Cherry

Cheating Is A Choice, Not A Mistake

Celestia

"Baby, I'll be fine. If anyone says anything, I got my friends to kick their asses." I reply as he kisses me on my forehead for the fifteenth time today.

"If anyone so much as looks at you the wrong way, call me."
"You're going to be at work thought, I don't wanna bother you," I argue.
"I don't care. You call me alright? I don't wanna hear what happens from someone else. I want to hear it from you, okay?" he argues back.
"Alright babe, but I promise you I won't need to call because nothing is gonna happen," I say as I lean in and kiss his lips before I get out of the car and walk towards the building.

          Today was the last day of the semester and I honest to God couldn't wait to be done until the fall semester since I wasn't doing summer. As I walk to my last class and Stephanie, Luke, and Ethan wait for me at the end of the hall. I wave at them when I get closer and Stephanie makes a full sprint towards me.
"Ah! I missed you!"
          I laugh. "You saw me a couple of days ago."
"Too many days ago for me." she smiles.
"What's up C!"
"Yeah, and how are you doing?"
"I'm fine," I say with a smile.
"No one should be fine after that. Just know that if you need someone to talk to, we're here for you," replies Ethan. Luke nods right after in agreement.
"I know, but I'm really fine. I just don't ever wanna go through that again."
"And we hope you don't. They'll have to go through your boyfriend, James, and us," says Luke.
"Thanks," I say. I then turn my face to see professor Finn walking down the hall. "We should head in."
          They follow me inside of the classroom and we sit in our seats.

__________

"Celestia. Wait. Do you have a minute?"
"Yeah, Professor Finn,"
"First off, I heard about um Mike, and then the whole court dispute over that woman. I just wanted you to know if you were okay and how you were dealing with it."
"I'm fine actually. It did scare me since many times I didn't know if I was gonna make it out alive or not but, I'm here so,"
"Good, good, that's good. Just know that I'm here for you okay, even though you might not have me as a professor. Anytime you need to talk, just text or call."
"Thanks."
"Before you go, I know this might seem out of the blue, but I swear that I mean no harm by it. I'm suspicious of Ramon's intentions with you."
"How come?" I squint my eyes at him.
"He isn't the loyal man you think he is. I saw pictures of him, with other women the day you were taken. Here." he replies as he digs in his bag. Once he finds the envelope, he hands it over to me.
          I take it from him with shaky hands, afraid of looking inside. There was no way in hell Ramon would cheat. He wanted me first. He pestered me until I said yes to him. He made me feel happy. He said he loved me. And I love him.
"This is a lie."
"I wish it was Celestia. I'm sorry."
"R-Ramon would never do this to me," I say as I tear open the envelope.

          I pull out the first picture and I swallow down the hurt forming in my throat. There was Ramon with a redhead. The next is a brunette he's kissing on the cheek. He looks happy as if he'd forgotten all about me. The award for the fakest person and best lie goes to Ramon. And the award for the most gullible person goes to me. I didn't wanna see anymore. I slip the photos back inside and before I knew it, a tear drops on top of the envelope, making it wet. Why would he go all the way to Tennessee to save me then? He should've just left me there.
"Hey, hey, don't cry. He doesn't deserve you. He's not worth your tears." he whispers as he takes his thumb and wipes my tears away.
"It's okay, here sit down," he says as he takes me gently by the shoulders and guides me to his chair behind his desk. When I sit down I put my head in my head and cry. I knew I wasn't good enough for him. I'm not good enough for anyone. This is why I don't want to fall in love. Because any little thing can break it all apart.
"Screw him. You'll find a better man. Someone who can take care of you and treat you like the queen you are...someone like me."
          I jerk my face to stare at him.
"What is wrong with you?!"
"I'm just being honest here. You do like an honest man do you not? I'm simply saying just take me into consideration. You're a very beautiful and very bright young woman Celestia. I'll make you happy-"
"No."
"No?" he arches an eyebrow at me as he places his hands on both sides of the chair and leans in.
"Is it because he's a good fuck? Is that it Celestia? Because I can do what he can. And I can do it better. I know my way around whips and chains too sweetheart. I'm better at it than him." he smirks.
"No. Now move."
"Oh, but I need a yes."
"You're not gonna get it from me. Find someone else to play around with."
"You like it rough, don't you? I saw those pictures of you two, I'll bet you look very nice tied up to my bed-"
"FUCKING BITCH!" he screams after my fist connected with his face. "Listen here you little shit-" he says through his teeth as he takes his hand and tightens it around my jaw.
"She said no dickhead. Take a hint." It was Luke. he had grabbed him by his shirt. The look on his face even scared me.
"Let's go C. Steph got it on recording she's reporting this to the police as we speak." I hear Ethan at my side and he grabs my arm to pull me out of the chair and away from Luke and Finn. He holds onto me tightly, somehow, afraid that I might fall.

          When Luke finally lets go of him he follows us out of the room and walks on the other side of me. I started to shake. I felt weak, and I never liked feeling weak.
"C? Are you okay?" Asks Ethan as he stops walking. Luke stops as well and looks down at me questionably. I could see his eyes darting to the envelope in my hand but he didn't ask about it.
"I-I'm fine. I j-just need to sit down." I say, but it comes out in a whisper.
"I'll get her some water," says Luke and he leaves. Ethan quickly looks around and then he brings me over to a chair in the hall. He sits me down slowly and rubs my back as my breathing begins to get heavier. Luke comes back with a water bottle in hand and opens the top, handing it over to me. I take a swig and I cough violently as it goes down the wrong pipe.
"I'm fine. I'm okay." I say through coughs. "I'm just having a panic attack. God, I haven't had one of those in years."
          Ethan continues to rub my back until I'm able to stop shaking and coughing.
"Is she okay? What happened?"
          I look up to see Stephanie with a police officer from the campus behind her.
"I'm all good. Panic attack, that's all."
"Oh, um-"
"Ma'am, can you confirm that it was you in the video?" interrupts the officer as he flips Stephanie's phone to me.
          I look at the video. There wasn't much to see, from where it was being taken in between the cracks of the doors.
"Yes. And that's professor Finn." My mouth curls up slightly as his name comes out of my mouth. "In class 134D."

          The officer nods and he heads down the hall to where the classroom was. I sigh and stand up.
"Steph, do you mind dropping me off somewhere?"
"Of course, but, didn't Ramon drop you off? Isn't he coming to get you?"
"He is, but I'm not going with him. I need some space right now."
"Alright then, where to?"
"Lucy's"

__________

"Alright, what's the deal, I know you don't need space from Ramon. What happened?" asks Stephanie as she drives down the road.
"He cheated on me."
"What?! Are you actually serious? Like dead ass?"
"Yeah Steph, when Mike took me he was messing around with other women. That's why Professor Finn pulled me to the side and he showed me pictures, but I think he thought that after I knew, he could just slip his way in and look like a persona with good intentions."
"Are the pictures in that envelope? Damn now that's fucked up. Especially since he was the one who went all the way to Tennessee to find you and bring you back, it just doesn't make sense."
"That's what I thought!"
"But then again, he was a playboy before you both started talking. Hmph, damn now I don't wanna trust no man."
"You'll probably be fine Steph, I just have bad luck with men. Right now, I just don't wanna see him right now."
          The tears start to spill all over again and I wipe at them furiously.
"Dammit, no. I'm not supposed to cry."
          Steph parks the car in the front and pulls me in for a tight hug.
"It's okay, keeping it in isn't going to be good for you. Come on, I know seeing Lu will make you feel better."
"Y-you're right," I sniff as I wipe away at my tears again and open the door. Steph walks with me to the front of the apartments and heads inside with me and we take the elevator up to the fourth floor. When we step out, we go down the hall until we reach Lucinda's apartment. I knock on the door and wrap my arms against my chest. Lucy opens it after a few seconds and smiles but her smile turns into a frown with concerned eyes as she looks at me.
"What happened?"
"Long story short, professor Finn tried to feel her up, but not before telling her that Ramon cheated on her."
"He cheated on you?! That bastard."
"I'll text you later C okay?" She says as she gives me another hug. "I'll swing by tonight Lu, with food too cause we definitely need a girl's night."
"Say less. Text me what time. Come inside C."

          We say bye to Steph as she goes back down the hall and Lucy closes the door behind her.
"Alright, come on let's get you in the bath with some wine to clear your head and vent to me.