Eight Weeks Ago

Tuesday

It's been two days since we've gotten back from Miami and I still have not heard from Phoenix. I've called. Left messages. Texted him. Nothing. My mind is driving me crazy.

Why hasn't he called me?

Getting up from the kitchen island, I leave my cup of coffee and go to the fish tank.

"You're not looking so hot, girl." I drop a few flakes of fish food into the tank.

Alana doesn't notice the food at all. She hasn't eaten since Axel died. She's wasting away. I tap the side of the tank. No response, as if I'm not even there. She's not swimming to the sound like she used to. I know what's coming next.

Phoenix, call me! Your gift is slowly dying.

I get the urge to work out. I get dressed in my cutest black, mesh panel workout leggings, black sports bra and army fatigue tank top. I pull my hair up into a curly ponytail, put on my running shoes and ear buds, grab my iPhone then head out the door.

I'm irritated and frustrated by everything. Blasting Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" helps me release some stress. I take the trail behind my house because the landscape is so beautiful. And I run. As hard and as fast as I can until I can't take it anymore. Until I'm out of breath and soaked in sweat. Until my muscles ache with every move and I'm so spent I can't think about anything.

Back after my run, I make a beeline for the kitchen. I need water. Rehydration never felt so good. I peel a few boiled eggs and drop down on the couch. Check my iPhone. Still no call from Phoenix.

What's up with Phoenix thinking he doesn't have to call you back?

This is a Netflix moment. I need an escape. Reality is disappointing as shit. I decide to check out, getting lost in an episode of Orange is the New Black. Before I realize it, I've binged on a whole season. The countdown for the next season is flashing on the screen. Guess I'll watch that too.

Hello World, Aria is not here. Please leave a message at the beep . . . . BEEP!

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I wake up in the morning on the couch. I must've drifted to sleep watching Netflix. As I approach the fish tank, I do a double take. Alana is leaning to the side. I thump the glass.

She's dying, Ari.

Dread clings to me. I rub my forehead, trying to figure out a way to make this better. I don't want her to die! Taking the fish net, I use it to push her upright. Her fins move weakly for a little while, then she stops. I push her again. Same response. It's so stupid, but I'm kind of emotional about it. I mean, I don't know if it's this whole Phoenix missing in action thing that's got me or watching my favorite pet waste away but this is torture. First Axel, now you! And Phoenix won't even call me back!

I call Mia and fill her in on Phoenix.

All chipper and happy she tells me, "Riz and I talk and see each other like every day since we got back. Let me call him to see what's up. I'll call you back, girl."

Feeling a little relieved that someone's in my corner, I sit on the couch with my coffee, waiting for her call back.

Moments later the phone rings. I pick up on the first ring.

"Hey."

"Yeah, so according to Riz, Phoenix does that sometimes. Just falls off the face of the earth, no one can get in touch with him. He said he's usually working on a project or trying to close a deal. It's just how he is. It's how he focuses. Probably why he's so successful."

"That's bull. So focused that he can't call his girl for a few minutes out of the day? He pulls this with no warning? No text? Nothing?" Frustration rears its ugly head. "Did you ask if he's seeing anybody? Cause after two days, it's crossed my mind."

"I didn't ask but I didn't need to. He wouldn't do that to you. Look at how he was in Miami. He cares about you. Just be patient. He'll call," Mia's voice is so reassuring I want so badly to believe her.

"OK. Maybe you're right. I'm just tripping." I play it off but something is off. This doesn't feel right.

"You good?"

"I'm good. I'll just chill and do my own thing. Let him come to me." I pull Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man off my bookshelf. I've been promising myself I'll read it all summer. I feel like an invisible woman. Today, I'll finish this book.

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Eight Weeks Ago

Thursday

My phone rings and look who it is. After four days! The restraints that held me hostage, waiting on his call, melt away. Suddenly I have strength. I'm energized. Now I can move. I was down in the dumps. I had started to believe I didn't have it anymore.

Glad that's passed.

The tables have turned. I'm the one in power now. Instead of answering the phone, my instinct is to run. To get as far away from my former prison as possible. I quickly get dressed and go to the gym. There's a hot yoga class, I've been dying to try. Maybe I'll meet a hot guy that will make me forget all about Phoenix.

My phone rings incessantly. He sure is demanding. Funny when it was me calling him, he had no sympathy. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I'm tapping the Ignore button and continuing on my way.

I arrive at the gym. Megan is at the front desk swiping people in.

"Hey girl, what's up?" I ask, reaching for my ID.

"Same ole, same ole but man, someone's sure sweatin' you! Your phone hasn't stopped ringing since you've been in line. Don't you think you should answer it?" She gives me a nosy, bug-eyed expression.

I smile triumphantly. "Not really."

"Alrighty then!" She takes my card and swipes me in. "Work off some of that tension! You look like you need it!"

I wave her off as I pass the turnstile. "Oh, I will!"

My first order of business is to put the phone on silent. In just an hour or so, he's called like fifteen times.

Guess he thought you'd be waiting for his call.

I think not.

I take the last four days of my life and leave it in the hot yoga class. When I walk out, I'm loose and limber, like every muscle in my body has been worked and stretched. I'm a brand-new person.

I answer the phone because Mia's smiling face pops up on my screen.

"He called. Is calling, right now." I look at my screen, making sure not to accidentally answer the call waiting.

"That's a good thing. Don't you want to talk to him? See what's up?"

"No, Mia. He starved me out for four days. Four days! Who does that?"

"Don't you want to find out why?" She laughs. "Hold on a sec." Mia picks up the phone again. "OK, what were we talking about?"

"Mia! Phoenix not calling! Remember? What are you doing?"

"It's Riz. He keeps . . . . " She smacks him. "Stop that! I'm on the phone with my sister." She laughs. "I'm sorry, Ari."

I roll my eyes. "I'll talk to you later." I leave the gym and go for a drive down to the lake.

I'm disgusted with myself. I was so weak!

Weak for him.

It was like I wasn't myself anymore.

Your feelings for him are deeper than you thought. For those four days, he was everything to you. If you think about it, you even let yourself slip into a little depression for a while. You can't let that happen again. He's too close to your heart. He's getting inside your head.

How can I not be affected by him? I'm in love with Phoenix Prescott and I haven't even told him yet! Maybe that was why he was acting so strange on the plane because I left him hanging when he told me he was falling in love with me.

I look longingly at my phone as his adorable face pops up, again and again, but no matter how much I want to, I'm not answering. He can't just pop in and out of my life whenever he wants to. He only gets to deal with me on my terms.

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A/N: Hey Lovers! So we've reached the end of chapter 38. Do you think Aria should answer Phoenix's call or ignore him?