This is a collaboration with the amazing SiteNonSite, who has been co-posting it under Novels and Novellas.
As always I encourage you to take the time to read all of SiteNonSite's stories if you haven't already.
Special thanks to HaltWhoGoesThere for proof reading this chapter for us.
Of Repentance
"MOTHER OF GOD!"
I'd been so close to cumming when I heard my phone vibrate and saw it light up with a text from Claire. I lunged for the bedside table, grabbed at my phone with wet fingers - and that's when I fell off the bed and slowly crashed to the floor. I was lying face down and naked in a heap on the floor staring at Kwasi's text in dawning horror.
Hey, Claire is looking for you. Is everything ok?
"What the shit..." I squeaked, and that's when I finally saw all of Claire's texts.
Did you get my voicemail? Did Wes make his bus?
"FUCK!" I felt my stomach drop as I realized the voicemail I thought was from my mom was Claire's - that was hours ago. I forced myself to keep reading.
Is everything OK? Your bag is here, I thought you were coming back - please let me know where you are.
Sarah, why aren't you answering me? I'm worried, please tell me where you are.
I'm so sorry if I hurt you, Sarah. I don't know what to do. You're scaring me.
"GOD No! No! No! NOOO!" I screamed at the phone, as I realized how royally I had fucked up. Claire had been trying to reach me all day.
I started to write a response and then dropped my phone, jumped up to get dressed and then dropped that idea too. I grabbed my phone and pushed my feet into a pair of boots and wrapped myself in my little trench coat and ran out the door. The whole operation couldn't have taken more than ten seconds.
I clattered down the stairs. Of course the only boots that were immediately on hand were my black Nine West
come-fuck-me's
. I was lucky not to break an ankle in my mad dash. As I all but slid down a flight of stairs I wondered idly if anyone had ever run down these steps in four inch stiletto heels before. But even as I came dangerously close to wiping out halfway down the second flight I found myself imagining the decades of Times Square pimps and hookers who must have haunted these steps in their platform heels, and decided it's probably happened thousands of times.
'Welcome to the big city, New Girl,' I chided myself as I sped on, picturing a police officer explaining to my mother how I'd been found naked at the bottom of a flight of stairs.
'I'm getting good at this,' I realized as I flew down the last flight of steps and out onto the street. I was still struggling to get the trench all the way closed as I ran.
Fat drops of rain were spattering the sidewalk as I reached the end of the block. It was only there at the avenue, as I saw that there wasn't a cab to hail, that I realized I'd left my wallet in my purse. No money. No credit cards. No idea. Searching my pockets I found an old Metro Card. I had no idea how much was on it...
Looking like a runaway stripper, I bolted for the subway.
I knew I should call Claire, but I was scared to. Scared she wouldn't pick up, scared she'd tell me to fuck off. It was then, as I hobble as fast as the fucking boots would allow and gasped loudly, that I finally opened Claire's voicemail. Her voice whispering sing-song into my ear.
"Je suis ton pile, Tu es mon face" she hushed. "Toi mon nombril, Et moi ta glace."
She sounded so unsure of herself, faltering at first. I'd frozen, gasping for breath, but forcing myself to be quiet so I could hear her. I was going to be that fucking girl again, crying in the street.
"Tu es l'envie et moi le geste, Toi le citron et moi le zeste," she sang, her voice gaining force, her song's rhythm picking up pace. I could hear the smile on her lips. I pushed myself to start moving again, tears burning my eyes.
"Je suis le café, a grande caramel macchiato, tu es la tasse. Toi la guitare et moi la basse. I was listening to this song, and I was missing you. Actually the French is more than 'I miss you', tu me manques, it's that you are missing
from
me... Can you please call me?"
As I ran I saw myself in the eyes of the people I passed. Women look alarmed, men predatory.
I made it to the subway without being attacked or arrested or rained on too badly. On the platform, still panting, I texted Kwasi.
All is well. Bad hangover. I fell asleep after dropping Wes off. I'll let Claire know. Sorry!
Then I texted Claire.