Swipe of Fate

Chapter 13

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It helped the next day to be busy. I had three classes and I had a paper to write.

I was surprised to realize I didn't feel suicidal, like there was no point to my life. I was feeling real relief, like it was the end of the era but maybe a better one was coming along. 

So as I walked out of my dorm to my first class with my eyes still puffy from last night's tears, I thought of Max, and I sent him a text, expecting to be ignored. It came very easily to me now.

Hi Max. I'm sure you never want to talk to me again, but I wanted to apologize for how I treated you. I was in a very toxic relationship and I hate that it affected you. It's completely over now. If you would ever like to hang out again, I'd love to...but I completely understand if you hate my guts lol.

I wasn't ready to call Ethan and I's relationship what it was: abusive, so I substituted the word for toxic, which just implied we were bad for each other. I went to class, listened to the brutality Romans showed each other in the political sphere, and wasn't even looking forward to checking my phone after class to see if I had any messages. But I did have one message.

Ava I don't hate you at all! I'm glad you got out of it and are okay now. I accepted what you said because I figured it was an abusive situation and I didn't want to make things more difficult for you...I just really hoped you would see the light and get out of it. I'd love to see you again ☺

I supposed Max figured I ended my relationship with Ethan on my own accord; he didn't suspect that I had been dumped and spent last night crying in four different locations: Ethan's bed, Ethan's car, beside a street dumpster and on the floor in my room. 

I didn't feel the need to correct him. As far as I was concerned now, I told myself, I had seen the light. I didn't want Ethan to be in my life. It was a difficult thought to formulate in my brain, but I stuck to it because it saved my pride.

Really? I honestly thought you would just ignore this. Do you want to meet up tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night because I had less homework to do then. And if it was tomorrow night, Ethan wasn't a rebound. A full 48 hours would pass from the time I was dumped (was I dumped? We were only supposed to be friends...) mid blowjob.

Max answered back quickly. I was surprised. It was like he wasn't playing any games at all.

Yes! Let's do it. And Ava, I couldn't ignore you if I tried.

For the first time since Ethan demolished my heart, shattering it over and over again the night before, I smiled.

. . .

When Max and I met at his dorm the night after, I was surprised at how normal everything felt. He wasn't angry at me. He hadn't led me on, leading to secret feelings of resentment and rage within me. 

In fact, if anyone had led anyone on, it was me. I didn't feel in love with him, and I liked that. It meant I had all the power.

"Max!" "Ava!" "I really can't believe I didn't scare you away yet. I'm so sorry again," I said, blushing. Max smirked at me and then took my hand and began leading me to his dorm room.

"Ava, I know what I want and what I like, and I like you." He gazed into my eyes. It felt so wildly inappropriate to be with someone, to be truly romantic with someone who wasn't Ethan. "Stop apologizing."

"Okay...I'll try," I said softly, looking down. "The truth is, I, I ran away before partly because Ethan was threatening to shoot you. Shoot us both if he saw us together. I was scared..."