Holding Collette: Chapter Three

Holding Collette:  Chapter Three

Several weeks went by and the two continued to text back and forth.  Dallas was nervous that by admitting he was lonely that the stranger would stop talking to him, but the following morning his heart was set at ease as he turned on his phone to see if Collette had texted him back.
I’m lonely too.  So much that I bet you couldn’t even understand.
He wanted to sing.  This girl…she hadn’t laughed at him or told him to cheer up.  For weeks, even days after his mother had passed so many of his friends had told him to get over it or understand that death is simply another part of life.  Like he didn’t know that.  But it was one thing to preach and listen, it was quite another to go through such a hardship.  Collette’s answer had pleasantly surprised him, and even his father had asked him, “what the hell are you smiling about?” when he saw him a few days later.
It was amazing to talk to this girl.  He had learned that she was seventeen and because of a condition that she could not explain, she was not allowed to attend school.  She had been home schooled for most of her life, and Taylor (who was actually her ex sister-in-law) was the one who suggested she move out to the country until she turned eighteen.  Collette had agreed but she had no idea at the time how hard it would be.  When Dallas would ask her to explain her condition, Collette would be very vague, saying things like ‘it made her extremely fragile’ and ‘not strong enough to be around normal people.’
Dallas frowned.  What could be so wrong with this girl that she had to be locked up in a cage like this?  Taylor pretended like she didn’t even exist!  For days on end he wondered.  A physical deformity?  Cancer?  A tumor?  A heart condition?  He never pressed her to find out, but as a month was about to roll around the corner, he couldn’t help his curiosity.
Still though.  He didn’t dare talk about his mother or his father.
And she never asked.  Like him, she seemed to be worried about pushing him too hard.  He was grateful for that, but there were some days that he wanted nothing more for her to ask.  He wanted her to push.  He wanted her to break down the walls he had worked so hard to build up.  She seemed like she would listen.
He had never wanted to meet someone so badly in his life.
Maybe this would require baby steps.
On a Saturday night, Dallas was conducting his usual texting routine with Collette, laughing and sharing stories when he finally worked up the nerve.

I want to meet you, Collette.

With his thumb, he sent the message and waited for what felt like an eternity.  Maybe it was inappropriate to ask.  She did mention she had a condition after all.  Maybe she had said that to him so he wouldn’t ask her in the first place.  He bit his lip.  As he was about to text her back and tell her just to ignore him, his phone buzzed and jumped up on his bed, the phone spilling off his chest and onto the floor.  “Dammit,” he grunted, hoping that it was still intact.  He couldn’t even imagine what would happen if his phone was damaged.  His father would never replace it.  With relief he saw that the screen was fine.

Why?

He smiled at the simplicity of her response.

Because we’ve been talking for almost a month.  I’m dying to know what you look like.

The response was so quick he wondered if she camped out next to her phone just like he did during their conversations.

I told you.  I don’t think it would be a good idea to meet me.  I’m fragile remember?  I’m sick.

His heart pulled for her, but he wasn’t going to let her get away this easy.  Not today.  And certainly not because every time he got a message from her, it felt like his heart was going to explode.

Are you contagious?

No.
Well then I’m sure I’ll be fine.  Please Collette.  Whatever your condition is, I’ll be sure to be careful around you.  I would never hurt you.

I know that but it’s not that simple.

Don’t you want to meet me?

Dallas knew that he was coming across a little desperate, but he couldn’t help himself.  He wanted to see her.  He wanted to hear the voice on the other line of the phone.  He wanted to know what could be so wrong with this girl that he couldn’t even meet her.  That he wasn’t even supposed to know about her.

His phone buzzed.

One picture message.

He swallowed and opened it up before he let out a gasp.

She was beautiful.  He couldn’t believe this was the girl he was talking to.  This girl had a condition?  She looked amazing!!  Dark hair, light blue eyes (even though in the picture they were so small he almost couldn’t tell the color) and she looked like she didn’t wear a lot of make-up.  That certainly didn’t detract from her beauty.  Physical deformity?  This picture certainly ruled that out.

You’re beautiful.

No I’m not.  But you wanted to see me so there you go.  Now we don’t have to meet.

I want to meet you now more than ever, Collette.  Do you want to see me?

I’ve seen you before, remember?

He smiled.  It wasn’t that she had seen him.  Sometimes when they were texting he would sit in the front lawn and stare at her house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.  But nothing.  She would always crack jokes about him though, saying things like “stop picking your nose” or “those jeans are a little too tight.”

Well now that I’ve seen you…and you won’t let me meet you, I suppose there’s only one next step that seems appropriate.

And what’s that, Cowboy?

Call me.

She didn’t answer right away, which was odd for her.  The girl must have had lightning quick fingers so when two or three minutes passed without a response, he wondered if he had finally gone too far.  He should have just been happy with the picture but he had to be greedy.  And that’s what he was.  For Collette, he was incredibly greedy.  He wanted everything.  He wanted to see her, talk to her, touch her…even taste her.  He wondered what it would be like to hold her.

Holding Collette.

He couldn’t even imagine such a thing.

Actually, don’t worry about that, Collette.  I’m sorry.

You don’t have to be sorry.  I mean…talking has got to be easier than texting, right?

He dared to get a little excited.

Yes?  He texted, not letting himself get too hopeful.  Plus I would love to hear your voice.

It’s really not all that special, Cowboy.  Don’t get your hopes up.

He smirked again.  He loved that she called him Cowboy.  A girl who knew something about football.  Yet another pleasant surprise.

If you don’t call me in the next minute, I’m going to call you.

Maybe I won’t pick up.

You will.

What makes you say that?

Because you wouldn’t have spent the last month texting me if you didn’t want to talk to me eventually.

On the other line, Collette swallowed.  Caught.  He was right.  Ever since she had walked up to him while he was asleep she was curious about him.  That’s why she got his phone number.  That’s why she texted him.  That’s why she continued to text him even at the risk of Taylor finding out.  She knew it was only a matter of time but she didn’t care.  She deserved to talk to someone.  Still though…she let out a raspy cough.  When she was texting he couldn’t hear her.  She wasn’t sure how he would respond to her wheezing.  She stared at the phone.

I’m going to call.

She swallowed, closing her eyes.  Even though there was no camera on her phone, it felt like he was watching her.  Judging her.  She coughed again and tried to clear her throat, reaching for a shard of broken up cough drop that Taylor had left for her.
The phone rang, making her jump.

She pressed down hard on the green button, answering.

“H-hello?” she said in a voice she hoped didn’t sound like a croak.