“I hope you’re in a better place Soph, and I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. I felt my eyes start to sting, so I quickly turned on my heel and went back to my truck. I wasn’t ready for this, I thought I was but I wasn’t even close.

I headed back to my place and flopped on the bed and thought of Ellie, memories of last night, running through my mind. She was so beautiful and sweet and funny. I honestly didn’t think I would ever meet anyone like her. I never wanted any girl before, but she just took my breath away. I can’t believe I had sex, seriously mind blowing sex too. I couldn’t help but smile a little proudly, at least she enjoyed herself too. God, I was so nervous I hope it didn’t show, I didn’t want her to know that was my first time. She didn’t flinch away from my scars either like I always thought people would, she really is amazing.

I sighed, I would love to see her again, I was so disappointed when she said I couldn’t have her number, but I guess I can understand her point if she’s just come out of a relationship. She said herself when we were in the back of the cab that it was re-bound sex. There was one thing I didn’t understand though, how on earth would a guy let a girl like that, slip through his fingers? Her ex-boyfriend must be a really stupid ass**le not to be begging for another chance.

I shook my head at myself, wow I’m turning into a real pu**y getting all worked up about a girl that I’ll never see again. I got up off of my bed and spotted her cell phone on my drawers. Shit, she left her phone here, maybe I should drive it round to her friend’s house and leave it there for her. I had no other way of contacting her to let her know I had it. She probably thought she lost it.

I sat on the edge of my bed, fighting with myself as to whether I could look through her phone, there was bound to be photos on here. I sighed and put the phone down on the side, wow I’m turning into freaking stalker! I pulled off my shirt and headed to the bathroom, I caught sight of myself in the mirror as I walked past. My body disgusted me, I hated it and it made me hate myself so much. I couldn’t look at it, not without thinking about my past and I refused to do that. The past was the past.

I traced my hand over the biggest scar, the one Ellie had kissed. I started to think about how it happened and I got so angry that I smashed my fist into the mirror, ignoring the pain in my knuckles. “Shit,” I mumbled, looking at the now smashed mirror. At least the glass didn’t shatter everywhere, just kind of cracked in on itself in the shape of my fist, with cracks spreading the length of it. Well at least I wouldn’t be able to see my scars anymore, I smiled sadly and headed to the shower.

About an hour later, I heard ’Ridin’ solo’ by Jason Derulo , coming from her cell phone. I laughed at her ring tone and grabbed her phone, hopefully this would be her and I could arrange give her the phone back. I suddenly got really excited at the thought of speaking to her. Wow, that can’t be good!

I snapped open the phone, “Err…. hello?” I said, unsure how to really start. Crap, maybe she thought I stole it or something!

“Well hi, who’s this?” she asked flirtily.

“Hey, Ellie. It’s Jamie,” I said, getting my hopes up at seeing her again. Maybe I could ask her to meet me out or something tonight to give her back her phone.

“Right, no, this isn’t Ellie, I’m Stacey. You obviously have Ellie’s phone,” the girl said. Oh crap it wasn’t Ellie? Damn, well maybe I could ask this girl to pass on a message and ask her to meet me out.

“Oh hey, sorry I thought you were Ellie. Err… yeah she left her phone here. Listen, do you think maybe Ellie would like to meet me for dinner tonight and I could give her the phone back?” I asked hopefully.

“I’m sure she’d love to meet you tonight for dinner to get her phone back, Jamie,” she said, sounding amused.

I wracked my brains trying to think of somewhere I could take her, the only place I could think of was a place I walked past on the high street the other day, I had no idea if it was a nice place.

“Yeah? Awesome! Maybe we could meet at about eight, outside Alexandra’s…. or I could pick her up,” I offered, not really knowing how all this dating stuff worked. Not that we were dating, for all I knew this girl could arrange for me to meet Ellie, and then not see her to tell her about it. Or maybe she‘d tell her and Ellie wouldn’t even be that bothered about her phone and not want to meet me at all.

“Absolutely, she’ll meet you there at eight then, ok.” She disconnected the call and I grinned. Oh my God, seriously? Did she just arrange me a date with Ellie? I laughed, her friend seemed very sure she’d go, she sounded like she thought it was funny. Maybe Ellie didn’t tell her about the crappy place I live, or what my body was like.

I glanced at the clock, it was only five so I’d have a couple of hours. I dialled the operator to find the number for the restaurant, and then called them booking a table for two. I could barely contain my excitement, maybe if I showed her how nicely I would treat her, she’d give me a shot. I couldn’t help but get my hopes up, I couldn’t wait to see her again.

Chapter 5

At seven o’clock I threw on a clean t-shirt and jeans and headed into my bathroom, lifting the lid of the toilet cistern and pulling out the plastic bag that I had put in there, hiding all of my money. I pulled out $100 and wrapped the rest tightly in the bag, putting it back, wedging it in just above the water level. I grabbed my jacket and Ellie’s cell phone and headed out. I was so excited to get there, I wanted to be early in case she was.