Chapter 25
She munched on the chicken nuggets that Kris had bought for her and stared at the phone. Not like she really owed her anything, but she just had to tell her that what she saw wasn't what she thought it was. Not really.
"It's a phone. Most people use it call someone."
"Shut up Kris! I'm contemplating." Illana informed her, still staring at the phone.
"Contemplating what? Oh by the way, did you send that fax?" Kris asked, coming to sit next to her, and start typing on her computer.
"Mmm hmm." She muttered distractedly.
"Illana?"
What would she tell her? How would she tell her? Maybe her and Nick should both talk to her.
"Illana."
No, that may not be a good idea. That'd give her the wrong impression definitely. What to do?
"Illana!"
Screw it, she'd just call her.
"ILLANA!!!"
She turned. "Huh? What?"
Kris stared at her blandly.
"What!?"
"What is going on with you lately? You're in another time zone or something."
"I am not. Just thinking."
"About?"
She looked up and helped the client who was waiting to sign in. "Stuff."
"Care to elaborate?"
She looked at Kris who then raised her eyebrows.
"Well?"
"Ok." Illana leaned in close, looking around. "So what happened was..." She whispered.
"Uh, there's no one else around, why are you whispering?"
"I..." She cleared her throat and backed away. "Anyway..." So she told her the whole story up till last night.
"Wow, so I guess you're deciding on if you should call her right?"
"Right." She went back to staring at the phone.
"Why? You don't have to explain your actions to her. She broke up with him Illana. He's free."
"I know I know, but she's my friend. It looked bad."
"So it looked bad. She should've thought of that before she ended it."
Illana bit her lip. "I'm gonna do it. Right before I leave tonight."
Kris sighed. "Whatever. Keep me posted though." She went back to her typing.
She nodded and tried to focus on her work.
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She waved bye and smiled at the last customer as they left the office. She organized her desk and slumped back in her chair. She was surprised at how focused she was able to stay for the rest of the afternoon after her decision.
"So are you gonna call?"
"Yeah, right now." She picked up the phone and dialed, as Kris sat back down and watched.
"Hello?"
"Vanessa, hey."
"Oh."
Oh man. "Look, I just wanted to explain about last night."
"What about it?" She clipped.
"It wasn't what it looked like really. We were just hanging out."
"Oh? So you weren't trying to steal my boyfriend right?" She replied coldly.
"Boyfriend? You broke up with him Vanessa! You're not dating him anymore."
"Whatever. You've just had it out for him from the beginning. I should've known."
"Vanessa would you just wait a minute!" She looked over at Kris who shook her head.
"I don't have to listen to this! You stay away from my boyfriend!"
"Vanessa! Listen to what you're saying!" Illana pleaded; there was silence and then the dial tone. She frowned and she hung the phone up.
"She hung up on you didn't she?"
She nodded. "She can be so damn irrational sometimes I swear. Do you know what she did?"
"What?"
"She accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend." Illana chuckled weakly.
"Her boyfriend? But I thought that..."
Illana nodded.
"Man, she's a piece of work. Don't let me meet her. I'd tell her where she can go." Kris muttered.
"I gotta go." Illana stood, grabbing her purse and heading out the office.
"Where you going?" Kris yelled.
"I gotta see Nick." She called before walking out the door.
