"Hey Syd."

    "Hey."

    "Thanks for calling. I appreciate it."

    "Anytime."

    "So..."

    "So?"

    "I don't know, you're the one who wanted to talk. I think. I can't really remember."

    "I think we both needed to talk. And you said it first in your letter. And then I ignored five of your calls before you gave up."

    "Ah. I remember now."

    "Great."

    "So I've just been feeling a little off lately. Like we need to re-establish what we mean to each other."

    "Ah yes, what an idea. How about we just remind each other how much we love each other and how sad we are that we're so far away. Because that's all that's been happening in those stupid letters."

    "Hey, the letters were your idea."

    "I never said they weren't."

    "Alright. Fine, I'll be more specific. I feel intimidated by your guy roommates. And by those two orchestra guys. I feel like you're going to cheat on me with one of them."

    "Ditto."

    "You think I'm going to cheat on you with one of your guy roommates?"

    "No, you dingus. Ditto about Shelby. And Susan. And Amber and Amanda."

    "Amber and Amanda aren't even relevant."

    "Tell that to your Twitter."

    "Fine. So we both have issues with the other person being friendly with members of the opposite sex."

    "Good recap."

    "Can you just be serious for one second please? This is difficult."

    "You're right, I'm sorry. I am. It's just hard for me to be serious and not angry at the same time."

    "I know."

    "I know you know."

    "Sydney."

    "Sorry."

    "So how are we going to fix this? I love you and I want to stay together. It's just been...difficult...lately."

    "I know. And I know that it's on both ends, not just yours."

    "That isn't a solution."

    "Now who's being snarky?"

    "Why is it that I still love you even when I'm angry?"

    "I have a stellar personality."

    "There it is."

    "Get back on track, Hall."

    "Right. Back on track. Fixing this."

    "Fixing this."

    "I could stop interacting with Shelby on Twitter."

    "And what about in real life?"

    "She's still my lab partner, Syd."

    "Then we should ensure that you speak about biology and not chemistry, understood?"

    "Understood. And what will you bring to the table?"

    "I will stop living with Adrian and Justin."

    "You will?"
    "No, that was a lie. But I'll spend less time at home if that works for you."

    "That works for me."

    "Good. Wow, we should have talked on the phone a long time ago. I miss your voice."

    "I miss yours too."

    "We're such saps. It's disgusting."

    "Agreed."

    "And I'll get Riley and Jen to back off of you. They're just overprotective."

    "Yeah. Same goes for Aria and Hannah."

    "Thanks."

    "No problem."

    "So is that it?"

    "I mean, I guess. Do you not want to talk anymore?"

    "Oh. I didn't know if you wanted to talk anymore."

    "I do. I think."

    "Oh, okay. Cool."

    "Yeah."

    "So what did you do today?"

    "Washed my car. Updated my Facebook status. Napped."

    "Sounds productive."

    "Very."

    "Well how--"

    "Actually Syd, I do have to run. I'm getting another call."

    "Oh. From who?"

    "Dan."

    "He lives with you."

    "He's out right now, I should take it. I'll talk to you later."

    "Alright. I love you."

    "Love you too."

    Connor hung up the phone and said hello to Dan.

    Sydney hung up the phone and cried.

A/N: Since a lot of you guys said in the comments of the last chapter that you wanted to hear that phone call they were going to have, I decided to oblige! This is not an official Chapter with a number, which is why I specifically did it without a POV and with no description from either end.

Notice how it says "first".

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter! I hope you enjoyed the different take on it.

Also, be sure to check me out on Radish Fiction (@kathpowell) and check out my Radish-only novel "Mask", the first four chapters of which were uploaded yesterday!

-Katherine