Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Did you hear the news?
Your bestie is engaged to my brother.
Totally called it.
ELENA [11:56PM]
I’m working.
CHASE [11:57PM]
Right
Sorry
Talk to you tomorrow!
Then, Monday, December 16, 2023
CHASE [8:11AM]
How was work?
ELENA [8:14AM]
Fine?
CHASE [8:15AM]
Are you unsure?
ELENA [8:20AM]
What?
CHASE [8:20AM]
You asked it as a question…
ELENA [8:25AM]
I’m mostly unsure why you’re asking me. We’re not friends.
CHASE [8:26AM]
Ouch. Can’t a guy be friendly?
ELENA [8:30AM]
There’s friendly and there’s... whatever this is.
CHASE [8:31AM]
Just making conversation. Did anything interesting happen today?
ELENA [8:32AM]
Had a patient confuse his hemorrhoid cream with his toothpaste this morning.
CHASE [8:33AM]
Please tell me you’re joking
ELENA [8:34AM]
Doctors don’t joke about hemorrhoid cream.
CHASE [8:34AM]
I can’t tell if you’re messing with me or not
ELENA [8:35AM]
Good.
CHASE [8:36AM]
So you do have a sense of humor
ELENA [8:36AM]
I have to go.
CHASE [8:37AM]
Talk to ya later friend!
Then, Tuesday, December 17, 2023
CHASE [5:50PM]
You’ll never guess what happened to me today
ELENA [5:54PM]
Correct. I hardly know you.
CHASE [5:55PM]
Well, let’s rectify that, shall we?
My name is Chase Matthew Everton. My favorite color is purple. I like pineapple on my pizza.
Your turn
ELENA [6:05PM]
Pineapple on pizza is an abomination.
CHASE [6:06PM]
And here I thought you were my soul mate…
Guess I’ll have to keep looking
ELENA [6:07PM]
It wasn’t the husband that deterred you?
CHASE [6:08PM]
There’s a reason God invented divorce
ELENA [6:09PM]
God?
CHASE [6:10PM]
You know what I mean
Do you believe in God?
ELENA [6:11PM]
No.
CHASE [6:12PM]
Care to elaborate?
ELENA [6:12PM]
No.
CHASE [6:13PM]
Okie dokie then
Then, Wednesday, December 18, 2023
CHASE [4:00PM]
I can’t believe they eloped without us. Are you as offended as I am?
ELENA [4:15PM]
I am not in the least bit surprised that they eloped.
CHASE [4:16PM]
Well… fine then
“Who you texting over there?”
“Who’s Elen— Chase, no. Isn’t she married?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated? Is she married or not?”
“I mean, yeah, but—”
“I know your moral compass is a little askew, but don’t be that guy.”
“Fuck you, Jasper. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Then, Wednesday, December 18, 2023
ELENA [9:57PM]
Bore me with your inane chatter.
CHASE [9:58PM]
Holy shit, is the sky falling?
YOU texted ME first.
It’s the apocalypse, right?
ELENA [9:59PM]
You are irritating.
CHASE [9:59PM]
Yet YOU texted ME
ELENA [10:00PM]
Is there an “unsend” option?
CHASE [10:01PM]
Uh… yeah unless you have a flip phone.
ELENA [10:01PM]
I’m a doctor.
CHASE [10:02PM]
LOL! Wtf does that have to do with anything?
ELENA [10:03PM]
I don’t know. I’m having a bad day. Don’t bully me.
CHASE [10:03PM]
I’m sorry Sweetness. What’s wrong?
ELENA [10:03PM]
You can’t call me that.
A message has been unsent by Chase Everton.
CHASE [10:04PM]
I’m sorry. What’s wrong?
ELENA [10:04PM]
Nothing. It’s fine.
CHASE [10:04PM]
You can talk to me…
ELENA [10:05PM]
I can, but I shouldn’t.
CHASE [10:06PM]
What’s that mean?
ELENA [10:07PM]
Exactly what I said. Goodnight, Chase.
CHASE [10:07PM]
Goodnight Elena
Then, Thursday, December 19, 2023
CHASE [6:02AM]
Morning beautiful
ELENA [6:03AM]
Chase…
CHASE [6:04AM]
Elena…
ELENA [6:04AM]
You cannot say things like that to me.
CHASE [6:05AM]
You are objectively beautiful. What’s the problem?
ELENA [6:05AM]
My husband.
Two messages have been unsent by Chase Everton.
Two messages have been unsent by Elena Ventura.
CHASE [6:05AM]
Now it looks like you texted me first again
ELENA [6:06AM]
But I didn’t.
CHASE [6:06AM]
I don’t know… the chat history doesn’t lie
ELENA [6:07AM]
I just snorted.
CHASE [6:08AM]
Why does that turn me on?
ELENA [6:08AM]
CHASE!
CHASE [6:09AM]
Fuck sorry
A message has been unsent by Chase Everton.
ELENA [6:10AM]
I have to go to work. And you’re hopeless.
Then, Friday, December 20, 2023
ELENA [10:03AM]
How’s your job?
CHASE [10:06AM]
It’s going really well actually. I’ve got a couple locals I’m taking out once a week and then any resort guests who need a one-time lesson.
How bout you?
ELENA [10:08AM]
Exhausting. But I have the day off today.
CHASE [10:09AM]
Nice. Are you taking care of yourself?
ELENA [10:09AM]
That sounds sexual.
CHASE [10:10AM]
Fuck that is not what I meant but I can see how you took it that way
And now I have a boner
Thanks a lot
Hopefully Holly’s mom doesn’t call the cops on me
ELENA [10:11AM]
Uh who’s Holly?
CHASE [10:12AM]
You jealous, Sweetness?
CHASE [11:03AM]
Shit it’s been longer than two minutes
I can’t unsend it. Delete that.
I’m sorry
Are you mad?
Don’t be mad
I can’t help it
Seven messages have been deleted by Elena Ventura.
ELENA [11:18AM]
It’s fine. Who’s Holly?
CHASE [11:20AM]
My teenage student
But it was fine
I mentally recited baseball players and the issue subsided before she got here
thank fuck
ELENA [11:21AM]
Nice trick.
CHASE [12:02PM]
I’ve got all sorts of tricks up my sleeves. Wanna see?
ELENA [12:05PM]
What is happening right now?
CHASE [12:06PM]
I’ve heard the ladies love the forearm porn
ELENA [12:07PM]
There is something seriously wrong with you.
CHASE [12:08PM]
Probably, but did you smile?
ELENA [12:10PM]
Maybe.
CHASE [12:11PM]
So that’s a yes
Mission accomplished!
ELENA [12:14PM]
Thank you for making me smile. I needed it today.
CHASE [12:14PM]
Anything you need, Sweetness.
A message has been hearted by Elena Ventura.
“Whatcha lookin’ at?”
“Oh, just some dumb TikTok video of a guy rolling up his shirt sleeves. Guess it’s supposed to be sexy.”
“Is that what I need to do to get my wife to fuck me these days?”
“No, I—”
“Shut up!”
Then, Saturday, December 21, 2023
ELENA [7:07PM]
Do you ever wish you had a different life?
CHASE [7:08PM]
Sometimes
Mostly my brother’s life
It’s hard being the fuck up twin, but I don’t have anyone to blame but myself.
What about you? Do you ever wish you had a different life?
ELENA [7:11PM]
Every second of every day.
CHASE [7:12PM]
What’s wrong?
CHASE [7:23PM]
Talk to me Sweetness. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s wrong.
CHASE [8:06PM]
I just heard Tessa say she hasn’t heard from you in days.
Are you okay?
CHASE [8:45PM]
Please answer me so I know you’re okay
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 8:54 p.m.
ELENA [8:55PM]
You can’t call me.
He’ll hear.
CHASE [8:57PM]
Fuck okay
Sorry, I was just getting worried
Are you okay?
ELENA [8:58PM]
I’m fine.
CHASE [8:59PM]
I don’t believe you
What’s wrong?
Elena, I’m here for you. We ARE friends despite what you might say.
ELENA [9:04PM]
I’m fine, Chase. Please drop it.
Incoming call from Elena Ventura at 11:27 p.m.
“Elena?”
“Hi.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Then why do you sound like you’re crying?”
“We just…had a fight.”
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Stop fucking saying that, Elena! You’re clearly not fine.”
“Please don’t yell at me.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. What can I do? What do you need?”
“Will you just... stay on the phone with me for a little bit?”
“Of course. Where are you right now? Are you safe?”
“I’m at home. In bed. He left.”
“Okay. Will you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Will you lock the bedroom door so I know you’re safe?”
“Okay.”
“Are you back in bed?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, good. Goodnight, Sweetness. Get some rest.
“Goodnight, Chase.”
Then, Sunday, December 22, 2023
“Open the fucking door, Elena!”
“Fuck, Elena, is he there?”
Call ended by Elena Ventura at 4:14 a.m.
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 4:14 a.m.
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 4:15 a.m.
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 4:17 a.m.
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 4:18 a.m.
Incoming call from Chase Everton at 4:19 a.m.
CHASE [4:20AM]
You better answer the fucking phone right now or so help me god I will get in my car and drive to Detroit right now
ELENA [4:22AM]
I’m sorry for calling you last night, but I need you to stop contacting me.
This is over. I’m married.
CHASE [4:24AM]
What the fuck do you mean this is over?
We’re friends Elena
Friends care about each other
Friends worry when their friend’s husbands come home screaming
ELENA [4:26AM]
Please leave me alone.
Then, Tuesday, December 24, 2023
CHASE [9:44AM]
I know I probably shouldn’t say it, but I can’t get you out of my head.
It’s only been two days, and I miss you, Elena.
Then, Wednesday, December 25, 2023
CHASE [6:13AM]
Merry Christmas, Elena.
Then, Wednesday, January 1, 2024
CHASE [12:00AM]
Happy New Year, Elena.