“Right, make me the bad guy. You could’ve warned me about this.”
“I didn’t know I would meet her.”
“Yes, you did. You had the complete list of guests. I’m leaving,” I said and turned my back on him.
“What…? No, you’re not!”
He sounded angry. I didn’t realize how angry until he grabbed my wrist and jerked me back.
“Ouch! Alex!” I cried.
“You’re staying with me. And don’t act so virtuous. I saw you with that guy at the bar,” he said, speaking low, his face scary close to mine.
He was squeezing my wrist so hard, I thought my fingers twitched.
“I wasn’t doing anything! He was hitting on me and I left,” I defended myself. “Let go, you’re hurting me!”
His hot breath touched my face, the faint smell of alcohol making me queasy. I was afraid of him in those moments. I wanted to scream.
“Heya there, you two! Isn't it a bit cold for outdoor cuddles?” someone said, jovially.
“It’s alright, we’re going back inside soon,” Alex assured the man. I wanted to protest, but the unknown voice spoke again.
“Alexander Brandt? Is that you?”
“Professor Dorneget!”
“You rascal! How have you been? Haven’t seen you since your freshman year!”
Alex eased his grasp, but didn’t let go. He only released my wrist when he had to shake the professor’s hand.
“I’ve been well, thank you. What’s new? I heard you were on sabbatical.”
Alex talked like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t just attacked me. A cold shiver went down my spine, watching his perfect act. Maybe something wasn’t right after all.
“Good, yeah. I’ve traveled a lot. Listen, kid, could I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure. What is it?”
The professor gestured he wanted privacy for this conversation. Alex glanced at me, the look in his eyes harsh. My eyes widened by themselves, as I was torn between screaming for help and wanting to cry.
“This way, professor,” he said, then turned to me and whispered, “Stay here.”
I nodded. I watched him put some distance between us, but taking care to have me in his sight at all times. I suddenly felt terribly lonely and hugged myself in an attempt to warm my freezing body and comfort my confused mind.
It didn’t take long until Alex returned to me, but I had lost track of time waiting. I didn’t move from my spot, not even when the icy wind had started blowing around me. I spent my time focused on the repetitive movement of a small evergreen shrub that stood against the wind courageously.
I didn’t realize Alex was back until I felt his suit jacket around my shoulders. He pulled me back onto him and wrapped his arms around me tightly.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” he said, resting his chin on top of my head. It hurt, but I didn’t want to interrupt him. His voice was calm, he wasn’t angry with me anymore. “I had a couple of drinks and I think I lost my cool. I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe I was stupid to overreact like that.
“It’s alright. Don’t worry.”
“What do you say we go in, get our coats and then get out of here?”
“Sounds good. I’m freezing and hungry.”
“OK, babe. We’ll get a burger on our way.”
I nodded, happy we would finally be warm and alone soon. I liked cuddling with him and falling asleep together.
***
My heavy sigh, the third for the morning, was the only sound that broke the silence in the dorm room.
I scrolled to the next picture, trying to fight back the tears prickling my eyes.
Mum looked happy. These pictures, from her latest weekend trip with ‘the girls’ looked like she had fun. I was happy for her.
In contrast, I felt empty, a stubborn knot in my stomach keeping me on the brink of puking most of the time.
“Maybe I should call her. Tell her everything,” I said to myself, my finger hovering over the dial button. Something was stopping me; why couldn’t I just call Mum?
Her unexpected call startled me. I almost dropped the phone. Maybe it was a sign.
“Hi, Mum.”
“Hey, honey. How are you?”
“I’m…”
“Honey, is everything alright? You didn’t come home this weekend.”
I opened my mouth to speak, a bit of courage surfacing from within me, when I heard someone cheering at the other end. It sounded like one of Mum’s friends had won the card game.
“You’re at Mary’s?” I asked, swallowing my courage.
“Yes, baby. What is wrong? I can be on the campus in a couple of hours.”
There was a general disapproving sound amongst her friends that made me realize that, no matter how much I needed my mother, she needed a break more.
She had spent a lot of years being there for me, supporting my every wish and protecting me from unpleasant things. She was finally free of this duty and I could take care of myself.
I cleared my throat, making sure my voice didn't flutter as I spoke.
“No, Mum. I’m just a little bit tired. You go on and win everything over there, OK?”
“Are you sure, baby?”
“That I want you to take every penny off your friends? Absolutely!”
She chuckled. “OK, baby. Get some rest, you don't sound too well. Maybe you should see someone.”
“I’m fine, Mum. Nothing a nap wouldn’t solve.”
She insisted a bit more that I should see a doctor, before I made her hang up and have fun.
A tear escaped, despite my best efforts and I wiped it fast, like it was a sin to dwell in self pity.
I couldn’t shake the emptiness swirling inside me. I looked at the bouquet of white flowers Alex had sent me, apologizing for what he had done to me, hoping that it would help me feel better, but it didn’t.
Unconsciously, I touched my left cheek, my fingers trembling.
No, I wasn’t weak. And I was definitely not going to bother my mother with small matters like this. It had only been a slap, the heat of the moment too much for an A type personality like Alex. He was a leader, used to command every group he had ever joined, and I had been wrong to argue anyway.
Besides, he had apologized a couple of times since. He really regretted the incident, who was I to overthink everything like a drama queen?
No, I was fine.
To reinforce my decision, I stood up, pulled my shoulders back and pointed my chin sharp ahead.
I had a seminar to attend to, there was no time to weep for minor things I couldn’t change. Instead, I would have coffee with Alex and talk things through. He was a reasonable guy, and we had six months together behind us. It meant something.
I grabbed my phone and texted him, then went to take a shower. When I got out, I hurried to check for his reply. There was none.
Strangely relieved for his lack of reaction, I chose to ignore the thought that he was irreverently ignoring me. I decided, instead, to occupy my mind with some papers I had to read for next week.
Half an hour into my study, the phone rang.
“Hey, Alex.”
“Hi, babe. I’m free now. Wanna have that coffee?”
“I’m in the middle of something. Can we do this after my seminar?”
“Look, you wanted to talk. Either now or next week. I’m away with my family this weekend.”
The prospect of being apart from him, not long ago sad news, seemed like something I could live with. Maybe I could avoid the talk; I had been dreading it from the moment I had pressed send on that text.
“OK. I’ll see what I can do. But I guess it could wait until next week.”
“Fine. I postpone my own things because you say you want to talk and you find something to get busy with. That’s not very nice.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I gotta go.”
He hang up without another word, leaving me torn be
tween this strange new feeling of relief and guilt for my rudeness. I almost called him back, but managed to stop myself. I needed to finish my reading.
***
“Hurry up! Jane is not going to wait for us forever,” shouted my roommate, bursting into my room.
I pulled my top down fast, to hide the bruise on my stomach. My cheeks burned as I turned to face her. I couldn’t even look at my roommate as I mumbled that I was almost ready.
“Well, come on. We’re not going to have this ride forever. Jane’s father is taking the car back in two hours.”
“I’ll be out in a minute, Sarah. Just give me a minute, OK?”
She left, scolding me under her breath.
I sighed, struggling to stop myself from crying. I didn’t have time to repair my makeup.
A gulp of cold water helped me regain some composure, so I could join Sarah and Jane in the parking lot.
“Girl, you take a long time to get ready! I almost left without you,” Jane said, starting the engine.
“It doesn’t matter now. We’re going to this concert. Let’s go!”
Sarah had been eager to see this band ever since they announced their first concert. She was really into indie rock and somehow managed to obtain VIP tickets, whatever they entailed for such a little known band, from one lucky geek last week.
I was grateful to Sarah for preventing Jane’s inquiry into every little detail that didn’t sit right with her. She had a way of getting the most hidden truth out of me and I didn’t want this truth out in the open.
It took great effort to keep up appearances for my friends. I couldn’t enjoy the evening, as I was too preoccupied with hiding my bruises; not the physical ones, Alex had been careful to hit me where no one could see. My pain was greater on the inside, where I couldn’t lie to myself. I was a failure, there was no way around it.
How else would I have missed the signs and gotten fooled by this guy? Only a failed human being could put up with such a treatment.
And, come to think of it, Alex was right. “If you’re taking it, that means you deserve it. Anyone else would’ve left.” His words made sense.
The hardest part was that I knew my mother would’ve ripped him apart. While that prospect seemed reassuring, I couldn’t help but hurt more at the disappointment I would cause her.
The daughter she was so proud of turns out to be just a doormat. She would never be able to look at me the same way again.
And all of that would come on top of the sadness and pity she would feel for me. She was just getting her life back together, finally dating a nice man and going out with friends that brightened her day. How could I upset her with my misery? It wasn’t worth it, it was my mess to deal with.
Jane had charmed a guy into buying us drinks all night and I took advantage. The alcohol burned, I wasn't used to it, but it washed the thoughts away. Soon, I wasn’t capable of hurting coherently anymore. The mangled pain felt better, as harsh thoughts stopped being so clear and sharp in my mind.
In the morning, I woke up in my bed. Not at the dorm, but my bed at home. On the nightstand next to me, Mum had left aspirin and a glass of water. I sat up, trying to remember how I got there, but all I could think of was how disappointed my mother must be. I was petrified, wishing that all was just a bad dream.
“Honey? Are you up?” I heard Mum whisper from outside the door. “Honey?”
I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning even if she couldn’t see me.
“I’m fine, Mum.”
“Did you take that aspirin?”
“You can come in, Mum. Yes, I took it. Thank you.”
I heard the door but I couldn’t look her way. I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
After a full minute, she chuckled. I looked up, curios.
“Oh, honey. You were so drunk last night,” she said, trying hard not to laugh.
“I… You’re not mad?”
She finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She laughed out loud until tears welled up in her eyes. It almost made me smile. She was cheerful, which meant things were not as bad as I imagined them to be.
“What’s so funny in here?” a man asked from out in the hallway.
My eyes widened in surprise as Mum tried to draw enough air to speak.
“Who’s that, Mum?”
“He’s… That’s George.”
“Oh. Nice to meet you, George!” I shouted through the door. “Can you give me a minute to get decent?”
“By all means. I’ll just wait downstairs for you, ladies.”
All I needed was my mother’s boyfriend to see me like this. I made an effort and managed to drop my feet over the edge of the bed, but I had moved too fast. A wave of nausea stopped me from going any further. Then, the headache I vaguely remembered from last night came back with renewed strength.
“Come, I’ll make you your father’s hangover remedy.”
“Are you sure you’re not mad?”
I grabbed a bathrobe on my way to the bathroom, avoiding to get changed in front of my mother. My bruises were not a sight for her eyes.
“No, honey, I’m not mad. You were bound to get drunk at some point in your life. I’m just glad you asked your friend's father to drive you home.”
“Jane’s father? Oh, God…”
“Yeah,” Mother managed before succumbing to another episode of laughter.
“God, I’m sorry, Mum.”
“Don’t worry, honey. But you might have to take it up to Jane’s father when you get back.”
“I’ll apologize to him too. Pay for gas, maybe.”
“And the cleaning bill.”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“Did I…?”
“All over the backseat. I don’t know what you girls had to drink, but there was a lot of color in the fabric.”
“Oh, my God. All I needed now to complete the picture of shame is puking on Mr Martin’s backseat. Great.”
I came back out of the bathroom, realizing I had forgotten to get a change of clothes. Mum intercepted me and went for a hug. I cringed, my brain thinking that she was going to hit me, just like Alex liked to.
My reticence seemed to give Mum pause, but I wrapped my hands around her waist quickly, to distract her.
“OK, Mum, I need to take a shower. I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”
“I’ll get started on that remedy. Oh, and, Eva?”
“Yes, Mum?”
“Next week I was thinking we could go on a weekend together. Me, you, George and his son, David. To know each other better.”
“But next weekend is Alex’s frat party.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand. He’s a nice guy.”
I smiled bitterly, but my heart was already racing at the thought of having to tell him about this trip. He certainly was a nice guy when people were around, but I was the only one who knew what sort of person he was behind closed doors.
“We’ll be downstairs, honey. We’ll talk about this, OK?”
I nodded and hurried into the bathroom, as anxiety was worsening my nausea. “He is going to be so mad at me,” I said to myself, as I doubled over the toilet.
***
I breathed deeply, trying to settle my racing heart. I was still on the train, I still had time to prepare to meet Alex, I still had time to calm my nerves.
Only that my nerves didn’t want to calm down. The more I tried to think about relaxing, the more anxious I got.
“This isn’t working, I need coffee,” I decided and rummaged through my bag for the thermos Mum had prepared for me.
I took a sip and leaned back. I needed to think, I needed to find a way to deal with this.
The fact was that I knew Alex would get mad when he’d hear about my weekend trip. He would make sure to torture me in any way until Friday night; but this wasn’t the problem, I could get through that. As I had come to know him, I knew he will try to prevent me from going, regardless of the fact that I wanted to or that my m
other had asked me to be there. He had no such scruples.
“Today is Wednesday,” I started strategizing. “Alex wants me to come by his place. I have to tell him, but how?”
I frowned, thinking really hard about my options, when another idea came to mind. “What if…?” Did I really need to tell him today? After all, there was plenty of time until Friday to do it, and there was no shortage of opportunities.
Pursuit: A Bad Boy Romance Page 23
