Chapter Three - Ringing

My phone's ringing.

My phone is ringing.

I scrabble off the sofa and fall onto the coffee table, frantically turning down the volume on the TV. This could be it. It's been three days since I saw Taylor at Taco Bell. Three days since he suggested we should meet up. Maybe this is finally that moment.

"Hello?" I sound too out of breath and enthusiastic, like I've just run the London Marathon for charity.

"Hello dear!"

It's my Mum.

Even if I hadn't recognised the voice, I don't think Taylor would crow 'hello dear' quite so cheerily down the phone.

"Oh, hiya." All traces of enthusiasm are gone. The marathon organisers just told me that no one sponsored my run.

"Well don't sound pleased then," Mum grumbles. I can hear crooning in the background. Mum must have her Michael Bublé album on.

I sigh, feeling deflated. "Sorry Mum, I was expecting another call."

"Ooh, from who?" Mum perks up. Mum thinks every phone call I get, every letter, every email, every text is a boy asking me out, or my secret lover, or some eligible bachelor. I don't have enough fingers to count the number of times she's tried to set me up with the posh sons of her friends.

"Just my friend, Summer. We were meant to be going to the cinema today," I lie. I've always been good at lying. I suppose that's not something I should be proud of, but it's got me out of all those awkward match-making sessions.

"Well I'm glad you've made friends sweetie."

"Mum, I'm not five."

"I know dear, I was just merely pointing out the fact that you're settling in, and that's good."

"Yeah, I'm doing fine."

There's some commotion going on in the background, and I can hear Dad's voice, but it's muffled. "Sorry, Callie, but we've got a meal at the Sharp's to go to. I'll phone you tomorrow."

"Okay Mum, have fun at the Sharp's."

Mum groans. "I'll try. That woman is insufferable. Bye dear."

"Bye."

I collapse back onto the sofa, my stomach aching a little from when I smacked into the coffee table. Anyone would think I'm waiting for a phone call to tell me whether I'm about to die or not. I keep getting shaky legs and my palms are sweating like I have a fever. Summer told me not to ring him first, some kind of etiquette that must have passed me by when I was in high school, but the waiting is killing me.

A little disheartened, I trudge into the kitchen and start making another cup of tea. I don't have to go into work for the rest of the week as my boss is on holiday, and being his secretary I'm not really needed. I have to sort out the odd meeting and whatnot, but other than that I've been lounging at home watching crappy daytime television. I'm trying to wean myself off 'BBC America'.

Just as I'm spooning the sugar into the cup, my ears prick up. Mingling with the growling of the kettle, there's a faint ringing. At first I don't really know what to make of it, but then my brain connects the sound to an object and suddenly I'm slapping at the switch to turn the kettle off and I'm careening into the living room. I slow down just in time so that I don't whack the coffee table again. My heart hammering, I answer my phone.

"Hello?" I tone down the enthusiasm, but I still sound like I've been doing exercise.

"Hey, Callie, it's Taylor."

"Oh hi," I reply, forcing a control onto my happiness, though the grin is evident in my voice.

"So, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go see a movie tonight? Then maybe grab a bite to eat afterwards?" I can hear nerves prickling his voice, and somehow this slows my heart a little. Knowing he's nervous too makes it seem a little better for me to be twitchy.

"Yeah, that'd be great. What film were you thinking of seeing?" I hope my voice doesn't sound as jittery as I feel.

"Um, well, I was gonna let you pick the movie..." Taylor replies, and even though I know he's doing this to seem gentlemanly, I feel caught out. I literally have no idea what films are on.

"Let me just get my laptop and I'll have a look," I say, keeping the cool constraint in my voice as I fling magazines off my laptop. Thank God I hibernated it or I could have just been sat here waiting for it to load as Taylor and I made awkward small talk.

"Yeah okay." That's the cue for the silence to kick in. I silently scream at my laptop to hurry up.

"So what cinema am I looking at, because I don't know any places in Nashville yet." I laugh nervously, willing the internet to load faster.

"What theatre?" Taylor clarifies.

"Yeah." I should have said 'theatre' rather than 'cinema'. And 'movie' rather than 'film'.

"Um... Green Hills? If you Google 'Green Hills 16' it should come up with the site."

By now, my laptop is fully functional, and with my phone clamped between my ear and my shoulder I find the website for 'Green Hills 16'. A list of cinema times comes up and I scan the list. I'm not about to be mean and subject Taylor to some kind of soppy romance, but then maybe a rom-com would be a safe choice? It'll just be a bit of a disaster if it's cheesy, but if it's funny then it would be perfect. To be honest, anything would do. But maybe it's better to play it safe and just pick your run-of-the-mill Hollywood blockbuster.

Then I see it. Perfection. 'Bridesmaids'. I've been wanting to see it for a while now and it's the perfect film to go and see.

"Have you seen 'Bridesmaids' yet?" I ask.

"No, but I really want to see it. Is it on?"

"Yeah. There's a showing at 4:35. By the time the film is over that'll give us enough time to go to a restaurant maybe."

"Sounds great. I'll book the tickets, and why don't I pick you up at... quarter to four?"

I give Taylor my address, sneakily checking an envelope so that I get it right.

"Cool, so I'll pick you up at quarter to four then," Taylor says and I feel my head go a little giddy.

"Okay, I'll see you then."