She started laughing.
“No, I’m saying cold drinks are terrible, and I want you to buy me something I haven’t tried, yet. You did say that you’d buy the coffee if I helped you figure out where to go after college.”
“If only you were helpful,” I said as I stood up and headed towards the counter.
2.
I wasn’t exactly living with Brad, but it felt like I was. I spent more time at his modest apartment than I spent in my own room. He didn’t seem to mind at all.
“Hey Brad,” I said walking into the apartment.
Nobody responded. I dropped my things on the couch and started thinking of ways I could surprise him. I wondered if he’d like me lying in bed, waiting for him to return. Or I could make his favorite food and give him something to enjoy, first.
I couldn’t decide so I just went with a classic. I started to strip down, leaving a small line of clothes that led toward the bedroom.
He usually would get revved up by the time he entered, and I’d be ready to surprise him. But, when I opened the door to the bedroom, I was the one surprised. He was already here, and he smiled brightly at me.
“Hey, babe,” he said.
The only thing covering him was a blanket, and it looked like he had just left the gym as a thin sheen of sweat covered him.
“Looks like you wanted to get things started quickly,” I said, removing the last of my clothing and maneuvering towards the bed.
“Oh, you know it,” he replied.
I started to climb onto the bed until I heard a noise behind me. I spun my head to find the source. A girl, whom I didn’t recognize, was tip-toeing from the closet.
“Are you kidding me?” I said.
She started to move a lot faster, carrying her things with her as she sprinted to the exit. She was quick, and there was no way I’d catch her. So, I turned back to the real culprit.
“Brad, what the hell?!” I shouted.
“Okay, I can explain-”
“Explain what? There’s a naked girl carrying her clothes down the hallway.”
“Yeah, but it’s not what it looks like,” he replied
“What does it look like,” I asked sharply.
Brad studied my expression and realized there was no way he’d be getting out of this. His silence said enough.
“I thought so,” I said as I started to get dressed.
“Lucy, can we just talk this out?” he pleaded
“Sure, start talking,” I said as I seethed with rage.
He paused a moment, trying to get his thoughts together.
“Okay, I met her about a week ago. She’s a transfer student, new to the campus. I was showing her around, and she started coming on to me,” he said.
“So you decided it would be a good time to sleep with her?” I asked.
“It’s not my fault.”
“Goodbye, Brad,” I said, angrily.
“Wait, Lucy!” he shouted at me as I flung the front door open.
“What,” I said.
“Okay, you have every right to be angry. I messed up. I hope we can, at least, talk about this soon. I don’t want to lose you,” he replied sheepishly.
I fumed with rage just looking at him. But, the memories of all the great times we’d had together were also there. The nights we’d held each other during the rain; the days we ate ice cream and cookies until we couldn’t stand up, all those memories were there.
I wanted to hit him for the slap in the face he’d just handed me. He didn’t even have the guts to own up to his mistake and accept his punishment.
“Brad, I’m a forgiving person,” I said.
His tenseness seemed to relax, and he exhaled out. A smile started to form at the corner of his lips.
“Not this time, though,” I added, “I thought that you were a great guy. It turns out I was wrong.”
I slipped on my other shoe at the door and tried to sort out my attire, straightening what I could, but my brain was too rattled to manage.
“I’ll come get the couple things I left here when I manage to calm down. Goodbye, Brad.” I said.
I walked away in a fit of rage. He didn’t have anything to add, and that was good. I don’t know what else I would have said, but I know it wouldn’t have been nice.
Twilight was falling over the campus, and I would have to sleep in my own bed tonight. It had been a while, and I wondered what my roommate was doing.
What I really wanted to do was break something.
3.
A sock on the door only meant one thing; Tiffany was getting laid. What else was I to expect from one of the most promiscuous girls on campus?
I remembered there was a bar just down the street that we used to visit on Friday nights from time to time. I couldn’t remember the name, but a drink just sounded good right now.