Unknown Number Read online

  (12:23) Urgh. Fine. Remember that wrong number that text me?

  (12:28) The kid whining about homework and plotting murder?

  (12:32) WAIT, REALLY?! You’re STILL texting?!

  (12:36) Yes.

  (12:39) WHYYYY? Tell me everything!

  (12:43) Eleanor just leave it. It’s just texting.

  (12:47) Nothing is ever ‘just’ anything with you.

  (12:51) Eleanor leave it alone.

  (12:54) Why do you even care?

  (12:59) Thought you’d be happy I was making friends?

  (13:04) Didn’t mummy and daddy teach you not to talk to strangers?

  (13:09) Nope. Mummy and Daddy sent Lucas to the army where he got shot three times.

  (13:14) By strangers. That’s my point.

  (13:17) I really doubt this kid is going to shoot me.

  (13:21) How do you know?

  (13:25) True. I could be wrong.

  (13:28) Like I was when I let you be my friend.

  (13:36) You wound me deeply Lucas! What did I ever to do you that you wouldn’t trust me with your sordid little secrets?

  (13:40) You ran into me on your bike.

  (13:42) You let your dog hump me every time I come over.

  (13:45) You broke my hand several times for your ‘research’.

  (13:47) Need I go on?

  (13:56) Fine. Grumpy git! I demand all the information as soon as I see you next!

  (13:59) Friday night at Bonnie and Fletcher’s?

  14:00) It’s a date!

  Wednesday PM

  (17:01) So I may have told my friend about you?

  (17:05) You have other friends? LUCAS I thought it was just you and me forever!

  (17:07) Which friend?

  (17:09) I mentioned my friend Eleanor before?

  (17:12) The human epitome of a rash? Yes you did.

  (17:18) So what did you say about me? How I’m devilishly handsome? How you love the sound of my voice? How you adore my wit and charm?

  (17:23) Literally none of those things.

  (17:27) Calm your jets, brat. I literally know your name, age and gender. That’s basically fuck all!

  (17:30) I know the same exact things about The Rock, you don’t see me texting him.

  (17:34) To be fair … I don’t know what you do in your spare time.

  (17:36) You never asked.

  (17:39) Okay LUCAS, what do you do in your spare time?

  (17:45) I read, watch documentaries, jog, drink wine and … that’s about it.

  (17:47) How about you?

  (17:52) I train a little at the gym, go to karate with my sister, and hang out with my friends at the local parks / cafes.

  (17:57) And really shitting myself about learning to drive.

  (17:42) Think of it this way; it works the same way as school tests. You need to ace their questions, and do as they say, then as soon as you get your license BANG! No longer needed.

  (17:48) Has anyone every told you you’re really bad at giving advice?

  (17:51) Why do you think I can’t be a guidance counsellor?

  (18:00) OMFG I JUST SNORTED SPRITE UP MY NOSE YOU DICK! HAHA

  (18:04) Sprite? Good grief.

  (18:06) Don’t hate on Sprite!

  (18:10) Hating.

  ~

  (22:35) Hey Lucas? Are you still awake?

  (22:38) Just about. Reading in bed. Why, what’s up kid?

  (22:42) As childish as it will make me seem … my sister is fighting with her boyfriend downstairs and I can’t distract myself.

  (22:46) Where are your parents?

  (22:48) Out.

  (22:51) Can’t you intervene?

  (22:56) I already did. Hence the radio silence. I landed against the cooker and burned my arm.

  (22:59) Fucking hell, Cavan, are you okay? Why don’t you call the police for your sister?

  (23:04) She’s a black belt. She’s pretty lethal. As much as I want to help her, she’s pretty much got it covered.

  (23:09) That sounds very immature.

  (23:15) Sophie can handle herself. Honestly. I just wish I was a better brother.

  (23:18) Cavan you already tried to help. Other than calling the police you can’t do much more?

  (23:24) Do you really think I should? I don’t want to make her mad.

  (23:28) This might be one of those things you regret if you don’t.

  (23:31) Okay. Hold on.

  ~

  (23:54) Sophie’s giving a statement to the police. Jordan is going to be staying overnight in a cell. We’ve been assured that a restraining order will be placed against him.

  (00:14) Sorry I fell asleep. I’m glad the result was positive. Are you awake?

  (00:19) Can’t seem to sleep. Just replaying the evening in my head. Wondering if it even happened.

  (00:22) Mum and Dad are pissed, but ultimately glad of how things turned out.

  (00:26) They probably foresaw some kind of fallout.

  (00:28) You think?

  (00:31) Positive. Parents are fairly intuitive.

  (00:35) Are you one? A parent, I mean?

  (00:39) No, I don’t have any children.

  (00:42) How come?

  (00:45) Didn’t find the right girl?

  (00:48) Wouldn’t make any real diffCavant even if I did.

  (00:51) Hmm? How so?

  (00:53) Another time, kid. We both have school in the morning. We need to sleep.

  (00:56) Hmm okay.

  (00:57) Hey Lucas?

  (00:59) Yes, Cavan?

  (1:01) Thank you … for distracting me.

  (1:04) You’re welcome.

  Thursday AM

  (8:55) So, you never did tell me what you and your friend said about me?

  (8:59) It’s like you’re begging for attention.

  (9:03) What? I want to know. As far as Arthur and Sophie are concerned I have a secret lover.

  (9:09) Oh my. I’m blushing.

  (9:14) I can HEAR the sarcasm.

  (9:17) Good boy. You’re learning.

  (9:22) I may or may not be staying home from school.

  (9:25) Why?

  (9:28) My severely blistered arm?

  (9:33) Shit, sorry.

  (9:37) Dad’s taking me into the hospital he works at to get it seen to. After that, I get to stay off school.

  (9:41) For how long?

  (9:45) Technically Monday, but I want to try and milk it a little.

  (9:49) I AM a bad influence.

  (9:52) Yes you are ;)

  (9:58) Buuut it’s also why I like you.

  (10:02) So when will you get to the hospital?

  (10:06) On the way now. When I come out, I’ll be requiring tons of attention, random facts, and maybe even a joke.

  (10:10) I’m sure I can deliver.

  ~

  (10:28) LUCAS!!! IT HURTS! DOCTORS ARE MEAN!

  (10:31) Well you lasted long under torture. So glad I didn’t bet money on you.

  (10:33) Aw, aren’t you sweet?

  (10:37) Hardly. I bet against you. Eleanor owes me a drink.

  (10:41) WHAAAT?!

  (10:47) Kidding, brat. Kidding.

  (10:55) Git.

  (10:57) Uh oh. More tests! Lucas SAVE ME!

  (10:59) God speed, Cavan.

  Thursday PM

  (12:04) You’re heartless.

  (12:07) You’re alive.

  (12:09) No thanks to you.

  (12:13) I’m sensing a little hostility here.

  (12:17) Oh good, it’s coming through then.

  (12:25) Would the big baby like a distraction?

  (12:31) Yes please!

  (12:36) Okay. And since you’re injured, I’ll let you choose the topic.

  (12:41) Oh, you should never give me that power.

  (12:43) Okay let me think …

  (12:46) How about … your first kiss?

  (12:49) Wow. Really? Okay fine.

  (12:50) But no laughing.

  (12:56) I’m
literally wriggling on the gurney in anticipation.

  (13:03) Okay to set the scene. It was the awkward teenage party. All the guys were just tickling puberty and the girls were starting to grow out of their braces and into their new wired bras. We decided that playing truth or dare was a good idea.

  (13:08) Of course!

  (13:11) I got dared to kiss a girl. Rosie was her name. She was sweet, had freckles and big frizzy hair.

  (13:14) Not your type?

  (13:28) Not even close.

  (13:36) So she leaned in and I resigned to myself to my fate and crossed the circle. She tasted like chocolate ice cream and jellybeans. It was weird and sickly and just felt like smooshing my mouth against a bottle.

  (13:40) When I pulled away, I had the biggest grimace on my face, apparently. Everyone was snickering. I just remember screwing up my face and saying, ‘Fuck me, that’s nasty!’

  (13:44) She went bright red. We didn’t talk after that.

  (14:00) OMG LUCAS I NEARLY PISSED MYSELF! HAHA THAT’S THE WORST FIRST KISS STORY EVER!

  (14:05) I’m so glad my childhood trauma has tickled your fancy.

  (14:09) Oh God I’m crying!

  (14:12) So … I feel as though I should trade something personal.

  (14:24) Please. Indulge me.

  (14:37) Okay, my first time drinking alcohol. I drank way too much, way too fast. Kissed about four diffCavant girls for some insane reason and danced topless on the dining room table before going out into the street and having a very intense debate with some tall guy.

  (14:41) Or who I THOUGHT was a tall guy.

  (14:45) It was a pole. For twenty minutes I argued with a FUCKING POLE!

  (14:49) Suffice to say it was recorded and went viral.

  (14:53) Lucas?

  (14:59) Dude?

  ~

  (15:28) I’m sorry, my phone died, and I had to leave it in my office to charge. Thankfully, your last message came through just before, so I had a good excuse for laughing so hard I fell out of my chair.

  (15:31) You fell out of your chair?

  (15:36) More like, leaning back and lost my balance.

  (15:40) STILL COUNTS! Lucas you know what this means don’t you?

  (15:43) Don’t.

  (15:47) I’m gonna.

  (15:49) Cavan.

  (15:52) LUCAS YOU’RE FALLING FOR ME!

  (15:58) Need I remind you; I was in the army. I know how to shoot.

  (16:01) Gotta find me first ;)

  ~

  From Eleanor:

  (19:05) Are you texting him right now?

  (19:09) Go away.

  (19:14) Lucas! You can’t lock yourself away in your flat with only a phone for company! It’s unhealthy.

  (19:17) Your company is unhealthy.

  (19:20) So … is that a yes?

  (19:25) Damnit frizz-face! Yes, okay. Yes! I’m texting him.

  (19:29) Why don’t you ever just go out and meet actual people?

  (19:34) This is better. For all I know, this kid could be hundreds of miles away.

  (19:40) Doesn’t that bum you out though?

  (19:43) Eleanor, he’s a kid. His biggest fear right now is passing a driving test, okay? Besides … I don’t think I’m his type.

  (19:48) Have you asked him?

  (19:51) Of course not. He’s younger than me.

  (19:57) So what? Milo’s younger than me and we’re married!

  (20:00) He’s like a year and a bit younger than you.

  (20:03) Ask him. Never hurts to ask!

  (20:06) Have I told you to go away yet?

  (20:09) Only once tonight. You’re getting old ;)

  (20:11) Go and do that, please?

  (20:16) Please? Are you ill?

  (20:19) Fuck off shithead!

  (20:24) Love yah too!

  ~

  To Cavan:

  (21:43) How’s the arm?

  (21:47) Slathered in cream and bandaged up. Very awkward to shower with a plastic bag wrapped around your arm.

  (21:51) You poor thing. You may have to resort to baths for a few weeks.

  (21:54) Urgh I hate baths.

  (22:00) At least you get a little more time off school. Think of the positives.

  (22:03) Look at you always thinking of the bigger picture!

  (22:07) So … I’ve been meaning to tell you something but … I don’t really know how you’ll react.

  (22:11) Okay. What’s on your mind?

  (22:17) Okay well … before I tell you, can you maybe promise that if it bothers you, you’ll just leave and stop texting? As much as that would kill me … I couldn’t deal with the alternative.

  (22:20) I’m not entirely sure I know what you mean.

  (22:24) Like, if I suddenly repulse you, you won’t start verbally harassing me.

  (22:30) I’m not that sort of person, Cavan. However, if it sets your mind at ease, no I will not harass you.