to her dinner preparations, where it was supposed to be. He'd realise his error soon enough.
Two days later, she'd forgotten about it entirely, until her phone demanded her attention while she was trying to get dressed. She reached for it, wondering who had the gall to text her at such an early hour.
Probably Rosie calling in sick.
It wasn't Rosie, but her assessment wasn't far off.
Unknown number 7:02am
Can you tell the higher-ups I won't be in today? I'd call but I'm not up to it, sorry
Seriously?
Setting her socks aside, she typed a firm response.
Me 7:04am
Look, I was being serious when I said you have the wrong number. I'm sorry you're sick, but you need to contact someone you actually work with
She paused and added a smiley face to soften the words. The reply came as she was tugging on her jeans.
Unknown number 7:06am
Fine, I'll call Ellen. Happy?
She blinked. How did he still not believe her? Well, there was nothing to be done about it. Putting her phone out of sight and the message out of mind, she headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Unlike him, she had a job to get to.
The next day, she heard from him again.
Unknown number 2:10pm
I'm so sorry, I talked to Henry about all this and he says he knows nothing about it. Sorry to bother you
Finally!
Smiling a little, Chell began her reply, but another message came in before she'd finished typing.
Unknown number 2:11pm
Unless you ARE Henry and this is a double bluff…
Now I don't know what to think…
Me 2:12pm
This Henry sounds like a piece of work
Unknown number 2:13pm
You have no idea
Unless you do…
She laughed, although she wasn't sure he'd meant it to be funny. He sounded genuinely confused, poor guy.
Me 2:14pm
I'm really not Henry but I'm not sure what I can say to convince you
She was not going to send him a selfie. Not only would that be reckless, there was no way of proving that it wasn't just a random girl from a Google search.
Unknown number 2:15pm
I have a way. Text me back in 5 minutes
Me 2:15pm
O…kay…
Chell was nothing if not punctual, and she took him at his word.
Me 2:20pm
Obligatory 5-minute text
He didn't reply right away, and Chell wondered what he was up to. Shrugging, she put her phone back in her pocket and turned to the stack of books she was supposed to be shelving. She'd just returned The Art of Armana to Ancient History when her pocket vibrated.
Unknown number 2:35pm
Congratulations, you're not Henry
She sniggered. I could have told you that.
Me 2:36pm
How do you know?
Unknown number 2:37pm
I kept him talking when I asked you to text. He didn't touch his phone
Me 2:38pm
Smart!
Unknown number 2:40pm
Again, I'm so sorry for the mix up. Hope I didn't disturb you
Me 2:41pm
No problem. I'm glad it got sorted :)
So that was that.
Except that it wasn't.
Unknown number 10:52am
Henry, I swear to god, if you've moved my damn ASHPD notes again…
Unknown number 10:54am
Crap, I'm so sorry again. Guess I forgot to amend the contact details
Me 10:55am
Lol! It's ok. It's kinda amusing, actually
Chell pocketed her phone, then after a moment's thought, tugged it back out.
What was his name again?
She scrolled up to the top of the conversation.
Right, Doug.
She changed his details. Just in case.
Later, during the afternoon lull in the library, she toyed with an idea. The little snippets of conversation were breaking up her weekly routine nicely, and she was loath to give them up right away.
Me 4:07pm
Did you find your notes?
She wondered what kind of job required coded notes. Certainly one more exciting than hers, that was for sure.
Doug 4:12pm
I did, thanks. He'd 'borrowed' them
Chell chuckled at the use of quotation marks. It allowed her to map out the startlingly-clear voice she was starting to build for this guy.
Me 4:13pm
Rude!
Doug 4:20pm
Exactly
Chell pondered the single word. It seemed an awful lot like a conversation-stopper, and part of her was disappointed. Besides the messages making her mundane week seem a little less mundane, she was starting to feel somewhat invested in the comedy double-act that was the Doug and Henry in her mind.
"Chell?"
She glanced up, spotting Bobby, one of her superiors. Shoving her phone in her pocket, she tried to look accommodating.
"Can you go and tidy up the kids section? It's a mess again."
Chell nodded, sending the older man a smile. They both knew that tidying up the kids section was like trying to shovel snow that was still falling.
"Thanks."
Focused on picking up a multitude of dropped books, Chell put the text messages far from her mind. That was probably the last of them anyway.
Doug 5:55pm
Just typed out an entire message to Henry before remembering that you're not him
Chell smirked, typing her reply as she kept half an eye on the pasta bubbling nicely in the pan beside her.
Me 5:56pm
Why don't you just delete my number then?
Doug 5:58pm
I'm not sure…
I guess that seems rude somehow
She laughed at the strangely considerate sentiment.
Me 5:59pm
Well I'm touched
Doug 6:01pm
I changed your details to Not-Henry, so it shouldn't happen again
Chell bit her lip, wondering if he'd meant it as an invitation or if she was just reading it as one. She typed and hesitated, her finger hovering over the send button. Then she hit it.
Me 6:03pm
No need for that. My name's Chell
She had his name, after all. It was only fair.
Doug 6:04pm
Chell? Unusual
Me 6:05pm
Yeah, tell me about it. Not many people share their name with a blue alien from Star Trek
Doug 6:06pm
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Never mind, just Googled it. Is there much of a resemblance?
Me 6:07pm
You're hilarious
Doug 6:09am
I'm surprised it's a male alien, though. Chell seems like a female name
Me 6:10pm
In my case it's a female name, but there's no accounting for alien trends
Doug 6:10pm
Ah, of course
It's nice to meet you, Chell
Me 6:10pm
Nice to meet you too :)
She smiled, amused and uplifted by the simple interaction. Maybe she'd accidentally made a new friend. That would be a new experience. It wasn't often one made friends accidentally.
Oh shit, the pasta!
A/N: Posting two chapters to kick things off, then I will hopefully post every few days. This story is complete, so yay :)
I also have art to go with this! Check out my Deviant Art, username Sweet-Christabel.