When the Clock Strikes Midnight

by A L Miller

  My iPad pings again and this time I grab it before Vivian can. She scoots closer to me with her head peeking over my shoulder as I swipe the iPad to and pull up Facebook. My heart sinks in my chest when the person who liked the photos was Cole. Cole liked my photos.

  Vivian looks at the iPad and then to me. “You don’t think, no it can’t be. Can it? “

  Before I can say anything, a message comes through from Cole. I’m suddenly having a difficult time focusing my eyes on his words, hey there stranger. Just when I thought I’d never see you again, your pictures pop up in my newsfeed. Still hiding behind a mask, I see.

  I swallow the lump in my throat and throw the iPad at Vivian, she gets a better view of the message from Cole and gasps, “holy cow, your mystery man was Cole.”

  I sit there with my back tightly pressed against the couch speechless. “Do I tell him it was me? What do I do, Vivian?

  “No, not yet. Just play along for a bit. Maybe he never has to know.”

  I turn to her with shock apparent on my face. “You think I should keep this from him when we are supposed to be going on a date soon?”

  She nods. “Yes, think about it, Danny. This could give him a different opinion about you and maybe not a good one. It’s better to just start fresh, don’t you think?”

  “You’re right, he may not want to go on a date with me if he knows I just throw myself at strangers in masks at parties.”

  Wow, the guy I had my one-night stand with was Cole. I didn’t have to wonder anymore because I knew. I knew what it was like to touch him and to have him touch me. I knew what it was like to have his mouth on mine and how it felt to have him inside me. I grab the iPad and played along like Vivian suggested.

  James Bishop: Well hello again. I guess I have the upper hand now knowing what you look like and you still have no clue what I look like, huh? I think I like it this way.

  Cole Matthews: Oh, I see what your game is now. I’m not much for games, but I don’t think I’d mind as much if it means I get to play with you again. It’s only a matter of time before I find out. Perhaps that could be soon.

  James Bishop: I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Cole. I think it may be best if things stayed where we last left them, don’t you?

  Cole Matthews: Well, that doesn’t sound any fun. Perhaps, I can get you to change your mind.

  James Bishop: You can try, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

  I don’t say anything else after that or wait for him to respond. I log off the account and place the iPad on the table by the couch. I sigh loudly, “What am I going to do now, Vivian? I knew it was a bad idea to create that account and submit those pictures. Why would he ask me out on a date if he was just going to ask to see some guy again who he slept with at a party?”

  Vivian shrugs. “Maybe because he is still curious to know who was behind the mask. You were curious too. What if it wasn’t Cole. What if the guy was someone else and he asked to see you? Would you have said yes?”

  I shrug. “I’m not sure. Probably not, it’s not like I can just show up in my masquerade mask to meet him for coffee.”

  It’s not like I could just show up as myself if it was someone else. I’m sure he would be slightly disappointed if I didn’t meet his expectations beneath the mask and I didn’t have to wear a mask around Cole. I knew it was best I just let that night be just that, something amazing that happened to be with the guy I’ve been wanting to notice me for years and hopefully it would happen again but with the real me.

  She snickers, bringing me out of my reverie. “You have to admit that would make for an interesting date though.”

  The instant pot goes off and I hurry toward the kitchen to release the pressure before opening the lid. The delicious aroma hit my nose, making my stomach growl. “Dinner is ready,” I shout in excitement before pulling out some plates and forks. I had added some veggies midway through, and it all smelled so good I could just eat it right out of the pot.

  Vivian walks into the kitchen sniffing the air. “That smells delicious, I’m so glad I came to your house for dinner tonight because my ass would be eating ramen instead if I didn’t.”

  I laugh because it was more than likely true. I loved Vivian to death, but she was a terrible cook, one of those people who burned toast. We eat our dinner in silence, which tells me Vivian must have really been hungry because she is never silent. She even talks while she eats with her mouth full of food and it drives me insane. I make jokes, wondering why she was still single.

  It was starting to snow again, and I didn’t want to make Vivian drive all the way back home later, so she crashed on my couch with my cat snuggled up at her feet and I laid in bed all night thinking about Cole and what it would be to have him laying beside me, kissing me pressed against the comfort of my own bed instead of a wall in a cold hallway at a party in a strangers house.

  Twelve

  Cole

  My workday is long and busy, per usual. I’m bombarded with phone call after phone call and having to show more houses today than I cared to. I check my phone all day to see if I got any messages from Danny. I’m disappointed every time there isn’t a message. I head out of my office pocketing my keys and phone before getting in my car to go home. I would more than likely be picking up some takeout on the way.

  I hadn’t eaten much today except a random array of cookies at the open houses I did today, with way too much lemonade and not enough coffee. I stop at my usual go-to place for some orange chicken and devour it the moment I get inside my apartment. There isn’t going to be any leftovers for tomorrow at the rate I’m going. I really should learn to cook something, but I am always way too tired to do anything when I got home from work.

  I take off my coat, realizing I still have it on, and my black mask falls to the floor. I pick it up and stare at it, thinking of the events that took place the night I wore it. I hadn’t thought of the guy again until now. The only person I thought about today was Danny. A notification pops on my phone from Facebook, so I open up the app to see that Paul has loaded new pics to the party album.

  I have nothing better to do before heading to bed, so I might as well look at some pictures and see if I was in any of them. I wasn’t expecting to see the picture of him, the man in the blue and gold masquerade mask. Paul had tagged him in the pictures as James Bishop. I know I shouldn’t, but I’m way too curious not to, so I click on his profile which was private and only allowing me to see the profile picture of him standing next to that same woman he entered the party with. My curiosity was really getting the best of me tonight; without thinking, my finger lands on the message button with my fingers moving quickly against the letter keys.

  I hit send before I could overthink it back out of sending the message. I probably should have though, but I was caught up in the moment when I saw his picture and those alluring eyes and perfect lips. The way his clothing lay perfectly against his small, taught body that I was lucky enough to have my hands all over.

  A noise comes from my phone as an incoming Facebook message comes through. A rush of nerves move through my body, my hands are shaky trying to open the message. I wasn’t expecting him to answer, at least not this quickly. It then comes to me that he now knows exactly what I look like. He now knows exactly who I am, and I still have no idea who he is. We don’t message each other for long and I stop the conversation before he does after feeling a bit rejected by his words.

  He doesn’t want to meet me. Maybe he didn’t like what was beneath the mask? Or maybe he was married or had a boyfriend or something. But why would he be alone on New Year’s Eve then? A million different scenarios run through my mind until it traces back to Danny. I was supposed to be going out with Danny this week so why do I even care that this guy I know nothing about doesn’t want to see me. Danny wants to see me, and I desperately want to see him; but a part of me is still stuck on that night and I’m worried a part of me always will be.

  I toss my work clothes into the hamper an
d pull on some sweatpants, making my way to the bed where I will probably spend the night awake, letting my thoughts get the best of me. After lying in the dark for ten minutes, my eyes wander back to my phone charging on the nightstand and I reach over to grab it. It’s not like I’m sleeping anyway. I scroll through my contacts until I land on Danny’s name and my lips curl into a smile. He doesn’t even have to be here to have that effect on me.

  It is official, I am crushing on my neighbor while also crushing on some stranger I met once at a party and didn’t even have an actual conversation with. That guy was nothing more than a fantasy, Danny was the real deal. I send him a text and then set my phone back on the nightstand, hoping to wake up to a yes to the question I asked him.

  It’s been a few days and I told Danny I would text him this week about getting together. I close my eyes and lay back into my pillows, staring up at the ceiling before turning on my television. I normally didn’t have issues coming home after work and crashing after I eat, normally even too tired for a shower, which is why I just took them in the morning. Showers usually helped me wake up, along with a few cups of coffee.

  I flip through Netflix looking for something I hadn’t seen yet, which shouldn’t be too hard since I was usually too busy or too tired to watch movies, so I usually just let some show run in the background while I slept. I landed on a comedy I never heard of with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. I barely paid attention with my mind focusing on everything else but the movie. As much as I wanted to block out the stranger completely, I was still struggling to do so. Once I went out with Danny, I’m sure the stranger will be nothing more than just a distant memory, almost as if he never happened.

  I liked Danny, and we shared more than what I shared with the stranger. I knew what Danny sounded like when he laughed at something funny, that his cheeks turned an adorable shade of red when we accidentally touched, he bit his bottom lip whenever he was nervous, and that he affected every part of my body every time he smiled my way.

  Most importantly, I knew that I wanted him. I didn’t know anything about the guy in the blue mask except for the way his bare skin felt beneath my fingers, the softness of his mouth against mine, the feel of his warm breath against my neck that quickened as I touched him in all the right ways. Also, the way he bit his bottom lip-the exact same way Danny did.

  Thirteen

  Danny

  I wake up to a new text message, and my heart skips a beat from anticipation as I open it. I sit up straight in my bed as soon as the name that shows up on the screen is Coles. I click to open his message as excitement takes over me.

  Cole: Hey there, neighbor. I was messaging you to see if we were still on to hang out this week. I wanted to know which day would work out for you.

  Me: Hey, sorry I had fallen asleep before your message came through last night and yes, I’m still good with hanging out this week. Friday works for me if it works for you.

  Cole: Friday is perfect since I don’t have to work the next day. Do you like Italian food? I know this cute little bistro Paul and I sometimes have lunch at together.

  I can’t help but grow a bit jealous at the thought of him having lunch with someone else at a place he is thinking about taking me for a date. I know it’s silly because he and Paul are just friends and Paul is with Melanie, and he doesn’t seem interested in other men. The jealousy was still there anyway. Maybe because Paul had a chance to know him in a way I hadn’t yet.

  Me: Yeah, Italian sounds perfect. Did you want to drive together since we both live in the same place? It just would seem silly to take two separate cars if we were just leaving and coming back here.

  Cole: Sure, how about I drive since I know where it is? Come by your place at 7 p.m.?

  Me: See you on Friday at 7 p.m.

  Cole: Oh, and Danny make sure you dress the way you normally would on a date because that is what this is in case you weren’t aware.

  He follows up that message with a winky face. Well, that confirms it. I am going on a date with Cole. The person I had watched from across the hall this whole time without so much being able to say a word to him. Oh crap, what was I going to wear? What do people even wear on dates? I hadn’t been in one in so long, I was starting to forget what dating even was. I get in the shower after stripping off my pajama pants and t-shirt.

  The warm water makes me want to crawl in a ball underneath it and go back to sleep. My body is quickly woken back up when the cold air hits my skin after stepping out of the shower. I wrap a large white towel around my waist and run back to my room, feeling like I’m freezing to death. I probably need to adjust the heat to make it warmer in here.

  I grab some clothes from my drawer and as I’m pulling up the remainder of my jeans, my cat presses his body against my leg, letting out a low meow. I look down at him and sigh, “I know you’re hungry buddy, just give me a minute. I’m a bit caught off guard today.”

  He follows closely behind me into the kitchen and circles around his bowl as I reach for the cat food from the pantry. I grab out some eggs and cheese from the fridge after pulling out a pan and get started on my breakfast for the morning. An egg and cheese sandwich sounded perfect to me right now. After finishing up my breakfast, I sort through my closet for something date appropriate. Nothing was really jumping out at me, so I send Melanie a text message telling her I need her fashion advice before snapping a picture of my wardrobe in my closet and sending it to her. She texts me back right away.

  Melanie: What’s this fashion emergency for?

  Me: I’m going on a date with Cole and want to make sure I look perfect.

  Melanie: Walking up the stairs now, see you soon!

  Before I can send my latest message to her, a knock comes to my door. When I unlock the door, I don’t have a chance to actually open it because it comes swinging open the moment the lock clicks. Melanie comes stumbling with her long golden hair bouncing around her face after pulling off her scarf and coat. Her face is beaming. “So show me the way to your closet and let’s find you the perfect thing to wear for your hot date!”

  I laugh, “Melanie, I never said to come over right this second. The date isn’t until Friday.”

  She walks toward my room, and my curious cat follows behind her. I lift him up and tuck him under my arm while patting his fluffy orange head with my free hand as I follow Melanie to my closet.

  She shakes her head as she runs her hand through all my clothes. “Yeah, you definitely need my help. I’m sure we can find something to work with in this closet full of gloom and doom. Not sure if you are aware but the emo look is out.”

  Her eyes light up at the sight at a pair of tight-fitting black pants and a burgundy sweater. She lays both pieces out on the bed and reaches back in my closet to pull out a black leather jacket to go over the sweater.

  “Yes, these would look perfect on you. You’ll have him slamming you against a wall again in no time,” she shoots me a wink.

  My face blushes at the remembrance that she knows everything that happened between Cole and I at the New Year’s Eve party. I wasn’t going to tell her, but she managed to pull it out of me and it was hard to hide it since the evidence was all over my flushed face, bruised lips and rumpled clothes as I walked down the stairs adjusting my mask while trying to regain balance. She saw Vivian and I head straight for the bar and lost sight of us before she could approach us. She knew what we were wearing that night, so she knew exactly who to look for. She snaps her fingers in front of my face pulling out of my reverie.

  My eyes meet hers with a hint of annoyance. “Okay, I get it, my wardrobe sucks and yes, I’ll wear the outfit you picked out for me, master.”

  She laughs. “Okay, well good. But while you were in dreamland, your phone was blinking like crazy.”

  I glance over to where my phone is and it’s lighting up from a missed call, so I hurry on over in hopes that it was Cole calling me. Why would Cole be calling me when he usually texts? Maybe that just means we are taking our phone relati
onship to the next level. I pick up my phone, and my shoulders sag in disappointment, it’s my ex-boyfriend but why the hell is he calling me? Patrick broke up with me a year after the accident. He wanted to stay friends, but I just felt way too betrayed to stay friends with him. It was hard to be friends with someone you were so used to being much more than that with. I thought Patrick was the one until he had proven otherwise and now I want nothing to do with him.

  I click on the voicemail and can’t believe the words coming from the other end. “Hey Danny, I know it’s been a while. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. In fact, I’ve never fully stopped thinking about you these last few years, I miss you Danny. Just give me a call back, okay? Maybe we can meet up for lunch or something.”

  The phone drops from my hands onto the bed. Melanie has a look of worry on her face. “What? What is it? Was it Cole? Don’t tell me the asshole canceled the date.”

  I shake my head with my eyes still on the phone. “No, it wasn’t Cole. It was Patrick.” I swallow hard, still unable to move as my body filled with fury. He has some nerve calling me after all this time telling me he missed me.

  Where was he all those nights, while I was crying in pain and agony and needing someone to be there to offer comfort? His attempt at trying to be with me after the accident was effortless. I loved him for who he was on the inside, he left when he could no longer stand what I was on the outside. He said it was hard to continuously be my support system on the days I felt like my life was falling to pieces, which was most of that year as I took time trying to accept the new me while my boyfriend and friends didn’t.

  Her gasp brings me out of my head. “Wait, Patrick? As in your ex Patrick?