The Colorful Path

Chapter Seven: Orange; Change Of Freedom, A Prison

The Monday after the party, I walked onto campus a little later than usual trying my best to avoid Beth. I am not angry with her, but I can't see her right now. I am still trying to grasp the reality of what happened. Her and I haven't even texted since Samuel and I argued about it. It's so weird to think about everything that has happened that night.

Beth and I got really close and sexual, something I would have never thought about with any woman before. Samuel knew exactly where I was at and I don't even remember telling him where the party was at. I have this big bruise on the side of my face that I am not too sure how I got. Samuel says I fell on the corner of the couch, but that doesn't sound right either. A lot happened and it is all just really confusing.

As I walk through the courtyard, I catch myself looking for Beth, but I don't know why. I shouldn't be. I don't want her to see me. I don't want to talk to her and I don't want to explain anything after I left the party. Above all, Samuel made me swear to never speak to Beth again, and I know that isn't fair to her, but I love Samuel and I can't lose him over some drunk mistake.

I walk into the classroom to feel the eyes of some of the students I have never spoken to before. Something is wrong. Do they know about what happened between Beth and I? Should I be worried?

"Don't sweat it, girly." I turn my head to see Beth leaning up against the doorway. "This isn't high school. They're not gossiping about us, they're gossiping about your boyfriend showing up and being douche."

For whatever reason, seeing her there made my heart stop. Looking at her so close to me is making me tense up, in a good way, a way I shouldn't be tensing up in. I don't know what to say to her or what to do, I am not supposed to be talking to her. I look around the room to realize that this is okay, we are classmates and we are going to talk. I just won't text her like how I haven't been.

"That's relieving." I managed to say.

Beth's facial expression changes from her usual happy face to worried and concerned. "Oh my God, what happened there?" She softly caresses the bruise on my face.

Feeling her hand on my cheek makes me want to fall into her arms. Stop, no.

"Oh, I fell when I got home and hit the couch hard."

"Avery, that's not a bruise from falling." She pauses and becomes more worried. "Did he hit you?"

I quickly removed her hand from my face. "No! Why would you even say that?" I defend him. "Samuel loves me and would never hurt me."

"Avery, I don't know. I don't know him, but I do know what a bruise looks like after being hit hard in the face and I know he was very upset with you that night."

"Beth, stop. He was only mad because of you and no he did not hit me. He would never hurt me."

The expression of defeat comes to her face. "Alright, I'm sorry." She looks down at the floor. "I'm sorry for allowing you to be drunk and letting what happened, happen. I'm sorry."

She's sad and feels bad. Why did I yell at her? I know it's not her fault. What am I supposed to say, what am I supposed to do?

"Just." I pause. "Just please leave me alone. Don't text me."

Beth looks up to me almost as if she is going to cry. I feel so bad, I really don't want things to end like this with her. She was my friend and I like her a lot. Why am I doing this?

"Okay, you have my word." She pauses. "I'll see you around, tissue."

Beth turns away and begins to walk out into the hallway blending into the crowd of the students. It hurts to see her go, I don't know what is wrong with me. A part of me wants to run after her and hug her. She shouldn't have apologized to me, I should have to her. God, I feel so wrong.