Chapter Text
Unknown number
Hey! Running late. Be there in a sec.
Simon
WHO is this???
Unknown number
Ups, sorry. Guess I saved the wrong number.
Take it that you’re not Felice then?
Simon
Sorry, to disappoint you, but I’m not
Simon
Do you need me to act like Felice? I can totally do that if you need me to.
You know, if you need to get out of a bad situation...
Simon
Sorry, that was stupid. I’ll stop texting you now.... sorry
Simon put back his phone in his pocket. He should really try to pay more attention to this class anyways. He needed to do good in school to get away from Björsted and into a university in Stockholm. He needed to get away from this town as soon as possible. It felt like he was slowly drowning in the monotony everyday hustle of this town.
Yes, his family and friends lived here, but it was also the place where his father- who by now, not was considered family - lived. All the people who were picking on his sister lived here and their families lived here and everyone knew everyone and it was all just so boring.
Simon was not born for boring he was born for...
Unknown number
Sorry, had a really important presentation in class today. Couldn’t miss it.
Sorry
Simon
Ohh, so you’re in school too. I was starting to worry that I was texting this old man or a creep or something.
Unknown number
I don’t need to be in School just bc it’s a presentation I was running late for. Maybe I’m in this really big law firm and I was running late to defend my client.
Unknown number
Or maybe I’m this older math teacher who was about to do a presentation for his colleagues on how to prevent student for falling asleep in class.
Simon
I have no idea what to say to this..... to you
Unknown number
Sorry, just trying to be funny and mysterious.
I’m 16 and I was running late for a history presentation.
Simon
Well, mysterious 16-year-old. Thanks for letting me know this. Still don’t know what to say.
Simon
I’m 16 too.
Unknown number
That’s cool. Guess it’s kind of strange to keep texting a number you don’t known. I’ve never done that before.
Simon
There is a first for everything.
Look, I really need to go. School and all that. Must keep my grades up so I can leave this place eventually.
Text you later!
Unknown number
Sure. That would actually be nice. You texting me later I mean. Not you wanting to leave. That does not sound good in any way, but somehow, I guess I know what you mean.
Simon smiled at his phone. This person was something else. Who would keep texting a wrong number throughout the day and then admit, that they wanted to keep texting? Other than Simon. He stared at the last text he sent himself and froze in the middle of the hallway. Had he really just tolled a stranger that he wanted to leave Björsted? No, in those exact words. He wanted to leave. That was all he had admitted to. Because he wanted to leave so, so bad. And after confirming that to a stranger Simon had said that he would text the unknown number later. What was going on with him?
“Ay, are you coming or what?” A female voice asked.
Simon looked up from his phone and saw Rosh and Ayub standing in front of him. Rosh threw her hands in the air looking inpatient.
“Yes, yes. Relax would you!” Simon shot back while sending a smile her way. This was Rosh. Always in a hurry to get out of school and chill, play games or actual real football. Fondly Simon threw his arms around her shoulders and together all three of them ventured out of the school ready for a weekend that would be spend gaming and going to one of Rosh’s football matches.
Later that day Simon found himself sitting in his room gaming with Ayub and Rosh when his phone vibrated. Quickly he shot a glance towards the phone lying beside him on the bed. The text was from an unknown number. The unknown number.
Simon let the text be and continued with the game for a while until the phone vibrated and another text lit up the screen. With a sigh Simon excused himself and paused his game.
Unknown number
Hey, sorry this is so out of the ordinary and I don’t even know why I’m texting you. Is it okay?
Unknown number
I just thought that maybe you know how I feel. Like you are trapped in a life that you don’t want. Not because you are ungrateful for your life or the people around you, but because you think you would be better off somewhere else.
Argghh. This was also so weird and random of me to say. Sorry
Simon looked at the texts. This person was really something else. Who in their right mind trusted a complete stranger with this information? Still, Simon felt drawn to the texts and the person behind them so without much hesitation he started typing.
Simon
Hey!
Sorry, I was gaming with some friends. Are you ok? It sounds like you need somebody to talk to. Do you have anybody to talk to?
Unknown number
Don’t be sorry! Go have fun with your friends. It was stupid anyways.
Simon
Paused the game. And it’s not stupid.
If you want to you can talk to me. But I really think the best thing you can do is talking to someone irl...
Unknown number
I’ve told my parents all about this but there is little they can do to make it better for me.
I’m not completely alone in the world although I haven’t got that many friends tbh.
My family kind of makes it hard for me to get real friends.
Simon
Bad reputation? Jk
Unknown number
Something like that. Not joking.
Simon
Ohh shit. Sorry. I’m so sorry.
It’s just. I really don’t know that much about you. Other than you are 16 years and want to be somewhere or someone else.
Unknown number
Haha. Do you need to know more? Haven’t I already woowed you?
Simon
Uhmmmm.... not yet?
Unknown number
Okay. So what do you want to know? You get 3 questions.
Simon
3 question each day!
Unknown number
Sure. But I can make a hard pass if I want to.
Let’s do this.
Simon
Okay. What’s your pronouns?
Unknown number
Uhm. Nobody has ever asked me that before. I go by he/him.
What about you?
Simon
Same. He/him
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Unknown number
When I “grow up”? Hahaha.... I need to take over some of the work in the family business.
I’m not comfortable with elaborating right now. Sorry.
Simon
Okay? Sorry if I overstep, but it doesn’t sound like you like the idea of taking over the family business.....
I want to be a musician. An artist you know. That’s why I need to get out of this town and move to Stockholm. To get things moving and meeting the right people and stuff.
Unknown number
Stockholm is a beautiful city, but that doesn’t mean that it will get you where you want to be. Just look at me! Don’t put all your expectations on one thing.
Simon
OMG!!! You live there, right? You totally do!
Unknown number
Is that your third question for today or?
Simon
Uhmmm..... yeah. Let’s say that it is.
Unknown number
My family live there, I’m away on a boarding School atm. I’m frequently home to visit and take care of business though.
Simon
Sounds kind of serious when you have to take care of business when you are only 16. Is your family a part of some kind of mafia? Hehehe.
Unknown number
God no!
Sometimes I wish it was something like that though. I must go back to do public appearances. Mainly together with my brother or my parents. Nothing to serious. It’s okay though. Been like that for as long as I can remember.
Simon
So, your family is well known? And you are not in a mafia. What are you then? The King of Sweden? Haha
Unknown number
...
Simon could see the three dots appearing and disappearing multiple times. Shit. What if he had gone too far. After all. They didn’t really know each other, did they? not really and not yet. Lying on his bed he threw his hands over his head taking a deep breath. He really wanted to know this person. Somehow, he intrigued Simon and he foundation himself really drawn to him.
Quickly - as if he was afraid too much time between their texts would course them to disappear - he changed the name on the unknown number from “unknown number” to “sweet 16”.
Simon
I changed your name to “sweet 16” hahaha
Sweet 16
Sweet 16? Why?
Simon
It felt wrong to let your name be “unknown number” and I get the feeling that you’re not comfortable telling me your name so....., sweet 16 it is. You’re sweet and you’re 16. Perfect!
Sweet 16
You Think I am sweet?
And thanks. For the whole not asking about my name thing...
Simon
No worries. Yes, I know it sounds strange and all but I find you quite nice to talk to.
Or text with. Whatever.
Sweet 16
Tack. That’s.... sweet of you to say. I find you quite nice too!
What should I call you? You can’t keep being an unknown number in my phone now.
Simon
What would you like to call me?
Sweet 16
I don’t know....
Maybe... no it’s stupid.
Simon
Now you Got me all curious. Tell me!!!
TELL MEEEEEEEEEEE
Sweet 16
Hahahah. Okay. But don’t laugh at me.
My angle
Shit it’s so stupid. Sorry!
Simon almost dropped his phone down on his head when he read that. My angle. His stomach made loops and all of a sudden, he felt all giggly and happy. What was happening to him. Normally he would be disgusted be stupid nicknames but this one. This was the sweetest thing ever.
Simon
OMG! I dropped my phone on my face! That is so sweet! Like. I can’t even!
Sweet 16
Really. Not too much? Sometimes I get carried away by my emotions. My mother always scolds me for that. It is not a good thing in my family. To let your emotions, show that easily I mean.
My Angle
That sounds so unhealthy. My mama always wants us to be real you know. It’s cool and all but sometimes it’s just so.... arg.
Sweet 16
?? I don’t follow you here.
My Angle
It’s just. When you are 16 you don’t want to share too much of yourself with your mother. I love her and I know she means well but between her and my sister always wanting to know how I feel about every single little thing it gets kind of tiring. Like I’ve got no privacy at all.
Sweet 16
I know all about no privacy. Nothing about nosy parents.
Sweet 16
Shit. Wasn’t supposed to write that.
My Angle
Write what? I didn’t get a text haha
Sweet 16
You are just so.....
My Angle
So what?
Sweet 16
Just so. Sweet, fun. Different from what I’m use to people acting around me.
It is so nice for a change.
My Angle
I’m glad that you think that. I really like talking with you, you know. There’s just something different about you....
Sweet 16
Yeah. I get what you mean. It’s like. So, so easy to keep a conversation going. Normally I’m shit at that but with you. It just comes naturally. Maybe it’s because we are texting, but I really like to think that it’s because we get each other you know.
My Angle
Totally get you haha. It’s getting kind of late. I Got to see my friend play a football match tomorrow so...
Sweet 16
Yeah. I got an early rowing practice tomorrow so.
Should we....
My Angle
Yeah. We should. Goodnight Sweet 16. Text me tomorrow when you have time okay.
Sweet 16
Okay. Sleep tight My Angle.
OMG. That sounds so cringe hahaha
Simon put his phone down thinking. Could you really be attracted to someone you only been texting for a day? That sounds extreme, jet so fitting for his state of mind in that very moment. Simon decided that he wouldn’t think any more about that particular subject, and quickly texts Rosh and Ayub an apology. After all. He was the friend who had ghosted his best friends the entire evening in order to text a stranger.