Speak To Me

(Tilly)

I stared intently at the phone, holding it firmly in my grasp before biting down on my bottom lip nervously..my finger hovering over the "add contact" button as I swear I must've memorized Rylan's number by heart already.

Today has honestly been one of the most exciting days of my life..and I couldn't believe all of that really happened. The moment I saw Rylan sitting there, I felt that usual pull like always. I swear not a single thing had changed about him.. Well, from what I could remember bout him at least. He had no clue who I was, but I honestly didn't even care. I was six years younger than him and not to mention shy..so I didn't really expect him to recognize me in the slightest. I had been just a kid..

So when he asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend..I didn't know what to do or say..and that's when I realized my head was nodding up and down all on its own.

Now I'm lying here in bed..debating on whether I should text the guy or not. I mean..he said he would call me..but was that all a part of the show he was putting on?"You're missing out! This book was meant for oɓniɓ.om, but if you're reading it elsewhere, it's a copy. Get the real experience at oɓnib.om, where all our original chapters are shared first."

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, making my eyes widen as I quickly slid the phone beneath my pillow before trying to act normal.

"Come in!" I squeaked, feeling like I didn't know where to put my hands so I quickly tucked them behind my head.

"Are you still up Mija? It's almost twelve o'clock." My mom said, obviously seeing my light was on.

"I was just going to bed mama, how was work?" I asked, noticing my mom was still in her uniform as she nodded before walking over to me.

"Fine..did you work another double Tilly? You know I don't like you doing that.." My mom scolded, her hand reaching out as she brushed my dark hair to the side.

My mom hated the fact that I had to work full time...she always feels bad and wishes I could've gone to college like my sister Shaina did. But Dad was still working at that time, so they could afford it.

"Just the morning shift and half the afternoon." I explained, making her tsk before shaking her head in disapproval.

"You work too hard.." She whispered while her hand gently stroked my hair. Suddenly I felt her climb into the bed with me, wrapping her arms around my small frame before hugging me tight.

"How did I get blessed with such an angel like you?" She asked, making me chuckle.

"Why are you being so nice? You're making me suspicious." I teased before pulling back and studying her carefully.

"Oh come on, can't I love on my beautiful daughter?" She asked before kissing my head and making me pull away with laughter.

Mom joined in too before we both calmed down and just lay there staring up at the ceiling.

"Promise me you will always stay like this no matter what. That you never let the hard things in life bring you down mija." My mom said, causing my brow to furrow as something about her seemed off tonight.. "Mama, what is it? Is Papa okay?"

"Yes..of course..he is fine. I just wanted to spend some time with you..that's all. I missed my little sorpresa." My mom explained before looking at me sadly.

"I missed you too mama." I whispered, hugging her again before she sighed and went to stand.

"Okay, I'm going to bed. Now don't stay up too late Mija. Your father has his appointment tomorrow, don't forget.." She added before looking at me one last time and said goodnight.

Sometimes I wondered if it would always be the three of us living here for the rest of our lives..Shaina left home after she turned eighteen and I didn't see her much until she moved back in six years later. Then our dad had his accident when I was sixteen and we all pretty much tried to survive until Shaina met Eddie a few years later.

So it has been Mom, Dad, and me for a couple of years now..but truthfully..I didn't really see Shaina much, so it felt like it was only the three of us for longer than that.

Shaina would go out a lot and had a couple of boyfriends throughout the years that she moved in with but always seemed to come back home. I never understood exactly why Shaina got so much freedom while I couldn't even go out to a friend's house to sleep over. Mom has always been strict about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with. And when I got older, my parents drilled into me that I shouldn't date unless I planned to marry that man..and vice-versa.

I know it's an old-fashioned way of thinking..but my mother would beg me to follow those rules. She would cry and say she never wanted to see me hurt or be taken advantage of. But on the other hand..Shaina would go through multiple boyfriends in one year..so I never understood..

I just steered clear of every boy I would come across..I think my shy and quiet personality was enough to turn them off in the end. I just don't know how to react when someone approaches me. My brain stops working and my chest becomes tight and I overthink every little word they say and don't know how to respond.

So yeah, that doesn't exactly help either.

I heard my mom speaking down the hallway when all the lights were eventually turned off, letting me know my parents had gone to bed.

That's when I pulled my phone out and checked it one last time..

What I wasn't prepared to see was a text on the screen waiting for me.

From 1(234)567-8910: Thanks for helping me out earlier, you were a real lifesaver. Did you get home safe?

Then there was another after that.

From 1(234)567-8910: Oh, this is Rylan by the way. Rylan Walters. From earlier at the restaurant.

I couldn't help but smile as my stomach flipped uncontrollably. He texted me..and he was so cute about it too.

I quickly added Rylan's number to my contacts and started to send him a text back.

To Rylan: I did get home safe, thank you..and no problem.

Oh god..was my response too simple? Will he stop texting after that now?

I let out a groan, my hand slapping over my face as I felt like I could throw up with how nerve-wracking this was.

Then I felt the phone vibrate.

From Rylan: Can I call you?

My eyes widened in shock, my body shooting up into a sitting position as I stared down at the phone, surprised.

He wants to call me?!

I glanced towards the door that my mom had left open and quickly tiptoed over, shutting it. Then I walked back to the bed and slid beneath the covers. To Rylan: Sure, if you like.

Not even two seconds after I sent that, I started to get a call. I took a deep breath before answering the phone quickly, and placed it against my ear. "Um, hi." I squeaked, feeling embarrassed already.

"Hey, I hope I didn't wake you earlier. I just realized how late it is." Rylan's deep voice washed over me, making my body tingle all over as I felt my heart start to race. "No you didn't..I just got home a little bit ago."

"I see, well, I just wanted to say thank you for earlier. I hope you don't think I'm some type of creep or something." He stated, making me stifle a laugh as I turned over in bed.

"No, of course not. I take it that woman was some type of ex or something?" I asked, regretting it the moment I said it. Should I be bringing up exes? Is that too personal?

"Yeah...but it was a long time ago. So you don't have to worry..I mean, not like you would..what reason do you have to worry?" Rylan said before bursting into awkward laughter as I felt the biggest smile pull on my lips. Was he just as nervous as I was?

"Oh god..I don't know why I'm acting like this.." He grumbled.

"It's okay, I think it's cute." I whispered, surprising myself with that one as I shut my eyes tight.

"You do?" He asked, making me swallow hard as my mouth suddenly became dry.

"Yeah, you make me laugh. You seem like you're a really funny guy." I said, trying to move on to something else.

"I am pretty funny..you should hear my Elmo impression." He said, making me chuckle.

"You have an Elmo impression?"

"No..but I thought saying that would make you laugh." He confessed, and I couldn't help but laugh even more.

"So you weren't weirded out about earlier?" He asked out of the blue, making me bite my lip.

"No....I was just glad I could help." I breathed, feeling this weird tension over the phone as we both sat in silence. "Tilly, do you have a boyfriend?" Rylan asked, causing my eyes to widen.

"No." I rushed out, making Rylan chuckle.

"Me neither...well, I mean..I don't have a girlfriend either..obviously. But..oh god, you are going to think I'm crazy." Rylan suddenly said.

I could feel my heart leap into my throat as I couldn't even imagine what he was going to say next.

"Okay, what I'm about to ask you is kind of crazy.." He began as I held my breath anxiously.

"You can obviously say no to this...but..can you come to dinner at my parent pretending to be my girlfriend?" He blurted, making me blink my eyes in confusion as I tried to process his words.

"P-pretend to be your girlfriend?" I repeat like an idiot.

"Yes..just like at the restaurant." He replied, making me try to process this. I thought he might try to ask me out for real..

"I know this seems crazy..but my mom has been trying to hook me up with a whole bunch of women that I have no interest in..and I thought if I said I had a girlfriend she would get off my back..but now she just wants to meet her..I mean..I-I can pay you." He rambled, the last part making me stiffen.

"Pay me?"

"Oh god, not like that!! I mean, just pay you for your time..of course we wouldn't be doing anything scandalous...we would just have to make it convincing..fuck, I sound like a real jackass right now don't I?" He trailed off, leaving me speechless. "Listen..I didn't mean to throw this on you. It would just be one dinner, and that's it. I don't expect anything out of it. I just wanted to get my mom off of my back. So I'm sorry if this offended you." He whispered, making my stomach drop. So that's why he called..because he needed my help again..

"I can pay you for your time since the dinner is tomorrow evening. I wasn't sure if you would be working or not.." He went on, and I still couldn't speak..I was afraid that if I did, he would hear how disappointed I was..

"The dinner is at five tomorrow..I can pick you up beforehand and we can go over everything. I promise Tilly, there will be nothing weird about this okay? I won't pressure you into doing anything and after this, I will leave you alone. Just..think about it. Let me know tomorrow, okay?" And with that, he hung up, leaving me lying there in confusion as I tried to understand what just happened.