48 Hours || Chris Evans

Calls and Messages

Days turned to weeks, and weeks into months as Chris and Rae exchanged a few messages between them. But it was Rae who began to distance herself, feeling guilty that she was holding him back as he worked hard, filming back to back movies. It was a bittersweet relief when he began leaving her on read, or taking days to respond.

OCTOBER 31st

Rae grabbed her cell phone off of her desk before any of her colleagues could see the name on the screen.

"Hey, it's me," Chris said, his voice sounding different. Rae quickly glanced around the office, looking for her boss, before replying, "Hi."

"Happy Halloween," Chris murmured.

Rae scoffed. "Americans and their weird obsession with this so-called holiday," she replied sarcastically. "What are your plans?" he asked curiously, easily sensing her dryness.

Drawing in a deep breath, Rae had initially planned to lie and say she was going to some extravagant party, but she didn't have the energy to fabricate it. So, she told the truth, no matter how utterly depressing it sounded.

"I'm going to sit at home and eat all the wee bags my mum made up," she said, blushing at her own pathetic truth.

"I wish I was there with you," Chris sighed.

Rae was sceptical. The radio silence said different. Okay, he was busy. That was easy to see, but it took less than 30 seconds to write a quick text, one every other day for the girl whose heart he had stolen.

"No," Chris continued, "I wish you were here with me. I want to do couples costumes with you," he said, releasing a sad chuckle.

Rae couldn't help but melt at his cheesy words. "Alright, showbiz," she chided, "What would we go as?"

He suggested, "Shrek and Fiona?" His jaw ached as he said it.

Rae laughed out loud, earning surprised looks from her colleagues. "Aye, me as Shrek and you as Fiona in a dress?" she whispered, glancing around at the scornful eyes.

"Exactly," he replied, "although you're too pretty to be painted green. How about Bonnie and Clyde?"

"God, you are so American," Rae teased in return, her heart fluttering at his suggestion.

The silence between them was tangible, both of them had something they wanted to say but neither of them had the courage to do so. This was a long-distance situation-ship after all, and while there was nothing keeping them together, there was no reason why they couldn't try to make it work. The excuses they made were just that - excuses - and nothing that couldn't be overcome. If only they could get out of their own heads.

"Chris?" Rae's words came out fast, as if she was afraid that if she didn't let them out, they would disappear and she would change her mind.

"Mhmm?" Chris replied, a thickness straining his voice.

"It's been quiet," Rae said. "I've missed you. I miss you."

Rae heard him heave a long, heavy sigh. She had thought that saying the words out loud would ease her pain, but instead it made it worse. Now, sitting here waiting for his reply was making everything a thousand times harder.

"It's been so hard," Chris replied.

"I know," said Rae, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've been busy."

"No, I mean... it's been hard without you," he stressed.

Brushing away tears with a light swipe of her hand, Rae cleared her throat. "What do we do?" she asked, desperately hoping he would have all of the answers.