Chapter 173: the call II

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: the call II

For several seconds, Christopher said nothing.

He had genuinely not expected that answer.

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

It was...

Direct.

Far more direct than anything any girl, or even anyone, had said to him before.

Christopher was accustomed to attention.

He was accustomed to people approaching him, wanting to speak with him, asking for his number, or finding excuses to spend time with him.

But no one had ever simply told him—

I wanted to hear your voice.

So plainly.

So without hesitation.

For once, Christopher found himself unsure of what to say.

Then—

Thud.

A loud sound came through the phone.

Christopher blinked.

"Are you all right?"

Another muffled noise followed.

Vivienne’s eyes widened.

She immediately covered the microphone with her hand.

She turned toward the others.

"Guys!"

Claire was sitting on the floor beside the bed.

She had apparently leaned too far forward and fallen straight off the edge.

"I’m sorry!"

Amelia was trying desperately not to laugh.

"I didn’t think you’d actually say that!"

Eleanor covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.

Vivienne stared at all three of them in horror.

"Oh my God..."

Claire looked up from the floor.

"That was so smooth!"

"Stop!"

Vivienne’s entire face had turned red.

She uncovered the microphone.

"Sorry."

She took a breath.

"I think my book fell."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Christopher chuckled.

He couldn’t help it.

He still wasn’t entirely sure what had happened.

But judging from the sound, it seemed Vivienne had somehow managed to create a small disaster around herself.

"It’s all right."

His voice was warm with amusement.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

Vivienne glanced at Claire.

Claire immediately gave her two thumbs-up from the floor.

Vivienne resisted the urge to throw a pillow at her.

Christopher waited a moment.

"Anything else?"

Vivienne froze.

Anything else?

Her mind went blank again.

She looked at the girls.

Claire silently mouthed:

Continue.

Amelia nodded enthusiastically.

Eleanor merely watched with an expression that clearly said you started this.

Vivienne swallowed.

She couldn’t possibly end the call immediately after saying something as embarrassing as that.

So she searched desperately for another question.

"Um..."

She twisted a strand of hair around her finger.

"What time are you going home?"

Christopher glanced at the quiet street.

"Probably later."

Vivienne blinked.

"Don’t you have curfew?"

There was a brief pause.

Then Christopher laughed softly.

"Do you?"

Vivienne immediately nodded.

"Yes."

"First-year students do."

"Oh."

He understood.

"Fourth-years don’t have the same curfew."

Vivienne’s eyes widened slightly.

"Really?"

"Not really."

He smiled.

"Once you’re in your final year, the university gives us considerably more freedom."

Vivienne nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes sense."

She glanced at her friends.

Claire was already gesturing excitedly.

Ask him something else.

Vivienne shook her head slightly.

What else am I supposed to ask?

Amelia pointed toward the phone.

Anything.

Vivienne almost laughed.

Christopher’s voice came through again.

"Are you back in your dorm?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Yes."

She glanced around the room.

"I see."

There was a brief pause.

Then Vivienne thought of something.

"If you’re going home later..."

She hesitated.

"What time is your first class tomorrow?"

"Mine?"

"Yes."

Christopher thought for a moment.

"Eleven."

Vivienne blinked.

"Eleven?"

"Most of my classes start later this year."

"Oh."

She smiled.

"That’s nice."

Christopher chuckled softly.

"What about you?"

Vivienne sighed.

"Ours starts at eight."

She paused.

"Actually, we have to be there a little before that."

"That’s early."

"It is."

"You should probably get some sleep, then."

Vivienne went quiet.

Something about the way he said it made her smile.

He wasn’t saying it because he wanted to end the conversation.

He sounded genuinely considerate.

She could almost picture him standing somewhere outside the university district, telling her that she should sleep because she had an early class the next morning.

He’s so gentle.

Vivienne looked down at her phone.

She wanted to keep talking.

She really did.

But what else could she ask?

They weren’t close enough yet for her to simply keep him on the phone all night.

So, reluctantly, she smiled.

"You’re right."

She took a small breath.

"Then... good night."

"Good night."

Vivienne hesitated.

"Take care on your way back."

There was a tiny pause.

Then Christopher answered warmly.

"I will."

Another moment passed.

Then Christopher said simply,

"Goodbye."

Vivienne smiled.

"Goodbye."

She paused again, unable to resist.

"And good night, Senior Archibald."

The call ended.

For several seconds, Vivienne simply stared at her phone.

Then—

Her smile slowly widened.

She looked down at the screen as though she couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.

Behind her...

Silence.

Complete silence.

Then Claire suddenly grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it.

"OH MY GOD!"

Amelia immediately collapsed backward onto the bed.

"OH MY GOD!"

Eleanor covered her mouth, laughing despite herself.

"That was..."

She couldn’t even finish.

Vivienne turned toward them.

"What?!"

Claire lifted her head from the pillow.

"You said good night, Senior Archibald!"

Vivienne’s cheeks immediately turned red.

"So?"

Amelia stared at her.

"That was so..."

She struggled to find the word.

"flirty, coquettish, teasing, coy, amorous. i don’t know, maybe all of the above!"

Vivienne covered her face.

"Oh my God."

Claire burst out laughing.

"And the way you said it!"

"I was just saying good night!"

"Twice!"

"Because I was ending the call!"

"Goodbye, and good night?"

Amelia was laughing so hard she could barely speak.

"Girl!"

Vivienne threw a pillow at her.

"Stop!"

The pillow hit Amelia squarely in the shoulder.

That only made everyone laugh harder.

Eleanor shook her head, though she was smiling too.

"I think we should sleep."

Claire immediately pointed at her.

"No."

"What?"

"We are absolutely discussing this."

"There is nothing to discuss."

"There is everything to discuss."

Vivienne looked down at her phone again.

Her smile returned almost instantly.

Claire noticed.

"Oh, she’s doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Looking at the phone like an idiot."

Vivienne laughed.

"Shut up."

Amelia leaned over.

"You’re smiling."

"I know."

"You’re really happy."

Vivienne looked at the screen one more time.

Then quietly admitted,

"...Maybe."

Claire and Amelia immediately squealed.

Eleanor sighed.

But she was laughing too.

The dorm room filled with their laughter long into the night.

And for Vivienne...

Tuesday had turned out to be a very good day.

--

Tbc